Australia Day

Yesterday was Australia Day! Woopdeehdooh!

The Kiwis I spoke to weren't that interested. Hard on the outside, green and soft on the inside, and a little furry. My general impression of Kiwi/Aussie banter is that there is a lot of mutual respect, and rivalry between two countries with shared history (Empire rule) in a somewhat isolated part of the globe. Also the two countries have only ever fought each other on rugby fields, cricket grounds and other sports courts. So, the Kiwis consider their bigger neighbours arrogant, and themselves a far more chilled out lot - I have yet to hear the flip side of that story.

I reckon you could compare their relations to those of the USA and Canada. Each country having the upper hand in a major sport (rugby and cricket Down Under, ice hockey and all other US sports in North America). The way Australia Day was celebrated in New Zealand, at least on TV, was by programming reruns of sporting events in which the Kiwis - or any other team, for that matter - beat Australia at Rugby, Cricket, Tiddly Winks. Meanwhile, the Aussies scored a personal victory by converting David Kirk, the 1987 NZ All Blacks Rugby World Cup winning captain, to Australian citizenship during an Australia Day ceremony.

David Kirk - Forever All Black?

This rivalry, however, seems healthy and, happily untainted by previous armed conflicts between the two sides - a situation from which most, if not all, European, Latin American, and African national rivalries are somewhat burdened by.

So while Kiwis use Australia Day to reminisce the sporting defeats of their nearest rivals, they do not have a national holiday of their own. They celebrate the Anniversaries of the Founding Provinces, which were determined in the mid 1800s, and almost all abolished in 1876, due to numerous acts of self-interest in Provincial politics.

North Island Provinces - 1850s

South Island Provinces - 1850s

Monday (Australia Day) also happened to be Auckland Day, a bank holiday monday in Auckland. The Taranaki Anniversary Day Bank holiday is on the 10th of March. The old provinces have another modern day use, as the National Provincal Championship is the domestic Kiwi Rugby Union championship, and has at least one representative of each province vying for the trophy .

Finally, a few pictures Ivor - a fellow doctor at the hospital who is considering working in France in the near future, took after we got out the water soon after New Year's. I think I'd mentioned the quality of the waves, but he emailed me these pictures last saturday and I can't resist putting them up. The spot is called Wisey's, the conditions were perfect. Hope you enjoy them.

So, I'm in EnZed where the surf is great too! So what is Oz day for?

Guns at Dawn... the house hits Fitzroy early

So, I think mentioned the concept of dawnies (dawn surf sessions), a little further down - or earlier, on this blog. The wind mainly blows. From the West, which is not great for waves... Except around 6 in the morning, before the almighty Sun starts to spread its light across Taranaki. At 6 am, the air is fresh, the sky not blue yet, and a gentle sea breeze brushes against the oncoming swell to make for some very nice waves. So this week, a house decision was made to get up early to beat tired eyes and numb minds. Twice we got up and went to see what the surf was like and it was primo - not a word i really use but it's local so... Olly chose to sleep in the first dawnie and regretted it for the rest of the day. The second day, Nicky took her camera and snapped away.





The water is cold. The first steps into the water a little lumbered. Arms heavy. Thoughts like "Why aren't we in bed?" creep in until... A set of clean waves approaches the surfers and stirs them from their moody musings. A quick paddle, pop up, two feet on the board. "Hey hey, that's why!" Then the sun comes up and adds light to the decor.

This is obviously a little romanticised version of the true facts. It's still paddle paddle paddle, get up the odd time and make the most of it, watch a whole bunch of people surf effortless to and thro, while I try to get past the break. But I think progress is being made.

A short run... around New Plymouth

http://www.mapmyrun.co.nz/view_my_run_86030

in 2h30... cool...

It's not just the accent...

The Kiwis have a whole different language goin' on...

The new house

The house is nice, I like the house, it has doors, windows, kitchen, toilet, lounge, a bathroom, garden, garage and shed.

Pretty standard, except that...

The doors aren't all regular, some open from one open space to another which is quite funky. There's many many windows, for the many many flies to fly in along with plenty of daylight - it's a bit of a problem, but we're going to try something.

The toilet has a wall planner to one side, to help make the best use of time and reflection while ruling the throne. The bathroom has both a shower and a bath - gucci! The garden, or gardens front and back, are decent size.

The front garden has two trees and a hammock in between for restful times between surf.

The back garden is quite big and will hopefully be able to accomodate a few bbqs over the summer. The garage and shed are accessory but add space for rubbish - literally.

Last but not least, the lounge. There's a tribute frame, in which famous faces are displayed.

Gandhi, the first tributee.

My room is quite basic, I'm living it up on a mattress on the floor. There's a broom cupboard, full of stuff of no regular use, which I'm managed to accumulate in just 6 weeks in EnZed.

