Wahey NZ, we're home!!

Yo! Just a quick post to say we are back in this beautiful country of New Zealand, and what better way to return than to a gorgeous immigration inspector - phwoar!! NZ men, we love em!! xx

Stingray Swings!

Mine and Katie's mission to meet all of the cast of Neighbours came a step closer to completion last night... we met Stingray! We went to see his band play, unsure what to expect, and stunned by what we found. He was playing in a lovely little bohemian bar, that served raspberry gin fizzes (yum) and had huge sofas to lounge about on. I think we were the only backpackers in there- it was filled with people that all appeared to be friends of the band, including one crazy cat who was doing the splits and wearing a bicycle helmet as a fashion accessory. The band itself was ace! They played jazz and swing standards (certainly not what we expected), and Stingray crooned such classics as 'Straighten Up and Fly Right', 'Mr Bojangles' and 'Feelin' Good'. We were having a fab time already, but then the evening got even better. During his break, the man himself came and sat down next to Katie and started chatting to us! He told us that he was tired as he'd been working all day, but we were both far too cool to shriek "We know! You're in Neighbours!!" In fact, we were a bit too cool- we didn't ask him for a photo with us. But here you see me with a box of matches he picked up off the floor- yes, Stingray's hand has touched them. It was a great night and Stingray was lovely; perhaps I might have got a little merry as the evening progressed, but under the circumstances, I feel it is entirely justified!

Sally is it you?!!

Yes, my friends, since you last saw Sally in the last post that you saw, she has undergone a hairy transformation!! Ha ha you fools, no she has not suddenly got loads of body hair transplanted on to herself , who would do such a thing?! No, she has had the snip and is now the gorgeous lady that you see below (yes I know she was already totally gorgeous - and a lady, but she's now got an extra smattering). Ta da....















And not only that but we went for a little shop after our reuniting, and she found this beautiful dress in Portmans. Your votes are needed as to whether she should buy it or not (results will be posted here shortly). Regarding the post below, instead of EVERYONE saying hi, perhaps YOU ALL could vote, and thus make us aware of your existence. A simple yay or nay will suffice.

P.S. Sally can't stop touching her hair, i keep catching her out of the corner of my eye. hee hee, she knows she looks ace!! (And no Anna, I don't mean like Ace Parker, though I'm sure he looks ace too!)

Phillip Island

Wow, what a lot of response to the last post - and from people we haven't heard from in a while - we're lovin it!! Now I don't know if we should tell you all this, but you don't really get much chance to speak to the guys at the neighbours night, and especially not Toadie. Ned and Libby chatted a bit while we were sorting ourselves out for the photos, but there's quite a few people there, and they have to get round every table so everyone gets a photo. Toadie was like "do you want a photo? ok" then posed and away he went. He's pretty vocal on the old mic but that's about it. It is a good night overall though, with a nice atmosphere, so if you're ever here then go (not that you'll need much persuading I'm sure). I think the tour of Ramsay Street may be a better way to meet some of the cast for more of a chat. Anyhoo. Yesterday (being Wednesday) saw us move from Urban Central (a backpackers that had been recommended to us, but was not up to our standards at all - the kitchen was tiny with no washing up liquid, no tea towels, my food got stolen, and we were put in a mixed dorm which we were not expecting, and i know they can't help it, but boys smell). Yes, anyway, we moved from there to YHA Metro, a much better establishment for the likes of us. We were then whisked away on a tour (oh how we love going on tours) to Phillip Island with stops at a winery...

..for a wine tasting sesh, where we both discovered that we liked port, when we both had previously thought we disliked it. Then onto a wildlife sanctuary where we got to meet a koala, stroke a wombat, and feed some cheeky Wallabies and Kangaroos

The Koala below was carrying a little baby (koala obviously) in her pouch, which you can just make out if you look closely enough. oh and we also saw some Tazmanian Devils "arrashplggha" - that was an attempt at writing Taz's noise. Not very successful I feel.

We had a bite to eat at the caf, and then those who wished to could go on a helicopter flight over the surrounding coast, but seeing as we'd already been on probably one of the best helicopter rides in the world, we opted for time at the beach instead. And what a gorgeous beach it was (there would be a picture here, but blummin blogger won't do it for some reason argh). Then it was on to see some non-existent seals and far too existent seagulls, and finally to the penguin parade to see the little penguins make their journey from the sea up to their homes. They're quite noisy wee things, but sooooo adorable the way they waddle, especially when they try to go fast. But there can be no pictures of that as flash blinds them, and so they wouldn't be able to fish and would die. Not something we want to happen. Today is mooching around Melbourne, but another tour is planned out to the Great Ocean Road in the next couple of days, and maybe a trip to the Gaol and Fitzroy Gardens. Pitcures will surely be taken.

