Clare n Robs Kiwi Adventures

Max's First Christmas

2011-03-23T22:09:00.001-07:00

Maximillian Joseph Albert Hill

2011-03-21T01:05:00.001-07:00

Our little man, Maximillian Joseph Albert Hill was finally born, with a bit of persuasion, by forceps at 0227 am on Wednesday 24th November 2011. He weighed 3.2 kg or 7.4 lbs!!!! Max's first feed.
Daddy puts on Max's first ever nappy!!!!
Day one cuddles in the hospital.
Snug as a bug in a rug!

Looking like he has done it all before!!!!
Taking Max home in his car seat at 2130 at night in the dark hospital car park, wishing that we had read the instructions a bit more carefully!!!!
Bringing Max home for the first time!
Early morning cuddles with Daddy!

Showing Max the garden for the first time!

Max's first trip to Houghton Bay aged one week!!!!

Max loves his bath!

Max loves hanging out in cafes, thank goodness!!!!

Our friend Benoir meets Max!
My friend Nicola meets Max.

Lumpy is still cooking!!!!!!

2010-11-20T17:02:00.001-08:00

39 weeks of cooking, wont be long til we finally meet the little man!!!!!!

Our 10th Wedding Anniversary.......the adventure continues!!!!!

2010-11-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

Labour Weekend

2010-10-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

We went to buy the last of the things we need for the imminent arrival at Baby City in Porirua and stopped off at Plimmerton for lunch and a look at the beach.

My Baby Shower

2010-10-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Car Seat is fitted, tethered and bolted, now all we need is the baby to put in it!!!!!I had the girls from work round for my Baby shower on Sunday. We were overwhelmed by gifts. I ate so many cakes and chocolates the poor baby was doing somersaults all night on a sugar high!!!!!
Joan hand made this teddy!
My first attempt at scones and Victoria Sponge with real strawberries and cream!!!!!

Little Alex and Kai were the only boys allowed!!!

Sarah and Anwars Wedding at Erskine College

2010-09-19T03:02:00.000-07:00

We were really happy to get the chance to dust off the gladrags and attend the beautiful evening wedding of my lovely friend Sarah and her American Marine husband, Anwar at the stunning and very gothic Erskine College http://www.erskineevents.co.nz/weddings.htm. The high heels were a bit of a challenge at 30 weeks pregnant though!!!!! The venue was the setting for Peter Jacksons 'Frighteners' movie.
The entrance to the stunning chapel.Stunning Vaulted Ceiling.
Sarah and her Dad, Brian walking down the aisle. Sarah and Anwar had already had their official wedding earlier this month at the American Marines Base in Switzerland where he is based.

The Reception Hall, waiting for dinner.
Kai, Sarahs son, Sarah and Anwar waiting to cut the stunning chocolate cake!!!!!

Sarah looking really pleased with herself.

DIY, A night out, a walk along the Bay and my growing bump!!!!

2010-09-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Rob repairs one of the holes in the wall after one of our many plumbing disasters in the downstairs loo!!!!! We have had all the black piping replaced now so hopefully we wont be springing any more leaks!!!! His first attempt at replacing the gib board and plastering!!!!
Nicks Birthday at Osteria Del Toro, quite possible the worst meal we have ever had in Wellington, which was really disappointing as we had heard really good things about it. We have not been out to eat for ages!!!!!! The Mocktails were good though!!!!

Sunny Sunday in Oriental Parade

Lumpy at 29 weeks

Once Upon a Time in Wellington!!!!!!

2010-08-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry I just realised I have written this blog backwards!!!!!!!

Robs Chocolate Chilli birthday Cake!!!!!!

After watching the extras on 'Once Upon A Time in Mexico' DVD, Robs mouth was watering at the thought of "Puerto Pibil' or the Slow Cooked Pork that Robert Rodriguez, the director, demonstrates in his 10 minute Cooking School. ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrw5FkLutWk. I decided I would surprise him for his birthday weekend.

