The guests who came last week were a Japanese couple who lived in Auckland. The husband (Tatsuru) was a senior student of the same high school (Niigata, Japan) of my husband, so we enjoyed talking about their school days! And, surprisingly he participated in the "Ultra Easy 100km marathon". But it's not easy at all !!! It's crazy 100km with mountain runs in the hottest weather over 35 degrees.
Jan. 25th （Thu) : The couple (Tatsuru & Karino) arrived, had a rent-a-car, then went out for the inspection of the course with some exercise lightly. ちょっとしたハプニングで、クイーンズタウン空港で予定していたレンタカーが借りられず、バスにてワナカ入り。 (その後、ワナカでレンタカーを借りることに。） 到着早々に、コースの下見と軽く足慣らしとのことでお出かけ。
Jan. 26th （Fri) : The day before of the race. There was an explanatory meeting in town. ゆっくり体力温存。 町で行われたレースの説明会に参加。 出場者への激励メッセージは・・・「がんばらないでください！」 だったそうです。 というのは、この地域全体が、この夏は既に記録的な猛暑であり、この耐久マラソンの日は、過去最高気温を更新する予報が出ていたからです。 死人が出てはたいへん！ 翌早朝（午前2時）出発に備えて、建さんは明るいうちにお休みになられました。
Jan.27th (Sat) : They went for Luggate at 2am, to be at the start point. At 3am, the race was started in the dark! After Karino sent her husband into the race, she came back here for another sleep. When 7 hours passed since the race was started, we went for his support together. 27日（当日）午前10時半頃になって、かりのさんのサポートに、私たちも加わって応援に駆けつけました。
We waited Tatsuru at the one of the station point on the Cardrona road, where was the 51km spot (at the middle of the whole distance).
レースの約半分の地点 にある本部付近 カードローナ・ロード沿い で建さんを待ちました。
While seeing off runner one by one, we finally found him in the distance. ポツリ・ポツリとランナーを見送る中、 ようやく建さんの姿！ （この時点で すでに山岳51kmを走っての到着）
He was supplied drink and food here. However, there was no banana which was important food. He looked a bit disappointed not to get it which he expected
Then begun to run again..... 建さんは後半50kmに向けて、また雄大な景色の中に小さくなってゆきました。 We knew the uphill slope to Snow farm waits soon ahead. The temperature was 35.2 degrees, which was recorded the highest one of Wanaka anew on that day.
After around 5 hours in the late afternoon, we got a contact from him that he decided to finish. That was great decision! So relieved that he was able to get back safely. Well done in such a hard condition of heat wave.
Jan.28th (Sun）： Rest day! There was a prize giving at Albert town tavern. 午前中にプライズ・ギビング（表彰式）があるとのことで、アルバートタウンにお出かけ。 その後予約しておいたスポーツ・マッサージを受けて・・・
夜は我が家でお疲れ様ディナー
Then we enjoyed dinner together.
Jan.29th (Mon) : They left Wanaka in the fresh morniing. ワナカ滞在の目的を果たしながらも、「そういえば観光は何もしなかったね」と、 バスの出発間際に、レイクフロントの桟橋で記念撮影。 清清しい朝、素敵なご夫婦を見送りました。 Thanks for the visit, will see you again.
Afterwards, an article about the heat wave and the marathon was in the newspaper.
By the way, the change of temperature! It is unbelievable that snow capped mountains were appeared suddenly last week, and now the feeling is autumn...
Alanta passed away 3 days ago. It was 6 years ago, a turning point came to her who prepared for death once. She decided to come to Wanaka to became our family member. Obedient Alanta was always behind BJ. She loved to lie in my vege garden box (I know it was nice and comfortable to lie on soft fluffy soil). She smashed the buds of vegetables often and was got angry by me!
In the early summer, she enjoyed walking around in the beautiful path of lupine in full glory.
Playing in the water with BJ on the hot day of midsummer.
真夏の水遊び
Unusual scene of walking side by side together.