The house, paradoxically, is empty of furniture and Nicky, one of my more emthusiastic and proactive housemates, has been scouring the local trading website for all forms of chairs, tables, washing machines (broken and working), fridges, to wonderful effect: While the lounge remains a rather Asiatic low level affair, the rest of the house is really filling out.

So overall, it's quite relaxing to be out of the hostel and into a slightly more private living area. It is also closer to the centre of town and some other running locations. The sea, you can hear but not smell - just about the right combo.

I almost forgot, there's a tap and a fence to wash and hang up wetsuits.

It's got everything!

The wind is a-changin'

The wind has changed, it is now coming from the south east. That means offshore for most of the breaks on the Naki peninsula. So we hit the beach - twice.

The wind is currently offshore. Primo!

The second time, we picked up Olly from the tiny New Plymouth airport and went straight to the beach for an evening surf til sundown. The point break was called Wisey's, on the northern side of New Plymouth. Clean waves, Right and Left, breaking in roughly the same place - as point breaks do, made for one of the best surf sessions this summer. I especially stoked as I caught a nice wave and was able to work the face a little. The ride seemed to go on forever, but probably lasted just 6 or 7 secs. In an hour of surfing, paddling will take up about 99% of the time. So really, at this stage, I'm a paddler who occasionally puts two feet on the board, on a wave.

I'm even getting into duckdiving, which is the crucial skill that involves diving under an oncoming wave with the surf board. This elusive ability allows the good surfers to get behind the break real with ease.

Duck diving: it looks easy, it's tough to do, but anyone can do it and it looks good underwater, especially in a bikini.

On a day of big surf, the 6'2 shortboard came in quite handy as I practiced trying to duck under some huge waves. It was a bit hit and miss... mostly miss. But the feeling of a huge waves tickling ones calves, knowing one has managed to avoid a wall of white water, is quite blissful.

Now, compared to the Basque Country, les Cavaliers, la Madrague, Parlementia, Hendaye, la Cote des Basques, the sand is a different colour (black vs yellow); there's way more rocks on the beaches; the currents, or rips, are still present, especially on the exposed beaches; size-wise, they are comparably big when the swell is up and small when there's none.

Dear Pays Basque - I haven't forgotten you... (Clockwise from top right, Les Cavaliers, La Madrague, La Cotes des Basques, Parlementia, Hendaye)

One notable difference is the imposing nature of Mt Taranaki, even when in the water. It is an omnipresent force which lies across the entire region. It is also approaching the term of its 500 year quiescent period between major eruptions (last was in 1655). This means most people keep an eye on it whether in the car, shower, toilet, behind the break or scuba diving. I think it's a subconscious awareness of possible impending doom. A Damocles sword hanging over this peaceful region. Meanwhile, the population seems to be making the most of their time, living their carefree lives exercising, going out, eating... - menacing whisper - "but they don't know what's in store for them. It could explode anytime... MuahaHAHAHAHA"

Right.

Stats:

longest run - 25k

longest wave ridden - 8 secs

breaks visited - 8

number of times i've refilled Simon's oil - once, coolant - twice.

weeks of work left - just 4 and a half... how time flies

estimated departure time from enzed - vague (before the 22nd of march)

2009

2008 finished in a lively house party.

2009 started with a slight hangover, but the surf was up, so a few of us got up early (8ish) to check out some of the local beaches. The wind however had other plans.

Wind. It moves about a lot. In Taranaki, it is practically always present. For surf, the best wind is towards the East. Obviously, during the summer, it is predominantly Westerly.

The wind pattern over January-February... predominantly Westerly. Hitting the swooping hawk - North Island - flush on the head - the Naki.


The best time to catch some Easterly - and offshore - wind is to get to the beach at dawn. So I've done that about ... once - despite numerous good intentions on many evenings. Northerly wind, in NZ, coming from the Tropics, is usually warm and wet. While Southerlies usually bring sunshine and Arctic cold. So the wind comes from all over the shop, luckily the 'Naki (short for Taranaki region) is on a peninsula and has beaches to accomodate almost all wind directions, except full on Westerly...

On Saturday, I joined the running clinic for another run. Another half-marathon, but slightly faster. The main event for that day however was a concert held in nearby Oekura. Several acts including Tiki Taane, the former lead singer of Salmonella Dub - the band who's CD I gave Miguel for xmas, and Shapeshifter, a notable DnB group. However I was having such a good time at the pre-concert bbq drinks that I arrived after Tiki, while catching most of Shapeshifter.

shapeshifter - without their instruments

Tiki Taane

It's a pity really as I was really looking forward to seeing Tiki Taane who, from what I gather, is quite a big name in Kiwi music scene. However, Shapeshifter are supposed to be pretty big too and their DnB set though was pretty awesome, so that more than made up for any childish disappointment I may have had.

