Kia Ora

As promised it has been several weeks since my last blog and as you can imagine it has been a busy time for us. Mel has had to settle into her new role at work and I too have had to get used to my new job.

It has been just how I expected it to be out on the streets with people unhappy aboit getting tickets but all in all it has been great fun and I have only been called a W****r several times!!!!!

There hasn't been too much happening here for the last few weeks but we have made the most of our weekends as they have been short as I have had to work the last 2 weekends so Mel ahs had to take up the task of shopping and cleaning,which I think she secretly likes as she gets some time on her own. That's not to say it has all been work as she meets her friends from work for brunch when I am at work on Saturday's and just chills out.

Now as some of you will be aware yesterday (Sunday 13th) was our 12th wedding anniversary, and we kicked it off with a delicious cooked breakfast and a steaming mug of tea,or coffee in Mel's case. Our next dilemma was what to do with the day as the weather here has truly been 4 seasons in one day the last few days. After a bit of brainstorming we decided to take a drive over to the Domain for a look around the Winter Gardens, which we had read about but never visited. The sunshine was out for the minute so we packed up a picnic and we were off.

The gardens were gorgeous and they had 2 sections one was a cool house with gorgeous blooms in and the other was a hot house with ferns and palms,the 2 are seperated by a pool full of gold fish and sparrows bathing in the water...

We found ourselves a nice spot on the grass and layed out the picnic blanket ready for our lunch.The Domain is big and full of people but at the same time really peaceful and relaxing.Unfortunately after a while the weather changed and we saw the black clouds approaching and then it was a quick dash to the car with all our things as the rain started to fall,we tried to sit it out but it kept coming so we revised our plans and drove to Parnell for coffee and a read of the papers.

Within 2 hours the weather had changed again and as the sun was setting the skies had cleared and it was like a Summers evening as we walked into Devonport to take the ferry to the city. We took the elevator up the Sky Tower and watched the ground beneath us get further away through the glass panel in the floor. Neither of us had been up the tower in the evening and we were not sure what to expect but when we stepped out of the elevator the views were spectacular.

After snapping a few photos,from the Observation Deck we made our way to the Orbit restaurant a couple of floors below. We were a bit anxious as we had heard mixed reviews about the food but were ready to make our own minds up.We were shown to our table right by the window and the menu was explained to us.As usual it took us a while to decide but we eventually got there.

Mel went for the duck confit and mushroom tart,followed by a baked chicken breast with an eggplant compote with dahl cake. I had seared tuna loin in Moroccan spices with a preserved lime dressing followed by Hawkes Bay lamb loin which was delicious too,and our fears about the food being average were washed away. I sampled 2 different wines ( a pinot noirfrom Kumeu and a Sauvignon Blanc from the BAy of Planty) while Mel stuck with the red.

As we ate our view was constantly changing as we spun around slowly, it is amazing how different the city looks at night. Both of us squeezed in a dessert each. It was pavlova for me and of course a chocolate parfait with mandarin jelly and hazelnuts for Mel.

We finished off the meal with a delicious coffee while chatting about the last 12 years and what an adventure it has been for us. We walked back to the Ferry building down a near deserted Queen Street and took the last ferry of the evening back to Devonport and watched the city form a perfect backdrop to another great day here in NZ.

Lots of Love

M & M

xx