Tag: lamb

Norefjord

Place 17 – May 18 2022 to May 20 2022: Norefjord – Back To The Farm!

Kim & Curtis Hale

Day 1


We drove to Nordfjord to visit our friends at the farm that we visited on our travels around 6 years ago! The drive was through snow as well as a lot of tunnels and we got to see a bunch of new places we hadn’t seen!

On the way, we stopped at a bakery in Rødberg for a cinnamon bun and then we carried on to the farm.

We arrived and had some lunch and some coffee, as is tradition, and we caught up with the family who now have an extra child than they did last time which was lovely to see and amazing to meet them.

We were chatting about badgers being a problem and of course, one appeared! We had to chase it down and trap it.

We walked through the forest and cleared it up, clearing up rubbish and also branches that are in the way. The plan is for them to make it into a field that can be used.

We ended the night with some food and a chat. We got to sleep in the cabin we slept in last time which we loved!

Day 2

We had some breakfast and then went down to where the lambs and sheep live to stack a bunch of firewood/logs so they can dry and are stored for the winter. We love doing this so this was great!

We had a coffee break, as you should, it was really nice to sit and chat with them whenever we had a chance.

We needed to move some wood planks from a trailer onto the floor so the trailer could be used again. There were a lot of planks but we worked with Martin to get it sorted.

We loved the opportunity to feed the lambs, too! Some had to be bottle fed, so it was a super nice experience and something new!

For dinner, we had a big roast with a big lamb/sheep leg which was slow cooked. Kim obviously didn’t eat it but Curtis did and it was excellent! The vegetables were a delicious side too.

We needed to make a fence to put around the new sheep field, so we helped to get that done after dinner, which was nice and relaxing.

Day 3

We started with breakfast, as expected and then right when we were getting ready for getting some work done, there was unfortunately a crazy incident with a stabbing in the local town.

This meant that we needed to be vigilant just in case and also the owners of the farm went to see if they could get their kids from school and to see if they can help at all.


The craziness went on for a while and once the evening hit, we walked around and checked all the old fences for holes or trees sitting on them before moving the sheep to their new field!

We had a beer in the sheep field once they’d moved and it was a very nice feeling to see our work come to fruition.

We finished our time there with a curry night! Martin made some really good homemade curry and we even had a visit from one of their friends who sat and had some food with us as well.

We had about 1/2 a day left after this, which will be covered in the next post!

We loved visiting the family again and we can’t wait to head back, see even more farm improvements and help them out.

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Vancouver, BC

Place 72 – Day 27: Vancouver,BC – Kitchenware & Company Drinks

Kim & Curtis Hale

Curtis’ Day

Curtis had to contend with a busy train this morning. He intentionally didn’t get on the first train that arrived in hopes that the second train was less busy. This was not the case.

The second train was even busier, so he had to squeeze on to get to work on time.

Curtis got to work, got a coffee and went to his desk.

Curtis wad pretty busy all day, with quite a few new tickets coming in and some old tickets from earlier in the week to compete.

Curtis had lunch at 13:00 and he headed leftover salad from dinner last night.

After lunch it was a bit less busy, but the was still enough for Curtis to get on with.

Drinks

At 17:30, Curtis went for a couple of drinks and some food with some colleagues. There were some people from IT as well as marketing and development team members.

Curtis was out for about 3 hours and head some lamb pasta for dinner which was alright. Curtis met his predecessor who came for a drink too.

Once Curtis was done, he got on a non busy train and Kim met him from the train.

Kim’s Day

Kim went out to get some kitchenware from a lady for our new place.

Kim went all the way there and it was a lot of stuff, so she could only take a bit of it. Luckily, the lady offered to drop it off so she did that. We now have kitchenware!

Kim watched some TV and then had to go to the bank again.

Kim walked from there to the train station to meet Curtis.

Evening

We walked home and told eachother about our days.

We got home and Curtis had a shower and then we watched some Lucifer before bed.

