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

Still loving Auckland

Hello all. Just an update really to let you all know how we are bearing. We have settled into a good routine at the moment. We work all week then do activities over the weekend. So from now on we will update the blog every week. We've put some pictures of the house and the flatmates we share with.

This weekend we found out Alistair -the lad who we stay with , plays in a band that was supporting a group that has just released a CD - so we went to watch him on Friday night. Really good fun. Met loads of people and talked about saving the world and the bother that's going on in Georgia - play music not your guns lol - only joking, no it was a really good night - had a few too many shots tho!!Jesus we were hung over on Saturday!!!!

Saturday, me and Amy had a lovely day just walking around Auckland. We ended up going down Lorne Street, had a bit of sushi (our new favourite food - soz liberal people - yes liberal that was my word) After we went up to Parnell street (This is where all the little quirky shops are)
and just pottered.

Sunday it was just really bad weather. Training got called off so we went to the pictures to see The Bank Job.












Both jobs are going great. Amy's doing really well - getting to grips with the NZ market etc and I on the other hand, am coaching with Kevin Fallon in the mornings . This is as well as coaching the U12. For those who don't know, hes the one who took NZ to the 82 World Cup - Great bloke and learning so much from him. He has a academy at a grammer school age from 15 - 18. After, he sends players to clubs over in England , USA etc. He lets me coach the reserves, keeper, (however I don't do the shooting lol.) then I shadow him doing sessions with the 1st team. After we have a chat for 1 hour or so its brilliant!!

Well, we best love and leave you all. We will update the blog next weekend.

All our Love

Team RA xxx

Staying in Auckland

Hi everyone. Its been a while but a lot has been going really. Basically things were changing everyday so we thought we'd let the dust settle then update the blog. We don't have our camera at the mo so we will just add some pictures from facebook from my birthday.

We arrived in Auckland and stayed with Laura Barker ( for those who are not from Stamford.. a girl we know form the village). We stayed here for few days had My birthday, etc. We also decided to stay in Auckland for a few months and get a work visa so it was good to have a base whilst we were sorting everything out. We didn't expect it to be as busy as it was - because we applied for a visa in NZ we had to have a medical which was fun.. anyway we got the all clear.. no HIV for TEAM RA....

After this we got our national insurance number and went house hunting. We viewed loads of houses, some were lovely but with weird people and some houses were just plain horrible. One of houses we saw was a gorgeous place, dead modern and everything, the trouble was the guy who owned it was a magician that did shows at kids parties. He had a fake rabbit that he kept in a cage outside, that put us off straight away! We finally got a house but that fell through, it wasn't long before we found a lovely little house in Mount Roskill. We are sharing with 3 others, Alistair (a boat builder), Emma and Sarah (design students) oh and Theo the little dog (like a terrier) they have who is just mint - has a great collection of jumpers lol. We don't have any pictures yet of the house etc but we will update the blog next week with them. We all get on really well as we are more or less the same age etc.

On the job front Amy has got herself a great job at L'Oreal in marketing looking after the skin care range, a similar kind of role to what she did at Nestle but reporting directly to the marketing director. Me on the other hand have got a footy coaching job at the Auckland Football Federation School of Excellence where I have a group of U12. These are the ones that we put on a scheme which the aim in the long run is to get them playing at international level. so all pretty "sweet" as they say over here..

Like I said, we will update the blog again shortly with pictures of everything. hope all is good and well at home.



All our Love

Team RA xxxxx

Just a packed few days...Taupo and Rotorua

Day 1

This was a short bus journey - only 2hrs so we got to Taupo in good time. Its was a rainy day but that doesn't stop Team RA. It was Amy's birthday weekend so we got ourselves a double room instead of a dorm. We dropped our bags off and headed to Huka Falls ( crystal clear waterfalls) then the craters of the moon which is a volcanic area that has craters, mud pools and other thermal activities. It was a very smelly place. farts are wasted here as the air stunk of Sulphur or S2H - soz periodic table!!!! We spent about 1 hour or so here. Truly an amazing place with steam everywhere - looked like a war zone after it had been bombed.

That night we made friends with a few people and headed for the public hot springs. This is where the locals sit and relax in hot thermal baths (all natural just water in rockpools) caused by the Volcanic Magma running under ground (I sound as though I know what I am on about don't I?) This was mint. We just relaxed under the stars and had a few drinks... Very cold afterwards!!!

