Paraparaumu ( XMAS PERIOD)(par-rah-par-rah-oo-moo), or to the locals shortened to paraparam.

After having to wait on the bus for an hour before leaving and putting up with pensioners acting like four year olds arguing over seats; we finally arrived. As usual we weren't greatly organised, we hadn't realised that there were two places Paraparaumu (town) and Paraparaumu Beach the latter of which we were staying at but the former we had arrived at. No worries though we hopped on the no 71 bus right to the hostel. The bus driver was so nice( in actual fact all bus drivers over here are really nice); we had so much stuff so she helped us on with it and let us put it all down before paying then even though it was off the proper bus route dropped us right out side the hostel.

Barnacles; wow, just as i expected it was pretty much right on the beach. It was a little smaller and cosier than i had thought too which is good. The owner Sue was so lovely and made us feel really at home. Found out they were having a Christmas eve roast ham for free and christmas day bbq for free too. We were getting so excited about chrstmas especially when Sue gave us our parcles from home...like a couple of kids!!! Our room was really sweet and technically we did have a 'sea view'.

As we were stayng for 5 nights we decided to get all of our stuff out, was like proper little bedroom. We put on the radio in hope of some christmas songs and ended up listening to a easy listening pensioners channel i'm sure but it did seem very christmassy listening to Frank Sinatra and the like. When the first christmas song came on we got very excited and started dancing round the room like fools. We also stuffed a left over orange we had with somecloves from the kitchen(obviously in a nice pattern), very christmasy and smelt gorgeous...better than my stinking walking boots. When we had finished making the room festive; we took a walk to the beach and the little town. We lazyily picked up take away: $7 box of variety of chinese food; pick n mix. We then picked up couple bottles of ginger beer from the 'tip top' and enjoyed on the beach. The was covered in more drift wood than i'd ecer seen, i think sam dreamed of how much art work u could make out of it (just a little too big for us to lug about). Chilled in the eve.

Christmas eve   

Had lots of food shopping to do and a little present shopping to finish. Though we were still a little lazy with getting our carcases out of bed, eventually got into town just before midday. Mooched around the shopping arcade at coastlands (in Paraparaumu) finishing christmas shopping for each other, found some sweet little things and just hoped each other liked them; but anyway will come to them in christmas day. Next was the big food shop; we had written a list as long as your arm with goodies.....greedy b*****s. We got a trolley ofcourse, and each time a looked down into it i kept thinking how are we gonna get this back on the bus. We got pretty much everything on the list and more. Think we coulda fed a small army!!! the bill wasn't pleasant but never mind it's christmas ....gotta treat ourselves!!! Once we'd packed it up in our two rucksacks, chilled bag, and another three or four carrier bags we popped it back in the trolley and wheeled it right into the bus stop ...no problem!!

When we got back we must have looked like we'd bought the whole shop. After a small breather; we had baking to do. I started on the pastry for the mince pies and sausage rolls to add to the evenings fare and sam on the ginger and fruit biscuits aswell as the mulled wine....yummy. Having never made pastry before (i don't think) or mince pies (though do have nvq in baking them!!!) a gave it my best shot and they were pretty good even if i do say so myself. Sam had never made biscuits either (and i forgotten to mention the slight issue of no scales) but they were quite possibly the best ginger biscuits i'd ever tasted. As we were cooking we met a dutch girl called Eva who was making some yummy treats too. We also met a lovely English girl called Polly. She had just arrived and was spending Christmas in the hostel too.

In the evening we tucked into a yummy roast ham with the trimmings and ofcourse our scrumptious baking. I don't think there were any complaints about our cooking and i didn't hear of any incidents of food poisoning so all good. Whilst enjoying our mulled wine and roast we chatted with our new found friend Polly and another brit; James. We talked of anything and everything but mainly the confusion between men and women....we tried to get some advice as James and Polly are a little older and wiser than us. I think though that i'm more confused now than ever!!!

