All Blacks vs France Test Match

We did it!  Well the team did – Phew!  I think the AB’s man card was riding on that game. Close call but the AB’s held their own.

I was in the Deloitte lounge, thankfully, as it was absolutely chucking it down out there.  Wellington had turned on its best weather again.  The Haka isn’t the same up there though, you miss the whole experience.

It was interesting listening to everyone going on every time that the ball was dropped.  Such and such is a waste of space. I bet if they were out there in the rain and wind they’d be even worse.  Armchair coaches and players…

We bumped in to Wayne and Jimmy at half time and decided to have a drink with them in their hotel afterwards.  The same hotel that the french were staying at so it was a merry old time with the supporters club – who were in very good form.

Needless to say it was an earlish night for me and a late one for the boys.  Town was surprisinly empty – maybe that Wellington weather had something to do with it.  We had trouble giving away tickets for the game for free.

Gore-tex Tester

Check out my YouTube clip as part of my application to become a Gore-tex tester for a few months.

As a member of the Gore-tex email group I was sent this opportunity, along with hundreds of others, to apply on line with a clip, photo and 500 word reason why I would be a good Gore-tex tester.

Entries close today so fingers crossed I get through to the next stage, which is a phone interview, and even better, to the end!

I’ll keep you posted.

Personalised Number Plates

Craig and I received a cool gift for Craig’s 40th birthday in January from his mum – personalised number plates for our cars!

Grant at Personalised Plates was fantastic to deal with, great sense of humour and ability to come up with plate options.

If you want to know what they are you will have to email me and ask

They actually take three weeks to be made, they are digitally printed in Australia and then made into plates back in New Zealand.  And as Grant says, ‘not by prison inmates’.

They look great on the cars.

Thanks Diane

xxx

Martinborough Fair

We are full as bulls, we have just spent the last one and a half hours eating our way around Martinborough’s Fair.  They hold two fairs each summer on the first Saturday of February and March in Martinborough’s square.

I had not been for a few years so it was a nice surprise to see how big it has grown with stalls now spreading down the streets from the main square.

As the new age is to have organic goods and the home grown and home made household items are all vogue it definitely explains why the fairs around New Zealand are growing.

It is worth visting even if only once to experience something truly New Zealand.  And on hot days the nearby river is full of families swimming after a long day walking around the fair sampling and buying goodies.

Craig’s 40th Birthday Bash 2009

We are all currently getting over a huge weekend for Craig’s 40th.

We had an influx of guests over the weeks prior and after, all of whom were very helpful and fun to have around.

The Kiwiana themed party was a hit with majority of guests getting into costume and having a good time.

A recently formed band Midnight Special were fantastic and are playing at a friends 50th birthday this weekend as well.  A very talented guitarist.

Throughout the night there was costume swapping and I hope that was all?!  Boys in netball skirts, mini’s and ball gowns was a bit of a worry.

The band finished at 2am and we continued dancing away until 4:30am, by then everyone was over tired and dreading getting up for the after match BBQ that day.

The chocolate cake by The Chocolate Cake Company was very yummy!  The only thing that was disappointing was their decorating skills, they could be a bit better, very rough.

It was the first time I have managed to relax and not run around cleaning everything.  There were enough people hanging out in the kitchen and house to assist.

I am still getting everything back to normal for the next influx of visitors but all in all I think he is a happy boy with his weekend where he was the king pin.

Miss GOYANZ Dance 2008

I had to endure another GOYANZ night in the weekend. Yes, that was said half heartedly. But once I was there I did find it entertaining, the meal was fabulous and for some it was a rather late night.

What is a “GOYANZ” evening I hear you ask? Well, it is a dinner and dance that the Greek community put on once a year and the nights fund raising proceeds go to the Olympic soccer club. GOYANZ is the Greek Orthodox Youth Association of New Zealand.

There is also a “Miss GOYANZ” selected each year from the younger females in the crowd. I am not sure of the criteria for this prize as it is not purely beauty.  I do recall giggling at a 16yr old trying to explain the criteria to me once.

Everyone is made up to the nines, hair, make-up and gorgeous little dresses.  One thing can be said for Greek youth they know how to dress – stunningly dressed males strutting their booties on the dance floor.

Wellington Food Show Munch

Have you ever been to the Wellington Food Show? You have to try it one year for a giggle or not as the case may be.

We staggered out of there on Sunday with bellies full of endless savoury, sweet, savoury, sweet combo’s. Then mixed it all up with a variety of liquids from juice, tea and alcohol – burp!

