[New shoot]

Just been reading about the snow in New Zealand

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/15/new-zealand-snow-heaviest-years

Think we may have to all start knitting chook wooly jumpers to send over   

[Lindeggs]

 

Yes I think we are all going to need snow shoes soon!  It snowed in Auckland (where I am) for the first time since the 1930s.  I couldn't believe it when I looked outside and saw white flakes floating down!  :blink:  Apparently people in the office buildings downtown were running out onto the street to see the snow. 

It's all a bit of fun for us in the north but some people in the south are struggling a bit.  There is snow in places where it has never snowed before so people aren't prepared for it.  On the radio they are broadcasting the advice to put socks on over your shoes to save slipping on the ice.

Maybe some stripey chicken-socks would be in order? 

[New shoot]

Now there would be a knitting challenge  :blink: 

[JaK]

  Hope it doesn't get too bad for you though. What do the chooks thick of the white stuff?

[Lindeggs]

The white stuff didn't last long enough to touch the ground around here.  It just kind of dissolved before it touched down!  The chickens were much more disturbed when we had fog a few weeks ago.  They had no idea what to do a bout that and ran back into their coop! 

Here's a sweet little video of how people in Wellington reacted to the snow. (Wellington is several hundered kms south of here, and several degrees colder so their snow was much heavier.)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/weather/news/video.cfm?c_id=10&gal_cid=10&gallery_id=120860

[bantam novice]

 

[Yorkie]

Aww that's lovely 

[New shoot]

That was lovely 

Reminds me of a meeting I was in years ago with a quite serious client who was from South Africa, but working in the UK.  There we were having this involved discussion about a project that was going adrift when it started snowing.  He jumped up shouting 'Wow look' and next thing we knew he was gone and we saw him running around outside the office. He came back so excited that he had seen snow

The meeting went so much better after that 

[hillfooter]

The white stuff didn't last long enough to touch the ground around here.  It just kind of dissolved before it touched down!  The chickens were much more disturbed when we had fog a few weeks ago.  They had no idea what to do a bout that and ran back into their coop! 

Here's a sweet little video of how people in Wellington reacted to the snow. (Wellington is several hundered kms south of here, and several degrees colder so their snow was much heavier.)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/weather/news/video.cfm?c_id=10&gal_cid=10&gallery_id=120860

Hey Lindeggs I'm coming to Wellington to visit my daughter in the new year.  She says that's when your summer is,  has she got this right?

Will be visiting South Island mostly, any tips?
HF

[Lindeggs]

  Yes Hillfooter, amazing as it is... we have summer in December/January!  Wellington is a gorgeous city and right in the middle of the country so perfect as a base for visiting both main islands.

Will be visiting South Island mostly, any tips?
HF

Yes I have one important tip: use the definite article.  We call it the South Island and the North Island.  Every time.  It's an odd quirk but it's an easy way to spot foreigners and poke fun at them!    Oh and we say "in the North/South Island" rather than "on" it.  Every other island is "on." 

My other best tip is to wear sunscreen every time you go outdoors, on every part of your body.  Tops of ears, tops of feet, back of hands.  Get yourself a wide-brimmed hat and wear light cotton long sleeved shirts rather than short sleeves.  The sun in NZ (and Australia) is the burniest sun in the world and you won't enjoy your stay if you're burned to a crisp!  :blink:

My hubby and I spent a week in the South Island at the end of July and it was just as stunning as the postcards and tourist brochures say.  You won't be disappointed.