The Cow

Today we went to the beach near Titahi Bay since it was such a nice day.

We found a path leading into some foothills so decided to go and have a look.
After we took this photo, we followed the fence line that you can see until the trail came to an abrupt end and we found ourselves at the entrance to a paddock. We considered whether to go across the paddock but decided against it as we didn't have proper shoes on, and besides there was A VERY LARGE COW IN THERE and it had taken an immediate interest in us. So we decided to come back the way we came.
Then we noticed that the very large cow was no longer in the paddock. In fact, IT WAS FOLLOWING US!!
We started to walk a little faster.
The very large cow also started to walk MUCH FASTER!!
We hoped that the cow would stop at some point but it didn't, it just kept coming! Finally we were actually running away from the cow, which was trotting at a good pace towards us, until we found a fork in the path - you could either keep going straight or do a sharp turn heading down the hill. We chose the latter; fortunately the very large cow chose the former. It charged on straight ahead out of sight as we rapidly descended the foothills.
Now one theory is that the cow thought we had come to fetch it to go back to the shed for milking and sleep, but I'm not so sure...

Anyway, after that harrowing experience we drove around a bit near there and found a little hill with this Maori totem pole thing on it, where we took this photo. I'm clinging for dear life to Daddy's head.

Levin

Well we have to be going home today. We've all had a good trip. Before heading home, we actually drove further north until we got to Levin. There is a big park there and I had a good play. There were a few things we don't usually find in Wellington parks, like the thing in the thrid photo above. Its a bit like a mouse's running wheel. Its a barrel that rolls around so when you sit in it and lean back, you end up flopping around like you are in a tumble dryer!!

There was also a trampoline there but there were some bigger kids playing on it so Mummy and Daddy thought I better not get on. There was also a hole in the trampoline at one end!! So it was decided that it wasn't safe enough for me to go on. I wasn't very happy about that because I really wanted to have a go at the trampoline but Mummy and Daddy ignored my protests.

Anyway, after playing at the park for a long time, it was time to head home. Of course, as soon as we were on the road, I fell asleep.

Lindale Farm

We went to the Lindale farm today, where there are lots of animals to see and a farm show.

First we had a bit of a walk through the paddocks to see the farm animals up real close. There were lots of big black smelly animal poos on the ground so I had to watch carefully where I was walking. Mummy and Daddy didn't seem to appreciate that my head is quite a bit closer to the ground than theirs so the sight and smell assaulted my senses much more aggressively than theirs.

Anyway, the smelly poos were soon forgotten when we were accosted by this rather assertive sheep. It appeared to know that we were carrying some pellets to feed it and after eating from the bag of pellets I held out to it, it proceeded to lick my hand.
We found this smaller sheep, a lamb I guess, who we gave some pellets to. I wonder if it is Mary's lamb... but then where is Mary??

We also found some young playful deer to feed. Most of them were shy but a few were not shy at all and would come right up to us and, standing almost nose to nose with us, would stare at us until we gave them some pellets. I thought the deer were really beautiful, and the way they ran up and down the hills in a herd looked so graceful.
Then we went to the farm show. This man who was dressed funny explained a bit to us about sheep and showed us how he could control his dog with whistles to get the dog to chase some sheep around and generally scare the living daylights out of them. He then got one particularly woolly sheep up on stage and showed us how to shear a sheep. Well the sheep was not happy about it at all but all of us in the audience thought it was great. He handed out some pieces of the sheep's hair for us to feel. It was really soft and light, but also quite greasy and a bit smelly.After that, in walked a huge cow!! With a HUGE belly full of milk!! Everyone got to take a turn at milking the cow. I had a try but couldn't squeeze the teats quite hard enough. Daddy helped and gave the teats a good hard squeeze which made the milk come out. I thought it would annoy the cow, but it just seemed relieved.
Then all the kids were invited to sit on the stage and some little lambs came in (still no Mary though!) which we fed using these teat bottles. Well my lamb certainly had some strong sucking muscles!! My whole body shook as the lamb sucked and gulped the milk from the bottle.

