NZ CONTINUED....

12.9.08....DAY 45...
8.00AM...SLEPT WELL...COMFY BED...ITS OUR ANNIVERSAIRY TODAY...12 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ADVENTURE...LIVING THIS DREAM?
8.20AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA...ONE FOR THE PERSON THE WHOLE WORLD LOVES AND ONE FOR MY NUMBER ONE GIRLIE!
8.40AM...SHOWER.
9.10AM...CARRYING ALL OUR GOODS TO THE CAR.
9.40AM...WEETABIX/TOAST WITH LEMON CURD/CUPPA TEA.
10.10AM...NU TAKING PICTURES OF PLANTS AND THINGS.
10.35AM...CHEERIO MOO...WOOF WOOF!
10.45AM...ON THE ROAD BACK TO WESTPORT...RAINING HEAVILY.
11.55AM...WESTPORT AT LAST...IT WAS A BENDY SLOW ROAD.
12.15PM...SUPERMARKET/PETROL STATION.
1.00PM...NEXT STOP PUNAKAIKI.
2.35PM...AFTER SEVERAL STOPS FOR CAMERA HAPPY NU...WE ARRIVE AT OUR DESTINATION.
3.00PM...BEACH HOSTEL...LOOKS CLEAN/TIDY...BOOKED 3 NIGHTS.
4.10PM...PANCAKE ROCKS...ROCKS THAT LOOK LIKE PANCAKES PILED UP ONE ON TOP OF ANOTHER...IE...TAKE A 100 PANCAKES AND STACK THEM UP...YOU'LL GET THE PICTURE...PLUS THERE WERE BLOWHOLES...THE SEA LASHING THRU HUGE HOLES IN THE ROCKS...EXCITING HEY?!
5.40PM...PUB...JUGS OF BEER...PIE AND CHIPS...EXCITING HEY?!
7.30PM...BACK AT HOSTEL...BETTER HAVE A BRANDY...EXCITING HEY?!


13.9.08....DAY 46...
9.15AM...COME ON WILLIS...MOVE IT...DO I HAVE TOO?...I ENJOY SPEAKING TO MYSELF...I GET ALL THE WRONG ANSWERS...BUT IT ALWAYS TURNS OUT RIGHT.
9.35AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA...ONE FOR NU AND ONE FOR ME!
10.15AM...SHAVE/SHOWER...RAZOR BLUNT...OUCH.
10.50AM...BACON/MUSHROOM/TOMATO SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
11.30AM...IN CAR...NEXT STOP CHARLESTONE...TRAIN TO CATCH!.
12.10PM...CHARLESTONE...WE HAVE TRAIN TICKETS.
12.40PM...IN A TRAIN POWERED BY A MORRIS MINOR ENGINE?
1.05PM...HEADING 'DEEP' INTO THE 'JUNGLE'...THIS IS WHERE THE DOCUMENTARY 'LOST WORLD' WAS FILMED...LETS HOPE THE ONLY DINOSAURS HERE ARE NU AND ME!
1.30PM...NU AND I ON FOOT WALKING JUNGLE[FOREST] TRACK.
1.50PM...ROPE BRIDGE...SIGN SAYS 'USE AT YOUR OWN RISK'.
2.00PM...ROPE BRIDGE SURVIVED NU AND I.
2.30PM...TIME TO WALK BACK.
3.10PM...TRAIN JOURNEY OVER...BIT BORING ON THE RETURN JOURNEY.
3.30PM...CAFE...NU HAVING WHITE BAIT SANDWICH.
5.00PM...BACK AT HOSTEL.
5.30PM...LAMB UNDER GRILL...CABBAGE/PARSNIP/CARROT/SPUD ON BOIL.
6.15PM...WONDERFUL MEAL.
7.00PM...CHATTING WITH GERMANY GIRLS.
7.15PM...I THINK SOME ITALIANS HAVE JUST TURNED UP.
7.20PM...ITS OK...THEY ARE FRENCH...PHEW!
7.30PM...READING NEWSPAPER...EXCITING WHAT!
7.35PM...ACTUALLY I DO ENJOY IT ALL...THE PEOPLE WE MEET AND HOW IT ALL GOES...I WOULDN'T SWOP WITH ANYONE...ITS A TRULY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.


