Another whirlwind

Quick trip

Because our trip back to New Zealand in October seemed so pushed for time and rushed we decided to do it all over again. Only thing is, it became a bit the same – not enough days.

Air New Zealand for some unexplained reason changed our flight from late afternoon to early morning which just messed up the plans we had had to do things before leaving. The night before we had been to Hanson’s String Theory at QPAC (Queensland performing Arts Centre) and it was amazing. But having to rush home and make sure we were packed for a 5.30am departure from home just took the edge off the whole evening.

We made it though and before we headed north to Blenheim we had a quick look around Christchurch and Lyttelton at the changes, and also at some things which are still yet to change, and caught up with a couple of friends. Then we hit the road next morning, stopping for the occasional photograph and then coffee at Cheviot, eventually making it to Blenheim mid afternoon.

We managed to catch up with people and gave ourselves an extra day in Wellington too. But the week still ended up feeling like a half visit when you factor in the half day travel at each end to get to and from the airport in Christchurch.

When we had booked flights last year I was dismayed to learn that my favourite Canadian rocker, Bryan Adams, was going to be touring Australia and New Zealand at that exact time. Typical, I had thought, I will miss out on seeing him. But that dismay turned to joy when I looked at the dates – no show in Brisbane at all BUT a show in Wellington the week which we would be in New Zealand. WIN. Then tickets – and as luck would have it my friend Jill had bought two but hadn’t got as far as finding a friend to go with her. What a great night it was too.

Then, on the Friday afternoon while filling in time, waiting for the flight back to Blenheim came the unfolding news about the massacre in Christchurch. First thoughts were to my friends who lived there and others who had travelled there that day.

Were they safe ?

Why Christchurch?

What the H  E  double hockey sticks ?!!

Those last days in Aotearoa were a little sombre, people were numb and outraged. Still, some made racist jokes and didn’t hear the irony in their speech. Sure, some of us have different beliefs or ideals but they have never come between us outwardly before; fuelled by bigotry and xenophobia. Everyone gets along with everyone – right ? Extremism has no place on the planet and definitely is not welcome in this small island nation. This is New Zealand, Aotearoa, we are better than that. Love is Love. We Are One. You Are Us.

We left early Sunday to drive to Christchurch and that plane. Stopping on the way to see the seals at Ohau Point in their new, redeveloped post earthquake home and a bit further on stopped again, captivated by the largest pod of dolphins I have ever seen from the shore. A fellow observer loaned us his binoculars and said that the day before there had been whales doing the same. There must have been some mighty fine dining out there on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

We had enough time when we got to Christchurch to take flowers and lay them along the fence of the Botanic Gardens where people of all ages, walks of life and nationality walked and stood in quiet thought. Supporting each other and those around them. News crews lined the streets reporting on the atmosphere and talking to people. We tore ourselves away, feeling a little like we should be staying to help in some way like we felt leaving Blenheim after the 2016 earthquake.

And then we were home.

Crikey !

So then I got a job.

It was a temp role, 500 people all at once to assist in the recovery after the Townsville floods. What a system and organisation ! There are many countries which should look at this model and find ways to implement it in the event of natural disasters. Holy cow. It lasted about 4 weeks or my team did, smaller teams probably stayed on for a couple of weeks after that tidying up loose ends. It was shift work 5 on 2 off and I worked the afternoon/evening shift. It was a great bunch of people from all walks of life and with such a variety of skills and a willingness to help out.

My team even had a couple of team lunches – the luxury of starting after lunch that the morning team missed out on.

It was fun though and I missed it when it ended. The money too with all those penal rates !

On one day off we went to Australia Zoo, the brainchild of Steve Irwin "The Crocodile Hunter" and a legacy continued by his family. I was technically just the driver as Lauren and her visiting Welly friend had planned to go then discovered they would lose most of the day travelling on buses and trains.

If you haven’t been – you should go. Mid week is best I reckon – if you can do it – and not school holidays. Enjoy the photos – there are lots #sorrynotsorry

On the way back we took a detour for fish and chips by the sea to catch the sunset at Woody Point. All the seagulls wanted in on the action too !

