Update

Well hello. I haven't blogged in a while and that's mostly because there's not been much to report. I actually can't remember much of what I've done other than work, which is not the way it should be going at all! Anyhoo, this weekend I'm off to the Coromandel for a week with Melissa and I am much in need of the break (and fingers crossed the sun). I bought myself some togs a couple of weeks ago so that we could go to the hot pools up there and frolic in the sea. I'm hoping for temperatures like the last few times I've been there, especially as Wellington has actually got colder rather than warmer now spring is here. And oh boy has the wind made it's appearance at last!
Our clocks go forward here on sunday, a whole month before yours go back in Merry England and Bonnie Scotland. This will make it a nice round 12 hour difference - I know some people find it difficult with 11 and 13 (you know who you are).
And that's about it really. I'll do a post once I've returned from the north and have some new pics to show and maybe even another video. xx

Around Wellington

I just thought I'd share a few shots I've taken out and about in Wellington recently. I hope you like them : )

Wellington by night from Mt Vic

The harbour with the snow capped Tararuas in the distance

A sculpture on the waterfront

Kayaks for hire

Lambton Quay

My favourite statue on the harbour

Caroline, Susanne, Gavla and myself in the Wine Loft (a bar I compare to the tardis being smaller on the outside than the inside)

At a pub quiz with the guys I worked with at Vic Uni (we were the mad hatters hence the head gear!)

The deck on Friday morning. It was like this until about 5pm when it started raining, then hailing, then the thunder and lightning came (followed later by the massive earthquake in Christchurch in the early hours of Saturday morning).

The view of South Island yesterday from Moa Point

The sea was pretty rough yesterday despite there being very little wind - i guess that's the after effects of the sea bed being given a few big shakes. It was quite eerie.

Hawkes Bay

Last weekend myself and Sue took a trip up to Hawkes Bay (on the east coast about half way up North Island). We were very lucky with the weather soaking up the sun in temperatures of 19 degrees whilst those we left behind in Wellington had a rather soggy time of it. We stayed in a lovely B&B in the Esk Valley residing in the Sauvignon Suite and spent our first morning lounging on the balcony before exploring northwards and doing a loop back on a track over the hills. Here are some of the views we had both on the Saturday and on our drive back yesterday.

The view from my room on Saturday morning

Some native bush

One of my favourite views of the day (shame about the exposure)

A shot from our afternoon rest stop

Some woolly jumpers

On our way up the ridge track

Down the other side

And a bit further

The magnolia tree

An interesting cloud formation

Footprints in the sand

One from the drive home