Last but not least my good fellows, we have a request to make of you ALL. We have come to understand that many people view our delightful little blog, but for one reason or another do not make us aware of their presence. We would love it if everybody who payed us a visit (even those who have previously commented - yes we mean ALL) could just leave their name - no need to write a comment, just your name, and maybe a hello - so that we know you are there. That would make us unbelievably happy. Kt and Sal. xx

Everbody Needs Good Neighbours

Here they are guys, the pics you've all been waiting for ever since yesterday!! Are you all jealous, i think you are?! Hee hee, we love this one, us and Toadie!!
Ourselves and Ned..

Us with Libby..

And one from the dancefloor where we were rocking out to Dr K and 'Waiting Room'!!

Pics from the Blue Mountains

Ok, we know they're late, and the neighbours photos are much more exciting, but just so you didn't miss out on a week of our Australian travels, here are the first few of some photos from our week of travelling that saw us in the Blue Mountains, Central Mangrove, and back to Syd. We had two days of rain as seen below, but soon the sun came out and revealed stunning landscape:

Here's Katie with the three sisters behind her (those big rocks):

And me descending the giant's starway (900 steps in all, note I said descending, not ascending):

...Australian bush...

And the route of the scenic railway, the steepest railway in the world- it was more like a fairground ride than a method of transportation, and they played the Indianna Jones music too! We started at the white blob in the valley, and ended at the white blob on the top of the cliff, the whole journey taking about 30 seconds with us clinging on for dear life:

The beautiful blue mountains in the late afternoon light...

...And me in my ace hat!

Yes they are very blue indeedy...

And here are some caves. Not containing Ted, Dougal, or Richard Wilson, damn it! They were very spectacular nonetheless and very big.

A Happy Birthday

Thanks for all the birthday wishes guys! I did indeed have a most glorious day. It started off in the best way it could, with chocolate cake for breakfast at the Lindt cafe:
Then Katie and I took a stroll down the botanical gardens where we enjoyed more food (a salad this time!) before heading to the opera house to see Lakme. This is us, excited on the opera house steps, though whether we were more excited about seeing the opera or eating more Lindt chocolate was hard to say.

The opera was ace, exquisitely staged and beautifully sung. And who should we find waiting for us as we came out but Sarah (the lady whose magical fairytale house we stayed at last week). We headed for the gardens again, as Katie was determined to get a picture of me with a cockatoo on my shoulder wearing my birthday pressie. That didn't happen, but nevertheless, I present a photo of me for your viewing pleasure:

That's right! Katie got me a Jack Sparrow hat for my birthday (also thanks to Rhys for the 'tache and eyepatch). Wow! It's the coolest hat in the world. Costumes for halloween are now sorted for the rest of my life. She also got me a big book about pirates, that I intend to read on the plane on my way home. Here's a picture of the cut-throat herself, and Sarah, with a beautiful Sydney sunset:

We then went to Darling Harbour for a meal and drinks to round off a lovely day. Chocolate and dressing up on my birthday- surely this means it will be the greatest year ever!

We Need Your Help Now!!

Ok guys the situation is that we may well be going to neighbours night tomorrow (Monday 24th) and it being a trivia night it would help if we actually knew anything that was going on. Like who are the Kinskis for example? And who is Ned - for he will be there, but how are we supposed to know who he is if we have never seen him? And countless other people who have suddenly appeared. What is paul robinson doing back? Who is gail? I've tried the website but it is far from helpful. We are desperate, please help us.

Chelloooo... we're back!

You may have noticed I haven't posted as promptly as Katie promised below, but I always like to keep my audience waiting before stepping forward into the spotlight. I'm feeling very zen at the moment, having just spent three glorious days in a countryside retreat. Katie and I have just been to stay with our lovely friend Sarah (who you may remember from such posts as 'Feasting, Spontaneous Horse Adventures and Sore Bottoms'- check the archives for Febuary, it's there!) As Sarah was housesitting, we got to stay in the most amazing place ever- a house stuffed with beautiful furniture, musical instruments and books, in 40 acres of land, complete with a wolf-whistling budgie and an ex-race horse! I think we were in heaven, and we certainly had three days of bliss. Sarah was working when we first arrived in Gosford so we whiled away the hours playing pool in the coolest pub ever- we were the only females in there apart from two comely serving-wenches, and it had the most amazing jukebox in the world- Lionel RichTea, Alice Cooper's 'Poison' (for you Fred!), Blue, and best of all, 'Born to Run' by Brucie! Our happiness only increased after being fed with pizza. The next day Sarah was working again, so we spent a few creative hours writing, and then cooking. Katie made her legendary spag bol, and I had a second stab at the chocolate and rum cake, which I think was even better the second time round. Yesterday, we drove out to the Hunter Valley, in search of vinyards, hoping to come back with some fine bottles of grog too drink round the fire... at least that was the plan, until we ate lunch. We had the most delicious meal of salmon, antipasto, and incredible desserts, and afterwards we were all so stuffed that the thought of anything passing our lips, even wine, was unthinkable. So we'll just have to save wine tasting for Melbourne. By the evening we had somehow found room enough to eat lots of cheese and toasted marshmallows by the fire. And now we're back in Sydney. And I must go, because Katie is waiting for me and I need a boost fruit smoothy!

