Rambling train

On the train again - en route to the city – time to write a little ditty.

Did the whanau drop off, the Wednesday morning routine,

Whare and then the little AK, then back to Paekakariki to catch the 8:18.

Heading along the coast, next stop Pukerua Bay,

with amazing views of Kapiti Island, all the way.

From Pukerua Bay it’s countryside left and right.

hills dotted with sheep, oh what a sight.

The train rolls south: rattle, rattle, rattle.

The train isn’t packed, the diligent commuters have already gone,

saw Sarah on the platform, sipping coffee to keep warm.

I sit alone, facing backwards, and put my head phones on.

Iron and Wine cranking, I start humming along.

I see a few houses, then a Magpie fly out of some gorse,

next stop Plimmerton, we’re on the right course.

Mana Island is basking in sunlight,

at the Mana stop, a few people alight.

A sign for Titahi Bay, then Ngati Toa Domain,

we continue south, on the rickety old train.

At Paremata a few get on board, then the conductor comes through;

‘Tickets from Paremata, thank-you’.

Porirua station – always busy, a lot get on,

a few get off, the train carries on.

Kenepuru on the hill, Laser Strike on the flat,

then the poor houses, so close to the railway track.

We whistle past Tawa, Redwood and Takapu Road,

under Ngaraunga Gorge, through the long dark tunnel – a bit of drama

then we emerge, on the edge of Wellington Harbour, oh the panorama.

Not long to go now – Kaiwharawhara; we don’t stop,

through the rail yards to beat the clock.

Biophysical Limits

I attended a ‘symposium’ today on Biophysical Limits and their Policy Implications. While fascinating, it was somewhat depressing.

Hosted by the soon to be defunct Institute of Policy Studies at Victoria University, the purpose of the event was to explore the burgeoning scientific literature on the planet’s biophysical limits and consider the policy implications arising from this literature.

To put this in context, the byline to the symposium goes something like this:

Economic growth has been a key objective of most governments over much of the period since the rise of modern democratic states. But is continuing growth possible in a finite world? SInce the publication of Limits to Growth by ‘The Club of Rome‘ in 1972, there has been a lively debate about the extent to which there are planetary limits to economic growth, or at least growth of certain kinds. The debate has been invigorated in recent years, not least as a result of concerns over human-induced climate change, the poor management of the globe’s freshwater and marine resources, the loss of agricultural land and population growth.

So, what exactly did I learn?

The OECD recently (25 May 2011) released a report called Towards Green Growth. Based on some notes I scribbled down I think it mentioned ecosystem services (ie. the benefits we  get from nature) and  boundaries (ie. limits to growth). While that sounds good, it was pointed out that the OECD still has a focus on economic growth.

I mean, come on OECD, economic growth was so 90′s.

The recently released Stockholm Memorandum (18 May 2011) mentions two salient points:

• progress as a dominant species has come at a high price
• science shows we’re transgressing earth’s boundaries: tipping point!

It’s succinct and worth a read. Some great points are made, but whether the governments of the world take any notice of it is the real crux of the issue.

The big questions for the day, helped set the scene.

What are safe biophysical limits?

• National/local limits?
• Factoring in risk/uncertainty?

Implications for Global economic growth – exponential growth?

• Under what conditions?
• Taxing negative externalities?

Replacing Natural Capital – with what?

• How do we protect Natural Capital?

Institutional arrangements fit for purpose?

• Global goals?
• Means to achieve them?

Research priorities?

Where to from here? Wait till my next installment….

Whare’s Paekakariki home made pizza

Paekakariki has a fantastic little deli that we well and truly support. However the amazing pizzas that they sell aren’t that good for the budget so Whare has taken to making her own replicas. And when it was time for me to look after Aneke on Friday, Nicole gave me instructions on how to make the pizza base during the day…..

While little Ms Whare is a fantastic cook, she’s not as methodical as me, and therefore most of her recipes are ‘reminders’ to her of how to cook stuff ie. they’re not particularly specific. But I struggled on…. with the help of google and YouTube!

Here’s Whare’s recipe for the pizza base:

• 7g dried active yeast (in the fridge I was told – took me a while to find it, but yes it was in the fridge)
• 1 tsp caster sugar (normal white sugar worked fine)
• 1 1/2 cups flour

Instructions as follows:

1. Put the yeast and sugar into a bowl of 150ml lukewarm water. Whisk with a fork and stand for 15 minutes until bubbles appear.
2. Sift flour into a bowl, add salt and then add yeast mix.
3. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes (I only did about 5 minutes and it still worked fine) and mix into a ball.
4. Then place in a well oiled (olive oil not engine oil) bowl and cover with glad wrap.
5. Stand in warm place for 1 hour (hot water cupboard).