Once the show was over we went and looked around in the barn. A sheep came in and started scoffing from this bucket.

Mummy had a go at feeding it, and it licked and slobbered all over her hands!

We had one more quick look around the farm, and we found these silly billy goats with floppy ears. They made funny loud noises as we went past. We had a bit of food left so we gave it to them. And then it was time to finally go back to the motor lodge where we were staying and sort out some dinner.

A Trip to The Kapiti Coast

We went for a long drive up the Kapiti Coast today. We stopped at a beach along the way which I really enjoyed. We are heading for a place called Lindale, where we are going to stay for a few nights.

Well, Nga has gone back to Vietnam today. We are all going to miss her very much, but we hope it will not be too long before we can see her again.

Petone

We went to Petone today. There is a water fountain there from which flows very clear, very cool delicious water. We stayed there a while and drank lots of water. Then we went to a cafe for lunch. Daddy was a bit quiet and looked sad but we knew it was because Nga is going back to Vietnam tomorrow.

Daddy went out for dinner with Nga tonight. She is going back to Vietnam later this week so he wanted to say goodbye to her over dinner. I said goodbye to her with Mummy earlier this week when we all went out for luinch to the Khmer Noodle shop at Reading Cinema. Mummy and Daddy gave Nga and Grant each a NZ fish-hook bone carving pendant for good luck for their trip.

The Honey Bee

This is one of my favourite rides. It is a buzy bee outside the HoneyCo on Willis Street, and it sings and bobs up and down when I manage to convince someone to put money into it.

I am trying to show, using my fingers, how old I am. Although i found it easy to do two fingers, three fingers seems a bit more tricky.

A drive to Onehunga Bay

We went for a drive to Onehunga Bay today. It a little beach on the other side of Whitireia Park near Titahi Bay. Daddy and I splashed around a little at the shoreline. But it was a bit grey and cold so we didn't go in too far.

Three Years Old Today!!

Today I have turned three years old!! To celebrate, Mummy and Daddy organised a big birthday party for me at home!!! There were a mixture of old and new friends there, and I was glad to see them all. I received lots and lots of presents too!!!
Mummy and Daddy bought me a HUGE birthday cake! Since it was a special occasion, I could eat TWO pieces!!

I was glad to have Nyanjiga sitting next to me for my party.

Opposite me was sitting Nanami-chan, who is the daughter of one of Mummy's friends. She gave me a cute handbag and a book for my birthday! Her little brother Shinsei-kun was there too - I really like him. You can't see him in the photo above, but he was sitting at the end of the table in my high-chair. You can see him in photos below.
And of course Toma-kun was there, sittting opposite Nyanjiga. His mummy gave me a big pink towel for my birthday!! Toma-kun and I are becoming good friends because we see each other at Daycare, which I have started going to recently as I am getting too old for the Creche (which Nyanjiga still goes to).
Nyanjiga and her parents gave me a really nice pink dress for my birthday!

I was really surprised that Colin also came to my party, and wore one of the party hats! He gave me a nice orange backpack for when I go to the Daycare.

And it was lovely that Nga came to my party, and she and Grant gave me a jigsaw puzzle and a book that makes funny animal noises!!

After eating lots of cake and other food, we all played together with my presents. Because it was wet outside we couldn't play on the roller coaster and other things from the toy library. But we had lots of fun anyway! Here I am wearing the dress from Nyanjiga.

Grant also enjoyed getting dressed up!

It was certainly a great party. Mummy and Daddy were very busy throughout the party, serving everyone and making sure everyone had a good time. Daddy thanked everyone for coming and said he and Mummy were glad to have so many of our special friends there because it was the first time that they had done a party for me, and in fact the first time they had organized a party at all.

After the party everyone went home except Nga and Grant. We offered to give them a ride into town and we decided to meet Thang there and go out for dinner. So all of us went to Oaks Satay for dinner and had a nice time. Finally we went home and it was very late, so I fell to sleep in the car, as usual!