Well, if you've looked at the photo gallery, then you'll have spotted that Elise has now had her first visit to the Zoo.

 

Bob, Angela, Mum, Granny, Deb & I also got to go. A really hot day and Elise had a ball. She liked the Giraffe and Elephant enclosures good fun.

 

Carols left yesterday for London (via Vegas for a few days). It was really great to see her down here again. I think Elise liked having her her Aunty to play with.

 

I travelled down to Christchurch on Friday night and caught up with Dad and Glenn for a few beers and dinner. Saturday was spent watching the Combat Challenge in the 34 degree heat. Doug Kinsella (current fastest time holder in NZ) managed to run a 1 minute 49 second time (previous best 1 minute 58) carrying a steel cylinder (at least another 6kg) over his Auckland time. A really good event.

 

Glenn came out from Ruapuna where he was working on the racing bikes to come out to Chapman Hall and have a look at the Dino. We had a quick bite to eat with Den, Deb, Alan & Dale. A quick play with the cars, collected some stuff to take to Sheree and went back out. Dropped Dad off at the pub and headed back to the Firemen. Event over, and over to a backpackers to have a few beers with the Firemen and then to the Holy Grail for dinner and prize-giving.

 

Sunday, Dad & I picked up Grandma and drove up to Arthurs Pass to see the new Motel. It was previously called the Chalet. Now called Arthurs. Al, Sam, Sheree and Alex are all working up there. A really lovely spot. It was cooler than Christchurch. Lovely scenery and a superb drive. Not somewhere, I expected to find Sheree working, not exactly party central. She and Brit (another staff member) are sharing a house (well, really a miners hut in the hills). After a very lovely day, we collected Alex and Julia and returned to Christchurch. We dropped the girls at Linda's parents and had a quick chat.

 

Dad and I then dropped Grandma off and headed to the Rose and Thistle for a beer. Then over to say hello to Muzz & Fuzz.

 

Today, I'm now in Invercargill where the weather has been crap (raining and 14 degrees). I also found out it is SOuthland anniversary today. But in true Southland style, not everyone celebrates it on the same day (WTF!!!). Maybe the Rolling Stones were right.

 

Anyway, it's fined up a bit and the night has finally arrived at 10pm.

 

Ciao, off to Dunedin tomorrow (even worse than Invercargill). I'll post photos from the trip when I return home on Friday.