Melting in the Wairarapa!!!!

Rob and I were determined to take advantage of the last few days of our holiday and the gorgeous weather while it lasts...........http://www.stuff.co.nz/4812848a11.html and managed to drag ourselves out of bed this morning before 9 (its going to come as a bit of a shock when the alarm goes off at 6.30 on Monday!!!!!) We decided to drive over the Rimutakas (a rather scary steep mountain pass with sheer drops off the side!!!!), to Castlepoint in the Wairarapa. I even got to drive but only because he had not had time for breakfast before we left and was overcome with the need for a Macdonalds Cheeseburger and cannot multi-task!!!! He then preceded to get nauseated and blamed it on my driving but I'm sure it was just the nasty burger!!!!! We eventually arrived safetly in the Wairarapa or ''rapa'' as it is known to the locals and Castlepoint via Robs favourite games shop in Featherstone. He managed to resist temptation or just couldnt make up his mind but I got all nostalgic and bought Yahtzee!!!! I used to make my poor little sister, Helen, play it with me for hours!!!!! It has to have been the hottest day we have ever experienced in New Zealand, we read in the paper that it got up to 34 degrees which would explain why the tar on the road was melting, thank god for air con!!!!

Old (well New Zealand old, which is never really that old compared to UK old!!!!) Featherston pub.













Old American car in Greytown still managing to look cool despite the heat!!!!












Rob had to get a close up of the cuddly d6 dice!!!!




























Rob trying not to get his feet wet, cant imagine why it was soooooo hot!













Rob making his way with dry feet up to Castlepoint lighthouse


















































































Its not just about the pretty pictures you know!!!!!



















































the view from the top made the climb worthwhile even if we were a bit hot n sweaty!!!!

Castlepoint lagoon at high tide, apparently at low tide you can walk out to the rocks.

Jellyfish on the beach

Apparently there is a bra fence somewhere in New Zealand!!!!

We stopped off at 'The Tin Hut' for dinner and drinks. We had taken Mum and Dad there for Mums 60th when they came to visit.

Yummy starters!!!

Summer Holidays!!!!

We went for a walk to ''The Bach'' Cafe for Brunch yesterday.

Boats in Island Bay

Old abandoned boat lying in sand dunes

Coming back into Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay has never looked this calm before!!!!

Houghton Bay

Rob in front of our house

After our lovely brunch we finally finished the fence!!!!

Today we had the Arborists in to chop down two trees at the back of our house, it is so much sunnier!!!!!! No more having to clear out the gutters!!!

While they had their chainsaws out we got the guys to trim our Pohutakawa outside our kitchen window as we were losing our view!!!!! Its so much better now, I even volunteered to do the washing up!!!!!

3 weeks holiday!!!!!

Although it does not feel very Christmassy in the heat the good thing is that Wellington practically closes down until the end of January as everyone takes their Summer Holidays!!!! No pushing and shoving at the Boxing Day Sales and plenty of Car Parks!!!! We both have 3 weeks off this year!!!
We walked into the City today to buy my new camera and Rob's new Playstation 3 (because we dont have enough Games Consoles?????). It was such hard work we had to stop at 'Wasabi' our favourite Sushi Train Restaurant in Cuba St for some refreshment........yum!!!!!

Cuba St artwork

Cuba St Fountain

Civic Square

Check out the Pedalos!!!!!

City to the Sea Bridge

Artwork on the Bridge, how blue is that sky!!!!

Another view of the bridge

Fountain!!!!

Desert at Kaffee Eis!!!!

Another picture of our house from the road!

The many steps up to our house!!!!

Rainbow over our house, still searching for the pot of gold!!!

And of course another gorgeous sunset to end the perfect day!!!!