ANZAC Day

So on ANZAC day we didn't end up getting up early to do the dawn parade thing.

But we did get up relatively early to do a daywalk - so we didn't have a completely lazy and unproductive day!

Given that it was ANZAC day we decided that for our daywalk we would head out to Karori and check out the Wrights Hill Fortress and have a look around the old underground tunnels.

But the first step of the journey (well actually the second step - the first step was to walk to Kaori) was to walk to the summit of Wright Hill - which actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Here's some pictures we took at the summit.

Here's some photo's taken down in the Wrights Hill Fortress which is quite a creepy place (well it would have been - if there weren't so MANY people down there - including heaps of kids!) it would be the perfect set for a horror movie!

My Patch!

If you're a regular reader of my ramblings - you'll remeber a wee while back I was talking about a "Patch Swap" that I came across and how every geeky crafty bone in my body was very excited about said patch swap.

Well that patch for the patch swap has to be sent out on the 3oth April (only a couple of days away) so at craft club last week I made my patch! Here's a photo -

Unfortunatly the picture is a wee bit blurry - but you get the general idea:)

So I'm going to send this off today - I wonder what I'll get back! Exciting! I love mail:)

I'm doing a sewing class - with teenagers!!

So a few weeks back I enrolled to do a sewing course at Inverlochy Art School - the course was called "Stylee Frocks" and it was an adult sewing course.

However, last week I recieved a call from Inverlochy - turns out they only had 2 people apply to do the course so they couldn't justify running it:(

So the other option presented to me was attending a Saturday morning sewing class 9 - 1 - but this is their teenage level class!! Argh!!

But I really do want to give sewing a decent go - so I decided to attend this class! So basically next Saturday it's going to be me and a bunch of teenagers learning to sew - still looking forward to it - but will be a bit weird being in with all those teenagers.

OMG - I'm going to be that really annoying adult student that every class has!!

Thank you Rich:)

So I've been wanting a swiss ball for a while but just never gotten around to buying one - on the odd occassion I've used Rich's for exercises - but given he's a whole lot taller than me it's not that easy to use his swiss ball.

So yesterday he completely surprised me by throwing a wee grey coloured swiss ball at me, which he'd bought me in secret as a surprise present - what a cutie:)

My First Living Dead Doll

I've been wanting to start a collection of something for a while now, but I've not been sure what, I couldn't think of what exactly to collection.


But now I've decided what I'd like to collect - Dolls!! But not any lame-o cutesy dolls - Living dead dolls! (www.livingdeaddolls.com)


And as we all know - if you wanna buy something strange and unusual there's only one place to get it - trade me!


So on Tuesday my very first living dead doll arrived from Christchurch - her name is Calico

The trip to Rarotonga is getting really close!!

I know it's still over a month to our Rarotonga trip but now it's beginning to feel like the trip is actually going to happen - why is this? You may ask - well two things....

Firstly - we went and paid for the rest of our trip today - and a bit THANK YOU Jess for sorting it all out:)

Secondly - I've filled in my application for my passport and I'm posting it off tommorrow - although my passport photo is SO heinous - but I guess they all are - at least Kat didn't laugh when she witnessed the photo!

So yes I have paid for my tickets, I've (nearly) applied for my passport and Rich and I are going to work out exactly what we want to do when we're in Raro over the next few weeks! Yah!

Turkish Delight Night

Last night was my first Turkish Delight Night - what is Turkish Delight Night you may well ask?

Well it's an evening that's going to be held once every 6 weeks at the bellydance studio I go to - basically it's a night of performance, dancing and Turkish Delight (and damn good Turkish Delight too!).

So last night Rich and I headed over to the bellydance studio to go to Turkish delight night - Fiona came along too given that she's a bellydancer of some significant talent (unlike me - but hey we all have to start somewhere!).

The performances were all amazing - in particular I loved the Samba dancing, the bollywood/bellydance fusion and the tribal bellydancers that had the most incredible costumes I've ever seen.

It was fantastic to see so many great dancers - I think it's a really good idea to have these performance nights once every 6 weeks as it will give me something to aspire too.

After the performances there was some dancing with a middle eastern band providing the music - I was pretty nervous about dancing to begin with - but then I found a few of the girls from my beginners class and I felt much more comfortable dancing with girls whose skill level was about the same as mine.

So Turkish Delight night was awesome - much fun dancing, beautiful sparkly costumes and yummy turkish delight!

The Weekend so far

Well I haven't blogged in a few days so here's some general rambling about what I've been up to over the weekend.

On Friday night Mariella came over for dinner - which was cool, it's always fun to catch up with her crazy world! We also ended up watching a DVD called"sexy beast" - it was a really excellent film - in the style of "Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels" - although I think maybe this film came out before that one?

