So Sat morning (06:30) left for Kaikoura. Couple of hours later we were doing the first of three tramps.. All quite different. The first, was called Sawcut gorge. A nice little bit of canyoning.

After that, back to Kaikoura and off to a climb to Mount Fyffe hut. Really nice, just 1.5 hours walk in (DOC says 2.5). 8 person hut, but it was just Marcel Mhairi and I so quite comfortable. My knees were really in bits. I think I must have done something to them on snowcraft a while ago as they really don’t like heavy(ish) packs anymore.

Anyway, had a nice fire, and then chopped wood in the morning (always leave the place as you found it or better :)

Then it was off up Mt. Fyffe. Pretty excellent views from the top, but I was really glad we turned around after having a short wander along the ridge. It was quite icy (slipped a few times) and without crampons and ice-axes it could have been… a little dangerous. Probably not, but why risk it. That and my knees were quite sore by this stage and I didn’t fancy trying to navigate my way down an icy slope with a big drop off…

So we headed back down to Kaikoura a little earlier than expected, so had time to do a seacliff walk. Quite windy, but sure was grand.

I must say though, the people who make rock art on the beach really do have their heads screwed on. I mean can you think of a better sign to make than this one:

No, I can’t think of a better one either ;)

Wasn’t without its dangers though this walk… there was this alligator on the beach which almost got Marcel. It was a close won fight but he got away in the end.

So yes, thanks Marcel and Mhairi for an excellent weekend. Not sure if I’ll be up for the 73+ km Heaphy track at the weekend, depends on what the phisio says.. but hopefully.

Drinking until 2am (after waking up at 6am the last ages with the frickin bird dawn chorus) and then coming into work for 7:30 am so you can leave at 3:30….is a recipe for disaster.

fun night though.

Definitely a full week so far… Monday – headed to the pool with Warick to learn how to roll a kayak. It’s really not easy! (well I didn’t think so anyway). Will take me at least another couple of sessions to get it.. But still, hopefully means in summer there’ll be rivers to try :).

Tuesday climbing, pretty good session really, climbing with Guilluiome (yet another Frenchy.. ;) and Florian. Was pretty happy that last week I’d flashed a route I’d been beaten off a few times, and this week they’d taken it down altogether..

Then last night headed out to the CUTC meet as per usual. Was a photography comp for the members.. I’d printed out a couple of my digital prints, and was really happy with how they came out. Unfortunately I only arrived with 5 mins before the end of the voting, so no blocks of chocolate (prizes) for me. Course if I’d been there earlier….

What else.. my friend Emma Towey is here again (Irish college friend), she’s down in dah big schmoke for a couple of days.. She’s been working in Porters Heights – a ski field – for the last couple of months.

And then this morning had a good 20 min chat with Liam a great friend from my time in Openet. Again, chatting on Skype.. excellent quality… happy days.

Well, visitors this week – old friends of the family – two wonderful people – Paddy and Jane were in town…

They’ve been touring NZ for the last month – and before that British Colombia and now heading on to the US for another couple of weeks. But in NZ they hired this huge camper van and headed all over the place. Quite a comfortable way of traveling really. They used to be my old scout leaders – and it was great being able to return some of the hospitality..

Headed out for a wee drive with them on Sat off up into the Port Hills (the hills overlooking ChCh). Had a good view from old WW2 gun emplacements out over the entrance to Littleton harbour.

That’s a pic of Paddy beside one of the gun emplacements, the ship in the distance (the d’Amico) was heading into the harbour. Huge guns…really huge – not that they’re there any more, but we saw pics!

Also saw some people up in the hills flying gliders. Looked like fun

The other excellent thing of the weekend was catching up with Mum and Dad in Uganda on MSN, so glad I got this computer now!! AND :) I tried Skype with my brother Chris. Basically it’s internet PC->PC telephone. Voice Over IP.. AND IT WORKS PERFECTLY!! Just perfectly.. it was just like a telephone call… only free. Free from NZ->Ireland. Mad. So please, anyone who wants a chat and has an internet connection – well download the software and drop me your username.. It’s incredible really. My bro was just on a dialup modem connection – and there was no lag or anything… it’s fantastic.

Go get it!!

Oh, finally… a plea ;) If anyone is feeling generous.. well.. OK, so I’m living with a Frenchman – Florian. That, in itself would be bad enough ;) ehehhe, but.. well he has this frog you see

Which we keep in a little alcove by the door, and it changes position from time to time.. it was originally smoking a cigarette, then started ploughing into the wine, then the beer.. then it felt a little sick, and now it seems to be on a healthy buzz

But…. if anyone would like to (and I Honestly Have looked for a Leprechaun over here.. but if anyone would like to send me over a little leprechaun soft-toy I’d be so grateful! (otherwise I’ll just have to order one online! :) but it would be great to have an Irish influence back in the house…

But yes, good times, good times. Called home to Ireland as my friend Viv was having a barbecue.. would be great to hang out for a couple of weeks.. but this place kinda rocks.. I’m really trying very hard not to think about what exactly I’m up to at the moment!! It’d be far too easy to just stay here…

Anyway, message of the moment –

GET ON SKYPE

and then plug in patrick_davey as a contact.. You will need to get a headset. I would recommend Plantronics as a good make (quite cheap too). This is the one I got.. works fine…

Manic week, Monday had to play squash was wrecked after the weekend.. we drew.. right down to the number of points each team won over the evening.. crazy. It was a semi-final, so was replayed today (Thursday) we came second (lost ;) hehe. Also got up boarding at Hutt today.. took a second lesson which was really worth while, lots more to practice. But it was very windy and icy.. not ideal conditions really.