Not a bad title for a blog post methinks…

Anyway – Spring is here.. ChCh is a really beautiful city in the spring.. we’re called the Garden City – and you can see why.

There was also a sundial in the botanics. It was an hour off due to daylight savings. Now here’s a question – did anyone invent a sundial on a turntable for daylight savings? When did daylight savings come in? When were watches invented? Sure I *could* look it up – but far more fun to wonder :)

Next it was Thor’s 30th birthday.. headed quadbiking up at Hamner Springs.. lots of fun. I was initially pretty nervous (some surprise there? ;) especially as it was a river crossing straight off.. I was hanging at the back of the pack as I really hated it when people broke down in front of me and ruined the line I’d picked.. sometimes (often) it’s easier to go faster than slower with these things. Anyway – lots and lots of fun.

Finally ChCh attempted (and failed I think) the world record for largest amount of synchronised dancing in one place. It was ‘Shot to the heart’ by Bon Jovi. We were taught by the Real Hot Bitches (RHB’s) – and actually made a pretty good attempt at it… all fun.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhDRVKDcXQo]

So I had about 32 hours in Melbourne on the way home. Heather (a friend from ChCh) kindly put me up and showed me the sights. Heather also has, without any doubt, the worst doorbell in the whole world ever.

Here’s the intro:

http://static.odeo.com/flash/player_audio_embed_v2.swf

and – it has *multiple different ring tones*… another for your aural pleasure..

http://static.odeo.com/flash/player_audio_embed_v2.swf

Also managed to catch up with the Olivia – a crazy kiwi who has started her big OE.. don’t imagine we’ll see her back for many a year.

Then on the way back in the airport I heard lovely liltin’ Irish voices – and got chatting to Donna and Eve.. they were totally good value. I tried to give them a few hints of things to see and do in NZ… but one wonders if our tastes are similar enough :)

I must say – the Irish – as a race, have one of the best senses of humour I have ever come across. I met these two, and 1 minute later we were happily slagging each other as mercilessly as we could – and loving it. It really is unique – or seems so to me.

We also went on a drive , to a place, in the country, where we walked. There was a spot on the place called ‘Ladies Tarn’. A misnomer if ever there was one.

Domhnall has also built his own climbing wall… Domhnall & Glynn spent happy hours route setting!

We also went to see In Bruges. It is definitely one of the better (Irish ish) movies I have ever seen. It is, I think, a black comedy .. really worth seeing anyway. It provokes thought. This next pic of the blackboard in the bathroom – it got quite a lot of use while we were visiting..

Next it was off to the Tasman Peninsula – just 2 hours ish away from Hobart. There’s a classic rock climb called the Totem Pole.. we only got to see it from a distance.. but this is what we would have been like ;)

http://www.rockclimbing.com/flash/FlowPlayer.swf

We did have our informal picture competition (Glynn’s idea I think)… It was a most satisfactory result ;)