Beidh tinneas cinn agam!!!

The only one feeling 100% on Sunday morning ...

Man who put Paddy's day on a Saturday? Everyone knows you're supposed to have the hangover on company time! I had Monday off school so I ended up having to go on a 4 day session - it was like Cheltenham but without the horses or the priests.

No pictures of after the bubbles but here's the start ....

Good party on Saturday night, but I'm not sure if the Kiwis truly appreciated the glory of "I useta luv her" - you can take a horse to culture and all of that. Thanks to everyone for your recommended songlists, Alex I skipped a few of the Wexford songs as Fergal wouldn't have be happy with me having In Tua Nua at the party (it's a long story).

Gunthar, here's a photo just for you. Finally got to dig the parsnips out of the garden for a bit of mashed carrots and parsnips - comfort food after the weekend. Lisa is working her way through the beetroot and the brocolli is just coming ready, lots of veggies, hmmm great. At least the Jalepenos are turning red.

Well the Flemings will be landing her soon. The dog is eyeing the door with trepedation and the liver has applied for a divorce. We'll try to keep you in touch the goings on but it may be difficult under the circumstances.

Evening clouds helped by the forest fires in Australia

How not to know the score in the Ireland v England game

Welcome to the NZ nettle, as per usual bigger, badder than the normal nettle ...

I finally got the walking boots on again and got out in the wilds of the North Island. I thought I might give a brief insight into the timetable of a weekend's tramping trip.

Friday evening gather at Wellington railway station and head off on the bus for pastures greener. Stop off for a kebab along the way - a kebab without beers now there's a weird sensation that only NZ provides.

Tend to arrive at the road end around 10pm. Road end means just that, the road ends, you park up the van and then it's time to set up up the fly and get ready for a night's sleep under the stars. Seems fine except when it is raining - which always increases the desire to pitch the tents as quickly as possible.

Spent the night listening to the tent hoping it didn't leak - I'd a new tent so wasn't sure how dry the sleeping bag would remain, but there was no need to worry I remained bone dry for the night. Up in the morning had a bit of brekkie and then it's off on the trek ...

What's the score in Croker anyway?

So Mazzie here we are at the top of the hill after 2 hours of hiking and yes you're right the view is great but can you spot the hut? I'll give you a hint, it's orange and it's another 3 hours awat, bah humbug!

Look really, really close and you can see the hut, honest!

Finally after much slogging and swearing we get to the hut - 5 and a 1/2 hours after the start. The hut call the Seamac Motel (no idea why) was big enough for 6 people so the tent got another outing. Yip, you're right it is orange - only I could find an orange hut in the middle of the Ruahines ;o)

Hard working trampers rest their weary bones

Inside the hut we gather our things and get dinner ready - veggies, pasta and pesto, followed by fruit salad and chocolate. A meal fit for a hungry tramper.

The hut's inner glory

As the sun set, it was time for me to retire to me scratcher, on a bed of fresh grass it was indeed comfie

I know the tent's orange too, what can I say ...

Ah so the next morning, it was time to reverse the direction followed in and head back to the van. The hut looked great as we headed away ..


And here's the view as the sun set in the evening ..



Back to the van and the river and a blissful time soaking the feet in the cool water. A wonderful experience. So roll on March 31st when I get to do it all again over in the Aorangi National Park.

Next update will probably involve Kevin and Anne, looking forward to what that will be like.

BTW, Ireland won ;o)