On Saturday morning I did my usual coffee thing with Kat and Fiona - but as Kat was off in Dunedin I just hung out with Fiona:) After a hot chocolate and some gossip Fiona went to open up Triange (as she's looking after it this weekend whilst Kat's away). I hung out there for a while longer - just catching up on general gossip.

However, whilst a Triangle Fiona and I came across the cutest wrap dress. I don't think I've blogged about this before but Kat has decided to use three of her friends as her muses for her label "Macska" and I am one of these muses! So the very cute wrap dress that Fiona and I came across in the shop was a "Teresa" dress - very excitied about that!

Whislt hanging out in the shop Karyn came in so was good to catch up with her - she told me about some very very cool knitting patterns she has lined up! Looking forward to seeing on of these projects at craft club on Tuesday.

I then went to catch up with Jess and Celia - we were supposed to be having a walk along the water front - however - it ended up that not so much walking was involved but lots of gossiping was - oh well - what can you do?

I met up with Rich after the walk/gossip session with the girls and we went to this alternative comic book festival thing that was on at the Southern Cross bar - it was pretty cool to check out some of the ideas that people have for comics...we didn't end up buying any comics though...

Saturday night we went to Downstage Theatre with Ross and we saw "The Graduate" which I have been wanting to see for ages! It was really well done too - a lot of laughs - I'd actually didn't really know what the graduate was about (all I knew was it was about some guy having an affair with an older woman) I really enjoyed it. After the play we went and had a coffee at Ernesto because for once it wasn't TOTALLY packed! Also there was a Jazz Band playing there which was pretty cool, turned out the jazz band was Twin Set - who Rich said are a pretty well know jazz band - so we got a hot drink and a free Jazz show! Very cool.

Today I've not been up to much - I had a hot drink with Donna at Kelburn cafe which was cool - I really like it there. I hadn't seen Donna for a while - turns out she's been quite sick with colds and flu. But the good news is that her and Lee have finally found a new house and it sounds very cool - can hardly wait to check it out.

Well I best be off now before I spend the rest of my Sunday in front a computer screen (I do enough of that during the week).

Jo & Andre's Wedding

Over the weekend Rich and I attended another wedding - this time it was over in Tauranga and the wedding was that of our lovely friends (and former neighbours) Jo & Andre.

Here's a few photo's of the venue for the ceremony - Papamoa Beach - the rainbow appeared during the ceremony - which can only be a good omen.

Here's a couple of photo's of "the crew" pre the wedding ceremony - firstly, one of all the grrls - (L-R - Mella, Sue, Chay, My lovely self & Nicky)

Another pre-wedding shot - this time of everybody but Mella and myself! (L-R Sue, Nicky,Rick, Chay and Rich)

Here's a few pics of Jo and Andre's ceremony - as you can see both the weather and the bride are beautiful! (I guess Andre's not too bad either he he he)

Just a couple of pics taken whist hanging out waiting for the reception (L-R Myself, Sue & Chay)

Rich and I looking "so hot right now" in our wedding attire

Me with the beautiful blushing bride!!

Photo taken at the reception of Rick, myself & Nicky

As always - a few strange things happen at wedding receptions - Rick wasn't drinking alcohol - and ended up drinking this rather odd creamy, pinky and VERY girly drink!

Rich and Rick - just having a "staunch" moment!

Thank you Katrina!

Yesterday I recieved a postcard from my friend Katrina, whose currently travelling about South America. The postcard was from Lima and she promised that yet more postcards are to come - yah! I can hardly wait:)

How Exciting! Every geeky crafty bone in my body is excited about this one!!

Yesterday Rich and I went to the library to pick up some DVD's....anyways whilst leaving we came across a wee flier on the flier stand they have outside the library.

The flier was all about a "Patch Swap" - basically the idea is you make a patch and send it away by a certain date and then you get a totally new patch back of someone else's design!

I find this all very exciting - which just goes to prove what a crafty geek I am. Anyways at this stage for my patch I plan to get a piece of red felt and sew on buttons in a heart shaped pattern - however, I may at the last moment decide to do something entirely different - will post for when I have finished my creation.

Otari Wilton Bush

To finish off our Easter Break Rich and I decided to go for another day walk - this time it was Otari Wilton bush - and as you can see from the above picture of a Kahikatea Tree it's a pretty cool place.

Turns out that the reserve was established in the early days of European settlement by a guy called Job Wilton - he was a farmer but decided to keep park of his land aside as a reserve because of the destruction of native forest in New Zealand.

Which is good, because this is a really amazing place, whilst it's one of those walks where you're always keenly aware that "civilisation" is just around the corner - it's also a lot of fun because there's a lot of birds about (like native wood pidgeon's) and also a lot of very old trees - including an 800 year old Rimu which was very cool!!