A Mexican Feast!!!!!
After 4 hours in the oven it was sooooo tender, even I had to try a bit!
Puerto Pibil in Banana leaves. Ready to go in the oven.
All the spices, chillis, pork, orange juice, lemons and tequila marinating!!!!!
Lumpy at 24 weeks, its still raining, must be the weekend!

Birthday in the rain......again!!!!

2010-07-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

What is there to do on a rainy Wellington Birthday but go to the cinema, Inception was just brilliant. We did not even notice that it was over 2 1/2 hours long!!!!!
Chocolate Cake!
Breakfast at the newly renovated Maranui Surf Club, Lyall Bay.
Cool lights!
A Picture of Maranui Surf Club after the fire last year.

My Huge smoothie and Robs genteel Peppermint tea!
The full works for Rob and Scrambled eggs for me!

Rob and I wrapped up prepared to face the weather, another Windy Wet Welly Birthday!!!!!!

Lumpy at 22 weeks!!!!!!

Our little Kiwi

2010-06-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

Rob and I are growing a little Kiwi, out of chocolate, if my current cravings are anything to go by!!!!! I am currently 18 weeks pregnant and as you can see by the fact I did 3 pregnancy tests, it came as quite a surprise!!!!! We got some waves at the 13 week scan! The Baby is due to make an appearance around the 26th November!

The baby made me do it!!!!!

Easter Sunday in the Queen Elizabeth Park, Kapiti Coast

2010-05-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

Bank Holiday Traffic congestion!The start of the walk.
Where are all the sheep, this is New Zealand!
Deserted beach with a Rob
Clouds over Kapiti Island
Driftwood on the beach.
Washed up Eel!
Washed up Jellyfish! Jellied Eels anyone?
Tyres on the beach?
Rob posing in front of Kapiti Island.
Guess it gets a bit windy here!!!!!
Back in Wellington it was raining and windy!
This old Wellington Tram runs through the park.

After all that walking I thought we deserved some chocolate twisty bread from my Jamie Oliver cook book..........who needs Cadburys Creme Eggs!

Rob's Tongariro Northern Circuit Walk - Day 3

2010-04-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

The last day was going to be a bit of a mission. The longest walk at 8 hours, most of the trek would be covering the Tongariro Crossing. So to give ourselves a fighting chance, we left early in the morning. Another beautiful, if cold, view greeted us as we stepped out of the hut.

We walked back up the windy path back to the first crater for the big climb of the day.

At this point we started meeting all the people on the crossing coming across in the other direction. We got some grim satisfaction that we actually doing it the (relatively) easy way.

It was a beautiful day, the best out of the three, and it afforded us some spectacular views.
Once we had completed the crossing part, we had the decision of walking the last 3 hours back to the visitor's centre, or a 5 minutes jaunt and be picked up from the car park. Although knackered, we pushed on determined to complete it.

This was pretty difficult as now we walking through head high bush, no wind, humid and the sun beating down on us. The Chateau was a sight for sore eyes when we eventually saw it in the distance.

A fantastic walk, throughly enjoyed it. I would recommend to anyone but be warned. Some of it's a bit steep!

Rob's Tongariro Northern Circuit Walk - Day 2

2010-04-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Day 2's weather a marked improvement. We were greeted with this great view as we came out of the hut in the morning.
To prove you can take the man out of the army but not the army out of the man, Mike decided to have his morning ablution in the very, very cold water. The weather got better as the day progressed and we were witness to some stunning scenery as we started to climb. We got to the Oturere hut around midday, the mid point of the day's walk. A well earned rest before the big push up the side of the mountain.

The next three hours for defenitely the hardest of the circuit. we had to walk through a valley floor and up the side of the mountain to get to the craters.
Completely knackered, we took a well earned rest at the top, beside one of the crater lakes.

We struggled on to the Ketatahi hut. It could have been the tireness but the track leading down the hut seemed to stretch on forever...
We finally reached the hut after 6 hours. I was a little dehydrated at the end of it. Note to self, drink more water!

