Monday 7th October (Day 14)
Windy Wellington
Caught the shuttle into town and wandered around.
I still haven't seen the famous wind of Wellington.
This guy in the Windjammer has a collection of hats! Funny.
Loved this pop art installation. Old skateboards and graffiti. Awesome.
And I must remember never to complain about the cost of petrol. I could always be worse. I could live in NZ. Two coffee/drinks was $12.50
A trip to the Museum was good. Some great displays.
Including this awesome map. You walked around on it and looked at places you have been.
Or are going tomorrow!!!
These kids jumps off this very high structure into a small area of murky water between all manner of structures.
But he did make in into the water and did come back up.
How awesome is this. Wanted to play with it for ages.
But the kid was having too much fun.
The back to port. Wellington is a working port - so we are bused through. The main export is....
Mainly sold for export to Asia for building, pulping and for chopsticks.
So.......... - back on board - things have changed. WAR has been declared and I do believe I shall become Collateral Damage.
Suzanne is an early riser (humph). Vivian and Keith (also known an Trevor) and Sue and Dave are not.
Suzanne has not been getting a good enough reaction when she disturbs me....I just read for a while then go back to sleep. So here desire for fun has had to be more wide spread.
And I'm sure that you are aware of such expressions as "Let sleeping dogs lie", "Don't poke the bear", and basically "Piss of Suzanne" etc.
Well Suzanne has not taken heed of any of these warning. She has decided that door bell ringing and door knocking is really funny at about 7am. Vivian and Sue do not agree!!!!!!!
She also bangs and rings at Nanna Nap time as well.
We need to walk past Vivian's room to get to our room. Suzanne goes ahead, bashes on the door and runs off leaving me hobbling along, about level with the door as Vivian pounces out! Hahah.
So.... there are....sniggers behind hands, murmured threats, dagger looks across 'The Corner' of the Concierge Lounge being exchanged. Stay tuned for the next exciting account of what I presume will be Raina's night from hell!
Tuesday 8th October (Day 15)
Picton
Before I describe the wonders of Picton and Malbouough Sound, I must talk about the night.
I retired early - about 11pm. Then had a computer problem and had to go down to customer Services to log off - as the computer was ticking away charging me 75c a minute!!!!!!!
I went to sleep at about midnight.
'IT' started at about half past. A very efficient tag team relay was commenced with either door bell ringing, bashing on the door or phone calls every 20-ish minutes. You really must admire the dedication of the four morning sleep deprived warriors.
And some of the message left on voice mail were very funny.
The best was the message from 'JD' in a very strong Pakistani accent - not at all Panamanian!!!! Sounded a bit more Brisbanish.
They must have tired by around 2am and gone to bed - although I do have a good idea of their bladder habits as a few more calls did come during the night.
Suzanne - who slept through 90% of this thought it was very funny. Chemically enhanced sleep must be wonderful. But what did she do at 6.45 this morning - straight around to their doors to start it again. And so it continues.........
What shall tonight bring???????
Ohhh. So excited to find out.
As I said....Collateral Damage!!!!
Now Picton. A tiny sleepy little village with a population of around 3000 at the top of the south island. It is in the middle of Marlborough Sound....a place I have wanted to see since first hearing the Judy Small song back in the 80's.
"There are places on this planet near untouched by human hands,
Where the soul may be replenished and reclaimed,
.........
Like when your standing in the stillness on the shores of Marlborough Sound and drinking in the silence of the day............".
So here I am - standing on the shores of Marlborough Sound.
The weather is awesome. 12 degrees and misting. You don't come to Sounds for sunshine - you go to Tahiti for that!
I dragged Suzanne off on a walk out to 'Bob's Point' (only fair - she has dragged me around enough shops.)
Saw heaps of wild muscles growing. And don't want to walk across this 'Sand' for a swim.
And through the lovely mariner.
This old whaler is now a cafe / bar called The Echo.
Not shore what happened to Tim's other half. But it's a classy sign now!
The bossiest toilets I have ever been to. You walk and and a big voice booms out that you have 10 minutes maximum.
With the meanest toilet paper dispenser. 2 squares!!!!!
