From tour guide to duck herder

For the last few years amongst all the other animals we run on our farm we always had about 100 Pekin ducks. A beautiful white duck. Okay egg layer in season but a good meat eating duck. Downside for us of the Pekin ducks was being white the young seemed to be a good target for the hawks. We have decided without research that hawks must see in black and white as its always the white young hens or ducks they head for first.

Now we could shoot the hawks. They are not a native of New Zealand in our region and are very territorial. But I detest guns. I dread the risk of shooting any animal for whatever reason and only injuring it so it suffers. So for me its just better no guns here. I love animals of all kinds but yes I am a meat eater.

So we have now sold off our Pekins, well what Xiaoli did not eat over time. I guess I enjoyed a few to. Now we have started building up a flock of Muscovy’s. Up to about 50 now. A much larger duck than the Pekin which come in a variety of colours. Hopefully being larger plus mostly black the hawks will leave them alone. The hawks also not liking the adults.

We will still raise the orphaned wild ducklings which fly off once they reach maturity. Its good as spring approaches to see some of last years orphans return getting ready for breeding season. Always wonder how many got shot in shooting season but nothing we can do about that. At least we gave them a chance in life once their mothers were killed one way or another. Guessing this year we will raise about 250 orphaned wild ducklings for Bird Rescue. Not a cheap exercise but gives one a good feeling inside

A little issue with one of our male Muscovy’s. One of the other males picks on it so its decided it will be friends with the geese

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Another tour over

A VIP tour guest on this occasion. A wealthy lady from China here for a quick trip plus wanted business discussions as it happened with us. That we did not know before she arrived but I believe she needed check us out first. I guess we must have passed the test.

No English spoken on tour but fortunately Xiaoli was free to travel or it would have been interesting. My understanding of Mandarin is definitely on the improve but Cantonese still easier for me. I refuse to talk either as one word can have a number of meanings depending on how its said. Safer I stick with English.

The tour van needs a good clean. Metal roads aplenty yesterday and terrible weather. The sun is up this morning so I guess cleaning will be on the agenda. Just need solar power batteries on the house to charge a little more before I run the pump continuous for cleaning. The joys of living on solar power is learning to pick your time when you run things that utilise power.

50 hens added to our flock earlier this week plus another 13 Muscovy ducks. Eggs aplenty so not sure what Xiaoli is proposing to do with our multitude of eggs. Our own chooks had stopped laying as it was change of season so we went from minimal eggs to over supply. I guess knowing Xiaoli eggs will be salted ready for eating later. Still cant after many years get an enjoyment out of eating salted eggs. It must just be my kiwi palate

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The ultimate New Zealand 4wd tour!

A strong statement but since they are one of our tours on offer from Peter and Xiaoli Tours I am allowed to say it. One of only 2 licensed to do the 4wd tours up Ninety Mile Beach and Te Paki Stream to Cape Reinga.

A beautiful winters day today. With weather and tide favourable first stop was for some Tua Tuas up the beach. Just enough taken for a feed. No need take more than you are going to eat.

Next stop was a quick photography stop at the bluff then on to photograph the hole in the rock.

No need for sand boards or toboggins today in the sand dunes as our customers deemed themselves too old. Interesting statement. I am older but still do it if the guests egg me on enough.

Xiaoli did take one up to the top of the dunes for photography. From there on to Tapotupotu Bay for a bite to eat before heading to the lighthouse.

The meeting of the oceans was quite spectacular to day and the Three Kings Island quite clear in the far distance.

Tomorrow we return our customer to Auckland Airport for their return to China. I am told they will be back. Absolutely loved the far north.

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Summer tour season booking up!

All the hard work this winter doing marketing it seems maybe starting to pay off.

Today I was out driving a lovely Chinese guest around to look at New Zealand farms. The weather wasn’t that inviting but she is only here for a few days before flying home so I just made sure we all went with jackets and gumboots. Saw a lovely rainbow. A full rainbow and if you look closely at one of the photos there was a second full rainbow but very faint. We see rainbows a lot this time of year but maybe today although we didn’t find the pot of gold at the end, maybe we did strike gold in our own way. A 20 day tour booking all confirmed just subject to me saying a final yes. And even more important a second tour quote for an overseas travel agent that I had targeted through winter.