The Misty Mountains

Hello people. Sorry for the wee absence, but we haven't really been up to much activity worth reporting until the last two days, and then we've been so busy with our activity we haven't had time to tell you about it. So I am here to tell you about the beginning of our time in the Blue Mountains, and Sally will add a post about the rest a little later. Unfortunately there can be no pitctures until I find somewhere where I am able to upload them. Apologies.
We travelled up here on Friday, and the view from the train would have been fab I'm sure if it hadn't been covered in mist. The same goes for Katoomba, a lovely town, but our first (and second) viewing was slightly marred by the weather. We alighted the bizarre three story Oz train and headed down the hill to the YHA, which turned out to be a very nice place complete with roaring (albeit gas) fire. Here by the fire we stayed - ignoring the guy's advice that it was still good enough weather to walk - and read until hunger struck. Then t'was that we went to the supermarket, had some tea, read some more, and then went to bed. We have our own little alcove in the room which is ace.
On Sat the weather was much the same, and after waiting for it to improve enough to venture out, we had to settle for a little less rain, and went on a wet walk along the cliffs, past Echo Point (from where you are supposed to be able to see the Three Sisters) and back to the hostel. It was rather drab, but it was nice to feel some fresh mountain air on our lungs. Luckily it all cleared up for yesterday and today, but I shall leave Sally to tell you about that. bye. xx

Chocolates and Mexican Bandits

I think I should start this post by saying a huge 'horrah!' to all you lot for your prolific commentating in the last few days... it's great to hear so much from our lovely friends and family, it means a lot to both me and Katie, so keep it coming guys! Well, we had a highly cultured day yesterday. I started off in the art gallery of New South Wales, happily goggling at pictures by Picasso and Rossetti, while Katie worked on music theory stuff in the botanic gardens. And then we met up for a most important date; our first visit to the Lindt chocolat cafe. My god, I think it was a life changing event for both of us. Laura, my dearest, you simply have to come over here and sample the chocolates; they are truly the food of the Gods. I have very firmly schelduled another visit for my birthday, when we are going to make a move into cake territory. We ate our chocolate in the afternoon sunshine on the steps of the opera house, and then I went to see a documentary called 'Ballet Russes' which was all about an avante-guarde ballet company (see, I told you I was cultured, even though I can't spell). Then I met up with Katie again in the hostel and we visited that great centre of American culture, the Hard Rock Cafe. It was ace, but I think we were both disappointed that they played neither Meatloaf or Bruce Spingsteen while we were there. I haven't heard 'Born to Run' for four months and it's driving me crazy! We strolled down by the waterside after eating and managed to gain passage on a Mexican Navy ship that is moored in the harbour at the moment. We both enjoyed gazing on the swarthy sailors, but my cunning plan to commendeer the vessel was foiled when we were shouted at for legging it up a ladder into a part of the ship that was off-limits. Damn these wiley Mexicans! And thus endeth the post. Adios, amigos! Sal xx

Overseas from coast to coast..

... to find the place I love the most, where the fields are green... For those of you Westlife fans out there, of which I suspect there are few, you will recognise those lyrics from their number one hit 'My Love', released around 2000 i believe. What does this have to do with anything you may well ask. Well, we answer, it has everything to do with our afternoon luncheon and our joy at hearing such a sweet sound in unexpected circumstances. Look how happy we were...
... but my friends, we get ahead of ourselves, for you do not know how we came to be here, or where in fact we are. So let us tell you. We decided that today we would go to the beach as the temperature was forecast to be 23 degrees (in the middle of winter - can you believe it?!!). Anyhoo, it was indeed warm, and we hopped on the 374 bus to Coogee Beach (shout out goes to Katie N. for the recommendation). We had a very pleasant time chillin' on the sand, and after a couple of hours lazing, we went in search of a toilet and food (in that order if you must know). We patroned a wee place called Cafe Bohemia, and 'twas here we were blessed with the dulcet Irish voices of those (then) five lovely lads (and a Devonshire tea - bonus!!). You will then understand how even more exciting and amazing it was to find a spot similar to that in the video for said Westlife song (for those people who have actually seen the video we realise the resemblance is only slight, hence the use of the word 'similar', and not the phrase 'exactly the same as').

