SORRY! i've been a bit slack on the old update front. i do apologise. So what's happened? Well loads and nothing really. Easter was bleak. I had no calls from the agency ie no work and some truly appalling weather descended upon Wellington. It was dark and miserable and wet and foreboding - which seemed to match my mood. Winter (it's autumn really) seemed to loom up like a perilous storm and after the distinctly summery time we had while James was here, no...

So James flew off to Auckland this afternoon. :o( We did some last minute King Kong stalking yesterday and had a great night out with Ian and Laura last night - it was certainly an appropriate send off for Jimbob. Thank you James for coming here and spoiling me and being so ace and funny and good company and patient! Love you! x

That morning at Punakaiki we went to see the famous Pancake Rocks and took more endless photos. The west coast is rugged and impressive and the surf pounding through these bizarre ancient rock formations was really interesting. Another long drive took us through some distinctly "Lord" type ranges and the Japanese tourist level of photography continued. On to Nelson, where we thought we were going to stay but which neither of us really liked. Not sure what to ...

A really daunting drive lay ahead us, through Arthurs Pass to the west coast but we knew the scenery was going to be so awesome we didn't mind. So to wake up to a huge, low bank of fog in Christchurch was a bit annoying! But we hit the road and it all just cleared away and we were treated to the Greatest Show on Earth! The Southern Alps run the length of the S Island and we drove straight across them, gawping in wonder. It was truly magical. Stopping to take ...

Yesterday morning we awoke to another beautifully gloriously sunny day and felt it would be rude not to do a little wine-tasting while in Marlborough. So we hired a couple of bikes from the hostel and set off in the hazy morning light. The mountains just looked stunning all around and we lazily toddled through the vineyards in our shiny blue helmets! By 10.30 we thought we should really taste some wine and that it wasn't too early. So we rode into the next av...