If you want to try the latest foods out on the market from dips, cheeses, wines, juices and kitchen utensils then this is the place for you. Every May in the ‘cake tin’.

Thankfully I was still capable of running after a little rest.

Thanks Gary for the tickets!

Wellington Rugby Seven’s 2008

Wow! Where to start – what a weekend?!

This year the grand costume theme was cave people. I was supposed to be a cave woman, but I felt more like a plonker wearing a black & white Zebra outfit with a bone stuck in my hair. The boys outfits rocked, they had squeaking rubber chickens, beards, wigs and brown rags.

The PC ban on borat outfits and fake weapons was pathetic, if parents don’t like their kids seeing it then don’t take them, if you don’t like being squirted with water then stay at home – your couch is looking mighty fine. Speaking of couches did you get a glimpse of the boys dressed up as sofa’s, they decided the night before and gutted out their lounge suite of their flat – students!

We had a great bunch of guys down from the Hawkes Bay in our section, the best Marilyn Munroe you’ve seen in a while. Hard case weekend.

So, now for the actually rugby – what rugby? How did we fair?

We kicked the Samoan booty – then paraded around the field with shirts off doing the haka – yummy! Just like Christmas. Lean, fit boys.

Wellington Cup, Trentham

Elizabeth and I had a stunning day at the races courtesy of Radioworks. Their hospitality enabled us to drink, nibble and walk between race and fashion events until our feet could not handle the high heels anymore.

I picked my bets by their pretty outfits, pink or baby blue, how sparkly the flanks of the horses were and if they had stars or diamonds on them – I faired well for a non-gambler.

We parked in the middle of the course, the best place as you do not have to walk too far and no queues – there was compulsory breath testing on the way out which I think was a brilliant idea.

The frocks and hats were gorgeous, some good picks by the judges and some dodgy ones – but what else would you expect from a head case golfers wife, a designer, an apartment sales women, a hairdresser plus a no namer with a celebrity mum?

The Kiwi Christmas Holiday

The typical Kiwi holiday starts with the packing of the car so that you cannot fit a mintie more in it and usually there is sports gear hanging from every possible angle all over the car as well.   Then you tend to head North as it is warmer.  Look out Mt. Maunganui here we come.

Once the Xmas days are over and Santa has come and you have bored yourself senseless over the endless cooking and cleaning and you are dreaming of getting out and doing things you can finally then get stuck into the fun stuff.

I think first up it was Aerobatics in a Cessna - learning to fly and do 360 degree rolls, barrel rolls and downward spirals took a lot of self control.  After 20minutes of that I was nearly chucking and it took all day to calm down my stomach but at least I can say I flew and upside down.  A stunning day that one.  I was looking forward to the site seeing on the way up to 3000ft but I was too busy flying to look around everywhere – duh. 

Surfing was next on the list and it was fun - nothing like a natural buzz to keep the excitement levels up.  The water is much warmer than in Wellington so I could last two hours at a time with a 3mm wetsuit on.  Seriously doubt I will get back in the water now that I am home hmm  Somehow I managed to get burns on my fingers from getting up on the board over and over again.  Hanging out to get back in to the water again.

One day my uncle took us all out to a secret little camping spot on a private farm out of Te Puke that is absolutely magical – fresh spring water to drink and swim in, stunning walking tracks that the farmer has built and a water slide, log cabins and amenities all for a nominal donation at the gate.  There are lots of hidden gems around New Zealand like this that you do not know about and never would unless you have been told or shown them.  Looking forward to exploring that one a little more some other time.

We also ventured out one night to Bay Park stock cars and cringed and laughed at all of the crashes – ouch, great to watch once but not on a regular basis.  Definitely entertaining.  Watched one poor idiot get carted away in an ambulance after doing a triple flip back onto its wheels and then crash into a wall as his throttle had stuck. Just heard this guy is still in an induced coma.

We played a few games of golf and we learnt the hard way that you need to go out early if you want to avoid cooking in the midday sun.  I did not come last in either games and I did not lose as many balls as the boys either.  It means I must still be playing it safe – actually I can not hit the ball that far to be truthful   My advice is do not play golf with family members as they fight like cats and dogs over the score and by the seventh hole you are ducking for cover and reminding everyone they are on a golf course and to shut up.

The Mount is a great place to spend New Years, always lots to see and do, the people, warm weather, shopping, the free bands and fireworks make it a great week away.   Throw in the odd run and bike ride for extra exercise to counteract all the Xmas goodies.