“Rainbow Colour Jean,” - production crew

Kansai TV, Japan has a programme called “Rainbow Colour Jean,” a live entertainment & information programme including traveling & life-style sections. The production crew stayed with us while in Christchurch.

We tagged along to watch the shooting. You can see Jean-chan next to the cameraman in the photo. Have a close look and you can see that Jean-chan has the marks of being a very busy world traveller.

The crew were flat out from the time they arrived till the time they left and so we should be able to see Christchurch being introduced in a good light! Its going to be broadcast in November on Kansai TV.

2 years till Rugby World Cup 2011

Every time we go to AMI Stadium for a Crusaders / Canterbury game (rugby) we can see how the new Deans Stand is coming along. It’s being built for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, now less than 2 years away.

The Deans Stand is named after the Deans Family, one of the oldest families in Canterbury, which has contributed players and coaches to Canterbury and the All Blacks. Robbie Deans is currently coaching the Wallabies (Australian national team) because the NZ Rugby Union kept the current All Blacks coach even though we lost the world cup (but that’s another story!).

Put this date in your diaries, Saturday 7 August 2010. The first international at the new AMI Stadium. All Blacks v Australia. We’ll be there.

We took this photo last Friday when Canterbury played Manawatu. It was a great game with Richie, Dan, Brad Thorn, Keiren Read all playing. We 50-26!!! To keep the Ranfurly Shield in the South Island till next year.

At the Rugby World Cup, AMI Stadium will be hosting 5 pool matches and 2 Quarter Finals.

Little River Rail Trail

Between 1886 and 1962 there was a railway line between Christchurch and Little River, a small town ½ way between Christchurch and Akaroa. The Little River Rail Trail has recently been developed and it is a refreshingly different way to enjoy the scenery!

The other day we checked it out. We rode from Motukarara to Little River which was 20kms. It took 2 ½ hours, hindered by a head wind in the first half and helped by a back wind in the second half.

Biking along the shore of Lake Ellesmere we were treated to a large range of birdlife but regretfully, lots of midges (a small fly like creature) to bike through made the scenery hard to see! A little further on we finally left them behind and it was oh so much more enjoyable!

At Little River we visited the craft/gift shop inside the old railway station to feel the history. It’s not all commercialised, there are a few historical displays to do some research on.


Then it was lunctime and we went to the Little River Café and Store. It is what it is called. There’s a café and store, but also an art gallery.

The display cabinet was a visual feast - we chose the bacon & egg tart, bacon and egg pie, a pinani and what turned out to be the best of all, soup of the day - Tomato and Coriander – delicious! They make almost everything there in the shop (the bread comes from Christchurch!)

A great place to drop into on the way to or back from Akaroa.