Kt and Sal's News Bulletin: we saw Michael Barrymore!!

I know that we've been neglecting you all lately, and not posting with our usual wit or frequency. Don't think that we've forgotten about you all or don't appreciate all your thoughts and comments. This will all change by Wednesday- as part of the telephone package for our temporary home we get unlimited broadband. So expect immense posts not only about our life in Wellington, but about life, love and the universe in general. I've been suffering from insomnia lately so may be burning the midnight oil in your company... of course it's the midday sun for you guys, and it's still the Queen's birthday as I write this.
In the meantime (inspired by the crazy New Zealand non-news they have over here, and also Mhairi's email) I present you with a news bulletin that will hopefully get you up to speed with all the important events in our lives lately:
- Katie and Sally have spotted their first celebrity!! It was two weeks ago, late on a Friday night in New World supermarket- Michael Barrymore browsing the English magazines (including Hello which had a Celebrity Big Brother story). "He looked tall and tired." the girls said.
- Katie and Sally are going to see Dylan Moran tonight! Nuff said.
- Sally has vowed to give up chocolate for forty days and nights, and is five days in to the regime which she has christened 'Tnel'. "So far so good", she commented. "It's actually been pretty easy, but I'm a bit fearful for the coming weekend."
- Katie's work at the commerce commission continues. She is alleged to particularly enjoy the more unusual aspects of the job, such as dancing like the wolf in Shrek, and consuming free wine and cake.
- Shocking images have been released of Sally in Wellington's library. "I couldn't help it!" she said in a sensational statement. "I vowed to stay out of the library for a whole year, but it's impossible". In the absence of any employment she is believed to be spending her days writing very bad fiction.
- Rumours continue to circulate the city about Katie's lavish birthday celebrations, planned for next weekend. Both girls declined to comment, but it is widely believed to involve boats, scones and Orlando Bloom.
Good night, and God Bless xxx

David Gray!!!

Hello. The above good fellow has just come on to my customized radio station, and it reminded me I have not yet said how absolutely FANTASTIC his gig was. His support act Pete Murray was a wonderful beginning to an immensely enjoyable night. I wasn't sure how I was going to like it, as I only went on a whim, but I enjoyed every single song, and they were all done so well. It was brilliant. My best gig in NZ, and one of my top 5 gigs ever. I'd recommend anyone to go. Next time he's in the same country as I am I shall be going to see him. Yes. Ok. That's all for now. bye. Kt.xx

Easter Days full of Jeloys

This city has gone Stones mad! They have rolled into town and are playing the Westpac stadium tonight, and I haven't been able to walk past a music shop or bar today without hearing 'Satisfaction' or 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' blaring out. It's marvellous. Unfortunately Katie and I won't be seeing them as the only tickets avaliable cost $600, but Katie is going to see David Grey instead which I'm sure she'll enjoy muchly.
What an exciting easter weekend we've had! We spent good friday having a very lord of the ringsy day with Fred and Laura, soaking up a bit of culture at the exhibition at Te Papa, then soaking up a bit of chocolate cake at the chocolate fish cafe. We would have both been horribly depressed at Fred and Laura's departure, if we hadn't had Helen (aka Donkey Woman) back to cheer us up. And she's decided to stay in Wellington until Katie's birthday weekend, horray, which means we can start planning all sorts of exciting celebrations. Saturday was a lovely sunny day so we took a cable car up to the botanical gardens and then went to see A History of Violence at our local cinema. Sunday Helen and I went to church and then all three of us gorged ourselves on chocolate eggs while we successfully took over the YHA's video lounge (a first) for a film-fest. I was pronounced 'bizarre, bizarre, bizarre', by the gorgeous french guy who works at the YHA when I went to get a video in Helen's bunny ears and so I no longer look on him with a favourable eye. Whoops my time has run out which means I must finish this later!

Our Day With Laura and Fred (in Pictures)

A LOTR Pirate Ship at Te Papa

Sal, me, and Laura with the ball

Family Fortunes Wave at the Chocolate Fish Cafe

The Last Table

Sunset on the road back from the Chocolate Fish

Look who's here too!! (well you can see them when I have some photos - so just imagine for now ok?)