In typical brit styly we were pretty much the last ones standing, we wanted to go out for a traditional christmas eve drink but unlike home where even the smallest village pub would be open; it was dead. We managed to find one little dodgy looking cafe still open with a few local slightly hill billy types in; but we were a bit apprehensive there was disagreement in the ranks so we suggested our toss of the coin method. The coin said go for it much to Pollys dismay, but as we had fart assed about for so long we'd just missed last orders. Well thats what they said anyway.....maybe it was just a bit of a yocal pub(sorry cafe!!!) just for yocals. Nevermind mind we weren't disheartened, we made ur way back to the hostel for a few more beverages and some cards. Was hilarious James and Sam were both as competative as each other, so there were a few arguments over the rules!!! Eventually got to bed bout half oneish.

Christmas Day

Woke a little early considering, but were too excited to go back to sleep; we opened our stocking presents from each other (sorry... from santa claus). As usual they included some chocolate, which had to be eaten at eight in the morning to get christmas day started right!!! After the first installment of presents and excitement we dozed back to sleep and awoke again feeling a little dazed. Wished Polly a Merry Christmas in the kitchen; there was a nice atmosphere chilled but christmassy. Ross, one of the permenant resdents at the hostel, had his children over opening there presents and playing, which was really nice. It felt a little like a big family. I was a bit disapointed the weather was a little crap but the bbq was still goin ahead just a little later than scheduled. Me n Sam played some games and and chilled some more.

Christmas lunch time; excited at thought of bbq food for christmas. We had bought some prawns and some smoked fish. We got our chefs hats on and throw together some delicious flavours with the fish and prawns in little foil parcel;garlic,pesto,peppers (known as capsicum here). After a quick blast on the bbq we added it to our plate along with some salads, barbequed mussels and devilled eggs and potato salad.We ate with Polly in the living area; sat on the floor we popped our sparkling wine and enjoyed. (We opened our card from u rach...cheers chick. also pulled the crackers mum...they were completely flat but still managed to snap). Slobbed about a little as a normal xmas day watching s**t on the tv. Then got our arses of the sofa to take a walk along the beach. Although not a great day it was good to be on the beach; went for a paddle and considered a dip but flip of the coin said no!!!(think i just chickened out really). The sun popped it's head out for five mins and we could just about see the pretty island Kapiti not far offshore. There were quite alot of people about for a change, fishing and playing and  a few braved the waters. It was so refreshing in the sea air; and made us feel slightly less like lazy bums.

Back in the warmth and cosyness of the hostel we opened a few more pressies. Then in the evening slobbed around a bit more with cheese n biscuits, ginger beer and a film, 'Hoodwinked'. It was a animated film about little red riding hood; seeing the story from all angles a liitle crazy but we liked it. Couldn't fit the christmas pud in ...

Boxing day  

Had good nights kip must have been all the sea air. It was a bit of a typical boxing day not being really sure what to do with the big day all over and done with. We took another walk with our friend Polly; not with any particular aim, but we had managed to walk to the next small town along the coast called Raumati. After chilling on the beach for a bit amongst the vast amounts of drift wood,(with many layers on i hasten to add as the weather still hadn't picked up much) we had coffee/ hot chocs and cake in the waterfront cafe...yummy. Not sure it perked us up much though; think we were feeling bit lethargic after having couple days catch up and not doing much. In the evening as if we hadn't eaten for a month we decided we all had lots to eat up. so we cooked it all up!!! Pretty much had a whole buffet. A complete array(or should i say smorgasboard (a word we keep coming across here)); lamb, mushrooms in garlic, garlic and lemon whole prawns, pigs in blankets, sam's yummy ginger biscuits, noodles, salad, red wine and mulled wine. And then believe it or not we still couldn't fit in the christmas pud!!!   

Next day awoke and was just thinking bout getting up when there was a knock at the door. I was just about alife enough to open the door but Sam was pretty dead. It was Polly asking if we wanted to join her in going to a nature reserve, sounded good so i asked Sam who grunted something at us, that i couldn't even translate(though since then i am becoming adept at translating the morning grunts). I agreed that we would go any how. Shifted our arses ready to go, Sue the owner was going to take us there as it was little way out. Last minute though she had to change her plans as her new staff had turned up. Nevermind we thought we'd prob take a bus, just had to wait litlle while for it, then Polly mentioned hitch hiking!! After little deliberation we thought what the hell there was three of us anyway and we don't have to get in car with less desirables!!!