There is also a fantastic picnic area there with "pay as you go" style BBQ's - so I think in the near future we will have to go back and have a picnic and do more walkies.

Also on the way to the park we found a garden centre and managed to buy some more herbs - including Pizza Thyme - which smells like Pizza Shapes! We had it on our homemade Pizza tonight and was really good:)

Easter Sunday

I really didn't need to worry that an Easter spent in Wellington would be boring!

Yesterday first thing we did what we always do on Sunday - we went to the fruit and vege markets...ok so that's not terribly interesting!

But at half twelve we went to the Kelburn Cafe for lunch and met up with Ross and also a couple of friends from Hamilton, Hazel & Sam, that we hadn't seen for absolutely ages so it was good to catch up with them and hear their crazy stories - especially their crazy couch surfing (www.couchsurfing.com) stories and their crazy "Not your mothers cookbook" (a cookbook which includes recipes for things like coffee lamb and a vegemite milkshake) stories.

In the afternoon we headed out to J'ville to spend the evening at Ange and Brendon's house - a whole bunch of us were invited and Ange had made the most beautiful meal - including duck (which was good) and Pork (everyone else assures me that was good but I don't eat pork) and a vegetarian pie and lots and lots of roast vege's and bread.

We also had a huge pudding of ice cream and chocolate and chocolate and more chocolate!! Not to forget that Ange has made from scratch hot cross buns!

Plus there was lots and lots of wine to be had.

It was a fantastic night - it felt so much like Christmas would feel like if you spent it with your friends rather than your family! Ange had made this huge lovely meal that everyone filled up on - despite that we still made room for heaps of dessert - not to mention the wine...then after tea we just all hung out at Ange and Brendon's feeling sleepy and watching TV on their MASSIVE television! SO MUCH LIKE CHRISTMAS!

Also - during the course of the Easter/Christmas meal I got a text from my friend Charlotte in Auckland saying that she's now finnished studying and has a job. She also said now she has a job she can come and visit us down in Wellys and she's going to try and come down for my birthday weekend! Super duper!

Farewell Georgie!!

Well - it seems like just yesterday that Geogie was telling me that she was thinking of heading back to the UK and now it's becoming a reality:( She's leaving Wellington shortly to go for a bit of a trip around NZ, then Asia and then finally home.

A few weeks ago I asked Georgie if she would like to come over to my place for lunch today - but all the while I was planning with the other girls for them to come over (secretly) at the same time.

So when Georgie arrived - not only was it me that greeted her - but also Ange, Jess, Celia and Karyn!

Anyways - here's some photo's - including one of a fantastic pony cake Ange make - she's such a legend in the kitchen!

Good Friday - Kaori Wildlife Sanctuary

Yesterday Rich and I decided to head up to the Kaori Wildlife Sanctuary - whilst walking up there we were kinda wondering whether we should go or not because we thought it might be super packed being Easter and the start of school holidays as well - but thankfully it wasn't too busy and I'm really glad we went along:) During the course of our walks I got to see HEAPS of Tui's - some of them were HUGE as well, a stitchbird, some other random little bird I didn't recognise (with a bit of a shrill call) and also - most exciting of all - a Tuatara! The Tuatara's are in their natural habitat behind a wee fence so you get to see them "in nature" - I was quite surprised how unfazed there were at having so many people stare at them and take photo's of them.

Anyways - here's a few photo's that Rich and I took when we were at the sanctuary.

Ok - you may be asking WTF is going on here? Well at the Santuary they have an "exploration centre" which is essentially a big A-Frame struture (it's a veiwing platform) which you can walk to the top of and have a view of the park - this is a view from part way up the structure looking straight up - it's my one crazy arty shot of the day.
Photo of Rich and I taken from the "exploration centre" AKA Viewing platform
View of the Sanctuary from the viewing platform - I really like this picture - everything is SO green
In the wildlife sanctuary there is an old damn and this photo of Rich and I is taken from the top of the dam - as you can tell it's quite windy there!
Another photo of me standing on the dam
Rich checking out the park on the binoculars at the top of the dam - I had a bit of a look with them as well - but I actually found the view to be kinda boring - the only water foul I could see were boring old mallards

Just another photo of my lovely self by the dam
View going down to the wetlands in the park - I was a bit disappointed by this though - lots of Mallards and no Pukeko! But I did see a Weka hanging around here.

HAPPY EASTER!!

What as absolute corker of a day too!! I can hardly believe how beautiful it is - in a little while Rich and I are going for an adventure to the Kaori Wildlife Sanctury - can hardly wait!!

