More snow across New Zealand. Stayed home for two days this time!

It’s all very pretty of course, and it is, but it’s all quite wet and … gritty!

It was however, an excellent reason to head to the hills to go snowboarding. Headed off to Mt Olympus for the day yesterday. Shelly & Paul (the newlyweds), Dan & Candance, Pauls Dad, Mark and I .. Olympus is a great little club field. It was really hard work as there was tonnes of snow, but it had compacted a bit and had been a little cut-up before we got onto it. It also took us until midday to get to the field as they were only letting high-clearance 4wd cars (with chains) to go up the access road. Still, worth it once we got there.

And there were some stunning view on the way back.

In other news just in – am off to do a 3 week outward bound course in September. Letters (and chocolates etc) would be gratefully received. I’ll send around the address soon. I’m not actually joking here, it would be lovely to get letters/postcards :)

We had snow in Christchurch the other day (quite rare). It was crazier than usual cycling on the streets (I waited three days to go to work and should have waited four!).

Unfortunately – it didn’t mean more snow on the ski fields as the snow pretty much bypassed them!

This weekend was the wedding of Paul and Michelle (Shelly). The weather had been completely miserable all week, but cleared up beautifully in time for the big day.

Security was tight for the event.

Ok, kidding, there wasn’t any security, but it looked like there was! In New Zealand (as opposed to UK/Ireland) people can get married anywhere, and they simply have to have someone with a marriage license to actually marry you. In Ireland there are only certain places you can get married. So, thus it was that Shelly and Paul chose the fairly magical Castle Hill to get married.

It was a little chilly, hence lots of people wearing down jackets – but there were nibbles and mulled wine, and generally it was perfecto.

The beautiful bride arrived, and didn’t worry at all that her lovely dress was getting a little muddy. In fact, I think Shelly quite enjoyed the fact :)

It was a simple affair, with poem readings (The Snow Leopard and the hedgehog went to sea….), merriment, some interesting vows (promising to take responsibility for ones own health… quite an interesting one and I definitely want to quiz Shelly about it!), and, of course, the happy couple.

As per usual, the flower girls attempted to steal the show… but fortunately not jumping off the rock for attention ;)

Back then to the Bealey Tavern – where the first wedding event they’d ever hosted was held! It was very prettily done up. Shelly had lots of help from her friends out in Sumner – the programmes were printed up, the cake was made.. it seems to be a hallmark of Kiwi weddings that everyone rows in and helps put the event together… very good way of doing things. I reckon.

Just to point out – on the cake, Shelly is tellymarking, and the pattern on the ski’s matches her real ones.. “Lovers Lane” and “The Plunge” are two ski runs here… very cool.

Shelly had asked me to be her MC for the evening. I was *quite* nervous, and definitely shaky at the start, but warmed up. I think that the best speech of all was the best mans. He was nervous (or said he was)… and it was his first time. He lined up 5 shot glasses at the bar and drank them all, one after the other. Then he said he’d taken a leaf out of the grooms book and that it was, in fact, just orange juice. Excellent excellent trick – one I shall definitely copy someday!

So the wedding was a great success, dancing into the wee hours.

The next day – we managed to get a days skiing in at Cheeseman. It was pretty crowded, but still, fun to be out and about again.

Last weekend it was time for Paul (of Paul and Shelly)’s stag weekend.

I don’t have many pictures from the weekend (which is only right and proper).. but it was a fun affair. Paul did irritatingly well it would have to be said. He seemed to drink everything which was set in front of him – and yet managed to outlast everyone. Strange, as he’s a total lightweight really!

Then this weekend it was off to Hanmer for Mark and Neil’s birthday bash.

Here they are playing “The shoe/newlywed game”. Each person takes one shoe from their opponent/opposite/partner.. and have to hold up the shoe corresponding to who best fits the answer to questions like “Who is the stronger in the relationship” etc.. I won’t say whose were held up for “who wears the pants… ;”

Aaaaanyway, fun times. Went biking with Steve & Matt which was lots of fun. Visited one of Steve’s bug sites.

Under the frame are two sets of timber. One wrapped in plastic and the other wrapped, but permeable to insects. I think. The plan is (for three years) to see how they get munched. I think. I’m no etymologist ok. Sheesh. If you want facts go somewhere else. Honestly. ;)

Did get to play with my new ixus 220HS which was lots of fun. It’s a neat little camera and takes HD video’s. Unfortunately this one is a little on the boring side – but more will come now that I’ve got a camera that works again!

Also, this officially means I’m up to date on the blog again. Hurrah.

This weekend it was off to the West Coast for my friend Neil’s 30th. Unfortunately my camera really wasn’t behaving itself too much (have since replaced it!) so just a single photo to show this time (of the Birthday boy himself)

It was a brilliant place to go biking – over at a place called Denniston

View Larger Topographic Map

It’s an abandoned(ish) mining town with lots of really tricksy mountain biking up on the plateaux. I was walking my bike for at least 40% of the time – I’m just not able to bike down cliffs! Heh, good times though.

Other than that, life has been returning a little more to normal. Snowpool seems to be ticking along reasonably well (phew!), the earthquakes are getting less and hopefully staying that way, and generally things are beginning to settle down a bit more. Long may it last. I’ll try to be a more regular blogger again ;)