Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa

(Wishing you all a very Happy New Year).

Kia Ora Guys

I am sat here typing this wondering 2 things, firstly where did the 11 days holiday go to and secondly why we don't have to work today, but any day off work is good so I am not complaining....

After a fairly hectic run up to New Year things slowed down when we returned from Rotorua for a couple of days,we just relaxed and caught up with ourselves knowing that New Year was nearly upon us.

New years Eve for us was a relaxing affair through the day with things ramping up later on in the evening. We took a trip to our local which wasn't too busy which surprised us and we got a good seat for the band that were due to perform. It was a good evening and we left in time to see the firework display which sprays off the Sky Tower to make it look like a giant sparkler. It was a good display but nothing to rival Sydney which we watched on the TV 2 hours later.

After a few days of relaxing we were ready to get going again and had booked ourselves on the ferry to Waiheke Island on Saturday morning which meant an early night Friday so we would be up fresh and ready to go. The alarm went off at 6.30am and we were up, Mel showered and I ate my weetabix before getting the bike gear on for the short ride to the ferry terminal in the City. The roads were quiet and 15 minutes later we were sat on the waterfront waiting to board the ferry.

There were only a few vehicles boarding and we waited patiently until the end and were ushered onto the boat,where I parked the bike and disabled the alarm to stop it going off on the 1 hour crossing. As 9 0' clock arrived the sun stirred as we got closer and closer to Waiheke Island. Mel was on the lookout for any marine wildlife but sadly none showed although there were plenty of people on jetskis and boats.

The flat bottomed boat pulled into Kennedy Point and we rode off the ferry with the wind in our hair and the bike jackets open to combat the heat. First stop was Ostend for the Saturday morning market we had heard so much about,unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype but we did manage to get a baconand egg sandwich,our first since being here so we were pleased!!!!

After browsing the market we rode further round the island to Onetangi beach where we stopped for coffee at Charley Farleys and gazed out across the turquoise sea as it lapped onto the all but deserted beach. Next came an attempt to ride to Stony Batter but this being New Zealand the road to it was gravel and after 4 kms of teeth chattering and potholes we decided to abandon the attempt to get there so turned around for the juddery 4km ride back to the smooth asphalt.

Because it was so dry we didn't realise how much dust was getting kicked up at us and by the time we reached smooth ground both Mel and I were covered from head to toe in fine dust, not to mention the bike that I had cleaned only yesterday....

After dusting down the best we could we set off and spent the next few hours visiting idyllic coves and various beaches around the island. We arrived at the ferry terminal a bit earlier than planned and thought we were being very clever changing to another sailing back to Auckland,although it was the other side of the city we would arrive earlier,or so we thought. Then the announcement came that the ferry was delayed and we were sat in the hot sun with the bike gear on, we did strip down to our shorts while we waited and it was only then that i realised the backs of my hands had burnt in the sun as well as my nose!!!!

After what seemed like an eternity, the boat arrived 1 hour later than scheduled and once all the cars were on we were squeezed on at the back of the boat quite comfortably. It was a shorter crossing back to Half Moon Bay and then a quick trip along the motorway back home. w efound ourselves doing a quick pit stop, while Mel showered again (twice in one day is unheard of!!!) I knocked up a salmon and potato frittata with potatoes and salad,then took a shower myself before we were out the door on our way to the City to meet a few friends for a drink.

It was still warm and we sat outside until nearly 11pm before we had to leave to get the ferry back across to Devonport. The day had been jam packed and we got into bed and fell fast asleep in a breath.

I woke up to the sparrows chirping and the Tui in the tree singing away, it was still mid morning and I flicked the kettle on. While it boiled away I opened the blinds and curtains and the daylight came streaming in. Just as the kettle finished boiling Mel appeared and joined me for coffee on the patio.

Once sorted out I took the bike to the carwash to get all the seasalt off it and Mel went out for coffee with a friend of hers and we met up a few hours later back home. I am not sure if we were just bored or looking for something to do but the next few hours we threw around ideas for our holidyas and went back and forth from America to Tasmania and then back again. In the end we decided on Tasmania for September and the USA the following year, but we did manage to book ourselves a weekend in Wellington in April. Having said that things could change again on the holiday front but for now it's Tasmania or is it America!!!!

Lots of Love

M & M

xx