We set off from Mt Eliza bloody early in the morning as Adrian would say, for me it was normal time to leave so no side effects of getting up at 3.30am yes you read right 3.30am.
(Adrian is still not over this mind you)
Dad ( thank you for driving us) drove us to the airport and left us there so he could go back home to bed.....Why would anyone do that I don't know :-)
We arrived in Dunedin and I expected the same problems as I had in 2004 when I arrived in Auckland. But this time the guy asked me one question and then he gave me a residency I was so excited until I read the fine print and found that it would expire when I left the country. These New Zealanders really know how to excite you and then pull you back down to earth.
We went out to pick up the hire car.......And trust me you don't want to know about this car it was crap and if anyone ever again tells me that the Ford Focus we drove was a 2 litre I wont be responsible for my actions..........Anyone who knows of my Ford Festiva and who has ever driven a Festiva........Would think that the Festiva was a sportscar compared to the Focus.
We drove the crap, oh sorry the car into Dunedin as we were staying with some of Adrians friends. Let me just get this of my chest.....Everywhere we stayed was with Adrians friends or family so I will just use their names and if you don't know if they are family or not please direct all questions to Adrian.........
Margaret and David have the best view of Dunedin. When you sit in their living room or the dining room or for that matter in the bedroom we stayed in, you could see the harbour, the sea, Mt Cargill and unfortunately The Warehouse and Mitre10's Mega Mart........
Have a look at the pic's if you wish.....The story will continue when I get another couple of minutes.......We had a great time and there we saw Tunnel beach Thank you David for driving us out there.
The next day was spent driving out to some peninsula, Adrian will know the name, but as he isn't here right now, so tuff you wont know where it is.
It was nice we meet some of Davids friends from the University as they had a batch there. Then we went for a boat trip very nice to have someone else do the work for you. While we were being rowed around we "fished" for Cockles well we had to get of the boat for that but you get my drift........That consists of putting your hands in the sand and dragging them out...........This is the New Zealander way of fishing where I come from you normally need a fishing rod etc. But not in NZ.
They are a bit backwards down there :-)
Then the boys went out to pull some mussels.....Or was that muscles........Still wondering.
That night we had cockles and they are yummy.
The next day we drove up to see Lance and Tracey and not to forget the kids......All 4 of them.
They were a scream, the whole lot of them see the pic's and if you meet Lance ask him to have a bbq for you...........Just check the bbq before he starts as they have a tendency to turn the plates around the wrong way so the heat goes out.........I did mention earlier that they are a bit backwards down there :-)
On the Tuesday, yes that's right we are on Tuesday all ready. We went to Christchurch to spend some days with Adrian's brother Ed and take some small trips around the area.
When we got there we found that Ed didn't finish at Polytech until 8pm and it was only 6 bummer that, what to do, what to do.
So we called Alex his other brother to see if he wanted to have dinner with us. I believe he had already eaten because he didn't seem to want any food. Only beers.
After dinner we went to Alex's place for a cup of tea how English we sound.
While we where there Ed called and said he was on his way home and for us to meet him which we did.
The next day we went out for dinner with Jacks, Grant and Mark.............
We wanted to spend some time with them before they tied the knot that's Jacks and Grant not Mark as well.
On the Thursday I bought my new toy (a camera).....A digital one its goooooood.
if you doubt me have a look at the pic's please.
On the Friday I spent most of the day like on Thursday doing nothing until we had a dinner for Ed's birthday.... There was so much food on the plates but we managed to make pigs out of ourselves.........Ed's daugther Ellen saw the lollies on the counter so her need for food went out the door and the need for lollies took over.
Well on the Saturday we (that's Adrian by the way) started to get ready rather early but what can you do.........Got to the church......Well the pic's speak for themselves I just want to say we had fun and it was a very nice wedding and we wish the bride and groom all the best.
And as I didn't hear from them I expect that the honeymoon went really well.....
On the Monday (we do not speak of the Sunday as we got robbed and the rental car company was not very nice to us). We went to Nonoti yes I believe that is how you spell it. There we had some relaxing days driving and eating oh yeah there was a bit of drinking as well.
From there we went to Wellington via Picton, the crossing was a bit boring. I was told that when you got out to the open sea the water became rough if that was rough I don't know it seemed quite tame to me. Have a look at the pic and make up your own mind.
While on the North Island (staying with Adrian's father) we went to Dannevirke. As Im Danish I thought I would have a look and maybe have some Danish food.....Word of warning the only Danish thing in Dannevirke that I found was Copenhagen Square.......Sorry guys and girls but that was all. The sign as you leave Dannevirke says Farvel but as that is the same in Swedish and Norwegian I wouldn't call it Danish.
Then we went and saw some trains as Adrian and his dad loves trains....Why is a good question. But they do.
From Wellington we went to Karamea. Well I wont say much about that place because I don't want any tourist spoiling the place. One things for sure we will definitely go back and stay at the pub/hotel/motel on the corner.
Then we went down to the Frans Joseph and Fox glaciers and what a disappointment that was never again will I go there I can't believe how greedy people running B&B's were $135 for the night and on top of that they wanted us to share the bathroom. In the motels we stayed in we didn't pay that much and we had our own bathroom.
From the Fox we went for a small walk to Armstrong Hut that means Adrian went to the hut and I piked out 20mins before as we had to walk on a ridge.
As Adrian was walking up there this tourist came past with a backpack and everything. She was powering where she was going we dont know. As she according to Adrian went past the hut and kept going.
On the way down I slipped, runners are not the best for this kind of climing. I got hurt and had a problem sitting for a while much to Adrians amusement.
Then we went back to Lance and Traceys for a curry, a yummy curry at that. The people at the resturant were very nice they didn't even ask us to leave as we were the last people there and had been for a while.
On the Sunday we went back to Dunedin and stayed with David and Margaret again the poor people we just took over their house again.
On the Monday we took the train to Pukerangi via the Taeri gorge. Fantastic trip take it if you go it might cost a bit but worth every penny or is that cent?
Have a look at the pic's.
Then it was time to go home Valentines day had finally arrived and we didn't want to go. But Australia Post was beckoning so off we went and arrived in Melbourne.
Thanks Dad for picking us up and Luisa for housesitting.