What a lovely surprise we had on Monday night when we welcomed the arrival of Frau Laura and UnaFred!! As you can imagine it was fab to see some faces from back home (and of course what lovely faces they are!!). We didn't get up to much that particular evening as they didn't get in till half 8, just a quick tea/coffee/iced choc at Starbucks (a ritual new to Fred, certain aspects of which seemed to perplex him bless). We did manage to get in a recital of One of Us by Joan ? (I'll remember her name later, but it escapes me at this moment), the singing often taking on the tones of dr evil (yes, he wrote it!!), before we parted ways. So even though the time was short, many great things were done.
The day of yester (after I had my flu jab - well it was free!! and it wasn't filing, or photocopying..) we all met up for lunch, taking our refreshment at the dog and bone, a fab pub at the top end of Lambton quay. The food is ace, and they give decidedly ample portions. Ways were then parted once more as I had to hop it back to work (though I did walk some of the way), and Sal had an interview with an agency. Well at least she was supposed to, but the computers had broken, so she couldn't do any of the tests. Very naughty of them not to tell her beforehand and save her the bother of turning up for ten minutes.
Last night we all took a trip to the cinema to see Inside Man (very enjoyable, not what we expected, quite stupid - but in a good way). We had a little nibble beforehand at the Hogs Breath pub (members of the Haworth family may remember the establishment of the same name we went to at Bondai Beach when in Aus?) and just when F & L were moaning about the music they'd so far been exposed to in NZ, what came on but Summer of 69 and Sultans of Swing (the excitement of which made me elbow Laura - she's ok, don't worry). Needless to say, they were soothed that at least in Wellington good music was to be heard!!
And that's us pretty much up to date. I finish for the Easter weekend at 2ish tomorrow aft, and we plan to go see the Lord of the Rings exhibition at Te Papa on Friday, before taking the newbies to the Chocolate Fish Cafe and another stroll past PJ's house.
We hope you all have a wonderful Easter. Bye till next time. xx

Return of the King

Today we went here..

To see Return of the King...

And this is what we thought...

Bye. xx

The Weekend Cometh!!

As you might have guessed from the title, it's me (kt) writing again, and yes it's Friday night, the end of my first full week of work!! I have just got back from a few after work drinks, a ritual that happens every second Friday (except for at the moment when it happened last friday, last night, tonight, and on wednesday - i came at the right time!!). This seems to happen in every office throughout NZ. Good idea I think. I managed to win a beach ball in the raffle of confiscated goods that had been sent to people at the commission, but which they obviously were not allowed to accept, as it may be seen as accepting a bribe. Due to the fact it got inflated, I have left it at work as I didn't fancy walking home with it, as proud of it as I am!! Sally has had a lovely day by the sounds of it, peaking this afternoon with a phwoar meeting with ferrero rocher and amaretto ice cream (though not in the same ice cream obviously - or maybe not that obvious, who knows). I think we are going there tomorrow as it's supposed to be a nice day ( I might also go on the playground as a special treat for myself!!). Anyhoo, that's all for now. Toodles. xx

deja vu...

Sorry for the double posting but my silly YHA computer was playing silly beggers yesterday... I actually wrote it last night but only managed to post it today... weird... What news do I have to tell you? Very little. Other than swimming pool temperatures here are very cold. And that my spelling is appalling, after re-reading the post below!

Happily soon to be marooned in Island Bay

After letting Katie write the last dozen posts it is definitely time you heard from me, and so I get the lovely job of filling you all in with our news. Our accomadation is at last sorted! Katie got an email a few days ago from a lovely Irish bloke she works with saying that he was going back home for a couple of months, and would we like to house sit while he and his partner were away? So on monday night he gave us a lift out to Island Bay, where the house is, and it's absolutely lovely. Me and Katie are taking over the rent while they are away so we get to live in a fully furnished house for not many bucks. They don't leave until the 26th so in the meantime we're staying put at the lovely YHA. Island Bay takes about twenty minutes on the bus from Wellington centre, and is a gorgeous little seaside town with some cafes, a few shops and an arthouse cinema. Pretty perfect really and I think we're both excited and happy about it.
I had an epic interview with a temping agency yesterday, which took three hours in total (in consequence of which I completely missed an interview I'd scheduled for later, foolishly thinking two and a half hours would be plenty of time to leave). They seemed pleased with all my test results- apparently I'm a whizz at typing, Word and Excel, but bloody awful at data entry. So hopefully they might find me work soon- my temping 'consultant' seemed really positive. And I got a phone message from another agency wanting to see me next week so I'm feeling far happier about the job-less situation I have found myself in.
Last night we went to see an ace film that you must all see as soon as possible... V for Vendetta, which is surprisingly full of British actors such as John Hurt, Stephen Fry, Sinead Cusack, etc. It was lovely to see all the old faces from Blighty. And the film itself was brilliant. We thought it couldn't get any better, and then we heard the closing track... 'Street Fighting Man' by the Stones, yes!!

