This is to be the first of a two part instalment as to what we have been up to and why it has been so long since we have last blogged. As the last one finished, Dom and I were about to start work on the barn on the Farm in Ashburton, an hour south of Christchurch. The three of us got to Ashburton still all together and in one piece after heavy drinking in Queenstown, and many funny and fun stories... lots caught on camera... :)

We were staying with Jules's Dad's cousin who was called Bruce, who turned out to be a legend we had the most amazing time with him, as really he is a kid at heart like us and loves to have fun. Bruce also owns his own paintball park so one day he took the three of us paintballing. I should say this was after a very heavy night, at the farm at which we were going to be working at which belonged to Bruce's girlfriend Linda. The main highlight besides everyone deciding to play fight for about 3 hours was the fact that two boys had said they were going to go hunting at first light. Dom saw this as an opportunity and said can I come along, as is the Kiwi way they said sure (bear in mind at this point it was 4:30 in the morning). Dom didn't see the point in going to bed and so stayed up for the next hour waiting for them. As you may have guessed they never came and Dom was left all on his own outside! So paintballing after that night in 30 degrees was to say the least a bloody good hangover cure. Dom and Jules were on one side and I was on the other along with about 10 other guys. They were cowards I was brave, sadly in paintball, there are no medals for bravery, just bruises from idiocy in going gunho in the attempt to capture the flag.

That night after our wounds were healed we went out on a Possum hunt and the only way I can explain it best is that there were four of us stood on the back of a 4x4 3 with guns and 1 with a torch! Look at the photos for more details. Sadly Jules had to leave us the next day and it was back to us just being two. We had had a great time with Jules, but sadly like all good things they must eventually come to an end.

After Jules' departure the real work happened and Dom and I spent 4 days working on a barn of Linda's that was in the need of some TLC as well as doing some wood chopping. Dom and I went to work on giving the exterior a makeover - bending corrugated iron, filling in holes, water blasting etc). However on one of those days, Liam (Linda's son) came back from school one day and was keen to go and catch some wild sheep after he and I had caught a day before. Liam, Dom and I went off and sure enough an hour later returned with the other two wild sheep! Look at the picture for the blog, those big white things aren't pillows. The farm time we spent with Linda, Bruce, Liam and Mia was one of the highlights of our South Island adventure. They are the nicest people and we will always have fond memories of our time spent with them. Linda, Bruce and co, you are amazing people and we love you loads, because we know you will read this, we can't wait to see you in the summer!

Photos of our time in Ashburton have been added to our South Island album.

Much Love Charlie x