We strolled a couple mins up the road and crossed to the right side and stuck our thumbs out. Quite a few cars passed but no luck, we were getting a little disheartend and Polly had told us that she had only ever waited 10/15 mins before; so we felt bit like maybe we had gingst it. Then low and behold when we weren't even looking(only bout 10 min wait) somebody had pulled over( in quite a nice sporty looking car). The driver was a young women prob bout our age really nice Polly did the talking and yay we had lift to the bus station. Quite an elated feeling; from peoples generosity. She dropped us of and helped us with the direction in which we actually wanted to go. We quite liked this hitch hiking malarky and were getting a little cocky so decided why not try to get even closer to for free!! (plus the bus wait was a little while) We headed down the road in right direction and excersise dthe thumbs again...five mins later another lift and yet again we hadn't noticed they had to whistle at us( how embarassing). As we approached i could tell they were bit hilly billyish but they were nice enough,so we hopped in, it was a people carrier so plenty of room. I guessed that they were father and son, we told them where we were off to and even though a couple k's(kilometers) off their beaten track they took us the whole way there(these people don't stop surprising me with there generosity and friendliness). After we hopped out and strolled down the drive to the reserve Polly Said summit like " sorry i was practically sat on you (ihadn't noticed) but there was a spoiled nappy on the seat next to me" mmmm nice !!!! Well we were there and onscathed.

It was a lovely peaceful pretty reserve with lots of interesting bird life. To start there were those extremely tame ducks again in there millions following us around. One of the birds we saw was a Kea, a large slightly scary looking parrot, mainly green with little orange. They actually appeared to be really placid though. We saw and heard the usual brilliant Tui and the Pukeko that we have spoken of before. There was also a native reptile a little like an iguana called a Tuatara; impressive creature very still like a statue. There were many more colourfull and impressive birds to but  i won't go on as i fear we are turning into twitchers!!

As we wandered back down the drive contemplating the fact that we may miss the bus we stuck our thumbs out again and hoped, after a coulple of egets had passed us a couple of ladies in quite a smart car stopped. It didn't quite catch what they said but later the others told me she asked if we were being seriuos..ofcourse we were maybe she thought we were having a laugh!!! We hooped in again and she very kindly took us to the next town to the bus stop. We had had too much luck with the hitch hiking thing though so sod the bus we crosse dthe raod ...and you guessed it thunbs out again. This time we really did think our luck was out and we were in tricky spot leading up to traffic lights. Then low and behold we heard i guy shouting to us form behind he had pulled in for break in layby. We'd hit jackpot again; a lovely chap about our age just on his way back to Wellington after a big bender at the races (he was a little worse for where and prob still had little to much alcohol in him but he seemed compesmentes enough). We got chatting to him bout travelling and all sorts, hes bit of traveller himself, and had also hitch hiked in new zealand. He was also sweet enough to drop us right to our door though a little out of his way. I couldn't quite believe our luck that day it did make me buzz a little.

When we got back we had to say a quick goodbye to our festive friend Polly as she'd cadged another lift to the train station she was off to Welly(wellington), a little sad though we said we'd prob meet up in Welly in next couple days.

Next day, bye bye to Barnacles.. off to get train to Welly ourselves. We decided to try our luck and hitch hike by ourselves to the station. We didn't hold a lot of hope though as we had ridicolous amounts of stuff (our big pack backs, day bags full, two food bags and some stuff to send home...was bit of a joke really). Low and behlod though another generous person stopped( i would say foolish but so nice of him) It was a middle aged chap with two young kids in the car; so sweet. A big four by four but still only just enough room for us and our stuff. He had done travelling before but said now with kids in toe just going short distance was travelling, felt he may have been little envious. Just in nick of time for train ...good luck as we didn't know any train times. Hopped on the train off to Welly...pretty journey along the coast, reminded me of the trip form Exeter along Dawlish Warren.