Aidan’s Gallery: five years eleven months old

Aidan is now five years and eleven months old! With Carolyn home from hospital, things settled down for a bit and we pottered around Auckland as best we could given the persistent rain. A highlight was a visit to the Wintergardens after school one day, with an impressive array of tropical plants and (separately) a comprehensive fernery. Aidan was disappointed that there were no Venus Flytraps.

This month Aidan bought the first ever thing he's had to save up for: a nifty electric motor / gearbox combo from Jaycar, for NZ$15.90 (about Ł6). It's a good choice, and hopefully he'll make something interesting with it.

We're keen to make the most of our remaining time here. One sunny Saturday we headed to the Waitakere Ranges. At the information centre we had a picnic and learned about the history and flora. Then on the recommendation of the ranger we did the Auckland City Walk - an excellent walk in part of the forest that is an open bird sanctuary. Just like Daddy used to, Aidan complained bitterly at the start of the walk, but soon warmed up and enjoyed it. The next day we went to the Zoo - highlights were Kashin showing off at the elephant display, and crawling through the tunnels under the meerkat enclosure.

At the end of May we went on our big trip around the North Island (page 1) (page 2 on Megan's site), visiting family and friends.

No resting on our laurels - the next weekend we finally conquered Rangitoto Island. Five hours on the island (Rangitoto Wharf - Kowhai Grove - McKenzie Bay - Summit Lookout - Rangitoto Wharf), mostly walking bar lunch stop and the summit, but the kids managed it all and did fine! The kids loved the multimodal trip too - walk to the bottom of the street, train across Hobson Bay into the city, ferry from the old ferry terminal past Bean Rock to the island. Aidan was fascinated with the geology, which is very apparent on an island only about 400 years old! We were treated to near-perfect weather, too, with beautiful views of the many islands of the Gulf picked out by rainbows. The next day we went for something a bit tamer, seeing a lovely waterfall 30mins walk behind Piha and getting good old New Zealand fish and chips in Titirangi on the way back.

Go to: Aidan: photo page | Aidan: big trip page 1 | Megan: photo page | Megan: big trip page 2

Click on any image to see a larger version; use your browser's ‘Back’ button to return.

Climbing the tree at the bottom of our street.

Image N20090510-1060
Nokia N73
1/124 sec., f/2.8
2009:05:10 14:02:06
(c) Keith & Carolyn

Climbing the tree at the bottom of our street. It's a good tree to climb, and it also has a rope swing which we always stop off at when we're out for a walk.

Aidan's robot. Aidan loves his electronics, and he loves making things. He had a lot of fun putting together this robot, and putting two big green LEDs into it for eyes. Move your mouse over the picture and you'll see them flash!