Here’s a film of Jo dancing last night..

Actually – last night was great… besides a great leaving party – and seeing Michelle dressed up as a squid…

.. Maaike and I headed out to the Christchurch Polytech (where she works) exam restaurant. Basically it’s a silver service setup – staffed and chef’fed by students. Our waiter was quite a nervous 18 year old – but it was a very enjoyable time – and the food was delicious. I think regular visits will have to happen. I mean it’s only right to track their progress through the system! ;)

Finally.. here’s a sculpture outside of the Canterbury Museum.

Also, there’s the Taylors Mistake Rogaine Series happening again – very excited about that one too.

Anyways – this weekend it was off to Lake Mavis (Arthurs Pass) with Maaike, Berit and Amy. Here’s a map:

It’s part of the route that Shelly ran a couple of weeks ago during the Coast to Coast event.

So up the Mingha valley we walked, quite pretty beech forest and very very green!

There were some beautiful waterfalls (Kennedy’s)

And then we had to climb the 500m up to Lake Mavis. Basically about 4 minutes walk *before* you reach a well appointed hut – you turn your back on it and walk up hill for an hour and a half. Still – worth the effort we thought.

There were some purty alpine flowers out.

It was a pretty stunning place to park ones tent for the evening. We had to tie the guy ropes (sp?) around large rocks as the wind wasn’t the quietest it’s ever been. Still – beautiful light as the sun went down.

Not the deepest of nights sleep – as I kept feeling that the tent was about to be blown away (it wasn’t – and it probably wasn’t that terribly windy at all).. In the morning it was a bit foggy – which worked out quite nicely as it meant we didn’t fry in the sun on the way back again.

The decent back down from the lake was a little tricksy – well, you just had to find the right bit of scree to run down. Once we’d done that – it was plain sailing back to ChCh.

It was a lovely weekend – really great to get out and stretch the legs. Hopefully some more of that before heading to Europe – and then straight into the Snowboarding when we get back. Fun!

Congratulations (and good luck!) to Jayne and Glynn. Wow.

So on the 3rd of April Maaike and I head off to Europe. This is ‘cos Femke (Maaike’s sister) is getting married (Hurrah!)… I believe we’ve been invited – though the invite has yet to arrive ;) hehehe, ehem. Honestly – the Dutch have a good sense of humour – it’s ok to tease. Especially when you can moderate all the comments. Perfecto. I’m *loving* this new blog. **** blogger ;)

Anyways.. that map hopefully will change as the trip progresses. I’m loathe to use Google Maps – even if it is more powerful.

But in summary:

1. Leave NZ 1st April
2. Arrive Dublin 2nd April
3. Leave Ireland for The Netherlands 19th April
4. Leave The Netherlands for Norway (to see Guusje (yes, that is how they spell it – crazy I know))13th May
5. Leave Norway for London 18th May
6. Leave London to return to Aoteroa 21st May
7. Arrive 23rd (good old international dateline)

Will be trying to meet up with as many friends and family as possible – so if you’re reading this please keep these dates in mind (emails to follow!)

(mouseover map for full effect)

I am going to get round to putting up a tips-and-tricks page for NZ – but I suggest if you’ve got 4 weeks in NZ *don’t* try and see everything.. rather come for 6 and spend 4 on the South Island (if you like mountains) and 2 on the North (or vice-versa if you want more beachy stuff).

Speaking of mountains and coasts.. The wonderful Michelle McMillan (Shelly) was doing the coast to coast this year. It’s a one (or two) day event where you start on the West Coast of the South Island, and bike-run-kayak your way to Christchurch. Pretty savage really.

Maaike and I had been climbing (outside!! oooooo) and then headed over to Sumner to watch her come in. Must be quite the feeling to run over the finish line at last.

Next post will have details about the upcoming trip to Europe. Really can’t wait at this stage!

Here is some of his best advice: If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t; it’s not food if it arrived through the window of your car; it’s not food if it is called by the same name in every language (think Big Mac, Pringles); avoid food products with more than five ingredients; avoid foods you see advertised on television; don’t eat breakfast cereal that changes the colour of the milk; drink the spinach water; eat all the junk food you want, so long as you cook it yourself; have a glass of wine with dinner; stop eating before you are full; eat when you are hungry, not when you are bored; buy smaller plates and glasses; spend as much time enjoying the meal as you spent preparing it; eat meals.

(from today’s Irish Times)

Anyway – this year I saw one of the most beautiful routines of contact juggling as a part of FlameOz’s routine. The guy in question is called Dimitri Ogden (aka The Fluid Druid) and you can see more at their youtube channel here.

Contact juggling is one of – if not the hardest forms of juggling you can do – and also the most elegant / beautiful. Dimitri has been doing it for a very, very long time.

So, here is a video which they’ve kindly given me permission to show – if you get the chance to see them .. do!

Anyways.. enjoy – let me know if anything does(n’t) work that well..

The next day at midday we drove down to Mt. Cook for the weekend.

We did a few short walks – but they take you to some absolutely stunning scenery. This lake (the end of the Tasman glacier) used to be ice about a hundred odd years ago or so.

Mt. Cook is however, a serious environment. It really brings out the person within. And you don’t even have to be on the side of a hill for this to happen – as is demonstrated in the emotional highs and lows of our ‘Continuo’ Game.

It was one game each to Maaike’s mum and I, and then she viciously attacked me with a very sharp knife. So sharp it was *almost* like a needle.

But yes, all in all it was a great trip – and well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Hopefully Maaike and I will get back this year for a jaunt up to the Mueller Hut and maybe a climb or two at Sebastapol Bluffs..

It was lovely to meet Maaike’s mum – esp in advance of our trip in April (details to follow!) – she has a great sense of humour – and puts up with endless “Mamaaaaaaaaa’s” from Maaike. So we toured about Picton – taking in a Maori fort (Pa)

They had visited some Dutch friends up in Hawkes Bay – and they imported Dutch Cheese for their restaurant – so they picked some up. It was delicious – and not even Edam ;)

Now – Maaike’s mum (Wilmy) doesn’t really like heights much. Understandable I suppose coming from a country which is mostly below sea level, and sports a mountain with the dizzing – nay oxygen needing lofty summit of 321m. I can’t wait to climb it – hopefully unaided but we’ll see ;) Anyways.. that aside, we went for a cliff walk, and while I think Wilmy was mostly terrified, she did brilliantly.

This is possibly why I managed to claw a victory against the (mini)golfing talents of the Jongerius’. Fantastico. And apparently from(the 17 previous comments) Maaike hasn’t lost at family golf since after “that holiday in Denmark“. Aaaahhhh well.. I’m not one to gloaty gloat.

That said, they did get their own back at Boules later on. Apparently they have a set at home, so it hardly counts I think you’d have to say.

Oh, and we did some wine tasting too…

Then I took the coastal train back from Picton (no pics sorry) and Steve picked me up (thanks lots and lots) and Michelle cooked a yum dinner – and all in all it was an end to an excellent weekend.