I had the BEST EVER date scones and a 'cupper' for morning tea. Yesterday I found this new Super drink. It was a cup of tea - Lemon, Honey, Ginger tea and was like someone had squeezed a whole lemon, added grated ginger and a huge blob of honey into hot water. Sensational. And I found it again today. Turns out it is based on a bottled item - so I found out what and where and the search began. But I got some! The date scones were also sensational!
I brought a bag full of the scones back for Juan Diego and he was a happy man!
Also found a fantastic second hand shop - more like a museum. Spent ages looking around but everything I wanted was big - so it had to stay.
Loved Picton.
Sail away was mid afternoon so we got back onto the ship and had late lunch then prepared for sail-away. By this stage it was raining but that didn't stop me going out onto the front deck to watch the sail through Marlborough Sound. I had a look at 5.30am but the light was not good enough, so afternoon was better.
I went onto the private Sweet Suite deck and found a little awning out of the rain. It was wonderful. I was the only person there and could hear and smell and just feast my eyes.
Then I went and sat in the Diamond Lounge (cause I can) as it has a great forward view. If we got close to dolphins or seals I could run out.
It was then time for a read and a quick sleep before 5pm in the Concierge Lounge.
Yet another fun night was had. We spent some time talking to Blake (the top cruiser on board - who is about to become double Pinnacle Club - maybe 1000 nights at sea). He was from the Deep South of the USA with a great accent and the most un-whiny American ever. Even bitched about "that lady over there who always has something to whine about and treats JD as her personal slave 24/7". So refreshing! (without intending to be mean).
Pretty funny - as she is the lady who coped a bit of splash on her runners the other night when I dropped my drink. Twice since she has told me that she still has drink on her shoe.
Point #1 - It was only Champagne - get over it.
Point #2 - Are runners and tracky dacks really suitable attire for the Concierge Lounge?
Her husband is an ex Harbour Master. "Have we mentioned that to you???" We refer to him as "The Commodore". Hahaha.
We drank lots, laughed even more!
We all waved Good Bye to New Zealand - me Good Bye for a few weeks....
Cause Andy and Sarah, Celia, Cracker s and Tim......it is only 16 SLEEPS TO OUR TRIP!!!!!
The Captain announced that we are heading into rough seas for most of the night. 6 metre swell and huge winds. "Not to worry - the ship is very safe" he said.
Don't mention big seas to Vivian - but I say "bring it on!".
"Baton the Hatches, Lads!"
NOW GO TO THE NEXT TAB - LAST DAYS!
Windy Wellington
Caught the shuttle into town and wandered around.
I still haven't seen the famous wind of Wellington.
This guy in the Windjammer has a collection of hats! Funny.
Loved this pop art installation. Old skateboards and graffiti. Awesome.
And I must remember never to complain about the cost of petrol. I could always be worse. I could live in NZ. Two coffee/drinks was $12.50
A trip to the Museum was good. Some great displays.
Including this awesome map. You walked around on it and looked at places you have been.
Or are going tomorrow!!!
But he did make in into the water and did come back up.
How awesome is this. Wanted to play with it for ages.
But the kid was having too much fun.
The back to port. Wellington is a working port - so we are bused through. The main export is....
So.......... - back on board - things have changed. WAR has been declared and I do believe I shall become Collateral Damage.
Suzanne is an early riser (humph). Vivian and Keith (also known an Trevor) and Sue and Dave are not.
Suzanne has not been getting a good enough reaction when she disturbs me....I just read for a while then go back to sleep. So here desire for fun has had to be more wide spread.
And I'm sure that you are aware of such expressions as "Let sleeping dogs lie", "Don't poke the bear", and basically "Piss of Suzanne" etc.
Well Suzanne has not taken heed of any of these warning. She has decided that door bell ringing and door knocking is really funny at about 7am. Vivian and Sue do not agree!!!!!!!
She also bangs and rings at Nanna Nap time as well.
We need to walk past Vivian's room to get to our room. Suzanne goes ahead, bashes on the door and runs off leaving me hobbling along, about level with the door as Vivian pounces out! Hahah.