We found ourselves on the edge of the cliffs, and this brought to mind other locations that had been used on film. We hope we don't upset two very special people by saying that we did a few more little scenes ourselves, for example below we see a shot taken between filming of a scene from Ithilien - where Samwise spots his first Oliphaunt. May we add, it wasn't the same without you guys.

And briefly to finish, we watched the beautiful sunset and moonrise, and headed back to the hostel. Right. Time to go. Au revoir. xx

Sunday in Sunny Sydney

On Sunday, alas, it was another sunny day, as they all have been up to now, and as it is late and my memory is already asleep for the night, I can only deduce what we did from the three pictures I have of the day. Therefore it would seem that we walked into town and ended up once more in the Botanical Gardens. I do now recall we purchased some delicious food from the Cafe and had a little picnic on the grassy banks, and then we relaxed some more, and then.... this is where it escapes me....... ah.. fear not, it's coming back to me now, well the evening at least, i'm pretty sure we took a long walk to a non-existent supermarket, watched a brilliant film called 'Everything is Illuminated', and tried to find a place to watch the Wimbledon Mens final, only to discover they were showing it a day later. Yes. That is indeed how it was. Fabbo. Toodlepips for this post. xx

Sunny Sydney on a Saturday

Our first full day in Sydney, and Australia for that matter. It was a warm sunny day, and I will describe our activities very succintly. We got up, walked down to the Circular Quay, got the ferry

to Darling Harbour, had a drink in the Festival Cafe (well done on remembering the name mum - they don't do omlettes anymore, very sad), looked into getting the monorail (but discovered it went nowhere near where we wanted to go), sat in the sun waiting for the next ferry, got the ferry back to Circular Quay, took a walk into the Botanical Gardens, sat on the grass for a while till it got nippy, walked back. Sally did a rocky up the Opera House steps,

we tried to take a photo of ourselves, but on the first one Sally looked grumpy so she was told to cheer up, then we went to watch the rugby in a very homely pub (come on the all blacks - especially rodders and danny), before proceeding to Darling Harbour once more to see the end of the free winter concert, a fireworks show, and finally a fire juggling man with long beard to match. Bed. Night Night. xx

Can you tell where we are yet?!!

And last, but not least, we come to Friday (and a small glimpse of Saturday). This will be a short post, as i am now tired. Friday involved a flying, landing, and arrival in Sydney. Beneath this text you will see some pictures of this progression, and the last pic is for the immediate members of the Haworth family for 'trip down memory lane' purposes. Enjoy.

Kate, Pheebs, and Jason

And so onto Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday saw us reunite with the gorgeous Kate and Pheebs in Cambridge, and also saw the addition of two new members to our Cambridge crew - Jason (the beast of a car in the pic just below), and Elouise. We headed out for lunch as soon as we got there, enjoying good food and conversation by the fire in the Albert (i think that's what it was called). We then went to the supermarket to stock up on food for our babysitting job that evening. The baby (Sascha) was fantastic in that she slept virtually the whole time we were there, but it was sad because both me and Sal would have liked some baby cuddles. We settled for dog cuddles instead (which is a darn good substitute), and watching North Country, Prison Break (yes that was my request Willy - damn fine show), and In Her Shoes.
On the Thursday we took a drive in Jason (with Pheebs at the helm) to Raglan beach.

It wasn't the nicest of days, but it was still good to get into the fresh air, and there was some pleasant views.

After a pub lunch by the fire, we hot footed it back to Cambridge where me and Sal grabbed our bags and caught the coach to Auckland. Here we had a ride from a very arsey taxi driver (not a good start to being back in a city we aren't that keen on anyway), and dumped our stuff in our very nicely discounted twin room. We then met Analisa and went out for a drink and a natter. And that ends our Wednesday and Thursday post. xx

Tuesday Afternoon in Taupo

Hello once more. Today will see a wealth of blogging (which you will already have gathered from the two posts already added) as there is a lot to catch you up on. Firstly Tuesday saw us depart Wellington for the start of our travels to Auckland. The first leg saw us get the coach up to Taupo. We arrived in the early afternoon, and after dropping our bags off at the trusty Rainbow Lodge (where we first met Annie, sniff), we headed out to stretch our legs along the shore of lake Taupo.

It was a very pleasant climate, much removed from the wind of Welli, and many photos were taken of the surrounding landscape in the late afternoon sunshine. (Black and white was used once more to add to the atmosphere what what!!).
Here you see Sally doing an explorer pose, very dashing lass, very dashing.And me doing a smiling pose.
And the two of us giving each other a comforting hug as we were melancholy to be parted from Alby and Willy :(
In the evening we went for a meal and the Waterside restaurant, watched Charlies Angels, and headed to bed for another day of travel and adventure. More on that above. xx