For me, I struck gold. 1 tour I need confirm if I will do and the second a potential tour for which the agent to work with me needed change the start and end date slightly but to that she agreed. With quotes, final decision is always with the client but for me my marketing aggressively through winter appears to be paying dividends.

So a good day. Our client we are currently running around is happy. I bought 50 hens for Xiaoli to add to her flock at the farm so she is happy. And I am happy as my marketing expertise maybe rusty but rewards are coming.

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Will the All Blacks win tonight? Will I win lotto tonight?

The All Blacks winning or losing doesn’t affect my day to day life but yes my heart will be broken if the Lions manage to beat them. But some would argue its good if they did because that would make the third test a real nail biter to see who wins the series.

I read the articles. Some you wonder why journalists write them but I guess they are looking for anything that makes people read what they write.

Truth is the Lions are not bad players individually or for their respective four countries but they are asked to come together for a relatively short period and suddenly put their individual magic together on a rugby field. Maybe tonight they will. Soon we will find out.

Now lotto, that would affect my life dramatically. How would I react if I won lotto, I have no idea. Obviously I would be over the moon. Right now I would say I would continue to build Peter and Xiaoli Tours and not let it affect me. Yeah right!

Life would change. We are not poor now but far from wealthy. I have a 5 metre boat now I maintain I love. With $8 million at my disposal am I really just going to stay with my 5 metre boat which I supposedly love when my passion is fishing. I don’t think so.

You cant plan for winning $8 million because except for a very few, most of us wont even come close.

Maybe tonight is my night

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Business trip – Singapore, Malaysia, Southern China, Hong Kong

Its getting close to the time that I will be able to lock down a short business trip abroad to endeavour to sign up travel agents to represent us. Southern China and Singapore we know we have appointments just subject to me getting there. Still a work in progress for Malaysia and Hong Kong.

The hatred I have for long haul flying I will conquer. Just need ensure I get an aisle seat so I can easily get up and walk around the plane. Good for the blood circulation, good for the mental stamina. I like to see land and prefer to be on it. Despite the numerous times I have flown internally in New Zealand plus around the bottom half of the world, I still have this issue with flying. Yet I love getting to the other end of the journey and experiencing different cultures.

I will not contemplate a cruise away from the site of land either. Its just me, I love seeing land. Have no issue hopping on my boat, but keep that land in sight.

Today as I travel around with our guest from Beijing I came across some souvenirs perfect for me to leave as gifts to prospective business partners. Kiwi’s carved out of swamp Kauri. Just need add our own identification to complete and a perfect gift likely to sit around for a very long time where-ever I give them.

Swamp Kauri all comes from our region of New Zealand aged somewhere from 45,000 o 100,000 plus years old. And carved as a Kiwi as per photograph.  Now await for the carver to contact me Monday so we can discuss.

So mentally I have committed to travelling for business. Now to find travel consultants who may be interested in taking Peter and Xiaoli Tours on as a tour brand. We know our product is good, we believe our pricing is right, just need the sales agents to make it all happen. In the meantime bookings that come direct are filling our diaries so the 2017/18 tour season is on track. The question is, is this coming summer going to be the summer we take Peter and Xiaoli Tours to the next stage?

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How many windcreens a year, maybe in your life have you broken?

Last year I replaced 4 windscreens. Some say it comes with the high mileage I do and open roads as a tour guide. Now maybe I could agree, but maybe not. All 4 happened in Northland and all 50km either side of Whangarei. Isnt that interesting given most of the kilometres I drive are in fact in the South Island.

How are we looking for 2017. I know you want to know that. Well as a fortnight ago I had replaced one but broken another but not yet replaced as the break was not interfering with the driver vision or as at happened passenger vision. It was dead centre. Just as well I hadn’t replaced it because on the drive north from Auckland late last night with our guests aboard, I broke it again but this time in the passenger vision. So come Monday the vehicle is back to Smith and Smith Glass in Kaitaia for another new windscreen.

What is wrong with the roads either side of Whangarei. I really don’t know. There is road works various places but that happens anywhere. Do the cars speed more going the opposite direction as all but one break over the last 18 months has occurred from vehicles throwing up stones as they pass from the opposite direction. The other one was a ute over taking us in a passing lane with insecure load. Wood flying off. Needles to say I had to stop fast but he just kept on driving.

Please the second half of 2017, no more windscreen breaks. My insurance company has lost their smile in the voice. Damn

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