A few hours later after doing a bit of house work, reading a book in the park while rocking the sleeping baby, having a coffee  at the deli and then a pint at the bowling club, start phase 2.

On a floured surface, roll out dough into a 3mm thick rectangle. Transfer to oiled baking tray and cover with a wet tea towel. Stand for 30 minutes (back into hot water cupboard). Then add sauce and toppings and cook on 220 degrees celsius foe 10-15 minutes.

It’s all in the preparation

Time to roll up

Don’t stir the sauce

Finishing touches

Hey presto – we have pizza

Even the AK enjoyed Papa Jim’s debut pizza

The sauce I made was as follows.

Fry two diced cloves of garlic in a well oiled pan. Then add a can of whole peeled tomatoes  (I cut them up in the pan), add 2 teaspoons of white sugar and a teaspoon of chilli flakes and some salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then simmer on a low heat for about 30 minutes. Don’t stir (Whare has told me off several times for stirring the sauce) as yoiu want it to thicken up.

When that’s done, get the base out of the hot water cupboard and spread the sauce over it. Then add toppings: bits of cut up feta, olives, salami and basil leaves are all good.

Then pour the wine, vacuum the shag pile rug, stoke the fire and crank up the Barry White record. Bon appetite.

Check out this link for a great video clip of how to make the base: http://howto.yellow.co.nz/food-drink/cooking-and-baking/how-to-make-pizza-dough/

2011 – the year of the working parents

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. With little Aneke now six months old, little Ms Whare (33 years old) has started a new job in the City working 3 days a week. And so this week I have started my new regime of working a few long days early in the week and taking Fridays off to look after Aneke.

With enough time to write a blog post for the first time in about 3 months, it must be going okay.

6:10am, the faint noises of Aneke talking to herself and then starting to grizzle meant it was time to get up. She must have been hungry because she knocked back 220ml from the bottle. Whare got on with her morning work routine while I managed to make some toast, a smoothie and put the coffee on. As we were up early, Aneke and I dropped Whare off at the station.

After a few yawns I knew Aneke was tired and it meant time for me to do some work. I put her to bed and read to her a paper on Peak Oil. She quickly fell asleep. I managed to quickly hang out some washing and then work for about half an hour before she woke up, for another feed (and poo). She then lay around with her nappies off while I pottered around, and when she started to grizzle I put a nappy on and played the guitar. I’ve been a bit slack on my guitar playing for the last year so Aneke was enjoying this new experience.

Happy AK Friday 14 Jan

I then looked at Nicole’s recipe book on how to make a pizza base and decided I’d better google it. With a YouTube clip to guide me I managed to make the base with Aneke watching on and eating some left over roast potatoes.

Papa Jim making dough while the AK eats potato

Sleep 11:40am – 1:20pm. Hung out for a bit, walked around house, checked mail…..nappy free time. Started to grizzle so tried to fed her some roasted veges. She loved the pumpkin. The the bottle. Seemed keen but only drank about 50ml. A bit of dancing, lying on the kitchen floor watching Papa Jim do the dishes….the AK started to grizzle so I put a mat on the kitchen floor so I could talk to her…… but then it was time for a walk. And as soon as she hit the buggy, it was all good.

After 10  minutes of walking she was out to it so I detoured around and then parked up on a park bench in the park and read my book (on parks – no just kidding, on the founder of Contiki tours ‘Only two seats left’). After 20 minutes I headed back down towards the beach and continued on my mission for supplies for pizza, coffee and beer….

With feta and olives for the pizza I was making for dinner in hand I then splurged on some organic bacon for breakfast (a bit pricey but oh so tasty) and a flat white. Aneke had woken up not long before we hit the Deli so when my coffee arrived I picked her up so she could watch the world go by with me.

Watching the world go by at the deli

Then a brief stop at the fruit and vege shop before a cheeky pint at the bowling club. A few random chats with the bowling club gang and then off to the train station to meet Mama Whare. We were a bit early but I read a bit more of my book while rocking the AK until she started to grizzle just before the train arrived. With the AK in hand and happy as Larry, Whare was approaching when the train made a loud noise and set the AK off crying, but she was very happy to see Mama Whare.

We only just made it back to the park to feed the AK who was ravinous. A nice interlude on our walk home though. And then time for the AK to eat an orange and then get into her PJs. Whare did the bed routine this time, while I worked the pizza.

Just another day in Paradise.

2005 in a nut shell

As a notorious hoarder, I have boxes of old diaries and a whole lot of other crap. These memories and important bits and pieces have been moved around the country, stored in random places, and then inevitably packed up with the next move…..

