NZ Holiday, January 2012

We had a great fortnight in New Zealand, though it was the normal whirlwind tour to catch up with family and a few friends.

The boys took it in stride and had some great experiences including splashing about in the creek on the beach at Waikanae; sleeping in a tent (on the lawn), trying to fish with a bait catcher in the lagoon, feeding eels and seeing a real Kiwi (at Nga Manu bird sanctuary), a close (but not too close) encounter with garrulous pigs, a fossik in the wool shed and a quad bike ride at the farm in Te Kuiti (plus seeing Great Nana, Dot, Bill, Janelle, Braden and baby Jamie) and a trip to Te Papa (it's not every day you can go inside a model of a Blue Whale's heart or turn a handle to make a ball go up a screw thread (respectively Charlie & Jamie's favourite exhibits).

In Wellington we hosted a family lunch at 51 followed by afternoon tea with friends.  We caught up with the Tarrant/McKenzie clan with our traditional visit to Floraditas and an inspection to Jonny & Justin's latest ventures: Cuckoo Cocktail Bar & Emporium and the fabulously restored Roxy cinema & restaurant.  Unfortunately we missed Bret and Hannah, who were off to L.A. to pick up his Critic's Choice award.  We hung out with Toby & Diane, Muzz & Wens and Deanne with their assorted offspring.

Our wedding anniversary fell during the trip and we celebrated in style at the new Foxglove restaurant on the wharf with Diane and Toby.  An amazing tartare fish starter was followed by superb venison and a to die for chocolate pudding (not so sure about the salty peanut butter ice cream though). We'll definitely be back given the opportunity.

Games at 51

Dinner with the Beagle Mc's

Aunty Ali's PhD (well done!)

Charlie with Rachael

Jamie with Laura

Jonny shows us round the rejuvenated Roxy Theatre, which he manages as part of his bar empire.

Francie, Flick, Charlie & Guy

Family photo

Amy & Robert with Emily

Play time at Deanne & Dan's with Anika & James

Waimeha Stream at Waikanae

James with his 2nd Cousin at the farm in Troopers Rd

"These pigs aren't like on TV!"

Uncle Bill on the quad bike

Braden shows off his skills

Great Nana

Back at Waikanae, Charlie decided he'd like to emulate a photo he'd seen in the paper of a boy having a bucket of water thrown at him.  Because I'm a nice Daddy I used warm water. Pamps captured this sequence on his DSLR.

Beach walk with Bidey & Pamps, Waikanae

Eel feeding, Nga Manu bird sanctuary, Waikanae.  James (blue Swannie) with Pamps; Charlie in Red Swannie)

Tea with Great Granny.  Maddie, Granny, Jamie, Francie, Great Granny, Charlie, Flick, Rosie & Alex

Cousin Maddie

Bird's Nest

An elegant night out with Diane & Toby at Foxglove

"Biggest slide ever!", Frank Kitts Park, Wellington