Nelson visit

Hello,

Well just a quick update for goings on over the last few weeks.

Si and I have just got back from a trip to Nelson (top of SI) where we went to look at a boat that Si is interested (note to mothers - looks like we will have a boat before a house).

It's the first time that we have managed to get a weekend away in ages, unfortunately work commitments and some more personal training courses for me has stopped us getting away as much as we wanted so we decided that last weekend was either going to be a skiing trip or up north to look at a boat.

So a boat is for sale in Nelson that Si wanted to look at. Car loaded up last Friday, sleet/hail/snow forecast on the trip over Lewis Path, for a 400km, 5-6 hour drive through NI. Much of it in darkness, driving around swerving roads splitting the journey between us, until finally at about 2130 we arrived in a nice little, quaint backpackers for the two nights stay.

We quickly dropped of our bags, then went through a quick bimble through the town centre. Usual Kiwi style, with a hint of bars, boisterous and a hippy vibe to it. Found a bar with leather settee's and a warm fire, so both sat there with a glass of Pinot Noir and saying how much we like Nelson!

Saturday, with an early start, we hit the road to drive a hour NW, to a place called Marahau. It is the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park and has affectionately been labeled the Abel tasman Village. Marahau is the Maori name given to the village and translates to "Windy Garden" in English. The Bay is known as Sandy Bay and is quite aptly named being the longest golden sand beach in the region.

After looking at the boat, a Gazelle 5 birth one, which needs a bit of work on the trailor, Si was left to dwell on whether to put an offer on for it. We then drove around some of the little bays before hitting back to Nelson for an afternoon of chilling out and debating where to go for dinner that night.

Nice restaurant that night for some local seafood, few glasses of red wine and a chilled out night.

Sunday we started the slow drive back, first taking a brisk walk on the bech that morning, hard to think that it is the equivalent of January here, with crisp, clear sunny days in the Nelson area.
6 hours later, back to Burnham, house was not as cold as expected, cat's did not seemed to have missed us one little bit.

All in all a great weekend, made us appreciate NZ a little bit more with the natural scenery as it has been ages since we had managed to get out and about from Christchurch.

Week ahead, I, Tracey, am off to a NZ Police recruitment evening to see what they have to offer for a career options. I'm not to sure if Personal Training is for me, I nearly quit last week as had enough with all the crap that comes with awkward clients, but my manager has persuaded me to stay for a little bit longer a give it the full 6 months to see if the business can work.

The good side of it, is that is has meant that I have actually made some more friends through clients, to the end that one of the guy's I train is a qualified Ski Instructor from years ago, with Si and I going ski-ing this weekend with them, at last I can learn to ski!

I'll sign off as wood man is here to delivery our next batch of central heating.....

I'm jealous of the heatwave back in the UK!

love Tracey

Lewis Pass & National Park

Quick stop on way back to Christchurch at one of the waterfalls, not quite Victoria Falls in South Africa but a start.

Nelson Beach

Abel Tasman National Park

Nelson photos

6 month anniversary

Hello everyone,

Well, as quick has time has gone, Si and I are now one day away from the 6 month anniversary of being here - how time has flown!

I, Tracey, am not to sure what to say and how to update. NZ is different and I am not to sure if I can call it home, I miss my family and friends and the familiarity of things English (and I'm not just talking about Next or Boots), we speak the same English language but things are different.

Business for me is slowly picking up, not enough to be making a living in the Personal Training Industry quite yet, but I am willing to give it a few more months to see how things go, before looking at new horizons and opportunities out there.

So last weekend, we went to the flicks to watch Superman Returns (quite good), then to meet a work colleague for birthday drinks, back home at 0030 then up again at 0245 to watch England vs Portugal. In the Sgt's Mess on camp, 5 Brits (3 on exchange from the UK), freezing cold in a room on camp (no change there then in Kiwi accommodation), feeling the dreaded penalty's coming on. 0630, back home, Si not talking much with a look of despair on his face - yes England have lost again. The only good thing was that we both did not get much stick from the Kiwi's in work, as we just politely reminded them where was their footy team in the world cup!

So today on our anniversary, highlight of the night, should have been a trip into the city, book into a hotel and have a nice meal and drinks each, without having to decide whose turn it is to drive (we live too far out of Christchurch city to taxi/bus), except the All Blacks are playing Oz in a rugby match. Not to sure if it is the equivalent of England vs Germany, or more like a local Derby match. Nevertheless, it has now meant that all hotels in the city are fully booked up, or charging extravagent prices for a night out. Therefore, celebrating 6 month and wedding anniversary by treating ourselves to a nice imported Italian wine and food! The high life that we now lead eh!

The photo's now posted are from our day out to New Brighton on the pier for a quick walk down the cold front, flowers from my mum and aunty Pauline for our wedding anniversary and me, Tracey falling asleep on a usual Friday night with Crockett lying on me.

Update soon.

ps, Burt thanks for the call you rich b++++rd, Lyn I am so chuffed on the promotion to POWTR and finally Nicola congrats on the great news that you are pregnant again!

Big hugs,

Tracey & Simon
x x x x 

 

Misc Pics!

Wedding Anniversary present from Tracey's mum and Auntie Pauline, they were lovely and lasted for ages.

Usuall Friday routine, have half a glass of wine and the cat falls asleep on me - this is Crockett by the way.
















Brighton Beach - cloudy winters day.