Rob's Tongariro Northern Circuit Walk - Day 1

2010-04-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

We awoke to filthy, filthy weather. It was cloudy and raining, and it wasn't supposed to let up all day. We were recommended by DOC to walk anticlockwise around the circuit as the Tongariro crossing part would be too dangerous in the weather. So our plan was to reach the Waihohony hut by the end of the day.
We got a lift up to the Whakapapa Visitor centre and signed in. The weather was pretty shocking even at that point.

Within the first hour of walking, the heavens opened and the wind picked up. Not the best start.

By midday we were completely soaked through, and unknown to us at the time, so was everything in mine and Derrilin's bag! Thankfully as we neared the hut after 5 hours, the clouds parted and sun began to shine. We reached the hut and unloaded all of our packs outside to dry out. Result.
The huts themselves were basic but comfortable.
I knocked up a chili. We played a couple of card games with young Austrian fella called Fabian that was also staying in the hut, then got some shut-eye, ready for day 2.

Rob's Tongariro Northern Circuit Walk - Intro

2010-04-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

Howdy, I've hijacked Clare's blog for a couple of posts to stick some piccies up of my excursion across the Tongariro Northern Circuit . A couple of friends of mine, Derrilin and Mike, have been talking about doing for a couple of months and i decided to tag along as part of my New Year's resolution to loose some weight and get fit.

We 'trained' for about 6-8 weeks, going on walks around Wellington. The last three weeks, we loaded up some backpacks to simulate the weight we'd be carrying on our three day hike.

We drove up on a Wednesday, and stayed at a hotel in the The National Park village. Our hope was to beat the crowds and not end up tramping around with another 20 people. (Little did we realise how crap the weather was going to be on the first day!)

So the first night was getting our heads down in a relatively comfy bed and preparing for the journey ahead. Derrilin brought the 'smallest towel in the world along' as he thought it would be useful...

Our First Kiwi Style Wedding!!!!

2010-01-04T21:18:00.003-08:00

We were priviledged to be invited to Chad and Sarah's wedding day at http://www.brackenridge.co.nz/ . The storm had blown away and the sun shone and the wine flowed!!!!

We stopped for brunch in Martinborough at the Village Cafe!

Extremely Windy Welly!!!!!!

2010-01-04T21:18:00.002-08:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3443374/Southerly-buster-hits-Wellington

Wellington Phoenix vs 'The Dirty Aussies' sorry I mean the Newcastle Jets!!!!!

2010-01-04T21:18:00.001-08:00

We went to the Wellington Phoenix vs Newcastle Jets quarter final game at the 'Cake Tin' aka Westpac Stadium on Sunday. We won 3:1, two of the goals being scored in extra time!!!! What a nail biter!!!! Capacity Crowd 37000, not bad for a Rugby Nation!!!!

Mum and Dads trip to Wellington, Ohakune, Rotorua and Napier and back to Wellington!!!!!

2010-01-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

Mum and Dads trip to Sydney!

2010-01-03T01:49:00.000-08:00

Just said a teary farewell to my parents at Wellington Airport after their 5 week trip to New Zealand for Christmas in the sun!!!!! I met up with them on the 30th November 'across the ditch' in Sydney. Sydney had been sweltering in a heatwave with temperatures up to 40 degrees in the few days before they arrived but unfortunately it dropped to 19 degrees and windy while we were there!!!! At least it made it bearable to be able to walk around and explore what the City had to offfer!!!!
Aerial view of Sydney from the plane, you can just see the Harbour Bridge but the Opera House is hiding behind a cloud!

View from our hotel window!

We walked through the surprising beautiful and very tranquil Chinese Gardens which are right in the middle of the City in Darling Harbour.

Fountain in Hyde Park

First view of the Harbour Bridge!

Christmas trees in a flower bed!!!!

Cool trees in the Botanical Gardens

We went to the Aquarium

Saw 1000s of bats hanging out in the trees in the Botanical Gardens and then at night they fly out over the City, Batman style!!!!

Kangaroo at Wildlife World

Parrots in the trees at the Botanical Gardens

These noisy Cockatoos are wild and just live in the Botanical Gardens!

A lizard soaking up the rays in the Chinese Garden!!!!!

We caught a bus to Coogee Beach and walked along the coast to Bondi!!!!!

We stopped for coffee and cake at Bronte Beach!

