Level 2 PIA Adventure Top of the South (Part 3)

She’s a big day today. Up nice and early to pack up before heading to Future Post. 

This is the coolest thing: 100% recycled plastic (numbers 1,2,4,5,6) plus things like wheelie bins, 200L drums, soft plastics, drench containers, and fish bins. The plastic is shredded, melted, moulded under pressure and voila! We have a post. 

They are UV stabilised, don’t rot or split, can be post-driven, don’t need insulators, and keep their nice carbon black colour making fences look like a million dollars. Even better if they need replacing then they are recycled back into new posts. Our keen fencers had plenty of questions, with Henry excelling with the pre-prepared list of questions from Dad.

Next stop is Utawhai Vineyard to see the posts in action and have a quick grape growing lesson. In 4 years of replacing wooden, unrecyclable wooden posts and just using the plastic posts in the new development, not a single one has had to be replaced.

After lunch we visit Talleys Green Mussel operation. This is next level again and another great lesson in how generous people are in using their valuable time to share their expertise, knowledge, and passion for their industry with us.

Despite a pre-visit pow wow the night before our teens are completely overcome by the prospect of the fashion catastrophe that they are about to embark on. Sleep has been lost as we have dreamed of skipping through the mussels in our trusty John Bulls leaving a trail of sheep\cow muck behind us. Dire warnings from Team leader has seen said booties scrubbed and sparkling only to fall at the last hurdle as we are supplied with sparkling white gummies. 

The hairnets present a conundrum for the mullet brigade and Talleys alike: clearly,  one size does not fit all. White jackets, ear muffs and hi-viz follow. But wait there's more! Beard nets. Now this was a proud moment for some: delaying our annual shave has paid dividends - never have we wished for our phones more (all left in the van) and the world is denied proof that we are real men!

It's clear why this is the biggest employer in Marlborough, everything is on a massive scale.

It's off to the cool store (minus 28 degrees), the opening and packaging lines, topped off with ice cream for the masses. A goody bag is circulated complete with recruitment information. Hopes are high that the van may be slightly empty for the journey home.

Highlights

• Detouring to PGG to purchase Thomas new steel caps. There was wailing in the Batty household as on leaving it was discovered that Junior Batty had taken Senior Batty's boots. Our days so far have been brightened as new ways are thought of how to teach Junior a lesson on our return home.

• John is king of the table when it comes to table tennis - he has clearly had no trouble releasing the inner teen.

• Avoiding a carjacking as the community van is followed by “lads” through 8 sets of roundabouts on the way to tea. Funny how we are all brave until a plan is hatched that if they are still there on arrival we will toss team leader out to deal with them while our brave teens remain locked in the van.

• She’s out of your league Royden… Actually, they are all out of your league.

• We have our own private room at the pub for tea. VIP treatment - although more likely it's saving the other patrons from the PIA experience.

• On arrival at Nelson Boys, on spotting the talent Jordyn is heard to gush, “Oh it's a smorgasbord….”

• The old 'how to get teenagers out of bed in the morning' is working a treat - phones all handed in each night. Tea is spent frantically messaging our mates at the next table in anticipation of hand-in time looming.

• Did you know a standard fence post is made of a mix of 686 bread bags and 153 milk bottles

• And the most important fact of the day: when buying Sauvignon Blanc, always pick the most recent date. Older is definitely not better in this instance so we are off home to tip out all those bargain bottles won in quiz nights.