I’ve been attempting a sort out mission – so far I’ve managed to sort through out some old photos which I had duplicate copies of, and now I’m sifting through old diaries…..

Before I throw out my old 2005 diary, I thought I’d record some of the entries as a reminder to myself for future prosperities sake.

To set the scene, in 2005 Nicole and I were living in Christchurch and had been there since the middle (July) of 2003 when I transferred from Waikato University to Lincoln.

A day in the life – 2005

En route to Arthur’s Pass

Walking in Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass

River flowing through Arthur’s Pass

West Coast bush action

Some diary entries as follows. Note inside front cover -

Affect: to influence change

Effect: to bring about or to carry out

As a student studying Environmental Management, affect and effect were both commonly used words and I would often struggle to remember which one to use. But now I know.

Thursday 7 April 2005 – work 4pm-1am (9hrs)

While studying in Christchurch I worked part-time in my trade as a Fitter/Turner at the Railway Depot fixing freight wagons.

Friday 8 April 2005 – didn’t work. Went to see James Morrison play – an Aussie Trumpet player – very good.

If I hadn’t read this diary entry I would have forgotton about this gig. This dude was amazing, and he had his brother in town so they played together which was apparently a rare thing. They were probably mid 50′s and James’s brother played the drums and was also amazing.

A pretty typical Chch weekend to follow. Saturday 9 April 2005 – worked 6am-11am (5hrs) Nicole got a hair cut. Chilled out at Mink. Went to Matt and Brenda’s with Neil and Jane.

Sunday 10 April 2005 – Slept in till 12. Breaky. Chilled out. Walked up Port Hills (from Bowenvale drive) for a few hours.

Saturday 23 April 2005 – Didn’t work. Went to bed at 7:30am!

While that’s the extent of this diary entry, it reminds me of the late night and what a good one it was. I’d recently won a copy of the new album from local group P-Bass Expressway, tickets to their next gig and a whole lot of party pills. Coincidentally, the week before the gig, Casey phoned out of the blue from Bluff. He’d just sailed over from Tasmania (as you do) and wanted Mike Kelly’s number in Queenstown. So anyway, these two derelict best friends of mine made their way up to Christchurch for the weekend and came to the gig. We hadn’t all been out together for ages so we had a lot of catching up to do: fueled by a lot of booze and some whacky party pills we partied away to P-Bass Expressway (at Winnie Bagoes) until closing and then made our wide eyed way back to our flat on Andover Street, Merivale (a very cool little pad), and chewed the fat until the early hours (7:30am according to my diary!).

Sunday 10 July 2005 – Nicole’s birthday. Kaikoura

Saturday 30 July 2005 – Fat Freddy’s Drop

Sunday 31 July 2005 – Hank Williams This was at the Film Festival

Thursday 11 August 2005 – Transit interview @ 5pm Level 7, Education House, 123 Victoria Street Chch

Thursday 18 August 2005 – Fly out of Chch t 4:15pm Arrive H-town at 6:30pm

Saturday 20 August 2005 – Doreen’s B-day party in Te Kuiti

Friday 16 August 2005 - George arrives at 6:20pm NZ547. It snowed.

Sunday  18 August 2005 - Nicole and George fly to Auckland @ 6:55pm (arrives 8:15pm) NZ458

Friday 7 October 2005 -Fly to Wellington at 6pm – flat hunting

Monday 10 October 2005 – Library 4:30-7:30. I worked at the library as a Student Assistant as during 2005 was promoted to Head Student Assistant! Nerd alert.

Tuesday 11 October 2005 – Worked at Railways 7am-4pm. Library 4:30-7:30. While on study leave I worked as much as possible!

Exams and degree complete. Time to get the f#@k out of Chch. Look out Wellington, here we come.

Monday 7 November 2005 – start new job…. 8:30am reception 7th floor ask for Sarah Hartley-House. Buddied up with Michael Hall (grad env. planner)

Wednesday 16 November 2005 - paid from Transit. My first pay at my new job.

2005: 3/7 Andover Street, Merivale, Christchurch – 121 Abel Street, Te Aro, Wellington

That’s it. That was 2005 for me.

Expensive FREE parking

The Aneke Aurora road show climaxed in Auckland with the meeting of all our good friends at the Macs Bar in Newmarket. After doing two laps of the main in an idle search for our illusive perfect car park, my sister rang to say we could park at my brother in-laws work park. But, she said, they lock the car park at the close of retail hours: either 4 or 5pm.

No worries. We had brunch with them and said we may as well leave the car there for a few more hours to save paying for parking and Nicole could pop down just before 4pm to move the car…………

In the excitement of catching up with some of our oldest and closest friends (some of whom we hadn’t seen since before moving to Canada) you could say we got a bit socially excited. I was knocking back beer number 4 or 5 while Nicole (the sober driver) was gassing away…………….