性格も運動能力も違うBJとアランタ、ウォーキング･スタイルもそれぞれ 勝手に思い思いに。
こんなふうに一緒に並んで歩く ことはめずらしいのです。
We all were healed by the quietness at the lakeside.
湖畔の静けさに 癒される・・・
4月、黄葉に包まれた 秋の散歩道
In the gold of autumn leaves
Alanta had a cataract. She was given eye drop and tablet not to progress it. To prevent from putting a burden on her body, we gave special homemade food to her instead of dog food for a while.
Finally she lost her sight and hit her face around for these months, but she had still good appetites until the day before. The next morning, her breath was gone quietly with very calm face. Her happy life of 11 years came to a close, and she left for another world.
この帰国中めずらしいことがあったので、お披露目させていただきます。 A something unusual thing happened, during our return home to Japan.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
At the house of my mother-in-law (Bruno's mother). One late afternoon... when I came to the kitchen to help mother for dinner prep., I saw Bruno there! He is a type of old Japanese man (who doesn't enter the kitchen = never cooking), he usually doesn't come to the kitchen other than taking beer bottles from the fridge. Mother said that we were going to have Hoya for dinner... so, he might help for the preparation because it's his special favorite?!?!
He stands in the kitchen with his mum! It was the first time I saw that scene, in our married life of 25 years, I believe. Suddenly I went get my camera from the other room, to take photos of this rare event.
Through to the lens of the camera, I've watched the scene over there of mother and son for a while... Then, I forgot taking the photo of Hoya! Their appearance before processing was so unique.
カメラのレンズを覗きながら、 その向こうの親子の様子に しばらく見入ってしまいました。
あ、処理前のホヤの画像 撮り忘れた！ あの素敵な姿をＵＰしたかったけど。
Hoya is known as marine products specially in Miyagi prefecture. It is called "pineapple of the sea" because of its unique appearance. I felt that it was weird when I saw the figure for the first time, though. It was just in season and fresh ones were there in the market. Because the freshness is easy to lose, it's hardly to be found in other prefectures.
＜Preparation process＞ Cut off two tentacles?（the part which stuck out) first, make a cut to outer shell, take the inside part out, remove some black/brown bits carefully. Apply salt all around, then rinse it under the running water. 二つのツノを切り落とし、殻に切り込みを入れて中身を取り出し、黒っぽいもの （内臓かな～？）を除いてから塩でもみ洗い。 Cut it into small pieces, sprinkle a little-some vinegar over, then add sugar and salt for the marinade. 流水できれいにしてから、食べやすい大きさに切り、酢で〆てから、砂糖・塩少々 で味付け。 こんな順番でしたっけ？
After marinated, they added chopped fresh Wakame (sea vegetable) in, which made the looks nice with the color contrast and also the texture beautiful. Completed! "Hoya-zu" (Vinaigrette marinade of Hoya)
アンザック（ANZAC）は、Australia & New Zealand Army Corps の略で、毎年4月25日は、第一次世界大戦中、連合国軍として参戦し遠征したトルコのガリポリで戦った オーストラリア＆ニュージーランド連合軍（ANZAC）の兵士と、国のために尽力した人々のために追悼を行う日とされています。 激戦地での戦いで多くの兵士が亡くなり、人口の少ないニュージーランドでは、大きな損失だったとのことです。 ガリポリ半島にANZAC軍が上陸した日（1915年4月25日）に由来して、この日を記念日と制定されました。 今では第一次大戦だけでなく、全ての戦いに参加した人々のための追悼の日となっています。
早朝、Dawn service （夜明けの式典）が行われます。 夜明けと共にガリポリでの奇襲上陸作戦が始まったからということで、各地で夜明けに 行われます。 日の出が遅くなっている南半球のこのあたりでは、午前7時から。 まだ暗い中、バグパイプの神聖な音が、レイクフロントに集まった人々を静かに誘導し、 式典が始まりました。 日の出に合わせて黙祷。
We waited Tatsuru at 
夜は我が家でお疲れ様ディナー
In the gold of autumn leaves
Alanta had a cataract. She was given eye drop 
勉強は遅れてるけど料理は得意！
