Christmas over for another year...

It's shocking that's it's all over so quickly given the huge build-up that seems to start earlier every year. By the end October we seem to be subjected to a barrage of hype and instructions to buy the latest this and that. It was actually quite blissful to be to broke to even contemplate getting caught up in all that festive panic - I just got to wander around on Christmas Eve with a bemused expression, watching all around me desperately searching for that last minute, perfect gift.

Next year I'm going to make my pressies (someone remind me I said that) and, rather than fight the crowds in the high street, I'm going to buy lots of red wine and spend my evenings curled up somewhere warm, being creative.

If the thruth be told, I was a little worried about the prospect of Xmas this year and of being a bit of a Billy; after being away from Bristol for so long and not really being that organized. Should have known better - had a fantastic time. Thanks guys!

OK, OK sue me it's been a while. I know I promised to update this soon but events kind of overtook me, that and a lack of internet access - Santa if you're listening, a PC and a broadband connection would be lush. Anyway this impromptu entry is due to this: Track Santa. Check it out. Well am off now before someone (Aleck!) shops me for being drunk in charge of a keyboard...

Will be writing more soon, but the computer keeps losing my stuff!

Thursday, November 07, 2002
After breakfast and an early morning dip in the spa, the three of us explored some more of Rotorua. Damn this place is smelly! We checked out the city park with it's multitude of thermal ponds and overexcited pools of mud; there's one called the Lobster Pool which allegedly turns your skin a reddish colour if you're a whitey. Then we did our bit for the local wildlife and fed the extremely freindly black swans on the lake - I'm sure they only loved us for our bread.

Next stop Taupo, via the world's youngest volcanic valley - Waimangu Thermal Reserve - which boasts the largest hotpool ever. Lake Taupo is where most kiwis go on holiday and apparently the popluation quadruples during the summer. [Will add more detail when I have the time.]

Once in Taupo we located another backpacker with a spa (hey why break a godd habit!) and spent the evening relaxing until the boys got restless and dragged me to one of the Irish pubs in the centre. Gianluca was in his element on the dancefloor although the kiwi DJ had extremely debateable taste in music.

Today the three of us explored the Coromandel. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great and the tides were extraordinarily high so no curving golden beaches for us - still the mountains were fantastic. After taking a back road from Tuarunga we arrived in Roturua, and after a little momentary blondeness from me, we eventually checked into Cactus Jack's Packpackers. A very cool places to stay as it was all decked out to resemble a Mexcian Frontier town, complete with a Jail House and more importantly the Chief's Meeting Place, aka hot tub which is just what's needed after a long day in the car.

Tuesday, October 05, 2002
After an emotional goodbye with the rest of the family in Paihia, Paul Gianluca and I headed south - the start of our 'Gaytime 2002' [a reference to Paul's antics in the bar the other evening]. Our first destination was Thames, at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, with two pit stops in Auckland and Maramarua to see Helen and Chelfyn. Thames itself is pretty quiet, but we had a cracking evening after meeting two other travellers in the hostel's kitchen. Alison, and her German companion, was a bit of a live wire and the covnersation ran from current affairs to Asian men and the worst chat-up lines a girl can get. Beat this one: "... I'm tired of shallow waters; I'm looking for deep oceans like you..." Eugh!!!

To round off the evening I spent the night sharing a room with two naked men - in different beds! Turns out both of them prefer to sleep in the buff which isn't good for a girl's system, especially when she's been a good girl and been keeping life uncomplicated since June.

Monday, October 04, 2002
As a farewell get-together Paul and I cooked up a 'Sunday Dinner' for a pretty mixed group: 2 Italians, an Israeli, a Dutch, 2 Brits and an Ozzie. It was the full works with 3 chickens, stuffing, roasties, roast onions and parsnips, vegies and gravy, topped off a while later with apple crumble and custard. Stuffed!