Happily soon to be marooned in Island Bay

After letting Katie write the last dozen posts it is definitely time you heard from me, and so I get the lovely job of filling you all in with our news. Our accomadation is at last sorted! Katie got an email a few days ago from a lovely Irish bloke she works with saying that he was going back home for a couple of months, and would we like to house sit while he and his partner were away? So on monday night he gave us a lift out to Island Bay, where the house is, and it's absolutely lovely. Me and Katie are taking over the rent while they are away so we get to live in a fully furnished house for not many bucks. They don't leave until the 26th so in the meantime we're staying put at the lovely YHA. Island Bay takes about twenty minutes on the bus from Wellington centre, and is a gorgeous little seaside town with some cafes, a few shops and an arthouse cinema. Pretty perfect really and I think we're both excited and happy about it.
I had an epic interview with a temping agency yesterday, which took three hours in total (in consequence of which I completely missed an interview I'd scheduled for later, foolishly thinking two and a half hours would be plenty of time to leave). They seemed pleased with all my test results- apparently I'm a whizz at typing, Word and Excel, but bloody awful at data entry. So hopefully they might find me work soon- my temping 'consultant' seemed really positive. And I got a phone message from another agency wanting to see me next week so I'm feeling far happier about the job-less situation I have found myself in.
Last night we went to see an ace film that you must all see as soon as possible... V for Vendetta, which is surprisingly full of British actors such as John Hurt, Stephen Fry, Sinead Cusack, etc. It was lovely to see all the old faces from Blighty. And the film itself was brilliant. We thought it couldn't get any better, and then we heard the closing track... 'Street Fighting Man' by the Stones, yes!!

very small EARTHQUAKE!!!

Hello!! The time was 8.42, and the building shook. Only slightly, but shake it did. My very first Earthquake. Don't know if Sal felt it, she may still be in bed. I was excited!!

Relax, it's only some Pics

Wellington from above during our flat hunt yday

Arrr it's Ian the Pirate

Puss and Donkey Yarrr!!

Well, as predicted we have spent most of today looking round possible abodes. Some have been ok, some have been abismal. Some have been easy to find, some sent us round the bend in totally the wrong direction. We did benefit from this though as we got muchos exercise and a lovely view of the city (pics soon). Luckily we were aided by the return of donkey woman, and so it was not as haphazard as it could have been. Three superheroes are better than two (especially when it comes to spontaneous matchstick art attacks - more about that later!!). We are off to view more tomorrow, but the best place we have found at the moment is a bit like university halls. It is reasonable rent and includes everything though, and we could move in almost straight away. Plus they let you stay for only three months, which is turning out to be the crux of our problem in finding a flat of our own.
So yes, last night saw the reuniting of The Cunning Linguist, Donkey Woman, and Susan. There was much frivolity and a pleasant evening was had by all. The plan had been to have another game of poker so Susan and DW popped over to the supermarche to pick up some matches and choc to aid the entertainments. An unforseen problem occurred however when it was found Susan had lost the cards, and as noones special powers could conquer this situation, we ended up using the matchsticks to create an art attack on one of the dining room tables. And what a masterpiece it was. The fruit of our labours was Ian the Pirate, a sight to behold. His message was simple "IAN SAYS RELAX". A very positive message that I hope you all take home with you (or if you are at home, keep it there, and take it out with you too). I will put pics on soon, as they are well worth seeing, but being the crazy fool I am, I picked a computer with no USB connector (or certainly not one that works). There is also a pic to add that explains the title, so quite a lot to look forward to really. We do spoil you sometimes. Anyhoo, I'd better be off, time for tea I think. Au revoir mon petit pois. J'taime. (et J'aime petit pois - is that already inferred in the previous sentences? Je nais sa pas. Apologies if my French spelling is appauling, I should have left that to the Cunning Linguist). Susan. xx