Auckland Update

kia ora,

Jika koka humo.... Oh sorry about that - just our Maori coming out, please forgive me if this happens again. soz hard!. To our calculation its been about 2 weeks since we updated the blog.

Ok, so last weekend we started our weekend adventures with a harbour lunch cruise. This just showed the whole harbour and the Hauraki gulf - the islands surrounding Auckland. It was a windy day but it kept dry which is the main thing... Since we have been here we haven't seen rain like it... its been chucking it down all the time!!! big fat rain. After the cruise we did the Auckland Harbour bridge Climb. Which basically is what it says.. we climbed the Auckland Bridge. We got to climb right to the highest point and stood between the two flags looking out at the sky line of Auckland. It was awesome.!! That night the day caught up with us so we just stayed in and watched TV.

Sunday - I went to do some coaching but it wasn't normal day - oh no. Only the bloody BBC turned up didn't they!!!They were doing a Documentary on a family moving Down Under who had a U12 girl who played footy. Anyway She ended up in my group so I was all wired up etc and filmed for 90 mins or so.... Very funny, however, this acting game isn't all its cracked up to be.They kept shouting "Cut!!" - god what now....I wonder if Bruno Brooks had this issue??, I'm trying to bloody coach here.. All good fun though and it will be screened in January in England.

Amy on the other hand met with her tree hugger friends (work mates) and did some Yoga at the gym.

During the week I went out with my work mates for a few drinks after work and rich did his coaching on the evenings, just a steady week really living the Kiwi life.

This weekend:

Amy decided to plan the weekend trip. She'd planned for us to Kayak across to the Rangitoto Volcano - an island just off Auckland Harbour. It sounded ace but what we didn't realise is that in total we covered at least 19km!!! nice one Amy.. We kayaked for 1 hour or so over the Pacific sea!!!! with Amy steering......badly. we must of doubled the distance we actually needed to cover. This plus the fact we were laughing to much made it hard work!! When we arrived at the volcano the sun was out and it was a really hot day (for winter). We moored our kayaks and walked to the summit where we had lunch with our guide. The island was mint, just covered in loads of black rock (magma) etc. It took about 1 hour or so ramble up to the the summit where we saw the crater at the top which was huge!! When we got back we found out that in the past there had been sightings of sharks around the area in the past!!

The pictures is actually the distance we Kayaked!!! How far is it you may ask.. 8 km one way.

The way back was a different kettle of fish.. The sea was more choppy and we had a head wind. We set off with waves crashing over us. It was fun at first until after about 2 hours of it we were still 2 km away from land and with both of us having a go at who's rowing the most it seemed we were doomed!!! The guide told us we were going too slow and he was cold so he towed us all the way back... god we were knackered with blisters on both hands! We eventually got back soaking wet, tired but back on speaking terms lol, what an awesome day.

That night we went out with my work mates from L'Oreal for a Japanese meal and some drinks in town, we didn't stay out for much of a late one because the next morning we were up early again. Our flatmates took us scalloping to Clark's Bay, about 30minute drive from our house. Quite a muddy bay, we thought we'd need money for ice cream, we were picturing a sandy beach and clear waters but it knee deep mud and star fish and crabs everywhere, it was pretty cool though, we had to feel with our feet for scallop shells and dive in to get them, only problem is there were none there - we only got one and even that was too small (the fisheries commission measure them before you can take them home). We were dead excited about having them on the BBQ that night so we were a bit gutted but we made up for it. We had a great night drinking wine and cooking Flounder fish on the BBQ with our flatmates, a proper summer Kiwi BBQ (well Spring), it really made us not want to leave in October......

This week there's not much planned, we're in my works bowling team on Thursday night, not sure how, but I bigged up Rich's bowling skills so everyone thinks we're going to win! he's only been a few times ha lol. Rich is at a finale with the team he coaches on Wednesday - other than that its just a normal Kiwi week for us.

ka kite ano, oops sorry here we go again (that means see you later by the way)

Hope everyone is doing well

All our love

Team RA

xxxxx