I suppose it’s the season that’s in it.. but quite a lot of my friends back home are getting engaged & married – and some of them are even starting families. Very exciting! And of course my own nieces and nephews aren’t getting any smaller. Damn them. My friends Emma and Jennifer got married last year, and this year Stella and my cousin Beth … And one does feel like one is missing out sometimes! Just a little.

Mind you – a couple of weeks ago as I mentioned I was at my friends Thor & Jess’ wedding. It was a really lovely day and I felt so honoured really, to be invited.. Did make me feel like I do have a life here (that will be hard to give up – IF I do go that way – which I am not planning on (mum))

Photo courtesy of Anna Williams (thanks!)

So yes… it really is so hard to decide sometimes… I suppose if you don’t make a decision then that really is one in it’s own right. I love the quality of life here – and the relaxedness to the place. The access to the outdoors is pretty unbeatable too. Decisions decisions.

Oh – and according to this article in BBC News.. a kiss every night is the secret to keeping love alive (from a couple celebrating their 80th valentines night)

For the day that’s in it, and for the cynics out there.. Here is a link to a pretty funny (in my opinion) article written in the guardian on the concept of having an UnValentines Day…

Really wanted to get out and stretch the legs again this weekend.. In fact I’d quite like to get out and about a lot more this year. My back is still a bit of a pain ;) it does stiffen up quite a bit after a tramp – but doesn’t seem to annoy me too much during – and from what I’ve heard it’s better to exercise a back rather than otherwise.

Anyway – a nice lazy start (about 10:30) and off up to Arthurs Pass. Avalanche peak goes from about 760m up to 1833m. It’s a pretty steep track – but once you get out of the bush the views are spectacular.

It was great on the top – there was very little wind and it was great just relaxing in the sunshine and chatting with Michelle (Shelly). It was kinda funny – Shelly is another pretty fit friend – well into her running etc… and we’d stopped for about 3 mins and she started putting on her rucksack again… and I was like ‘where are you going? What’s the rush? ;)’.. she soon came round. Actually I was really impressed with her ‘cos she’d badly sprained (thought it was broken – cast ‘n everythink) her wrist – and was then hopping about on boulders and running down scree slopes. Mad kiwi.

Shellys friend Howie came and met us half way up the main scree run down (you descend about 550m down a scree slope… lots of fun) and carried her backpack the rest of the way… decent bloke that!

Met some interesting people in the hut – one of them a kiwi programmer called Liam has been travelling back from Europe overland – with his laptop! He did a few hours (like 5) a week of programming and that pretty much paid his way. I need to get better at this programming lark and get into that!!

Anyway – wet walk out today (weather turned).. slightly suffering from a cold so really looking forward to an early nights sleep. Fun weekend though..

I didn’t have too long to miss mum and dad as it was time for another wee adventure. My friend Maaike was finishing up her travels in NZ and was down for a week before leaving. We headed off to do the Otahake Hot Pools trip. It’s a nice easy 5 hour walk and has some beautiful scenery (well, a lake and forest) along the way.

It was a bit rainy when we got there… but the hot pools were as wonderful as ever. On the way back the next morning we walked down the river gorge. In places the water was thigh deep – but not fast flowing so quite safe. It can be a nasty river if there’s a lot of rain – can rise very fast.

On the way back stopped in at Cave Stream and did the hour long through-trip there… really worth stopping at if you’re in the area.. and then a short walk around Castle Hill.

And today Maaike flew off to Chile where she starts her last three months of holiday. Poor thing ;) She’s definitely upset that her holiday is coming to an end.. but I do find it hard to feel sorry when she’s off touring around a continent I’ve never even set foot on!

Still, I think NZ cast a wee spell over her.. so who knows what’ll happen!

And now – I’m back to work.. quite enjoying it actually.. they’re a great bunch of people to work with.

I flew back up from Invercargill to Christchurch to make my friend Thor’s wedding to the lovely Jess. I’d never been to a kiwi wedding before so wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Opted for a suit – which was a good choice! but it was reasonably casual too.

I didn’t bring my camera so unfortunately don’t have any pictures.. will add ’em when I get ’em.

Then it was just a few short days showing mum and dad around town – the botanics – favoured drinking and eating spots, into work to meet my friends there and also putting in a small herb garden! and all too soon they flew out.

It was a fantastic holiday with them, I really had a wonderful time – I don’t think NZ is wonderful enough to pull them away from their family and grandchildren, friends etc. over in Ireland (or their ageing parents for that matter) but I think they have more of an idea of why I do like this place so much.

I was complaining that it’s about 3K to visit Ireland… mums solution was to get a one way ticket!!

So yes… I was more than a little sad leaving them at the airport.. I think it was some pretty effective and substantial psychological warfare waged without a single explicit word!