After relieving myself I looked at my watch and said to myself “Oh shit, it’s 10 past fricken 5″. I hot tailed it to the car parking building to discover what I was expected. A locked garage door. With the freedom of yesteryear having passed with the birth of our daughter only 3 short months earlier, I quickly realised that the previous carefree attitude of “no worries, at least the car will be safe overnight, we’ll get it tomorrow?” wasn’t going to cut it.

We had to get the car seat and nappies at least so I phoned the number of the security company emblazened across the locked garage door. They told me it would cost $60 to send someone to open the door and free and secure family sports car. $60! The thought of paying someone $60 to open a door for me instigated some creative thinking….. the locked garage door had gaps in it (one of those grate types) so I rumaged around some back alley’s until I found some suitable prodding devices and proceeding to hit the ‘open’ button…. easier said than done.

As it turns out, hitting the button wasn’t too hard. But it didn’t open the door immediately as I had first hoped. I then tried to hook the dangling chain and pull that. Waving a stick in front what looked like motion sensors. Still no luck.

Time to go back to the pub.

As our “sensible” friends started to head home, Nicole suggested that we should probably think about making tracks. I told her to take her time while I had one last crack at freeing our imprisoned vehicle………. Nicole phoned the security company who said someone would be there within the next 30 minutes. Nicole suggested I dash to the supermarket to get supplies to take to our friends place (i.e beer and chips).

Nicole sent her beer induced husband off to the supermarket with the car keys and the reward required to free our car in my pocket (aka $60 cash) without much thought. As I deliberated which check-out line to queue up in my phone rang…. Nicole saying that the security guy was there and they needed my cash and car keys……..another conundrum – do I squander my valuable place in the queue and forgoe my beer and chips? Not on your life……

With beer and chips in hand I ran back to my stranded whanau who were happily chatting to the security guard. I’m sure freeing a stranded family of idiots is more exciting than the usual shift of cruising back alleys?

The indifferent AK on our northern road trip

And so, in exchange for my hard earned $60 our car was free and we could continue on our partying at Rob and Di’s place – with the AK in fresh nappies and sleeping happily in her potra-cot!

Happy 3rd (month) Birthday

Three months ago today, our little AK was born. Happy 3 month birthday Aneke. Who would have thought you’d be three months old only three short months after you were born.

In some ways it feels like the last three months have flown by in a blur. I think the first six weeks did really fly by but after that we seemed to find our rhythm and having a baby no longer seems like a foreign experience. It’s just like having a puppy really!

Twinkle fingers

Grandad Kevin and the AK

Grannie Beatrice chillin with the AK

The AK meets Great Nana Were

Whare and the AK doing the crossword

Granny Moira and the AK

Grandad John and the AK

Car time again

8 weeks in and looking good

Eight weeks of parenthood has flown by, and all is good. Little Aneke is keeping us entertained with her poetry recitals and piano playing….

One week old and already reading Byron

Six weeks and smiling

Eights weeks and chillin at the beach

The biggest journey yet

There have been a few times when we’ve elected to take the road less traveled, thrown in the towel on a comfortable existence for the sake of a new adventure and relished the experience, but it seems that having a baby last week will no doubt be our most life changing experience yet – and one we’re currently relishing every minute of.

Aneke Aurora Were Kilbride was born 4:42am Wednesday 30 June 2010. And she is adorable.

JK and the AK

Recipe #3 – Fish steamed with Couscous

Get your Dad to bring down some fresh Tarakihi he caught yesterday off Raglan. As for the other ingredients, rustle up the following:

• Couscous
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 red chillis
• Olive oil
• 1 tsp fennel seeds*
• 1 tsp cumin seeds*
• 1 tsp coriander seeds*
• 2 1/2 cm piece of cinnamon
• Unsaled butter
• Coriander leaves + finely chopped stalks
• Lemons

Cuttin it up

Whare’s trusty recipe book

Grinding the erbs

Grubs up

Time to tuck in

Dinner tasted like a Kapiti Coast sunset – beauty

Step-by-step

1. Put 1/2 cup of couscous in a bowl and add 1 cup of boiling water
2. On a low heat, in a medium sized saucepan, saute onion, garlic and chilli in oil
3. Grind up the spices* (about 1 tea spoon of each) in mortar, then add with butter (about 25 grams), melt, add coriander stalks and couscous to the saucepan
4. Turn heat down, add fish, drizzle with oil and throw in sliced up pieces of lemon
5. Cover with wet greaseproof paper, cook for 15 minutes

Yet another quick and easy dinner which tastes delicious. Bon appetit.