| Xmas was fairly sedate. I didn't make a full on dinner this year. Sticking to a healthy lifestyle, I wanted to make wise choices for me and the family. No selection packs, lots of healthy nibbles and minimal alcohol. Sounds boring, but honestly it wasn't! There was no hangover to tend to, no heartburn to complain about, and no one complained about putting on weight! I was a bit concerned about our planned week holiday to the South Island, being so removed from a gym and a treadmill, I was concerned that my old habits may surface. Actually, it turned out to be the best thing possible. After I woke up at 6am for a brisk treadmill workout, followed a visit to the gym, left rather hurridly to get to the Interislander. We took the live in, so Steve and I might enjoy some 'us' time and we all cramped into his car to collect another car on our arrival in Picton. I won't go into what a nightmare experience we had with Avis for the second time since using them, but suffice to say, I wouldn't recommend them and neither would I return to their business again. Our first stop was Lake Takepo. Once we parked outside our previous haunt, The Residence we didn't use the cars again. Instead we walked everywhere. I had a go at kayaking and enjoyed it so much. Had it not havebeen for my continued gym regime before our trip, I might not have been able to do it. I took off around the lake, exploring to my heart's content. Had some close calls because the woman didn't tell me how to steer! But got lots of advice from passing boats! It was so much fun, I think I'll do it again locally. Then Steve and I hired mountain bikes! Its been a long time since I did that. I was pretty wobbly, and by christ did my arse hurt the next day! Well, and thighs for that matter! The girls really enjoyed our frequent strolls into town. Although we took the live in so Steve and I could have some together time, I think on the whole the girls had a much more enjoyable time with us because we were always out and active. Steve and I got to have dinner out to the best sushi place in NZ, Kohan. It was so tasty. It was weird for me and Steve to be out after so long, and yes, our conversation consisted mostly of the girls! After three nights in Lake Takepo, we drove on to Hanmer Springs. We booked a three bedroom Villa at the Heritage. It was bloody awful! Again, I can't be bothered with the details, but to suffice to say, it was a great disappointment and not worth the hundreds of dollars we paid. We really wanted to go all out on this holiday, with Steve working so hard and me completing my first semester and passing exams, oh, and having a baby! On this trip we saw more of Hanmer then we've ever seen. We did mountain biking through the forests, quad biking around the moutains and I even went horse trekking up the mountains! Again, something I've not previously done for years. Christ, my arse REALLY hurt after that! We did so much walking as well and really, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We took a well earned soak in the private pools at the springs, but the whole place is pretty shabby. It resembles something of a Butlins resort, not aided by the people of course that visit. We decided to book the private pools so we could escape the masses of people. Its got nothing on Rotorua, but putting aching bodies in a warm pool is sheer bliss. This is going to sound really cheesey, but on this holiday I really did feel much closer to nature and it really revived me. For the week, I didn't complain about NZ (well, maybe just once or twice!) and I could actually, dare I say, see the appeal of summer here. Everyone gets out on their boats, skiing, bbqs, hiking, etc. Its great to be part of that lifestyle and enjoy the scenery and opportunities to do it. So much to do, why are Kiwis so bloody sullen?! Ah well. I know I really enjoyed myself this week and so did Steve and the girls. Unfortunately all these things cost a lot of money. Not to mention there were 3 kids and 3 adults, so when Steve and I were out, the live in was racking up a rather unhealthy room service bill! YIKES! But at least we really enjoyed ourselves and I would love to repeat the experience, but perhaps take more care on the budgeting side of things. This is the first holiday we've come back feeling totally refreshed and not fatter and more sluggish! Here's hoping 2009 continues like 2008 ended! |