Day 2

Amygaters birthday!!!! After she opened a few cards we both decided to skydive! What we were thinking I don't know but its probably the best thing we have both done. We jumped from 15000 ft and had 1min free fall.. I felt a bit like Patrick Swazey in point break ! I jumped first then Amy jumped - how was it Amy? - "Sick man!!!" Truly unbelievable experience!!! happy birthday Amy!!! That afternoon we walked around. I had a go on a hole in one golf game- I had to get the ball in a hole on an island in the lake, didn't win though...

That night we went for a steak which just topped of a brilliant day.


Day 3 Roturua - in English 2 lakes

We arrived at smelly Rotorua. The landscape was created by another Volcanic eruption in 1886.
We arrived in the afternoon. We were just knackered so we had a afternoon nap. That night we attended a Maori tribe evening. Here they cooked us a traditional tea cooked under ground using the thermal heat!! Very nice but I don't think they had garlic bread in those days.....
A really good night.We saw the tribe do their Haka (the war dance) and they showed us what life was like in a Maori tribe.

Day 4

We head to the Geothermal wonderland where we saw a geezer erupt and bubbling mud pools. Very similar to the craters of the moon really..we're getting a bit bored of this Volcanic stuff now!!! we get you live on a volcano..next....

That afternoon we headed up to the Zorbing area where we Zorbed down a hill.This is a big inflatable ball where we both climbed inside, warm water added and they push you down a steep hill.. Very funny!!!!! I don't know what Amy's bum is doing though??? Look at my booty everyone!!! "I was about to jump but was a bit slow!!" says Amy. We are turning very extreme lately.....

That's about it really.We'll give you another update when we reach Auckland. As for now we're are going on a Peace protest and spread the word about recycling man...

Peace to all

Love Team RA
xxxx

Life after queenstown

Hello. Our last night was one of our friends birthday's. A late one so it was tough getting up and heading for Dunedin, so we packed our bags and ran for the bus after just 3 hours sleep.

Day 1

Dunedin - arrived at lunchtime and headed straight to bed for the afternoon. We were staying in a weird hostel, a massive old stately home but only two others staying in it with us so it was a bit creepy. Plus the other two guys were a bit weird so we had to watch our backs man....i.e. practice our karate moves when we knew they were looking lol...

That night we had a wander round the town and just chillaxed.

Day 2

While Rich was sleeping on the journey to Dunedin I booked us on a wildlife tour. It started out a bit of a mistake as we were given binoculars and told to watch Albatross (massive birds for the non bird watchers out there) for the first hour, Rich said he'd never fall asleep again on the bus, but then it got better and soon we were on the beach walking just a few feet away from seals and sea lions, watching them play in the sea. We then had to go into a little wooden hideout where we could watch yellow eyed penguins swim out of the sea and go to their nests for the night as it was getting dark, so all in all it turned out a good choice if I do say so myself.

Day 3

Moving on from Dunedin we headed to Lake Tekapo. The bus driver stopped at the steepest street in the world and we wal;ked all the way up, we were knackered, what a way to start the day! In Tekapo we made friends with Tracey Barlow's sister in law!! It was a cute little hostel with a woman that was meant to run the front desk but she just couldn't stop chatting to everyone and followed us around while we were cooking. There was no TV so we learnt a few card games and just chatted to other travellers, we even got into a conversation about religion and how the world started man.........obviously we didn't start that one.

Day 4 and 5

We had a wander around the lake with a girl that we knew from Queenstown, its funny how you all really take the same route. It had snowed pretty heavily the night before and roads were closed so quite a few people were snowed in. The lake was gorgeous with snow topped mountains overlooking it and nice little cafes on its only main street. A lovely place to rest after Queenstown and just take in the scenery.

Day 5

We got the chance to go and star gaze. Lake Tekapo is one of the best places in the southern hemisphere to view the stars as its the clearest sky. We couldn't believe what we could see, we were stood underneath the Milkyway and could see it so clearly. We went into an observatory and looked through telescopes to see Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and even the Moon. We saw craters on the moon and even the ring around Saturn!! Such an amazing evening, even though it was -10C!!

Day 6

We headed to Kaikora so a pretty long day. the Magic bus only went as far as Christchurch that day but as we'd spent 4 days there previously we caught another bus in the afternoon to Kaikora. We stayed in a great little hostel that had free soup after 6pm and was right in the heart of the town. We booked ourselves on the dolphin swimming for the next morning and were quite excited.

