What a naughty blogger! Sorry again

So, nearly 3 months - that's terrible even by my standards! My only excuse is that the weather has been so good and we have been out having so much fun that I haven't got round to it. But then nor has Will, so there!

So, since before Christmas - eek. Where to start.

How about starting with the Christmas hols. They were fantastic. We headed down to a tiny place called Woodstock, about an hour drive from Nelson at the top of the South Island. We chose there because it has some of the best weather in NZ and lots of coast, mountains and wineries.

We stayed in a little chalet on a small holding in the Motueka Valley. And what a lovely place it was - straight out of LOTR. At the end of the drive and over the road were several swimming holes in the river, so we spent some quality time in there (with and without Winnie the hound).

We explored the Abel Tasman National Park (tiny and fantastic beaches) by water taxi, on foot and in kayaks (including my new intrepid Mum!). The weather was scorching and sunny.



We visited Nelson City on the only day that it rained. Nelson is a tiny place, full of artists, jewellers and hippies. It also has a very unusual 1920s cathedral, full of fantastic stained glass.

Just across the river at the end of the drive is the Kahurangi National Park. The second largest in NZ, and with tiny numbers of visitors. It's a wild and beautiful place (good for testing our rented 4x4 and hiking boots) with fantastic forests and birdies. We went out on a few day walks, but there are plenty of wilderness routes for the more intrepid explorer (with features named Gordon's Pyramid, Kill Devil Spur, Crusader and Lonely Lake).

We also explored the two Nelson Lakes (also a National Park). I'll let the photo speak for me - stunning. Unfortunately the sandflies chased us away from the larger and more remote (Lake Rororoa). They chased us into the car and carried on biting. Not enough tourists to eat!

Where else? Ah, yes, Golden Bay and the West Coast. At the top of South Island is an enormous natural gravel spit. It reaches for 25kms (for comparison, Spurn Head in Hull is about 5kms) into the sea and is a nature reserve. While we didn't go out onto the spit, we crossed the base of it and visited Wharariki Beach. We hiked over farmland and through the dunes onto a beach of white sand with incredible stone outcrops carved by the wild Tasman sea. There were pillars, arches, caves and gorges. Again, I'll let the pictures do the describing. And to go with that, it was incredibly hot! Just awesome!


On our way home we visited the Te Waikoropupu Springs, claiming to be the purest springs in the World. Not sure about that, but they were impressive. As clear as you can imagine, and spouting 14000Litres a second, causing the white sand on the pool floor to dance. I would have loved to dive the sprongs, but they are currently off limits because of a freshwater algae threat (affectionately known as 'rock snot' - you get the picture). The Pupu Springs are a treasure and sacred place for the Maori, representing healing.

After leaving the Springs, we negotiated the 365 hairpin bends that cross the Takaka Hills. Just a little bit seasick at the bottom, we headed home for more fine food and local wine.

We spent Christmas day with our generous hosts, Paul and Linda, and their son, Sam and daughter in law Denise. And Winnie the Hound, of course. We dined on fine food and produce from the garden (which, I might add, made me incredibly jealous!). We exchanged tales of all kinds of adventures and came away with new friends. We were invited back later in the week for a party, which was also excellent, and we met all kinds of people.

Coming home to Auckland was a bit sad, but we had one more weekend of fun to look forward to with Mum.

Gordy was very pleased to see us when we collected him from the C-A-T-T-E-R-Y, but I have a feeling that he was spoilt rotten by the owners daughter (who thought he was a cross between Puss in Boots from Shrek and Garfield - I think that he has aspirations to be as smooth as Antonio Banderas but only achieves Garfield!)

My friend Sam popped in to visit on her way back to the UK (and made it clear from her photos that she liked Gordy better than any of us humans!) Lovely to see her again (known her since we were 11 and spent all our spare time up to our knees in horse shit!)

The last weekend that Mum was here we were invited out to Hahei on the Coromandel. the playground for Aucklanders, with wide beaches, walking and sea sports - perfect. We had a fantastic weekend with Anna and Jeff, swimming, walking, exploring the Cathedral Coves and generally relaxing (oh, and more sunshine, good food and wine - it's a tough life).

Sadly we had to return Mum to the care and attentions of Air Singapore for her long trek home to darkest winter. Still, she had a fantastic time and did all sorts of exciting things!

So, since then it has been back to real life with a few fun interludes.

Will has left Deloitte and has 'Gone Dairy' as a Solutions Architect with Fonterra (THE Dairy Company and as Kiwi as you can get). 2 days in and it seems to be going well!

My work is getting busier, which I like. I'm hoping to be working 4 days later this year.

I have started a Certificate in Relaxation Massage, with the first weekend of practical study last weekend. I can now do a head to toe massage - incredible. I just need a table and I'm away! Please form an orderly queue.

We have bought a new car. Dear Eric the Celica is leaving us. We decided that having a car that was heavy, thirsty, underpowered and drank 98 Octane didn't really align with our financial or environmental ideals. So we take possession of a sexy new Honda in a week or so. Just in time for another trip to Hahei.

We've been over to Waiheke Island for the Wharf to Wharf run (21kms of serious hills in serious heat). Will did very well. I decided that I wasn't mad enough/man enough for it. We stayed on and met up with a UK friend who is on her travels through NZ with her Kiwi boyfriend.

And that takes us nicely to the present. We're still keeping up with the general outdoorsiness and silly amounts of exercise. Nicely offset with some good Pinot.

Oh, and the veggie garden is very succesful. Maybe more on that another day.

Take care, all.
Kirsten