A home above the road above a river

 A home with a view. Imagine living inside the pylons of a bridge.

That’s just what the toll-keeper and his family did in the north pylon of the Walter Taylor bridge crossing the Brisbane River from Chelmer to Indooroopilly. Up until fairly recently, descendants of the original toll-keeper still lived there.

The bridge is the longest span suspension bridge in Australia (299.7m in total with the longest span 182.9m) and is the only habitable bridge in the Southern Hemisphere. Opened on Valentine’s Day 1936, the bridge gave ready access (for a fee) over the river, which until then had been only permissible by ferry.

Originally called the Indooroopilly Toll Bridge it was renamed in 1956 and bestowed the name of its designer and builder, WalterTaylor.

We went on a walking tour with Brisbane Greeters and learnt a few other things about the area as we walked. Did you know there were Japanese soldiers interred on the banks of the river between the rail bridge and Indooroopilly station ? Have you ever noticed the flood indicator plaques on the base of the pylon as you drive under the southern end of the bridge ? That is an awful lot of water !

The support cables were surplus support cables used to support the incomplete halves of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during its construction. The toll was about 6d or 5c until it was abolished in the 1960’s. Proceeds from the toll were used to repay investor loans which had enabled Walter Taylor to construct the bridge.

Living conditions inside seem quite rudimentary by today’s standards, but photos from when occupied by the toll-keeper and his family show a fairly normal family home; albeit it over three or four levels above the roadway.

Walter Taylor himself was involved in the construction of many building around Brisbane, but he was also a visionary planning and proposing many ventures. Some of these were never built in his life time, but a few have been constructed in the ensuing years including a tunnel under the river ! Two of the projects completed in his lifetime, the bridge and the Graceville Methodist Church are both heritage listed. The fine homes he constructed for his family also in Graceville are still outstanding today.

If you get the chance it is very interesting to hear about the construction, family and history of the area. The stairs are quite steep and it is definitely not pram or small children friendly, it also involves walking about 2km from the starting point and return.

Trees in the Sea

There is something about mangroves that stays with you. Mostly it is the smell, I think, that pungent odour that permeates the air at low tide. There are mangroves in New Zealand, but not nearly so many as you tend to see here. Or as big.

They are a bit like icebergs when you see them at high tide and cannot see what lies below the surface as their branches and leaves bob on the water, almost appearing to float unattached. I always think they look pretty mesmerising. Then I get another whiff at low tide from the exposed mudflats and wonder how the two images in my mind can be so different.

They are part of a pretty intricate ecosystem though. There are several mangrove walks around Brisbane being closer to the coast than we have been in a while. We have been to one, twice.

The first visit was at low tide, where that familiar smell greeted us. It did give us a chance though to observe the ordered yet frenetic life of the mud dwellers making the most of their time above ground and in the fresh air. We appreciated the shade; these mangroves are giants compared to those I would always plot how I could photograph in the Waitemata Harbour on my way home from work. These ones towered above us as we wandered along the boardwalk.

We went home that day and studied the tides to find a day when there were no commitments AND the tide would be more favourable. It took awhile but we did make it back. Still not at full tide, but definitely not low.

I'm back !

Here we are just at the start of the sixth month of the year, and I feel a little bad for neglecting my blog for so long. I’m still undecided about whether to join in the #52Ancestors challenge again. I have been saving all the prompts – just in case – and I am leaning towards making a mammoth effort in the coming months to catch up.

There have been many other happenings since I last posted, but the warm weather isn’t conducive to sitting for long periods with a laptop on your knee. The temperatures have begun to cool though. The locals are “freezing” but really, as Lauren said the other day, “It’s just like a Wellington summer day, not wintery at all.” It is refreshing though to step out in the early morning and evening and feel a bit of crispness in the air.

I’m going to write several posts to catch up with where we have been and what we have done up to now and then try to get back on track. I have missed not writing and documenting daily life.