Kia Ora Guys

Since our last rambling "Team Britpop" has gone from strength to strength in the Thursday night pub quiz and notched up back to back victories, we are now regulars and have a table reserved for us!!!!

As we are now in the 3rd week of Summer the weather has started to get better and better which has been a real challenge walking around all day long as combined with the humidity it really tires you out, so you have to take lots of water on board and stay hydrated as well as smothered in sun cream!!!

It is our favourite time of year as there are lots of events that are put on by the council for free and it is a great excuse to make use of the lovely parks that we have here in the City.

Last Saturday we stumbled across a climate change protest march in Albert Park which we decided to follow and it ended up in Myers Park with a free concert mc'd by Rhys Darby (from flight of the choncords fame) the weather was ace and we spent all afternoon sat on the hill listening to the music and watching a dog slide down the hill on his rear end which even after seeing it for the 26th time made us laugh....

The week passed quickly and before we knew it Friday had arrived again and we were on our way to work,only today Mel dropped me at work as it was the Xmas party after work. I met Mel off the ferry and we walked in the evening sunshine to the venue. The social club had gone all out and done a great job with the Pacific Island theme. On entering the building you were given a lei and also a treasure map to solve the riddles and find the treasure.

We had a surfing machine at one end of the room where you could try your skills at keeping upright and as hte night wore on the times on the board were getting shorter. The entertainment continued with Cook Island dancers which was absolutely awesome and the music was cool with a real fast tempo. After dinner it was the limbo contest which seperated the men from the boys although there were several good attempts!!!!

The night was fun packed and before we knew it we were strolling back for the ferry to take us home, unfortunately we had missed the last ferry that tied up with the bus so it was a 20 minute walk home and our legs ahd lost the will to put one foot in front of the other and it was a slow walk but we eventually made it and flopped into bed.

It doesn't matter where you are in the world you should always avoid malls at Xmas time but we reckoned it would be quiet at the one near us and how wrong we were. Once in the car park we were at the point of no return and drove around and around and around for what must have been 20 minutes to find a parking spot. Mel and I then went our seperate ways and did a bit of Xmas shopping to find each other a gift,we set a strict budget and I thought I was doing really well until I realised I had overspent as I had used some money I already had with me!!!!

Once the ordeal of shopping was over we headed home before enjoying a couple of pints outside the local in the evening sun and this time we caught the bus back!!!!

Sunday brought more glorious weather and after batting around several ideas we decided to give our new Cobb oven a run out down at the beach. Mel went off to the shops to pick up provisions and I started making a salad and packing our gear. Luckily it is only a minute to the beach as we seemed to have enough stuff to last a week. We found our spot,layed out the blanket and put up the umbrella to keep us nice and shaded. Then it was time to cook,the oven worked brilliantly and we did salmon kebabs in chilli and lime,sausages and marinated prok chops with baby roast potatoes and salad it was a triumph and one we will be repeating again on Xmas day.

The umbrella decided that it was no good in the breeze and after it turned inside out for the 3rd time and blew off down the beach we decided that enough was enough and put it away, it seems that it will only be good on days when there is no breeze at all!!!

I had a nap on the sand while Mel did a puzzle but eventually it was too hot for us so we had to retreat back to the house, but we had managed most of the afternoon on the beach.

Another weekend in the history books and it's back to work tomorrow, but only 2 more weeks to Xmas andthen a nice long break from work and a chance to recharge the batteries and relax, we have a few things planned so will be in touch over the festive period.

We hope everyone has a wonderful time over the festive season and we hope the New Year brings everything you desire.

Lots of Love

M & M

xx