Good vibes furing the Shapeshifter set...

I also now have a copy of Tiki's CD , thanks Tina.

Finally I celebrated my first day of work in 2009 by going for a dawnie - an early surf at dawn - at Back Beach, a beach break just outside of New Plymouth, before work on the Monday back, a run after work followed by another surf session at a point break on the other side of town.

So, that was the New Year over here.

Resolutions?

Surf more - I want to be able to surf with a shortboard before I leave the 'Naki
Run more - I want to be able to finish the Marathon in Rome with grin, not a grimace
Study a little more - I want to ... erh... learn

and the rest...

Some more stats,
Dawnies to date: 1
Different spots surfed on the coast: 7
Number of times up Mt. Taranaki: still 0
Pics from 2009... shortly.

Oh and I'd moved out from the Hostel. I'm now living downtown with Tom, Olly and Nicky (see earlier posts for pics).

HNY, much luck and merryment for 2009

The MARATHON training schedule

As given by the Marathon Clinic... it involves a lot of running, and doesn't give distances to achieve but running time. This is also known as 'time on ya legs'. It seems the training is mostly about getting used to walking, jogging, running, sprinting or whatever for longer and longer periods of time. So that's my time cut out for me then.

The Blue Swallow

It's a 6 Ft Fish with a fat nose and a Blue Swallow on it.

Hence, the Blu... You get it.

Xmas time in Taranaki

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Merry Xmas to you all,

My first summer xmas was quite an experience. People tend to mainly celebrate xmas day in EnZed, it seems. While xmas eve is as good excuse as any to load up on a few - and a few more - drinks until everything shuts down around midnight ... on account of xmas.

So, this year, I was on the other side of the world. Instead of cold and rain/snow, sun and surf were on the menu. With fellow orphans of Europe and a token Kiwi, we spent the eve and following day in Oekura, about 10km south of New Plymouth, where many glasses were drunk, and most people too soon after.

On the 25th, I awoke feeling a little worse for wear, went for a run to clear the spirits, then for a surf. Yes, a surf on xmas day, with santa hats on, an absolutely fantastic feeling.

Lunch was a regal affair, Idris, our Welsh host, conjured up a feast of turkey, roast potatoes and parsnips, vegetables, gravy, and mash.

The Feast, with Idris' Welsh friends, Harry, Tom, Tina, Olly, Idris cutting up the Banofee pie, and Cat was there as well but hiding behind Tina.

The best was saved for last as Idris brought out a home made Banofee pie. For those unfamiliar with Banofee, it is a biscuit base cream pie with BANanas and tOFEE = BANOFEE. Amazing stuff. After a post-prandial game of Cranium to keep the brains ticking over, Idris, Harry, Tom and I looked out at the beach 50 yards from the house. The wind had died and the waves rolled in unhurried and inviting. We took longboards out and had a le-gen-da- "wait for it" -ry surf session til dusk. And that was my merry xmas day, à la Taranaki.

The setting sun, the chillin' behind the break, and photo evidence of me on a wave.

Idris having a stretch on a long wave

On Boxing day, further surf was riden in the morning, after a heartwarming Skype conference with the Boston Bolands. In the evening, we went to Pukekura park where live music and concerts are being held every day well into February. The park is lit up at night with very colourful displays which set a rather fairytale-like scenery.

The Festival of Lights in Pukekura Park

Managed to get up the next day for my morning run, at 7 am, with the Marathon Clinic group, the New Plymouth Runners and Walkers Club. After which i went straight back to bed. Back in the Park that evening, a lively Irish music group, full of talented Kiwi musicians played some classic Irish and Scottish ballads to much aplause and singalong. A testament to the Celtic roots of a large segment of the population of Taranaki.

18 holes of terrible golf on the sunday were followed by a career-best - and only - time at the Bell Block 10km run. This was a local event, part of a summer 10km run series. I ran it flat out to see how fast i could go with my marathon training. The first 1km I spent running behind a little kid who was really setting quite a testing pace, I eventually overtook her and got halfway (5km) in 20 minutes. The second half was a little more about hanging in there and I finished the whole thing in 42min and 58secs. As I approached the finishing straight I saw the seconds ticking towards 43 mins so put my foot - or feet- down and sprinted the rest to make it just under that mark.

The evening was again spent in the refreshing environment of Pukekura Park for an outdoor movie.

All this in just 4 days...

1896 Olympic Marathon - they look like they've escaped from prison. Legendary!

Quick update, went for 20-21k run today (in 2h15) with the Marathon Clinic Runners. Am shattered but that's the longest i've ever run. 3 Months to double the distance...

PS Pictures of boards to follow.