Packing up and 'For The Birds'

At the end of February mum and dad came down and stayed a few nights to help us get the house sorted before our big adventure. We wanted our drive cut back as it was starting to get a bit overgrown, so mum and dad set to work.

Now my parents aren't ones to do things by halves. Those that know them know that if they're going to do a job, they're going to do it properly! Our drive certainly got done properly...

You can just about see Will's head poking out at the back in the below pic...

We managed to get somebody to take away all the green waste for a reasonable cost that very same day. Here is the 'after' picture.

The other huge job that mum and dad did was to clear out our garage. It was full of all sorts of stuff and hadn't really had a good clean-out and tidy since we moved into the house 6 years ago. Unfortunately I didn't take a 'before' pic, you'll just have to take my word for it that it was filled to the brim with stuff. Here is the 'after' photo...

Mum and dad left on Saturday 27th Feb, and our new tenants moved in the same day! The guy was starting work on the 29th Feb so we let them stay with us for free for a week. It actually worked out really well as they could get to see how the house runs while we were still there. 

We've rented our house out for a fixed 10 month term which is absolutely perfect. We've let it out fully furnished, so when we return at the start of January next year it should be a fairly painless process. I was worried that we wouldn't find somebody prepared to take on the garden and look after our three chickens, but this family were. They have moved up from Christchurch for work and have a 6 year old boy, as well as another on the way. They are hoping it is going to be a permanent move for them, so this should give them 10 months to suss out the different areas and hopefully buy a house. The women did say that she thought it would be difficult leaving our house in 10 months time! They did bring a 20 foot container of household stuff up from Christchurch, but they are leaving most of it boxed up in our garage and in the two rooms under our house. 

During our last week in Wellington we had a very nice night out at the Roxy Theatre to use up a dinner and movie voucher before we left. It was a nice break from the relentless packing up and cleaning the house! 

We saw Deadpool which was stupidly silly, but very very entertaining. The dessert which came with the deal was a chocolate and blackberry version of an Eton Mess which Will is enjoying below.

Thursday 3rd March was our last night at our house in Wellington. We had tickets to the opening night of the 'For the Birds' show which was a bird themed sound and light show in Otari-Wilton's Bush, literally a couple of minutes walk from our house. We were originally meant to be flying out of the country on the 1st March. but delayed it by a few days so we could attend this show.

It was very cool. A lot gentler and more subtle than 'Powerplant' which was the equivalent festival show held in the Botanic Gardens 2 years ago. This show also had a strong conservation message. You walked along a track which took about an hour or so with various sound and light installations along the way.

The devices below played a variety of bird calls.

At several stages you had lights on wires whizzing over your head. They made pretty patterns... You weren't allowed any flash photography so some of the pics were a bit hit or miss...

 

 

It's a shame these birds below didn't come out a bit better. They were origami style birds made of metal set high above the stream.

Below was my favourite installation. It was mesmerising and we stayed and watched/listened for ages. It is well worth playing the short video I took if you can. 

This one was groups of feathers tied together and spinning around quickly to create interesting noises and patterns.

Here are a few more pics. It was really well done and we're glad we didn't miss it, especially since it was practically on our doorstep!

On the 4th March we packed up the car and drove up to mum and dad's in Hamilton. It always takes longer than you expect doing the last minute bits and pieces so we didn't leave until the evening, getting in to Hamilton at around 2:30am!

After a couple of days R&R (it's always nice going 'home'!) We flew to Brisbane on Sunday 6th March, after dinner and a vino (or two) in the Auckland Koru lounge. The first leg of Will's sabbatical is 3 weeks in Australia.