Irish Folk, Jazz, Ballads, Blues And Rock 'n Roll In The Sun With Raillery At Uretiti...

Life is great and sometimes my cup overfloweth.
I never know who my neighbours at the Uretiti Campground are going to be.
Lately it's been a movable feast of fascinating people and I woke the other morning to find a wonderful musical group called Raillery, which means 'good natured banter' parked next to me.
Check out their CD, Valley Of The Moon here.
It didn't take long before John and Tom on guitars, Ming on violin and Etha's fine voice were delighting the other campers with fine folk, jazz, blues, ballads rock 'n roll and infectious banter.
And yes I had a great time making music
in the sun with them too...

New Zealand's Flying Motorcycle Is All Set To Take To The World's Skies...

There's good news for New Zealand's Christchurch based Martin Aircraft Company and their Jetpack that was voted one of Time Magazine's Top Fifty Inventions a couple of years ago.
Their P12 Jetpack labelled a 'Motorcycle In The Sky' will be on the market next year with buyers from around the world already queing up to have one. Or two, at around $150,000 each.
Ideal for a fast commute to the office avoiding the traffic gridlock and parking hassles, this personal single person jet whatever will be invaluable in first response situations, fire services and search and rescue missions.
And for the military. As if they haven't got enough weapons of war.
It will fly at an altitude of around 7,000 feet or 1.5k with a cruising speed of around 56kph and a top speed of 74kph for approximately thirty minutes. You'd want to get your timing right.
This great little idea that's about to take off has been classified as a microlight so you'll need a pilot's licence.
There's more to know here and here...

The World's Fastest Mini...

It's a scene that comes from the wonderful movie, The World's Fastest Indian, the story of 63 year old Burt Munro from New Zealand's Invercargill, who in 1962, set off with his Indian Scout motorcycle he'd bought in 1920 to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah with virtually no money but plenty of boundless enthusiasm and persistence.
In the movie starring Anthony Hopkins as Burt, we see him fighting his way through red tape and bureaucracy to even be able to race and then, watch as the little man from 'down-under' overcomes all odds to realise his dream and attain a speed of 295kph.
This  record set then in 1967 still stands today.
Now, many years later, with the same 'kiwi ingenuity' and Burt's inspirational do-it-yourself attitude, a group of New Zealanders have taken a little 1964 Mini Cooper and, a few days ago, set a new world record at the famous Flats.
Like Burt they had to fight to get through the initial clearances to actually race but they did and they raced and raced and they won.
They raised the bar and set a new world record.
Their little Mini smashed the previous world land speed record of 205kph for cars under 1000cc when they averaged 235.9kph on their first two runs. After setting the record, they had another run of 252kph.
Burt had said 'Anyone with money can go and buy something new and go fast but it's more fun to take something old and go faster'.
Meanwhile back at the bar...

Tokelau. The First Wholly Solar Powered Nation In The World...

Tokelau, the tiny country with the bluest of blue waters will be the first wholly solar powered nation in the world.
The first of three solar powered systems being installed on the three atolls that make up Tokelau has been turned on. Fakaofo turned off its old diesel electricity system that burned around 200 litres of fuel daily and became totally
solar powered.
The other atolls, Nukunonu and Atafu will have their solar systems totally operational by
the end of the year.
The Mount Maunganui based New Zealand company Powersmart, said Tokelau's new system is among the largest off-grid solar systems in the world. It includes 4032 solar panels, 392 inverters and 1344 batteries, each weighing 230kg.
During periods of prolonged cloud cover, generators running on coconut oil will supply power and simultaneously recharge
the battery bank.
Tokelau. A little nation leading the world...

Tiny Movable New Zealand Beach House On Sleds...

Steven at Tiny House Listings sent me this tiny beach house on sleds to share with you.
It had been on my list of houses to visit for some time. He got to it before I did.
They're innovative people on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsular, still home to a few communes, hippies and alternative lifestylers I'm glad to say.
Being sited on an erosion zone, it's a building code requirement that all dwellings must be movable, out of harms way.
This wonderfully designed, completely self contained rustic holiday home for five can be towed anywhere on the beach or onto a barge and floated away if necessary.
And necessity is they say, the mother of invention...