Icebergs off Southern New Zealand
 

As Down Under news seldom rates a mention anywhere else in the world, travellers planning a trip to NZ may like to know that huge icebergs,one six miles long, which apparently broke off from Antarctica about six years ago, are now floating off the south coast of NZ, and may be viewed by helicopter. Wish I could make it there myself! I heard an entrepreneur pilot on the radio today - apparently it costs $ NZ500 - the cheapest flight to Antarctica ever!

Hi Carrabella -

Well, it made the news here in Indonesia - saw it just last night. I'd love to see it up close though.

I've been told that they can be seen from land also, if you haven't got a spare $500. Apparently some "rat-bag Aussies" have planted their flag on NZ's iceberg. (Quoting Wednesdays Otago Daily times).

Perhaps you'd be surprised to hear that the NZ icebergs have made the news here in Canada. They were showing the really big one again on the news last night. Maybe it's the Canadian preoccupation with ice and snow but they are a big hit here!

Just watched the iceberg breaking up on my 6 o'clock news tonight on a local Boston station. Of course I'm noticing any news from "Down Under" as I am scheduled to fly LAX to Sydney on Christmas Eve for my first ever trip to Australia!

Still making the news here in NZ.

Shearing sheep on them yesterday.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...ectid=10412944

Shrek the sheep has a bit of a following here. The Prime minister once famously preferred to meet the sheep rather than a rival politician.

Though of course any story involving sheep and New Zealanders does nothing to stop the giggling from our Australian friends. (For US and European readers you will have to ask an Australian to explain this point)

Lois
Hope you will have a great holiday in Sydney - Christmas will be a BIG culture shock though!! Be prepared! Also jet lag can be a problem with the southbound flight, and you'll notice it, I'm sure. It will probably be very hot, and everything will be shut on Christmas Day. We have a four day break at Christmas, though shops will be open, and I'm sure touristy things will be open too, but transport will be on Public Holiday schedules..

I remember poor Shrek - how many pounds of fleece did they cut off him the first time?

And this is completely off-topic, but I was reading other articles at the NZ Herald site and saw this bit about the All Blacks' return from Europe - really, if your name is Hore, wouldn't you rather play some other position? :-))

>>hooker Andrew Hore all seemed nonplussed by the controversy...
Hore, the Hurricanes hooker who was sin-binned in the test against Wales on Sunday..."

Lee Ann

Ellen,I don't think footy fans would even notice!
Or maybe it is pronounced HO-RR- EE as it "hot"!

No it is definately pronounced hore.

He is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Last year he and a few mates got boozed up and went out on a boat in Otago Harbour, they ended up shooting a protected seal. They were seen by some horrified tourists and were promptly busted upon their return. Got a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket by the courts. A mere 2,500 fine between the three convicted which included our above named rocket scientist.

Intelligence is not required for the position he plays on the football field. Just a thick head.

So what does a hooker do - in rugby, I mean? :-)

Lee Ann

C'mon Carrabella "culture shock" for Christmas Day in Sydney!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is better than unwrapping presents, drinking wine, eating chocolates from those who always get you chocolates because they don't have any idea what its like to try and get rid of the effects of chocolate - having a nice meal and then going to the beach for the rest of the day or better still going to the beach for Xmas lunch on a barbie? You lot have Thanksgiving and we have Christmas Day which is our special day and the shops are not open. However you have to have one day where the shops are shut because they are making plans to open on Boxing Day for all the BIG SALES where you can buy all the presents for the next Christmas as a fraction of the price!!!!!!!!

Hi Lee Ann

To save me writing a tortuous explanation of what a hooker does on the field of play I though I would send through the link below.

Tells you all you would want to know about rugby positions and then some.

http://www.answers.com/topic/rugby-union-positions

As you can see, this position is potentially one of the most dangerous on the field. Not one I would have thought anyone with an ounce of intelligence would be mad keen to take on.

Back in the dim dark past when I played, I was out on the wing. Hard to get into trouble out there.

Lizf, I'll bite - I love our hot Christmases too, but I wouldn't like my very first one in a hot climate to be celebrated with jet-lag, and Lois says she is flying LX to Sydney on Christmas Eve - that's what I was trying to caution about. I don't mind the shops being shut at all.
As for what is nicer that chocolates etc and a day at the beach, I've had a few Christmases with DH's family in Germany, and that was indeed very nice!

Jet lag? - what jet lag? - sitting in a nice pool with bottle of bubbly will remove jetlag and just about everything else!
Mind you I love to have a white Christmas as well just as long as the main ingredients are there.

Thanks so much for the explanation! So, basically, the hooker hooks the ball with his feet and gets it out of the scrum to one of the backs?

Lee Ann

Lee Ann

You are bang on with that description. England are looking for a new coach, fancy putting your hand up Ha Ha.

I hope you did not read all the links from that link I sent you. It did seem to go on a bit.

Considering I just posted all I know about rugby, probably not. :-D

Lee Ann

Happy Christmas Lois! Hope you are enjoying Sydney.