Day 7

Woke up early ready to head out and find some dolphins only to find that it was cancelled as the water was too choppy, we were gutted but at least it had got us out of bed!! We booked a whale watching trip for that afternoon and I prepared myself for a day of pure sea sickness!! The whale watching was great, we headed out to sea on a speedy boat with reclining leather seats and all this equipment to try and see where the whales were. We ended up seeing 3 sperm whales, they looked like a cross between Tim Henman and Rich.....massive heads. It was really good seeing them dive into the water and flick their tales up, they were huge!

That night we went to a pub quiz with some girls from the hostel and came last but we whooped them at pool.

Day 8

Another bloody ferry journey, I swear this island will kill me with all their water travel!! We left the south island and went to Wellington (the capital city and on the north island). It felt like we were going on holiday and we were both looking forward to some warmer weather. We even caught a film while we were sailing, Indiana Jones' new one.

Wellington was great, we arrived when it was dark so the nightlife was well under way and we realised how much we'd missed city life.

Day 9

We spent the day taking in the city. We walked to the wharf and around the shops, we also went up on a cable car to the top of the mountain that stands in the middle of the city and walked down it through botanical gardens, its a gorgeous city with so much character.

Day 10

Time to move on again, this time to Napier, one of the main wine region's of New Zealand. Just one night here as wine is pretty much all there is to see. A lovely city though, quite picturesque with a real 1930's feel. We walked along the shale beach and up to a look out point before strolling through the town.

That's all for now, tomorrow we move onto Taupo where hopefully I'll be able to do a skydive, soz EXTREME!!!!!

All our love

Team RA

xxxxxxxx

QueensTown

Hello again. Its been a while but we've probably had one of the best weeks of our lives!! Its been class! We headed down to Queenstown where to our surprise it was the winter festival where 40,000 or so people come to this town and basically party!!


Day1


We arrived a little later than usual. we heard some strange stories about dorms in Queenstown so we were a bit apprehensive about it however we met some great people who we went out with during our stay. We already booked a ski package so we went to a welcome evening to chat and find out info etc as to what was it all about. After that we wandered around the town then hit the sack and got ready for the next 3 days skiing!


Day2


Yey skiing time!!! We were both really excited about this as it was our first time since School (over 11 years ago!) our packages included lessons so we went to the beginner slope and got used to it. Its amazing how quickly you remember, soon we were in the intermediate groups. We met some nice people on the slopes that we later became friends with.


That night it was the opening of the winter festival... (All extreme people were out) so we went out. We met up with old friends from Christchurch, new friends from the hostel and bumped into some Irish lads that were in Franz Joesph... a mint night!!!! We went to a bar where the roof opened , drank in a bar where the drinks come in tea pots, got a famous ferg burger (massive) and saw the funniest fight we have ever seen! with fly kicks lol ha.


Day3


With very sore heads we went back on the slopes (or terrains as we now call them, soz) We didn't do any lessons as we couldn't be bothered to learn anything, however it was good just to ski yourself . This is were we bumped into Richard and Peter from Oz who kindly filmed us going down the slopes! That night we met up with them again and had a few cokes.....



Day4


We arrived early at the slopes to make the most of our last day... The skiing really kicked in and we ended up going down black slopes which we felt quiet chuffed about considering we had only had 4 lessons. When were going up with to the black slopes (soz) Amy decided to to be too eager to get off the lift and fell under it!!! Everyone started shouting and I nearly ended up going back down before they stopped the lift!!!! Funny thing was we were saying just act like we are pros on the way up.. Anyway after the the TV Burp moment we had a good days skiing.We knew we were skiing correctly as we were so Knackered and sore!!!
That night we had a room to ourselves with a TV so we just chilled and booked few days in advanced for our next destination.


Day 5


We were a bit lost as we really wanted to go skiing again. Anyway we went up gondola which gave great views of the the town. At the top you could go on the luges which a like sledges with wheels!!! very good!!!!! Knocked a few kids off the track on the way down....( You don't get nothing for coming second!)



Day 6


Amy decided to join the Extreme brigade and did a bungee - the Nevis one. how was it Amy? " Oh it was just sick man!!" - thanks Amy.. It was 440 foot high - 3rd highest in the world!!
While Amy was listening to rock and jumping I decided to be Jesus for the day and went fishing to catch supper.... I caught a 2 - 3 lb brown trout. On the way back into the town we stopped at a restaurant and asked them to cook it for us... It was a ace!!!
That night we went to an Ice bar were it just all Ice ( Obviously) and met up with friends who's birthday it was.... Another late night.....









All in all this past 2 weeks have just been amazing, from glacier walking to skiing etc.. we don't want to leave but a few days in Lake Tekapo will be a good rest. Will update you all then.


All our love


Team RA xxxxxx