Every beach seems to have its own swimming pool!

Weird rock at Bondi

Bondi Beach!

Surfing Dudes

Cool paddling dudes!!!!

The Sydney Opera House!

Cruise ship leaving Sydney!

Merry Christmas from sunny Wellington!!!!!

2009-12-26T00:26:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from us all in Sunny Wellington!!!!!
Christmas Morning in the spa!

Our Pohutakawa tree (New Zealand Christmas tree) has come out in flower just in time!!!

Mum peeling the spuds. We sweated our way through a traditional Christmas dinner this year, although I did forget the gravy!!!!!

The turkey well and truly stuffed!

Last of the carnivores!

Mum may have to wait until she gets back to the UK to play that one!!!! Had to explain to the man in the CD store that it was not for me!!!! He reckoned he had heard that one before!

We must have been good all year because we were all spoilt by Santa!

My starfish earrings!

Robs new drum throne......when I told the man in the music store that it was for playing the drums for 'Guitar Hero' his head almost spun round, once he recovered he suggested I buy the cheapest model!!!!! Redeemed only by the fact that I explained that Rob had had proper drum lessons in the past!

rob, of course, had to take the opportunity to demonstrate how his new drum throne would improve his playing!

Prancing around in my new PJ's, thank you Hels!

Rob and a very heavily pregnant Nicola at our Boxing Day BBQ

Si, Nicki and Rich

It has been the hottest day of the year so far!

Grace, Emma and Zach in the spa, they had been warned not to pee but nobody seemed to want to get in after them!

Salmon and mushrooms on the BBQ

Robs Birthday Weekend

2009-08-25T02:07:00.000-07:00

I think Robs favourite pressie was his packet of ridiculously over-priced Monster Munch from 'Cool Britannia', a speciality food store in Wellington which basically sells famililar stuff from the Uk and charges a fortune for it!!!!

Monster Munch for breakfast......well it is my birthday!!!!

We had a 'Guitar Hero' party in the evening, not quite sure who bought the hat???? I made some wicked 'Moscow Mules' which went down rather well!!!!

Robs Chocolate Chilli Cake!!!! Well, thats what he wanted!

The Moscow Mules sure had a kick!!!!!

We went for Brekkie the next morning

and then to the cinema to watch 'Coraline 3D', which has to be the best animated film we have seen in ages. 3D glasses have come a long way!

Robs new Birthday Coat.

Our Weekend

2009-08-02T03:09:00.001-07:00

All Dressed up and ready to go out for Laura, one of the girls from work, Birthday Bash at The Flying Burrito Brothers Restaurant. Rob had the boys around for 'Rock Band' practice. They were still playing when I got home at Midnight!!!!

Rob has put some strips on the 'Stairs of Death', hopefully they wont be quite so slippery now!!!

We discovered a walk at the end of our road which goes up over the hill to Island Bay.

View of Houghton Bay from the lookout at the top.

On the way home we called in at the Haewai Honey Mead Distillery which is in the back garden of a house at the end of our road. We only called in for a tasting but ended up coming home with a bottle!!!!!http://www.haewai.co.nz/

Just cant get used to having my birthday in the middle of winter!!!!!

2009-07-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

There are 2 times of the year that I get particularly homesick, Christmas, and my birthday. I have many happy memories of long hot sunny birthdays spent outside in the UK but unfortunately since emmigrating to New Zealand my birthday now falls in the middle of winter and it has rained every year so far!!!!! I woke up feeling thoroughly depressed at my advancing years and really wanted to stay under the duvet but Rob managed to coax me out of bed with the offer of a cup of tea and pressies!!!! I thought I had kept it a secret at work but Karen, my team leader surprised me with a yummy chocolate orange cake!!!!! I work in the Recovery Unit at Southern Cross Hospital, Wellington. http://www.southerncross.co.nz/index.cfm?EBE5D9A3-4769-47D5-954F-9DAA6B62B902

Cheryl checks if Joanie is still functioning!!!!

My Recovery team colleagues!!!!

A very quiet day in Recovery, gives us more time to take piccies and eat cake!!!!

