Huzza! Horray!

I am so happy this afternoon. I finish work on saturday which means I only have two days of cleaning left- oh joy of joys! And Katie only has two days left at the commerce commission too which I think will mean much celebration and throwing ourselves around the dance floor this weekend (which also happens to be our last weekend in Wellington). Although frankly the whole of the last couple of weeks seems to have been a whirling dervish of social engagements which have left me a little exhausted. Our little pirate fellowship here has begun to break up- last weekend the Marks left Wellington (see pics of them on the post below) so we had a couple of nights filled with pool, tequilla and dancin' to bid them aideu. Then after waving them goodbye on Sunday we celebrated mid-winter with a feast in the hostel. Food, drink and good spirit was aplenty- everyone made a dish and it was all amazing! I made a chocolate and rum cake which was heaven on earth (though perhaps it might have only tasted so good because I quaffed all the rum I didn't use). We talked the hostel staff into playing Christmas tunes for us and then took a midnight stroll to ease our stuffed bellies. All in all it was a wonderful night. In true Christmas style we spent Monday doing nothing, and yesterday evening doing a pub quiz. Hmmmm... not our most successful attempt at fame and glory. We didn't quite come last, but were almost there. Unfortunately we couldn't even blame it on the quiz master this week- all down to our lack of knowledge. Though I have to say Katie was having flashes of brilliance in the country and western round.
I think that is all for now. I'm away now to enjoy the rest of the sunshine. Au revoir, mes amis xx

Bowl Me Over

Howdi. Here are the pics from Saturday nights bowling experience. The pictures represent the two teams who fought in an epic (say it the style of Richard Taylor - go on!!) battle. The Team in the top picture came out victorious, but it was a close thing. Most importantly of course, fun was had by all!!

Crazy opera

I'd also like to add that while Katie and Co. were at the pub quiz yesterday, I was experiencing my first opera, Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. It was a bit mad, but good (giant serpents, a penguin with the head of a crocodile, and three little Mozarts in pink breeches all running around the stage). The music was beautiful, and one of the principles came from 'appy 'appy Halifax! I would feel cultured, if the whole thing hadn't been so silly!

Back in the YHA!! (And it's the shortest day)

Hey everybody. How are you all? Our news this week:
The end of our time at Island Bay has come, and on Monday, but two days ago, we said farewell to Knoll Street, and hello once again to YHA Welli, where we are to reside until a week on Tuesday. Then we shall head northwards, ever making for Auckland (but taking as much time as possible!), though our route has not yet been decided. (It is very handy for Sal to be back in the hostel, as she now only has to roll out of bed to get to work. Nice!)
Our weekend saw us bowling once more (this time in the moonlight - 'twas not outside though - don't be fooled, it was just special lighting). Fun was had by all, and pictures will be here soon (once i get to borrow fred's camera). It also saw double spaghetti consumption, as I cooked for Kerry and Al on Saturday before bowling, and then for Fred and Laura on Sunday, before the Lion King and Life of Brian (as we had some mince left over). Weather was also a feature, for another southerly payed a visit, and sleep was lacking on Sunday night with windows rattling and wind abounding. Central heating and double glazing seem like dreams to us now.
Our night of last saw a group of us quizzing at the sports bar, and where we had done well the week before, we did not do well last night. It was again girls v boys, and they beat us by one point. I don't think anyone felt they had done that well though (it was a rubbish quiz - the category tv and cinema had 2 film questions, and the rest on NZ TV programmes, the sport on NZ sport, and they also had the wrong answer for a question in another round).
Today sees both of us at work.
What has been happening with you guys?

Pictionary II

These may be a little easier to guess as the categories (of sorts) are underneath each picture. The best one is yet to come.

Person, place or object

Erm, not sure on this category, so i'll say 'ALL PLAY'

I'll say item?!?

An announcement

Hello. Yes this is the third post of the day, and there's likely to be one more to come ( it's more pictionary you lucky devils you), but you will forgive the sudden splurge of blogging as there is news to tell. I must now announce that on the 14th of August Hoochie and Smoochy will be parting. Yes, on that date Sally will begin her journey home, as planned, whereas I will stay on and continue my journey in New Zealand. It is not yet confirmed when I will be returning to UK shores, but it looks like it will be November at the earliest. Kt. xx

Concert Of Mount Cook

I'm not entirely sure what's happened with the picture layout here, but it's kind of funky, so let's just go with it ok? Good. These are pics from last night when we went to see Elaine play, and had a roast and chocolate cake to boot.


On the left you see Elaine performing.


Above you see Elaine relaxing after the gig with a hot chocolate i believe.

On the left you see the cake, and empty plates from the roast. mmmm

Ok, for some reason the pics come out differently on the blog, so the cake is not on the left, but above. I am sure you figured that out, but I just wanted you to know it's not that i typed it wrong, it is in fact that it all went wrong, somehwere. oh well. makes life a little more exciting (for me anyway).

PIRATES PREMIERE!!!!!