Kerikeri

Place 68 – Day 4: Kerikeri – Clean Caravan, Stone Store & Delicious Lamb Leg

Kim & Curtis Hale

We woke at 08:00 and had a bit of breakfast before getting back out to do the weeding, continuing from yesterday.

We stopped a couple of hours in to have a break and one of the kids here made us some amazing waffles!

We went back out to do some weeding, and did another hour or so and we are nearly done with that. We had a supervisor with us, too.

We finished up and had an hour or work remaining, so we set on the next job which was to clean the outside of the caravan as the family will be taking this away this weekend.

We spent a while on this, using all sorts of tools and we got rather drenched but it was certainly fun and it also looks much better.

We finished up, showered and got dressed to go out. We wanted to do something this afternoon.

We had a sandwich and then jumped in the car. We went to the shop first to get cold supplies as we both have colds now!

We then drove out to an area here which has multiple walks, an amazing water area and some old buildings.

Firstly, we got an ice-cream at the cafe. The most important stop.

After this, we looked around the old stone shop which had been trading since the 1800s. Everything was old and the building was stone. It was pretty cool.

We then walked up to a hill which was a former Maori fortification, but there is nothing left there now, but there was a great view.

We had a little walk in the lake and we saw a baby duck!

We got home and sat outside doing some admin and admiring the incredible view from the house!

We then had a terrific leg of lamb which was their former lamb, too. This was paired with a couscous and vegetable salad and, of course, gravy.

We cleaned up, washed up and had a brief chat with our hosts before we left them to sort out things for their trip and we went to bed and chilled out.

This time last year!

Poroporoaki!

– Mr & Mrs Hale

Auckland

Place 49 – Day 365: Auckland – Belgian Cafe Dinner, Mini Christmas Market Walk & 1 Year in NZ!

Kim & Curtis Hale

After waking up at a similar time as yesterday, Kim went out to McDonald’s to get a breakfaost from there and we sat and watched videos in bed for a while. The perfect Sunday morning.

Kim went out early afternoon to see if Danielle’s mum had any shoes she could borrow for the last week of work. Turns out that she didn’t, but Kim still got to see Danielle and even went for a milkshake!

Today, it is apparently 1 year since we arrived in New Zealand, which is odd because we arrived on the 18th, not the 16th!

Once Kim was back, we waited for a bit and then we drove down to the city to meet Colten and Sarah at a Belgian cafe/pub.

The Belgian cafe is somewhere we’ve walked past a few times and really wanted to go in, so we’re glad we got to go! This place does remind us of Europe.

We had to wait a little for a table, but Colten & Sarah hadn’t arrived yet either. There were way too many beers to choose from, but the food looked incredible!

Once we got a table, it was time to order! Curtis got the Venison Pie which had a cinnamon gravy and Kim got the lamb shoulder. Curtis’ was tasty but the peas and carrots were cold. He’d give his 6/10. Kim’s was OK but a lot of fat and just nothing special, she gave it 5/10.

After we finished up there, we went for a walk to the Sky Tower where there was a small christmas market.

Curtis and Colten got a coffee each and Kim got a chocolate sundae from McDonald’s. Colten and Sarah got their portrait drawn and we had a bit of a walk around.

We had a chat for a bit and then it was home time. We walked back to the cars, said goodbye and went home.

We got home and Kim had a chat with her mum and dad before we went to sleep.

This time last year!

Poroporoaki!

– Mr & Mrs Hale

Auckland

Place 49 – Day 304: Auckland- Onehunga Shopping & Cornwall Park

Kim & Curtis Hale

We woke up way later than planned or expected, at 11:30!

We had a quick bite of breakfast, showered and left the house.

We met Josh and Danielle in Onehunga, at the mall.

The mall was very busy! We walked around the mall with Danielle and Josh, stopping in a lot of shops. The mall is an outlet mall, so lots of great deals! Kim got some sunglasses and Curtis got some swimming shorts.

We left here and Curtis wasn’t feeling great, so we grabbed a bottle of orange juice to drink. We then drove over to Cornwall Park and walked to see the sheep and lambs!

Lambs_CornwallPark
The lambs!