Yummy Chocolate Orange Cake!!!!

Later that evening Rob took me to Logan Brown's, an award winning restaurant in Wellington http://www.loganbrown.co.nz/They are the Jamie Oliver of New Zealand!!!! They even have their own TV Show!!!!

After dinner we went to see the new 'Arry Potter'

More rainbows.....

2009-06-29T02:17:00.001-07:00

2009 Wellington Shoe Clinic Marathon

2009-06-27T16:58:00.001-07:00

It seems I have been possessed by a crazy running demon which caused me to drag myself out of bed far too early on a still dark, cold Wellington Sunday morning to take part in the Shoe Clinic Harbour Marathon!!!! One bowl of porridge???!!! and 2 cups of coffee later, I stand shivering on the start line!!!!http://www.harbourcapital.org.nz/
and funny photos here
http://www5.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?event=Sports%2FRSNZ%2F2009%2FHarbour+Capital+Marathon&match=608

The start line!!!!!

The coffee kicks in, feeling good so far, only another 10 km to go!!!!!

Somebody keeps moving the finish line!!!!!

Looks like I made it in just under an hour!!!!
http://res.championchip.co.nz/View.asp?id=1419&athID=608

I got out of bed for.........a banana and a plastic bag!!!!!

48 Hour Film Competition 2009

2009-05-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

We did the 48 Hour Film Competition again this year. The genre we got given was horror and it turned into a bit of a Last Man on earth, 28 days later, The Others kind of cross over thing!!!!! I was the catering manager and supplied sushi for the cast and crew......they can be so hard to please these arty types!!!!

Mike and Greg. Mike was just so impressed that his Action Man suit still fit!!!!

Rob 'directing'', well actually just being stroppy!!!!

Nick tapes up the house while the dead watch on!!!!!

We finally find a use for the Baked beans in BBQ sauce we bought by mistake many months ago!

Bonnie and her 8th can of V!!!!

Quinn gets made up!!!!!

Bonnie trying to look scary, a bit of editing and effects was needed to achieve that one!!!!

Making sushi for the Cast and Crew!!!!

Editing with only 4 hours til deadline!!!!

Yeah we got it in with only 16 minutes to go!!!!

Our 'Dirty Weekend' in the Wairarapa!!!!!

2009-04-20T03:13:00.001-07:00

We have just come back from a lovely relaxing and colourful weekend in Masterton in the warm and sunny Wairarapa!!!!! We stayed at The Solway Park Hotel http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/copthornewairarapa/index.html

Breakfast at The Main St Deli in Greytown

Rob finally finds someone who listens!!!!

The Doves from Above!!!!!

After an exhausting morning trying out all the hotels leisure facilities, we went for a walk through the Queen Elizabeth Park. The Autumn colours were stunning and I got all homesick!!!!

The lovely Cafe Cecille where we stopped for some yummy hot chocolates....

My conference trip to Roto 'Vegas'

2009-04-19T23:52:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn Wind Turbine

2009-04-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

On Good Friday we took a drive up to the Meridian Energy Brooklyn Wind Turbine up in the Windy Wellington Hills. The ironic thing is it stops working when the winds hit 80 km/hr which is quite often in Wellington!!!!! You get a great view across the City from up here!!! http://windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/brooklyn

View across to Makara where a wind farm is being erected, the wind turbines are much bigger than the one at Brooklyn. The proposed 62 turbines will generate enough electricity for 70000 homes. ( I dont think they have allowed for Rob and his gaming systems!!!!)

Our 'Easter Weta' we found waiting for us in our garden!!!!

Oh what we wouldnt give for central heating!!!!

2009-04-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

Our cord of wood is delivered to the bottom of our Mountain of steps!!!!! It took us 4 hours to drag the wood up those 72 steps of 'torture'. We had a couple of helpers, Chris and Derrilyn, who we bribed with the promise of a BBQ once we had finished!!!!! Rob had spent many hours devising a pulley system to drag the wood up the slope but unfortunately it snapped after the first few loads!!!!

