How To Increase Your Internet Connection... With A Woktenna...

My IT whizz kid friend told me about this web site...
I was asking him about getting better cell phone and
internet reception in areas where the reception is weak and spasmodic.
Try it... Any metal bowl will do...
I would love to hear back from you if it works for you.

 

Do look at this web site and browse through all the amazing ideas
that John has come up with... I'm impressed.

Johanneshof Cellars... Koromiko

When I was  in Picton... A couple of months ago
I met Edel Everling who, with her partner Warwick Foley,
own and operate Johanneshof Cellars.
It is a small artisan boutique winery producing wines
from hand harvested grapes only sourced from their vineyards
and growers in Marlborough in New Zealand's South Island.

 It's a unique property which Edel and Warwick established in 1991.

I visited with my friend Cathy...  We were greeted at the door...
And spent several hours looking... Learning... And tasting!
Below is some of the history from Edel's German family vineyard.

Edel is a fifth generation winemaker from
Ruedesheim, Rheingau, Germany.
She grew up in her family vineyard, playing amongst the vines
and learning about them from a young age.

She studied for her degree in Viticulture and Oenology
at Geisenheim University in Germany.
Edel combines the old arts of winemaking with modern technology.
A modern laboratory ensures control of fermentations but is not
a substitute for regular organoleptic evaluations of the wine.


Johanneshof Cellars have won numerous 
prestigious awards... Since 2002...


Of which Edel is justifiably proud.


There are so many of them...

 

 
This cabinet holds the most  precious awards
garnered from all round the world.


Just one of the 'Gold' medals...

 
Edel's Gewurztraminer has been elevated from
a 'Classic New Zealand Wine' to a
'Super Classic New Zealand Wine' by prominent
wine writer Michael Cooper in his
'Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2012'
highlighting consistency of excellence.


Tasting was a real treat and all were
delicious... But I can only fit so much in my pack
when I am travelling.
But I was given a list of the selected places in NZ
that sell Johanneshof wines.


We were taken on a tour through the amazing underground cellar.
Johanneshof's adoration for Europe's century old wine culture led
Edel and Warwick to establish in 1993,
New Zealand's first underground rock cellar
tunnelled, by New Zealand's South Island's West Coast miners,
into solid sandstone, 50 meters long and 20 meters deep underground.


The cool, stable temperature and high
 natural humidity of this unique cellar
provide ideal storage conditions to allow the maturation of wines
in French Barriques and German barrels.
In this traditional cellar, Johanneshof's flagship wine,
the Methode Traditionnelle 'EMMI' is fermented
in its bottle and aged on its yeast lees for more than 5 years.
After learning about the process of making this 'Methode Traditionelle'
compared with the cheap 'supermarket' bubbles...
I won't be buying it any more... And it explains why in general
I don't like bubbly wine.


Johanneshof Cellars Edelbrand - Grape Brandy
  Solely made from 100% hand  harvested grapes grown in Marlborough
Johanneshof Cellars' Edelbrand
has been maturing deep in the underground
cellar for some 15 years. Aged in Limousine barrels
this premium brandy is blended like the best cognacs using the
solera method guaranteeing the finest quality of brandies.
Good Things TakeTime
Johanneshof is one of a few New Zealand companies who produce a
Grape Brandy. Called "Edelbrand" is distilled twice like a Cognac,
ends up with a very high alcohol content which is then diluted down.
The name means 'Noble Brandy' from German.
This brandy maturing in the underground Koromiko cellars
is sampled out of the barrels using a glass 'winethief' ...
Edel admits that the enjoyment they get out of these
regular barrel tastings no doubt contributes to the prolonged
time they let this precious liquid mature.


After tasting... I did succumb to buying a bottle of this unique brandy.
When the brandy is distilled it is clear like water.
It gets its beautiful colour while it ages in oak casks.
It and the glass found a place in my pack...
And travelled back to my bus without getting broken....
The bottle is now empty!

Do wander round the web site... It's very informative...
I have only told you a fraction.
When you are next in New Zealand's South Island
a visit is a must... You will love the experience.

How Materiaistic Are You?...

 

 A very successful attorney parked his brand new 
Bentley in front of his office... 
Ready to show it off to his colleagues.
As he was getting out, a truck came along too closely
and completely tore off the driver's door.
Fortunately a cop in a police car was close enough
to see the accident and pulled up behind the
Bentley... With his lights flashing.
Before the cop had a chance to ask any questions,
the attorney started screaming hysterically
about how his Bentley, which he had just purchased the day before,
was completely ruined and would never be the same,
no matter how any car body shop tried to make it new again.
After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant,
the cop shook his head in disbelief...
"I can't believe how materialistic  you lawyers are" he said.
"You are so focused on your possessions that
you neglect the most importants things in life."
"How can you say such a thing" asked the lawyer.
The cop replied, "Don't you even realise your right arm is missing?
It was severed when the truck hit you."
"OH MY GOD" screamed the lawyer... "My Rolex."

Rangiputa... Tucked Out Of The Wind

The easterly wind blew up so it was time to
move from Tokerau Beach on Doubtless Bay.
The sand was flying and no fishing till
the next wind change... Sometime next week.

 
So I relocated to Rangiputa.
It's just across the other side of the same, Karikari Peninsula.
But it faces west, near the mouth of the Rangaunu Harbour.

There is a DoC area for freedom camping right on the point.
Every direction there is a beautiful beach.

Lots of rocks, so not so good for fishing from the shore.

This is the view out my door where I am parked.
This is the best part of the beach for swimming.


Across the other side of the harbour is
East Beach, accessed through Kaimaumau,
off SH 1.


The hill in the distance is Mt Camel.
It's at the head of Houhora Harbour.


There have been beautiful sunsets...


 
Each night so different.


I was given 3 large fish heads and frames to smoke...
This one is sitting on my oven tray to give you some idea of size.
They were caught from a boat out in the channel.


Being smoked...
Needless to say they were delicious for dinner...
I made fish cakes served with spicy plum sauce and salad.

Photos... Memories... From The Archives...

For richer... For poorer... For power... Control...
Corruption... Greed .
What do these photos make you think about?
I think I must be feeling cynical...
Has the world despite its sophistication today
progressed at all?



 

 

A Native American looks down at a newly-completed

section of the transcontinental railroad, Nevada, about 1868.

 

Jewish refugees, approaching allied soldiers, 
become aware that they have just been liberated,
April 1945.