Gardens

 The Dunedin Botanical Garden is a major attraction in Dunedin and it is spectacular.  According to their website, "hill views from sunny lawns, over 6,800 plant species and the birdsong of wild native bellbirds, wood pigeons and tui - just some of the delights of the 28 hectare Dunedin Botanic Garden." I took lots of photos of flowers, but I don't want to bore my admiring readers with more pictures of the local fauna--unless there is a general public outcry for them.

Claire reflects (on how glad she is to be married to me) during a stroll in the Lister Garden.

Walking through the native wood.

 Oliver holds a redwood up.

The Gardens share their home with the Dunedin Aviary.

There is a Cockatoo just below the sign talking to Oliver and Molly.

The view from the Mediterranean Terrace

Tunnel

Tunnel Beach is another interesting Dunedin spot.  We went with some friends to Tunnel Beach. According to newzealand.com, "In the 1870s Dunedin entrepreneur and politician, John Cargill, gave instructions for a tunnel to be carved through a sandstone cliff so that his family could have access to a beach near his home. It is rumoured he gave it to his daughter's as a birthday present. The tunnel provided them with private access to the beach and prevented 'exposure' at the public St Clair Beach nearby.The beach was used frequently at low tide by the families of John and Edward Cargill, both were the sons of Captain William Cargill, the driving force and inspiration behind the settlement of Otago in 1848."  I have also read John Cargill's daughter was pulled out to sea by the rip currents and drown on her 16th birthday.  Enjoy the pictures.

Vandals got to this sign, but a charming group photo nonetheless.

The walk down to the tunnel.  

Spectacular!

Claire in the tunnel (poor photo).

Boogie Boards!

Superhero/Ninja Oliver on the rocks!

Family

Claire and Oliver arrived today from the U.S.  They will be with us for the next three weeks.  Having our family be apart for so long has not been easy, even with Skype.  It will be even harder when they go back.

Claire, Molly, and O at the Dunedin train station.

When we told you, our friends and family in the U.S., Canada, and Great Britian, what we were doing you offered us your enthusiastic encouragement.  The friends and colleagues we have made in New Zealand have made us feel incredibly welcome.  Many of you have given a great deal of support to us, either in Bloomington or in Dunedin.  We could not possibly thank you enough.

So, with the family back together again, here it is one more time: THANK YOU!

Oliver fitting in.

Fair

On Saturday, March 31 Columba College held the annual Columba Fair, which is a fund raiser for the school.  The head convener of the Columba Fair is Jennifer, a Texan of considerable skill in the organization, delegating, and baking departments.  Her ability to run a well oiled fund raising machine has become the stuff of legend in Dunedin.  This year's fair has raised a considerable amount of money that will go, in part, to finding equipment for the new science lab.

How do you organize a school fair in New Zealand that makes a considerable amount of money?  You make sure the fair has . . .

A petting zoo, 

a plant and herb stall, 

a tombola (raffle),

fresh produce, 

an Easter tent, 

something to keep the Board of Trustees busy, 

kid games,

kid games that allow kids to hit things, 

and hit more things, 

a book sale,

cheerful volunteers, 

sheep,

plastic fish in bags of water,

friendly greeters,

sheep dogs (Hello, Teddy!),

egg decorating contests,

games of skill (like sock toss), 

an International Foods tent*,

the obligatory bouncy castle,

Scottish bagpipers,

bungie jumps, 

really good coffee,

a dunking booth,

well loved toys,

sweets,

a "sausage sizzle,"

a high dive tank,

head prefects, giant (visible) rabbits, and cute children with whistles,

well loved junk,

well loved clothing (piles of it!),

"Pick-a-Stick,"

a silent auction, . . . 

. . . and much, much more. So, in order to have a successful fund raising school fair, it really boils down to three key ingredients:

1. Extraordinary Leadership (Jennifer)

2. An army of volunteers, and 

3. An extraordinary leader's spouse (Will)

*The International Foods tent featured "New Orleans Gumbo" which took me aback somewhat.  Sometimes I forget that we are "foreigners."