Ohh... lots to write about and not the time... will have to write it out on paper and make a mad typing dash to keep the internet cafe costs down! Today the boys were chosen to take the cruisers around the islands leaving me at a bit off a loose end for the day and my plans to push Paul and Ilan off the boat into the sea in some candid camera moment dead in the water - damn! Instead I went and found Gianluca at home, unsucessfully trying to make bread, and dragged him off to sample some wine in a local vineyard which Cristina had recommended. Hic!!! A gorgeous sunny afternoon spent sipping fine wine next to a picturesque lake. Two glasses later, and very giggly, we headed off to the Pippi Patch to meet the others for more booze; discovered the 'Pippi Bomb': white wine and Red Bull... ummm.

Paul gamely added to the night's frivolities by falling in the pool (ok he had a lot of help!) and taking Gianluca with him. After a quick hunt for glasses we all trapsed into another bar trying to act normal and dry! On the way home some of the gang couldn't resist the lure of getting naked and going for a swim - must have been the full moon. Was too shy to join in so mental note to me: must go skinny dipping before I'm 30!!!

Here's the events for the last couple of days.

Saturday, November 02, 2002
My last ever Rock cruise. The crowd was just amazing, lively, outrageous and they took over everything - the music, the atmosphere. Captain chaos didn't stand a chance!

Friday, November 01, 2002
Took Paul and Gianluca (Cristina's friend just over from Ireland) to explore the Northland - Cape Reinga, Spirits Bay and 90 Mile Beach. The scenery here in New Zealand really does just take your breath away and I've still to see the South Island which is apparently even more impressive.

That evening we all headed down to a local bar - the Pippi Patch - with Paul and Ilan providing the night's entertainment by pretending to be a gay couple to discourage the unwanted attentions of some scary lady.

Wednesday, October 30 - Thursday, October 31, 2002
Another cruise, another evening behind the bar. Excellent.

The next day it was just Richard, Cristina and I looking after our guests. Went mussel diving and even managed to get them looking for shells in non-existant colours, because "apparently the locals think the red and blue ones are really lucky". Lots of bums in the air on the beach - cruel but hilarious!

Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Today I went sailing with Rich and Cristina in their little boat 'Beluga'. Sailing her is fondly referred to as belugaring and had a brilliant day on the water playing in the bay.

Monday, October 28, 2002
Went out on the Vulcan with Richard and Ilan for my first ever fishing charter. Needless to say that poor old Ilan still didn't catch any fish. To console him we took him up to Ngawha Springs - a great place to relax but my bikini has only just stopped smelling since my last visit over a month ago... damn!

Just about to go to work - another 24 hour cruise with paying victims to tease. Will update this with the latest events soon...

So another Rock cruise. Being busy makes work on the boat more interesting otherwise the days seem to be disorganized and random - you never know when you have a day off so planning trips is hard. Pete the owner is nicknamed Captain Chaos for nothing!

We had a huge group - 30 odd people - who were a lot more fun and lively than the last couple. With Paul away I took his spot behind the bar which is not a bad place to be; you eventually meet everyone and most stop to chat. I did have the opportunity to score some points on the Dirty Deeds Chart with one of the punters who was flirting so much that it even registered on my radar! Anyway my heart just wasn't in it, decided to stick with the Comedy Chart instead - less complicated.

Didn't get to go round the islands the next day so I stayed on the Rock instead. Anchored in a secluded bay with no one else around and a sheltered front deck all to myself... nudie sunbathing! Other than that my day's highlight was driving the Rock back to it's mooring in Paihia. It's a beast of a boat with the response time of a slug so it took a while to get used to and going in straight lines wasn't all that easy. All good fun though, seriously thinking about trying to go sailing back in the UK and apparently my time here will count as commercial seatime which has to be good for something. Know anyone with a boat???

Spent the evening on the boat playing cards and sampling beers - very civilized, if you discount having to get up at 0200 in the middle of a howling storm to make sure the inflatable boat is still snugly on deck where it's supposed to be and hasn't decided to use the bad weather as an excuse to wander off on it's own.