Christmas in Auckland and the trip to the South Island

Well it's was finally that time, we had been on the road for around 3 months and it was time for a break for Christmas and to earn some money to keep us on the road.

We were lucky that Anna's cozen Toby and his family were off to the UK for the festive holidays and had asked us if we would like to house sit for them and to look after the dog. We were both very happy about this and on the 14th of December they set off leaving us looking after the house and with a list of jobs that they wanted doing around the house that they were will to pay us for, which was great for us.

We both decided that we wanted to get all the work out the way in the week before Christmas so we could have a relaxing time when it came, this worked well but Toby called us with one last job to do after the New Year that we did in a few days for some more cash. In the end we both ended up, painting the bathroom ceiling, fixing the hole in the kitchen ceiling and a door on that come off one of the cupboards. Cutting the hedges around the house and removing an old tree stump ( not an easy thing ), sorting out the garage and finally plaster boarding the inside of a cupboard under the stairs and putting on sound insulation, as well as making a new cupboard door and door fame. This final job was the hardest because working in a cupboard under the stairs was hot dusty and cramped. After completing all these jobs we were both shattered and pleased we had dome more cash to keep us going.

Christmas was a strange event when it is really hot and this we found made it hard to get into the swing of things, but we did our best and got a tree and put up decorations all over the house. On Christmas day we started the day with our stockings for each others and breakfast in bed. This was great fun and he had both given each other some really cool small things, like incense for the van and nice sope. Later that morning some friends of Toby and Joe coming over for mince pies and muld wine as well as a dip in the hot tub. It was great to see Carly and Rich on Christmas day and Carly already new what Anna and I had given each other for xmass because she had made then. I had got Anna a really nice bangle and Anna had got me a lovely silver ring that Carly had made, we were both really chuffed with what we got and we both have them on every day.

Once Carly and Rich had left, it was time for lunch, but because it was such a hot day we did not really feel very hungry. So we decided to take a picnic up the local volcano that looks over the local beach and have strawberries with cream and Champagne in the sun. This was so much fun, and it was great looking out to sea and down to the beach where people were spending the Christmas days, swimming and having bbqs. Lots of people talked to us as we sat up on the hill and some people sounded very jealous when they sore us with our bottle of Moet and Chandon that Toby and Jo had given us of Christmas. Later that day when it got to hot we went back to the house and chilled until the evening when we took the dog for a lovely sunset walk along the beach then back to the house for our Christmas meal of steak sandwiches, yum yum yum. All together we had a great day and we will both really remember it as a Christmas spent on the beach with lovely food, great people and cool presents.

Between Christmas and New Year we enjoyed the great weather, did a little more work, some sales shopping as well as exploring Auckland more and before we knew it, it was New Years Eve. On that evening we again had Carly and Rich over for drinks and food and later that night Anna and I went to the top of the local hill and watched the fireworks from the sky tower in Auckland city centre. The fireworks were amazing and we were both really impressed with the displays, it was a great way to see the new years, very special. The following day we spent to Carly and Rich, spending our time between the beach and the house and eating some yummy food by the pool, by the time the day was over we were both ready to flow on the sofa and watch a good festive film of Oliver Twist.

Once new years was over we did our final bits around the house, and got the van ready for the road, finally on the 6th we got going, saying goodbye to the dog, house and the builders that were now working on the place and being very noisy.

We planned to make it to Wellington in 3 days, stopping at Taupo for the first night and just north of wellington the second night and on day 3 getting the ferry, everything was going so well until we turned up to catch the ferry and it had been cancelled. This meant that we had to stay for another night just outside Wellington to catch the boat the next day. It was a real pain that the boat was cancelled because it now meant the we would be on the boat for Anna's birthday, not a great thing. I felt really sorry for here and for that we decided that we would have another birthday for here when we would not be on the road. So finally after days we made it to the ferry port, and yes the ferry was late but at least it was coming, we were both really tired by this time and just could not wait to get to the south island, what will happen on the next part of our road trip to the south, who knows ?