The wood finally stacked (more like thrown) behind the house!!!Guess we are going to get estimated electricity bills for the next few months unless the reader man is feeling adventurous enough to clamber over to the meter!!!!

Rob dreaming of Central Heating!!!!!

Clare lamenting the loss of a nail or two!!!!

Rob gets to dress up!!!!!

2009-02-24T23:25:00.000-08:00

Simon, Rob and Nick went to the Rugby Sevens at the Westpac Stadium.........as Mortal Combat characters!!!! Here they are at Nicks place before the games showing off their finishing moves!!!!!

Checking they got their costumes right in ''Gamesman'

'

Sushi before the game.......

Ninjas have to make sacrifices as Nick discovers.....

Its not just about the costumes!!!!!

''Slash''

''Kiss'' goes to the Sevens!!!

I ran the 'Round The Bays' 7km race 8 minutes faster than last year!!!!

2009-02-24T23:04:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of me on the deck far too early on a Sunday morning full of caffeine and ready to run the ''Round The Bays 7km race. I managed to finish in 39 minutes which is over 8 minutes faster than last year, must have been the coffee!!!!! Unfortunately I finished before Rob could get to finish line with the camera, probably a good thing, it wasnt attractive!!!! http://www.wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/

Melting in the Wairarapa!!!!

2009-01-13T22:30:00.001-08:00

Rob and I were determined to take advantage of the last few days of our holiday and the gorgeous weather while it lasts...........http://www.stuff.co.nz/4812848a11.html and managed to drag ourselves out of bed this morning before 9 (its going to come as a bit of a shock when the alarm goes off at 6.30 on Monday!!!!!) We decided to drive over the Rimutakas (a rather scary steep mountain pass with sheer drops off the side!!!!), to Castlepoint in the Wairarapa. I even got to drive but only because he had not had time for breakfast before we left and was overcome with the need for a Macdonalds Cheeseburger and cannot multi-task!!!! He then preceded to get nauseated and blamed it on my driving but I'm sure it was just the nasty burger!!!!! We eventually arrived safetly in the Wairarapa or ''rapa'' as it is known to the locals and Castlepoint via Robs favourite games shop in Featherstone. He managed to resist temptation or just couldnt make up his mind but I got all nostalgic and bought Yahtzee!!!! I used to make my poor little sister, Helen, play it with me for hours!!!!! It has to have been the hottest day we have ever experienced in New Zealand, we read in the paper that it got up to 34 degrees which would explain why the tar on the road was melting, thank god for air con!!!!

Old (well New Zealand old, which is never really that old compared to UK old!!!!) Featherston pub.

Old American car in Greytown still managing to look cool despite the heat!!!!

Rob had to get a close up of the cuddly d6 dice!!!!

Rob trying not to get his feet wet, cant imagine why it was soooooo hot!

Rob making his way with dry feet up to Castlepoint lighthouse

Its not just about the pretty pictures you know!!!!!

the view from the top made the climb worthwhile even if we were a bit hot n sweaty!!!!

Castlepoint lagoon at high tide, apparently at low tide you can walk out to the rocks.

Jellyfish on the beach

Apparently there is a bra fence somewhere in New Zealand!!!!

We stopped off at 'The Tin Hut' for dinner and drinks. We had taken Mum and Dad there for Mums 60th when they came to visit.

Yummy starters!!!

Summer Holidays!!!!

2009-01-05T21:25:00.000-08:00

We went for a walk to ''The Bach'' Cafe for Brunch yesterday.

Boats in Island Bay

Old abandoned boat lying in sand dunes

Coming back into Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay has never looked this calm before!!!!

Houghton Bay

Rob in front of our house

After our lovely brunch we finally finished the fence!!!!

Today we had the Arborists in to chop down two trees at the back of our house, it is so much sunnier!!!!!! No more having to clear out the gutters!!!

While they had their chainsaws out we got the guys to trim our Pohutakawa outside our kitchen window as we were losing our view!!!!! Its so much better now, I even volunteered to do the washing up!!!!!

3 weeks holiday!!!!!