We left Cornwall park and headed to Glenfield mall. The day today had odd weather. we were warm and then absolutely freezing, especially once the wind came in.

When we got to Glenfield, we went to get just a couple of items from the shop (pasta, wine & strawberries…A normal shop!) And then went to get a coffee from Little Things, which as excellent as always.

We got home and did a bit of laundry, then watched the Great British Bake Off.

After that, Kim made hoisin duck and mushroom pasta and we watched some YouTube videos whilst we ate.

After that, we watched the apprentice.

Once we were done with that, we played some Call of Duty with Kim’s friend Ryan, then it was bedtime.

This time last year!

Poroporoaki!

– Mr & Mrs Hale

Auckland

Place 49 – Day 265: Auckland – Piha Beach (Again) & Sky Tower Dinner

Kim & Curtis Hale

Wee both woke up at 07:30 and Kim went to work. Curtis got up and had breakfast whilst waiting for his family to arrive.

Once his family arrived, Curtis got in the car and they were off for the day.

The plan for today was to go to Piha beach. This is the black beach that we have been to previously, but we wanted to show the family.

Once they got to the beach, it was pretty windy but there wasn’t really anyone there, which made for a good walk.

It was windy enough that the sand was being kicked up from the beach, which had an awesome affect!

They walked around the beach for a while and then went to look at the waves that Curtis knew crashed onto the rocks nearby.

After the beach, they went to the highest cafe in Auckland, which we had been to previously.

Curtis had the Moroccan Lamb Sandwich which was phenomenal!

They left the cafe and drove to Kim’s work to get the keys for Curtis’car from her and then Curtis was dropped off at the car.

Curtis drove home to get some evening clothes and then drove to the rental house.

At 16:20, Curtis drove to the garage that Kim’s car was in to pickup the keys and pay for required repairs. He then got some fuel and drove to pick Kim up from work.

After this, we can home and chilled for a moment before driving down to the sky tower in the city.

We first went to the observation deck from which we got a 360° view of the city.

After here, we went down a level to the cafe and had a drink whilst we waited.

We finished our drinks and went in the lift to the floor above where we were booked to have dinner, on a revolving floor! This allowed us to see the whole city at night which was beautiful.

The food was absolutely divine! For starter, we all shared some Kumara bread and had our own starters also. Curtis had King Prawns and Kim had duck breast.

Shortly after, it was the main! Curtis had venison and Kim had steak.

The venison was excellent and the steak was just OK.

For dessert, Curtis had a coffee cake and Kim had a chocolate orange dessert.

The food was excellent and the company even better!

Curtis’ family leave tomorrow evening, so it’s the last day!

This time last year!

Poroporoaki!

– Mr & Mrs Hale

Auckland

Place 49 – Day 240: Auckland – Back At The Quiz!

Kim & Curtis Hale

Curtis’ Day;

Curtis hit every traffic light perfectly this morning which meant he got to work super early!

Curtis had a lot of emails from Friday to go over so he did that but also received a phone call. He was only on that call for 15 minutes, luckily!

Not long after that call, Curtis got another which was a little more urgent and meant that Curtis had to go onsite to the client. He’d never been there before, either, so it was good to see another client.

Curtis got there and they were having internet issues which turned out to be hardware issues (with a switch) so Curtis managed to plug everything into another switch and get them up and running again.

Curtis got back to the office and it was fairly busy for the rest of the day, helping someone else with some network issues before leaving at 16:15.

Both of us;

We decided we wanted to go to the quiz with Josh and Danielle this evening, so we left when Kim got home.

We arrived and it wasn’t that busy, but that soon changed!

We ordered some food and waited for the quiz to start. Kim got her usual pesto pizza and Curtis had braised lamb and chilli pasta.

During the quiz, we thought we were doing quite well until the last few rounds when we dropped off. Danielle got a lot of the bonus question right which boosted our points up! We still got second to last which is perfect as we win our usual prize.

We left and came home and it was then about 22:00, so the perfect time for bed.

This time last year, we arrived in Vietnam! Read about it in the link below!

This time last year!

Poroporoaki!

– Mr & Mrs Hale