stellar_muddle | Last big push...

Tues 28 Dec
Early morning with clear flight up to New Plymouth and nice views of Ruapehu and Taranaki. Met up with Zane's sister Rose, her husband Julian, his mother and the new twins Holly and Lily. Only a few months old so still at the bundle of bodily functions with some proto personality stage. Cute when asleep or gurgling though... and capable of the most amazing noises and messes out of either end. Fun watching Zane with them:) Spa, walk along the beach, bbq and a trip to the Festival of Lights. Wide eyes all around, especially on the little ones. Gorgeous lights:)

Weds 29 Dec
Cloudy flight back to Wellington - unfortunately it was Zane's turn for the window seat. Bus into town, D'Vice, then met up with Lauren (friend from High School, currently back from London briefly) for lunch at Dixon St Deli. Very nice food - Zane stuffed himself with Salmon and I can thoroughly reccomend the Malaysian Chicken Filo. Seach for party poppers and pewter and then train back to Upper Hutt to continue making cannon. Unfortunate incident with Zane's hat:( - anyone know any good wide brimmed felt hat suppliers?. Dad's pizza, ROTK, Opera Imaginaire and cannons cont.

Thurs 30 Dec
Rain rain rain rain rain. Zane left early for meeting up with College House mates in Masterton. I slept in:). Magazines and the rest of ROTK while listening to rain pelting down on a corrigated iron roof, amplified by the conservatory. Pity about the holes in it from the hail storm previously. Most of the leaks were over plants that needed watering - which given the plants cover 80% of the conservatory is not suprizing. Zane got back and we wombled off to overnight with Kerry and Craig. Cool bridge and given the rainfall, lots of water. Chinese takaways and ROTK appendicies complete with insider comments from those who had been on the floor of Weta:) Craig liked his little party popper cannon:)

Fri 31 Dec
Flight back to Chch. Fortuitous encounter with relative at Church Corner, de-icing of beer freezer with rock hammer and chisel, unsuccessful hunt in town for Z hats and boots. Good BBQ but decidedly underdressed with oilskin. Back to Bordello and became better dressed. Good party and good to see people. I held walls up particularly well if I do say so myself and Zane had fun with fireworks:) Useful point to remember that you skip a lot of the random drunken embraces and sloberings at midnight if you are standing guard over fireworks area:). Eventual sleep at 4am, with Z wombling by around 5am.

Sat 1 Jan (after some sleep)
Up for lunch (just), then out to Staveley to catch Hamish and Vernon. No thesis blown from field gun due to steam cleaning. Back to Bordello for BBQ and good group of people. Strange TV shows - bungee harnesses maybe, (but not on trucks) and definitely not drill "attachments". Eventual sleep.

Sun 2 Jan
Taxi to airport at 5:40am:(. Uneventfull flight to Sydney. Screaming child at immigration and delays on luggage. Paddy's Market (lots of shineys incl silly underwear, chinese brocades and flying saucers - must return when hunting for Christmas presents). 3 hours of bus back to Canberra, short bus home, semi unpack and SLEEP from about 7:30pm onwards.

Want more holiday... but nice to vaguely stand still for a while. Quiet now...