2008-12-29T01:04:00.000-08:00

Although it does not feel very Christmassy in the heat the good thing is that Wellington practically closes down until the end of January as everyone takes their Summer Holidays!!!! No pushing and shoving at the Boxing Day Sales and plenty of Car Parks!!!! We both have 3 weeks off this year!!!
We walked into the City today to buy my new camera and Rob's new Playstation 3 (because we dont have enough Games Consoles?????). It was such hard work we had to stop at 'Wasabi' our favourite Sushi Train Restaurant in Cuba St for some refreshment........yum!!!!!

Cuba St artwork

Cuba St Fountain

Civic Square

Check out the Pedalos!!!!!

City to the Sea Bridge

Artwork on the Bridge, how blue is that sky!!!!

Another view of the bridge

Fountain!!!!

Desert at Kaffee Eis!!!!

Another picture of our house from the road!

The many steps up to our house!!!!

Rainbow over our house, still searching for the pot of gold!!!

And of course another gorgeous sunset to end the perfect day!!!!

Boxing Day Pohutakawa!!!!!

2008-12-25T19:43:00.001-08:00

we are surrounded by beautiful Pohutakawa (New Zealand Christmas Tree) again this year

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

2008-12-25T14:01:00.001-08:00

My Favourite childhood book !!!!!! It comes out every year!!!!!

Rob is very happy with his new flag game!!!!

My new top, thank you Jackie and Peter!!!!

Rob in his new Christmas shirt and socks!!!!!

Rob preparing the Christmas BBQ, what no turkey I hear you cry????

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Zach the 'Spiderboy'

Yvonne and Josie

Nicki in her posh Christmas frock!!!

Rob and the new fence!!!!

Julie wearing the latest Kiwi fashion accessory, a party hat!!! Check out the crazy not very Christmassy sunny blue sky!!!!

Bex tucking in!

Clare does her ''rabbit in headlights'' look

Its just juice, juice of the grape that is!!!!!!

The rapidly approaching storm that had us running for cover!!!!

The Christmas table

My first ever home-made pavlova!!!!

Julie hoarding the desserts!!!!
Well she is heading off to walk the Milford Track for 5 days!!!!!

Rob and Julie dancing to Last Christmas.........aghhh!!!!!

Bex and Simon

Playing ''Buzz'', whatever happened to sitting around the table and playing board games at Christmas.........

The Southern Walkway.

2008-12-13T23:24:00.000-08:00

We covered ourselves in Factor 1000 Sun Block, (the rays here are evil!!!!) and went for a walk across the Southern Walkway which starts outside our house and follows the Green Belt through to Oriental Parade in the City.

The house is finished and we love it!!!!!

2008-12-13T23:18:00.000-08:00

The house is nearly finished and the green is kind of growing on us!!!!!!

2008-12-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

The Aloe Vera goes crazy in the hot weather

Our house gets some TLC at last and ends up looking like a bottle of Fairy Liquid Washing Up Liquid!!!!!!

2008-12-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

We were very excited to finally be able to get our house painted this summer and had booked the painters and chosen a lovely deep blue colour and contrasting blue stain for the fence which we had decided to paint ourselves! Imagine my surprise then when Rob returned from the DIY store and started on the fence and I came home to discover it was oh so green and red!!!!!! Burst the blue house bubble and back to the colour charts to choose a green house colour! Rob has now lost all creative privileges in our house!!!!!

The new Double Glazed Front Door and replaced Cladding.

Our first ever Barbeque!!!!

2008-11-30T00:02:00.000-08:00

Sunset From Our ''Dick''

2008-11-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

The Sunsets are just stunning at the moment!!!

The garden seems to have survived despite my 'Black Fingers''!!!!!!!

2008-10-30T00:11:00.000-07:00

G'DAY FROM OZ!!!!!

2008-08-27T01:47:00.001-07:00

HOT CHOCOLATE OZ STYLE!!!!

More pictures from our Girlie Road Trip!!!!!

2008-08-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

BOAT TRIP TO WAIHEKE ISLAND AUCKLAND

HOT CHOCOLATE AUCKLAND STYLE!!!

