Chook-napping

We were rummaging through our stored belongings in Bro's shed, heard gentle clucking and looked out to see one of the chooks inspecting the back of the van.

Fergus, meanwhile, had claimed the front seat.

We came south to pick up Mr B’s recently imported motorbike only to be stymied by public holiday this Friday (6 Feb - Waitangi Day - commemorates the signing of a treaty between Maori peoples of Aotearoa and Queen Victoria's appointed representatives). Our trip has not been wasted - Mr B and Bro converted an old golf-bag cart into a kayak trolley, we 'found' a tyre to replace one that blew out on the trip down, we have found paperwork for a 'lost' pension of Mr B’s and both visited financial advisors and pension company here in little ol' Ashburton.

Fortune might favor Mr B and Customs might decide to clear their workload before the public holiday and clear the bike for collection tomorrow.....fingers are crossed. Customs officials around the world do not enjoy a generally favorable reputation and ours work under some very detailed restrictions on imported vehicles so I'm not expecting miracles.