Christchurch NZ this time for KC (Kerryn) and Nic’s wedding on Jan 26th, 2008. Another fine day with a gentle breeze. The bride and bridesmaids arrived on time (in Audis), looking splendid! KC’s strapless white gown with blue v-shaped insert at the back was beautifully co-ordinated with the bridesmaids electric blue (XR8 blue!) dresses and the mens’ ties. The white and orange calla lilies carried by the bride and bridemaids respectively added a dramatic touch. (see photos)
A Family Wedding
This last weekend (24th Nov) in Katikati we celebrated the wedding of our “adopted” daughter – Gill’s niece Adelle who has lived with us for the last year or so. She came to stay for 2 weeks and stayed for 67! Adelle moved to Hamilton to work at Deloitte and to be near her boyfriend Josh who became her fiance in January 07.
With 2 of our 3 sons now living overseas for an unknown period it has been great to have a daughter in the house. Delz (and Josh) have been home more than our other son Andrew who sleeps downstairs! We will see who misses who the most!
September in Melbourne
It was cold but the company was warm! We’ve just enjoyed a brief 4 days in Melbourne. We spent 3 nights with Gwen and Merv who are experiencing Ozzie life on a teacher exchange for a year. From their “new place” at Frankston we journeyed around the Mornington Peninsula about an hours drive from the CBD. The peninsula curves around one side of Port Phillip Bay. Our guides and chauffers showed off and impressed us with their “new” local knowledge – we checked out the views (from Oliver’s Hill, Arthur’s Seat, and Cape Schanck), villages, “hinterland hamlets”, surf beaches with their charmingly quaint little beach huts and met the pelicans. Gwen and I managed to squeeze in some shopping and I purchased one wedding outfit- one to go!! It was great to catch up and natter throughout the weekend and Merv tried his best to educates us on the mysteries of the AFL which seems to rather dominate the sports scene – go the All Blacks!!
All good things come to an end!
Home again – 9am Sunday 8th July to brilliant sunshine – what has everyone in NZ been complaining about?
We’ve now had 3 days to recover from jetlag – we are both back at work. And the weather has deteriorated – it is wet and cold but it is winter after all.
It’s nice to be home, to see everyone again and to be in the same bed for more than a couple of nights. It was a great trip – lots of sights, fun, family days and new experiences and….lots more to see next time!
Leaving Hong Kong
Final morning in HK before departing for home this pm and it’s a sweltering day again. Could almost feel glad to be coming home to cool (not quite though!).
We’ve just been up The Peak on the tram – a hot uphill walk to get to station. A very steep incline, 45 degrees pulled by cable system – great views from the top out to both sides – can appreciate mountainous nature of island and mainland, tall buildings crammed into available space and lovely harbour around.
Hong Kong’s Hot
Well it is very hot and humid here in HK – just to make the contrast for us coming home!
Today we’ve been trying to hide in the air-conditioned shopping malls and places whenever possible. Been to Times Square and Stanley Park Markets on the other side of Hong Kong Island – nice air-conditioned bus ride there and great to see the scenery on the way including some of the beaches. Again we have also worked out the Tube – this time it’s the Octopus card which gives cost-efficient travel on most public transport. Tonight we took the Tube to the Kowloon side of the harbour to watch the laser lights and fireworks – a great spectacle and view of the city by night.
“Brilliant” Hong Kong
Arrived here about 5pm – just a little late due to queueing to take off from Heathrow. Flight was quite bumpy!
Our hotel has a fabulous view of the brilliant lights of Hong Kong, looking out towards the harbour from the Causeway Bay end of Hong Kong Island. Have also just enjoyed watching a side view of laser light show and special pyrotechnics to celebrate Hong Kong’s 10th birthday of the establishment of the HK Special Administrative Region. Hopefully we’ll see the whole thing tomorrow night.
Leaving UK
Had a good few days in London despite the weather which is slightly improved today – generally has not been cold though. We have nearly mastered the Tube – did pretty well today except for when a fire alarm elsewhere messed up the timetable and we got on the wrong train – only for one station so pretty good. Certainly the Oyster cards are a great cheap way to travel though being all that way underground in a packed train is not my favourite mode of travel.
All weathers
A mixture of all weathers today- brilliant sunshine and the bluest sky and white clouds to pouring rain with thunder and lightening.
Nevertheless we were out and about after mastering the intricacies of the tube. What a bustling and busy place with a maze of streets!! Visit to Tower Bridge – great views and fascinating operational detail. Lots of walking, viewing etc and more great sights on the Hop-on Hop-off and some good photo opportunities.
London is wet too!
Great run into London today thanks to Google directions! Lots of traffic of course and interesting to see various styles of apartments etc. Our hotel (bags were searched) is in the Kensington/Notting Hill area so we had a good walk in early afternoon around Kensington Palace Gardens and Park – even a few tributes to Diana on the fence again.
Then onto the Hop-on Hop-off bus for a guided tour round London’s key spots. Very good, some good views and commentary until it started to rain, then pour down at which point picture taking became too much of a challenge and life on the open top deck was decidedly unpleasant even with the complimentary plastic raincoats! We abandoned bus at about 6.45 and hope to catch up again tomorrow.