BRUNCH AT OUR FAVOURITE CAFE 'THE STORE' KAIKOURA

TRAFFIC JAM SOUTH ISLAND STYLE!!!
OUR CUTE TOP10 HOLIDAY PARK UNIT HANMER SPRINGS

SNOWY LEWIS PASS

WE VOTED THIS THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AFTER A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HOT CHOCOLATES IN NEW ZEALAND!!!!!

LAKE IANTHE

FOX GLACIER
HELS, KNIGHT POINT, HAAST
BEAUTIFUL SHIPS CREEK, HAAST

DRIFTWOOD FANTAIL FALLS, HAAST

LAKE HAWEA DISASTROUS ATTEMPT AT MAKING BREAD!!!!!

The 'Sisters' New Zealand Road Trip Adventure

2008-08-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

My Sister, Hels, has been visiting for 3 weeks. We managed to sneak a 2 day girlie trip across the ditch to Sydney for some sun, shopping and sightseeing and lots of photo taking!!!! We flew from Auckland to Wellington and then took the Ferry far too early in the morning across the Cook Strait to the South Island. We drove to Hanmer Springs where we relaxed in the Hot Pools surrounded by Mountains and snow until we resembled wrinkled prunes. After a massage in the Spa we headed off down the Rainy West Coast to Franz Josef where I freaked Hels out by dragging her down a dark secluded lane at night to see the Glow worms!!!!! We then made our way through the Stunning Haast Pass to Beautiful Wanaka to meet up with Rob, Nicki, Rich, Emma and Zach, Bryan and Charlotte. We stayed in a Holday Home surrounded by mountains. We ventured up to Cardrona along the scariest Mountain Road with no snow chanins and if that wasnt scary enough, attempted to throw ourselves down the mountain on a pair of skis but were forced off the Mountain by a severe snow storm and had to return home down the even more snowy road for more Mulled Wine........damn. Emma, who is 6, managed to whip Robs ass as Bowling on the Wii!!!!! We took a day trip to Queenstown and it was just stunning as it was covered in snow. We ventured up the Gondola for a snowy panoramic photo opportunity but could not see further than the end of our noses and stepped out into knee deep snow!!!!! After a fun-filled 5 days in Wanaka we made our way back up the South Island and after a very rough Ferry crossing where I discovered that I do actually suffer from sea-sickness, we arrived back in Wellington where Hels enjoyed her last couple of days in the Southern Hemisphere visiting our Seal Colony and taking a ride on the Cable Car. I was sad to say Goodbye but we have many good memories and lots of photos!!!!!! We also managed to drink our Body Weight in Hot Chocolate!!!!!
SKIING AT CARDRONA

'WHEN MOUNTAINS GO BAD'

APRES SKI!!!!
ANYONE FOR A PICNIC?
ROB DECIDED IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE OVER THE CROWN RANGE BETWEEN WANAKA AND QUEENSTOWN WITH NO SNOW CHAINS!!!! ITS OK WE HAVE 4WD - YEAH RIGHT!!!!!

SNOWY QUEENSTOWN GONDOLA

SNOWY QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
ROB WALKING THROUGH A SLUSHY QUEENSTOWN GARDENS
HELS AND I QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
ROB AND I QUEENSTOWN LAKEFRONT
TRYING TO BE ARTY ON WANAKA LAKEFRONT
NOT VERY FLATTERING SELF-PORTRAIT!!!
BEAUTIFUL LAKE WANAKA

MY FIRST TIME ON A BIKE FOR 26 YEARS!!!
OUR WANAKA RENTAL HOUSE
ZACH, HELS AND EMMA
LINDIS PASS
HELS FAVOURITE LAKE PUKAKI
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAKE TEKAPO

GORGEOUS THAI FOOD AT 'THAI SMILE' CHRISTCHURCH, APPARENTLY NZ FAVOURITE THAI RESTAURANT!!!!

CATHEDRAL SQUARE IN THE RAIN, CHRISTCHURCH,
LUNCH AT THE CHEEKY PIPI, ISLAND BAY WELLINGTON

+trip+to+New+Zealand+193.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_523800705741868339 MY HOMEMADE PIZZA!!!