So it was that time of the year again – TWALK. TWALK stands for 24 hour walk. It’s an orienteering/rogaine event run by the Canterbury University tramping club every year. And it’s a lot of fun!!.

Everyone dresses up in costume (below Maaike as a topical Swine Flu carrier)

We were dressed up as lemmings.. no pics which really show it off unfortunately.. but there were lots of really great costumes – including the ghostbusters and pacman!

This year I was jointly in-charge (with Michelle) of the navigation as my usual navigator, Steve, is in France. And I loved it!!. I probably ought to have more confidence in my navigational abilities… though it *was* perfect blue-skies conditions and pretty easy terrain to navigate through. Still.. we walked about 32km from 10:30->01:15 and knew where we were pretty much all the time!

It was pretty damn cold at night – beautiful stars, but damn cold. I slept in my down jacket, and had two pairs of thermals on my legs, my feet tucked into the sleeves of another thermal top, and inside my reasonably nice sleeping bag… and I was comfortable. Still there was ice on the inside in the morning!

So yes, all in all a really excellent weekend. I would like to do more of the navigation I think, though I recognise that it was *easy* with lots of people around and perfectly perfect conditions.. still.. it was a good effort.

Thanks to my team-mates Michelle, Andrew (McTaggart) (who’s pictures these are), and Kylie… we lived up to our team-name (Maximum J (for enJoyment)) brilliantly.

And before she says it, Maaike’s team did thoroughly pummel ours, but then what do points matter when they were bickering all the way, and limping onto the bus with blood filled blisters leaking out their shoes (note, may not be true)

A friend posted this on FaceBook – it’s one of the best urban bike video’s I have seen in a long time. All taken around Edinburgh.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o]

So, this weekend, it was off to Cragieburn for my friend Veronica’s 30th. It was a really great party. Practically everyone brought bikes up and we had a good blitz down one of the tracks in the Cragieburn range.

I have been slightly terrified of doing any tracks there since, I think, Dave Aubrey scared me with tales of doing over the handlebars into tree trunks. Of course that tale would have been in the context of How much fun it all was… but anyway.. a little scared.

Maaike has been endless trouble since I actually managed to keep up with the group… I suspect more biking will be happening (and this is, actually, a good thing!).

Did try to get everyone lined up as best we could into a big rainbow…

Easter here already. Where does the year go? And why did I forget Pancake Tuesday? Why? Why is my Easter Egg still unopened? So many questions.

Anyway – headed up to Steve’s property in the Waiarapa. Better known as the back of the back of beyond. And a little further. It’s quite the drive up there, but it is a scenic one.

Quite a long drive up to Ekatahuna? AND stupidly we’d all forgotten that, being Good Friday, that there were no bottle stores (off licenses) open. Irritation, coupled with admiration that there is one day a year when it’s impossible (or at least hard) to buy alcohol.

Steve’s place was pretty cool though – I have no idea of the the hectarage, but it seemed big to me. Quite the undertaking though – not sure I could (or would) want the responsibility. Something closer to ChCh, perhaps. With a gardener.

Anyway – here’s a short video starting in the wee hut Steve & Michelle built (last Easter)

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=6209838635513154765]

Played a few games of Happy Families, tried to shoot goats (failed), shot a block of wood (slightly less accurately than Maaike), saw Stick insects, showered outside (quite effective things camp showers)

There was also a Fridge (read slightly dammed river). Which was perfect for keeping things cool enough – even beer too! And a picture of the alarm. Burglars beware!

One of the jobs we helped out with, was ripping up a section of fencing for where Steve is going to plant trees.

But all in all it was a great holiday – though I think next time I would prefer to fly! I think there’s big kudos to buying land and making it work for you – and grabbing some carbon out of the atmosphere too…!

Well, not going to write anything – but here are some pictures from Glynn and Jayne’s wedding. All pictures were taken by my friend (and wedding photographer) Michelle McMillan, and are put here with her kind permission.

Amazing fun. See if you can spot anything… cute but unusual in the picture of Domhnall and Jill.