14.9.08...DAY 47....
9.00AM...I THINK I DRANK TO MUCH WHISKEY LAST NIGHT.
9.20AM...NU AS BOUGHT ME A CUP OF TEA...RECIEVED GRATEFULLY.
9.35AM...NU'S OFF TO SEE EARLY MORNING BLOWHOLES.
9.40AM...I'LL LAY HERE A LITTLE LONGER.
10.10AM...SHOWER.
10.40AM...GETTING ALL THINGS READY FOR BREAKFAST FOR WHEN NU RETURNS.
11.15AM...HI NU...I'LL MAKE YOU A COFFEE.
11.25AM...COOKING BREAKFAST...FAT SPITTING.
11.45AM...SCOFFING BREAKFAST...FAT ARE WE.
12.35PM...WALKING TO CAVES.
12.45PM...CAVES...DARK AND GREY.
1.20PM...WALKING BEACH...COLOURFUL PEBBLES.
1.55PM...BACK AT HOSTEL.
2.10PM...CUPPA TEA...WISH I'D STAYED IN BED.
2,25PM...READING NEWSPAPER.
3.30PM...OFF WE SET...THERES A WALK 'WE ?' WISH TO DO.
3.55PM...WALKING NARROW PATH BY RIVER...INTERESTING?
4.25PM...BACK IN CAR.
4.40PM...ANOTHER WALK WAY...ARE WE OVER DOING THE WALKING BIT??
5.30PM...PUB...BEER...FISH AND CHIPS.
6.40PM...BACK AT HOSTEL...SHOULD'VE STAYED IN BED!


15.9.08...DAY 48...
8.00AM...BACK I THE DRIVING SEAT AGAIN TODAY.
8.20AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA...YAWN!
8.50AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
9.35AM...BREAKFAST TIME...BACON/MUSHROOM/EGG/TOMATO...ANOTHER CUPPA.
10.20AM...EVERYTHING IN CAR.
10.30AM...FOOT ON ACCELERATOR.
10.40AM...ANOTHER BENDY ROAD AHEAD.
11.55AM...GREYMOUTH...AND IT IS GREY...ITS NAMED AFTER A RIVER WHICH WAS NAMED AFTER A CHAPPIE CALLED GREY...VERY APT!
12.40PM...AFTER A SEARCH...FOUND A HOTEL WITH SKY SPORTS 2...BOOKED A NIGHT.
1.30PM...WAS GONNA GO TO SHANTY TOWN...A MODEL TOWN OF HOW LIFE USED TO BE IN THE EARLY MINING DAYS...BUT THE HEAVENS HAVE OPENED...OUCH.
2.30PM...STILL DO NOTHING...APART FROM WATCHING RUBBISH KIWI TV.
4.00PM...RAIN AS CEASED...ONE OF NU'S SHOE LACES AS SNAPPED...WE ARE OFF TO FIND A SHOE/LACE SHOP.
5.10PM...FANCY AN INDIAN.
5.25PM...MADRAS/RICE/NAAN BREAD ORDERED.
5.45PM...SMELLS GOOD.
6.05PM...THERES SMOKE COMING OUTA MY EARS...THE AFTERMATH OF A GOOD INDIAN!
7.00PM...BACK AT NOAHS[HOTEL].
7.30PM...BOTTLE OF WINE.