Last night I had bellydancing class - which was as always - awesome! The class was a bit empty though, I guess some lucky people out there are going away for Easter *sigh* - but nevermind - it's not like I haven't got anything to do this weekend and I am going away next weekend so no reason to complain.

At bellydance class I found out that in a couple of weeks all the classes are having a "Turkish Delight Night" which sounds very cool - basically we all bring along $5, a cushion to sit on, a bottle of wine and our coin belts/scarfs - there will be some preformances and some food, apple tea and turkish delight. I can hardly wait!! Our teacher also said they are planning on having a Turkish Delight Night once every 6 weeks too which is really cool because it's like they are trying to build a bit of a bellydance community with this thing rather than just having a group of women turn up each week and do their thing and go home and I think that's really cool.

In other news - I got an e-mail from Celia yesterday to tell me that she went along to Pole Dancing class with Henri - she said it was really awesome and asked a whole bunch of us if we'd be keen to come along next time. I'm totally keen to go along to that as well!! Celia also said that for the class you need to wear shorts (to grip the pole) and also heels (although they are optional - but I might use the ones I wore for Celia and Simon's wedding as I don't know what else I'd use them for - the Wellington hills are not good for heels!)

Here comes the rain again...

Well I know all my non-Wellingtonian friends will appreciate this entry (especially those who live in Auckland) because it's homage to Wellington weather - after a very long period of warm weather and sunshine the rain arrived today!! It's not Hamilton style rain where it absolutely pelts down for hours on end and you wonder if you should really swim home - but it's rain none the less. A lot of people at work were saying they were cold too....but I'm not cold....maybe I've finally become accustomed to Wellington weather?

Anyways - figured I may as well make this a general rant of what I've been up to in the last little while...something that you guys may not all know is that I'm FINALLY back at bellydance class and it's AWESOME - some of you may know that I did bellydance when I first moved to Welly - but then I got sick and lost motivation. Well I've found a new teacher and she's absolutely FANTASTIC - she takes really small classes (about 8 people) and makes sure everybody knows exactly what they are doing...it's fantastic! Thought I'd just mention it seen as I have bellydance class tommorrow - yah me:)

Easter is shaping up to be a busy one - I've got Mariella coming over for DVD's tommorrow, then on Friday Rich and I are doing a daywalk (which I am SO looking forward too - it's been far too long since we've done one), then it's Georgie's farewell on Saturday, Ange and Brendon's Easter "do" on Sunday & Bookclub Monday - oh well - it's all good - I won't get bored...

Also - helping Kat promote her shop Triangle on Saturday - along with Fiona - Kat is putting together some lovely purple Triangle t-shirts to wear - so a free t-shirt for helping out for a few hours....seems like a perfectly good deal to me!

Hummm....yeah...so that's all for now...except for the fact I can't believe it's only ONE DAY till EASTER!!

Steven and Corey are back in NZ!

My friends Steven and Corey are now back in NZ - how very exciting - I haven't seen them in over a year as they have been on their OE.

They are back in Wellington this Wednesday - I'm SO looking forward to seeing them and catching up on all of their exciting adventures...

Best of all - they can come to our flatwarming - I send out the invites for this today - woohoo!

Clothes Swapping Party

Well last night as something different I went to a clothes swapping party at Kat's - I've never been to anything like that before but it's a really cool idea.

I meet a couple of new girls - Lil and Debbie (I especially like Debbie - as I snatched up lots of her clothes!).

All in all I ended up with TWENTY new items of clothing - which is absolutely HEAPS! I figure if I don't wear it all that's cool because there's going to be another clothes swapping party in June...so I can always contribute it to the pile then and give it to someone else who'd like to have it.

Anyways I just have to share something else with the rest of the world - which may shock and surprise many people - last night I actually baked something to take along to the clothes swapping party! Shocking I know (given I'm the least domestic grrl in the world).

Anyway the recipe I made was "Deb's Chocolate Cloud's" and I got it from Muse Feminist Magazine - They are super duper easy to make and are kinda like chocolate macaroons.

Anyways - if you'd like to make them yourself - because if I can make them - anyone can - the recipe is below..mmm...

Deb's Chocolate Cloud Recipe

3 Egg Whites
Pinch of Salt
3/4 Cup Castor Sugar
1 Cup Dessicated Coconut
2 Tablespoons of Cocoa

Beat Egg whites until frothy (peaking).

Gradually add salt abd sugar while beating until mix is white, thick and glossy.

Mix cocoa and coconut together separately then fold gently into eggwhite mixture.

Dob onto baking paper and bake for 20 mins at 170 degrees C.

Allow to cool before dipping in melted cooking chocolate (I never actually dipped my clouds in cooking chocolate - seemed a bit too much like hard work!)