vk6xre.waus.net

I have added many more photos to my photo server in the biker catagory.

http://photo.waus.net

I have created a Photo Gallery and added photos from my trip to the Omaka (Blenhiem) bi-annual Airshow. I have also added photos from the 2003 Avalon airshow, photos of Wigram before it closed and photos from the Ulysses Motorcycle club 25/4/2009 Ambulance run. 400+ bikes on a ride to Little River.

I haven’t posted anything here for 6 months. A lot has happened. I have a job now working for Avonmore Teriary Institute as a lecturer of Computer Network Engineering Level 6. Sat a passed Microsoft Certification 70.270 and will be sitting a bunch more. I am current teaching Visual Basic Programming.

http://www.avonmore.ac.nz/christchurch/computer.html 

Bought myself a Honda GL1200 Goldwing motorcycle

And have just negotiated to buy a hangar up at Rangiora Airfield.

I bought a Nikon D70 Digital SLR at a very reasonable price,$600, off Trademe and an additional 70-210 lens which was only $41, bargin.  I have loaded pictures onto a photo sales site. Have a look….

http://www.photosales.co.nz/view_photog.php?photogid=607

Spent a weekend in Hamner Springs. The big draw card besides being nestled in the mountains, is the hot thermal springs. You relax in springs verying from 41C to 28C, outside, were the air temprature is around 3C. Hamner is only 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch so it is a valid day trip if you wanted to. It snowed the Saturday night we were there. Not a large snow, but sufficient to stay on the ground.

Trish came over to NZ to attend Wings Over Wanaka. We caught up just before she left. I saw her off from the Airport.

The Sellers of our new house bought a house at auction today. They enquired whether we would like to move the settlement date forward from the 14th March to the 7th of March. Of course we said yes.

We found our ideal house in New Zealand and bought it.

Click for more Pictures.

On part of the Banks Ave block, a stone’s throw from the meandering Avon River and within minutes of the CBD, this unique lifestyle opportunity awaits. The privacy of the sheltered and landscaped 1414sqm section is ideal for the growing family, as is the spaciousness of the charming character home.

Offering four double bedrooms, main with ensuite, study, two separate living, and open plan kitchen/dining. The ensuite comes complete with separate shower, spa bath, twin basins and its own water cylinder. The main lounge is a treasure in itself with nearly floor to ceiling windows, leadlights at the top, ornate fireplace, rimu timber surrounds and beautifully crafted ceiling roses. Attention to detail has been observed in those features and others that adorn this home.

A large patio and outdoor entertaining area can be accessed from lounge, bedroom and dining room. Complimenting all this is an external three car garage complete with studio/hobby room which is completely insulated and wired for phone/computer. See more <click here>

We will get possession on the 17th March.

I have been a bit slack in updating this blog.  The House settled on the 16th of Jan the day we flew out. We have now been in Christchurch for 2 weeks. Since arrival I have bought a car, Mazda RX8,got my NZ drivers license and we have been looking for a house. For the Ham blog go to the Amateur Radio section, for Aviation go to …Aviation.

Our idea for the location of the house has changed somewhat. Terri has decided that she doesn’t want a car, not that she used the one she had much anyway, so we are looking closer to town. Christchurch, compared to Perth, is a very compact city, about 35km across. There is no straight road system like Perth has and the roads can change name a number of times. Not a worry as we have the technology, well bought the technology, a Garmin Nuvi GPS.

We saw a nice place today on 2 acres, about 5 km from the centre of town and 1 km from Terri’s daughters place. This is good as petrol over here is $1.76/L for the 95 octane unleaded and the RX8 is getting about 14l/100km, but goes really really fast.

The problem is I like driving the RX, like driving it hard, like taking it out to it’s 9000 rpm redline. I went for a “fang”, Terri hates that word, around Goveners Bay and over the Cashmere hills. The road is open road speed limit, 100kph, but the advisory speed for many of the bends on the cliff face is 25kph. The RX handles like it is on rails, at least compared to the Nissan Patrol I had in Perth. Anyway, the adrenalin rush was great.

So still house hunting.

Well the offer on our house is just about irrevocable. Settlement is set for the 13th December. Now the hard work of Packing and getting all our affairs in order.