ARRRGGGH me lovlies, I just can't contain me excitement!!! For what you cry? For this i reply - we are going to the NZ Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest on Monday July 3rd!!! All in the space of a morning did we find of its occurrence, and thence the lovely Caitlin (to whom I must apologise once more for waking her up in my excitement) went down to the cinema and got us our tickets (i tried to think of a piratical way to describe the tickets, but i'm so darn excited, i can't think of anything but my excitement). As one Scottish person said of the event - AAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Play with us!!!!

Hello gentle viewers. Today we ask you to partake in a game of Pictionary with us. As you will read in a soon to be posted post, Pictionary was a particular feature of the weekend beginning Friday 9th June. As we do so love to interact with our public we intvite you to make a guess at what the following pictures are trying their hardest to depict. More little treasures will be posted in the near future, as there are some crackers i can tell you. So don't be shy, start guessing today!!

Some of our pals for your perusal

Hullo. This is just some pics of our friends from the hostel that we thought we'd share with you. There are more of them, and I will get pics of said rest of bunch shortly. We shall write another post at some point in the future telling you something about them so you can get to know them a bit better, but for now this will have to do. xx

Richard

Caitlin
Rhys

Myself and Laura's day out to Eastbourne (it's a lot closer than you'd think)

Twas a week ago today (Saturday the 3rd of June 2006 to be exact) and me and Laura decided to do something touristy and head out on the Dominion Post Ferry to Eastbourne 'cross t'other side of the bay. Below Laura points from the balcony of the Loaded Hog to our destination.

It was a sunny day, as you can see from the sunlight and blue skies, ooh i think i'm going to change the colour of the text (and who knows maybe the font too) just a second.. Ok.done. I don't know how this will look on the pink background, but i'll soon find out.sorry about this, i was just thinking about how the writing looked different once you'd posted it on the blog, and that made me then look at the textual options and i thought i'd throw a bit of spice into the mixture (i don't think that explains my thought process very well, but it will have to do, and if any of you require further explanation you'll just have to enquire to me personally. Ok?). Back to the post now. So myself and Laura took the 2.15pm ferry across the windy harbour. The picture below demonstrates how windy it was, and as Fred rightly pointed out, it shows me bearing a striking resemblance to those twin guys from the matrix.

Once we alighted at Eastbourne the wind calmed somewhat and we took a stroll along the beach and a little further around the coast. Oh the text has gone ordinary again, please bear with me.. We then wandered back and had a cup o' tea sat outside facing the lovely view. It was then that the below photo was taken. Both myself and Laura had separately thought how the man placed as so on the bench would make a cool picture, and once we had both voiced our opinions and chuckled at our similar ponderings, i proceeded with the action that produced the outcome below. We hope you like it as much as we do.

Above you see the two of us in a similar pose, and although the outcome is not as good, it's still quite nice isn't it? The Ferry back was at 4.15pm and whence it came, aboard we did go and return to Wellington by the light of the setting sun. And thus came the end of our lovely afternoon, and the end of this post. xx

The Commission Conference (It's actually more about the slide)

Yes, as Sally said below, I will now be telling you of my two funfilled days at the New Zealand Commerce Commission Conference 2006 (slogan - joining the dots to connect people - or something like that - oh I've just looked at my name badge and the actual slogan is 'Joining the dots, connecting people to achieve our common goals'). Lovely. Anyhoo our first morning consisted of a lecture and a workshop on positive thinking, or rather changing negative thinking patterns, from Dr. Tom. It was actually very good, and the morning tea inbetwixt was especially good (i think i had 3 helpings, or perhaps 4). At lunchtime we decided getting out was the best option, and so I steered the ladies (Kerry, Karen and Mel - from left to right below) to the playground in Frank Kitz Park on Wellington waterfront.

Above they all decided walking with their backs to me would be funny as then i couldn't take a picture. ha ha!! (although kerry maybe should have stuck with that idea - see last picture).

Needless to say, in the end fun was had by all, even if only myself and kerry got to experience the delights of the slide. Mel managed to capture the mood on film rather well i think - if anyone can come up with a caption for the picture of Kerry below please send them in!! i absolutely love it, and it would appear she does too as she has it stuck up on her desk now!!

Ahh it's brilliant. But back to the conference (both for us and the story). The afternoon involved two work shops, one of which was bad, one of which was good (mainly coz it started with everybody dancing to the time warp). The second day wasn't as good in terms of the morning presentations, but the afternoon was ace - we went on a scavenger hunt around wellington, and each team had its own mini van and driver. It felt rather 'challenge anneka'. We ended up coming last, but i didn't care, it was a gorgeous afternoon and we had a very scenic drive around the coast (which wouldn't have happened if we'd figured out the clues correctly, so i'm actually grateful we were dumb). And that's that. ta ta. xx

Postscript... plane tickets!

Also, we both forgot to add on the post below, that we have bought our plane tickets for Australia! We fly to Sydney on 7th July, then return from Melbourne on the 31st. How exciting! I shall be having my birthday in the bustling capital... many plans are in progression, definitely including a trip to the Lindt swiss chocolate shop.
Katie has much news to tell about exciting exploits at work, but I shall let her tell all on her own post. I have little news, other than to tell you all that whoever invented hot water bottles was a god amongst men (or women) xx
P.S. Can you have a postscript on a blog?