16.9.08...DAY 49...
7.00AM...ALARM...VILLA ARE ON SKY 2 SPORTS...PLAYING SPURS...THATS WHY WE WANTED A PLACE WITH SKY TELE...NU REALLY HAPPY!
7.06AM...VILLA ONE UP!
7.15AM...NU GONE FOR CUPS OF TEA...I'M HAPPY BENEATH THE SHEETS...EYES ON TV.
7.25AM...NU BACK WITH CUPS OF TEA...VILLA STILL ONE UP.
7.50AM...HALF TIME...SCORE STILL IN VILLA'S FAVOUR.
8.05AM...STAR OF SECOND HALF...NU GONE FOR SHOWER...FUNNY WOMAN...WE PAY 200 QUID FOR A ROOM WITH SKY TELE TO WATCH THE VILLA...AND SHE GOES FOR A SHOWER!
8.29AM...VILLA TWO UP.
8.50AM...SPURS HAVE ACCIDENTLY SCORED!
8.57AM...FULL TIME...VILLA HAVE THREE POINTS IN THE BAG!
9.10AM...SHOWER.
9.40AM...TOAST WITH LEMON CURD...CUPPA TEA.
10.05AM...EVERYTHING IN CAR.
10.20AM...PHONED MY SON TOM IN ENGLAND...HE'S ABOUT TO START UNIVERSITY...THE ONLY PERSON SO FAR IN THE WILLIS CLAN TO DO SO...I'M PROUD OF THE GUY...WISHED HIM ALL THE BEST.
10.50AM...ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
11.00AM...SUPERMARKET...NEED MILK ETC.
12.40PM...DRIVING ALONG 'ARTHURS PASS'...SEVERAL STOPS FOR PHOTO TAKING.
12.55PM...'ARTHURS PASS' VILLAGE.
1.05PM...BEEF/MUSTARD SANDWICH.
1.30PM...DRIVING ONWARDS TO 'HAMNER SPRINGS'.
2.30PM...THIS IS ONE LONG DULL DRIVE...OCCASSIONAL BURSTS OF RAIN.
4.20PM...'HAMNER SPRINGS'.
4.35PM...BOOKED TWO NIGHTS IN HOSTEL.
5.10PM...PORK UNDER GRILL...CABBAGE/PARSNIPS/CARROT/SPUD ON BOIL.
6.00PM...TUMMY FULL...GOOD MEAL.
7.00PM...WALKING VILLAGE CENTRE...IS THIS THE VILLAGE OF THE DEAD?
7.40PM...ICECREAM...WALNUT MAPLE.
8.25PM...BACK AT HOSTEL...CHATTING WITH OTHER HOSTELITES.


17.9.09...DAY 50...
9.15AM...THE SUN IS SHINING.
9.30AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA.
9.55AM...SHAVE/SHOWER.
10.30AM...BACON/MUSHROOM/TOMATO/EGG SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
11.10AM...CHATTING WITH OWNER OF HOSTEL...SHE WANTS TO SELL...FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
12.10PM...WALKING TO HOT SPRINGS.
12.35PM...NU'S GOING IN...WANTS TO GET WET AND HOT!...ITS NOT MY CUPPA TEA.
12.50PM...BAKERY.
1.10PM...DROPPED BREAD BACK AT HOSTEL.
1.30PM...PUB.
2.45PM...NU JOINS ME...THE SPRINGS WEREN'T THAT HOT APPARENTLY.
4.00PM...BACK AT HOSTEL.
4.30PM...CHEESE/CUCUMBER SANDWICH.
5.30PM...THOUGHTFUL...LOTS OF 'FOOD FOR THOUGHT'?


18.9.08...DAY 51...
7.50AM...HERE WE GO AGAIN.
8.10AM...TWO CUPS OF TEA.
8.40AM...SHOWER.
9.10AM...CARRYING EVERYTHING TO CAR.
9.35AM...BACON SANDWICH...CUPPA TEA.
10.10AM...CHATTING WITH OWNER?
10.40AM...WE ARE ON OUR WAY.
11.00AM...TALKING ABOUT INS/OUTS OF BUYING A BUSINESS IN NZ.
11.15AM...WE REALISE WE HAVE LEFT OUR FOOD BOX AT HOSTEL...TURN CAR AROUND.
11.50AM...BACK AT HOSTEL.
12.15PM...CHATTING SOME MORE WITH HOSTEL OWNER...IF WE ARE STILL INTERESTED WHEN WE GET BACK TO ENGLAND...WE WILL EMAIL HER.
12.25PM...BACK ON THE ROAD.
2.15PM...WE EVENTUALLY ARRIVE IN KIAKORA...WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE...NU WANTS TO GO ON THE WHALE WATCH TOUR AGAIN...WE BOOK THREE NIGHTS AT THE SAME HOTEL...ADELPHI...THE MUSTY SMELLING ONE...THE PRICE IS RIGHT!YOU TEND TO GET USED TO THE SMELL!...AND THE STAFF ARE FRIENDLY.
4.00PM...FISH AND CHIPS...ELEPHANT FISH...WHICH IS ACTUAL SHARK...BAFFLING!
6.00PM...TV NEWS.
7.30PM...CORONATION STREET...TROUBLE IS THEY ARE ABOUT 18 MONTHS BEHIND!


FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

BYE FOR NOWZ.