So.... there are....sniggers behind hands, murmured threats, dagger looks across 'The Corner' of the Concierge Lounge being exchanged. Stay tuned for the next exciting account of what I presume will be Raina's night from hell!
Tuesday 8th October (Day 15)
Picton
Before I describe the wonders of Picton and Malbouough Sound, I must talk about the night.
I retired early - about 11pm. Then had a computer problem and had to go down to customer Services to log off - as the computer was ticking away charging me 75c a minute!!!!!!!
I went to sleep at about midnight.
'IT' started at about half past. A very efficient tag team relay was commenced with either door bell ringing, bashing on the door or phone calls every 20-ish minutes. You really must admire the dedication of the four morning sleep deprived warriors.
And some of the message left on voice mail were very funny.
The best was the message from 'JD' in a very strong Pakistani accent - not at all Panamanian!!!! Sounded a bit more Brisbanish.
They must have tired by around 2am and gone to bed - although I do have a good idea of their bladder habits as a few more calls did come during the night.
Suzanne - who slept through 90% of this thought it was very funny. Chemically enhanced sleep must be wonderful. But what did she do at 6.45 this morning - straight around to their doors to start it again. And so it continues.........
What shall tonight bring???????
Ohhh. So excited to find out.
As I said....Collateral Damage!!!!
Now Picton. A tiny sleepy little village with a population of around 3000 at the top of the south island. It is in the middle of Marlborough Sound....a place I have wanted to see since first hearing the Judy Small song back in the 80's.
"There are places on this planet near untouched by human hands,
Where the soul may be replenished and reclaimed,
.........
Like when your standing in the stillness on the shores of Marlborough Sound and drinking in the silence of the day............".
So here I am - standing on the shores of Marlborough Sound.
The weather is awesome. 12 degrees and misting. You don't come to Sounds for sunshine - you go to Tahiti for that!
I dragged Suzanne off on a walk out to 'Bob's Point' (only fair - she has dragged me around enough shops.)
Saw heaps of wild muscles growing. And don't want to walk across this 'Sand' for a swim.
And through the lovely mariner.
Not shore what happened to Tim's other half. But it's a classy sign now!
The bossiest toilets I have ever been to. You walk and and a big voice booms out that you have 10 minutes maximum.
With the meanest toilet paper dispenser. 2 squares!!!!!
I had the BEST EVER date scones and a 'cupper' for morning tea. Yesterday I found this new Super drink. It was a cup of tea - Lemon, Honey, Ginger tea and was like someone had squeezed a whole lemon, added grated ginger and a huge blob of honey into hot water. Sensational. And I found it again today. Turns out it is based on a bottled item - so I found out what and where and the search began. But I got some! The date scones were also sensational!
Also found a fantastic second hand shop - more like a museum. Spent ages looking around but everything I wanted was big - so it had to stay.
Loved Picton.
Sail away was mid afternoon so we got back onto the ship and had late lunch then prepared for sail-away. By this stage it was raining but that didn't stop me going out onto the front deck to watch the sail through Marlborough Sound. I had a look at 5.30am but the light was not good enough, so afternoon was better.
I went onto the private Sweet Suite deck and found a little awning out of the rain. It was wonderful. I was the only person there and could hear and smell and just feast my eyes.
Then I went and sat in the Diamond Lounge (cause I can) as it has a great forward view. If we got close to dolphins or seals I could run out.
It was then time for a read and a quick sleep before 5pm in the Concierge Lounge.
Yet another fun night was had. We spent some time talking to Blake (the top cruiser on board - who is about to become double Pinnacle Club - maybe 1000 nights at sea). He was from the Deep South of the USA with a great accent and the most un-whiny American ever. Even bitched about "that lady over there who always has something to whine about and treats JD as her personal slave 24/7". So refreshing! (without intending to be mean).
Pretty funny - as she is the lady who coped a bit of splash on her runners the other night when I dropped my drink. Twice since she has told me that she still has drink on her shoe.
Point #1 - It was only Champagne - get over it.
Point #2 - Are runners and tracky dacks really suitable attire for the Concierge Lounge?
Her husband is an ex Harbour Master. "Have we mentioned that to you???" We refer to him as "The Commodore". Hahaha.
We drank lots, laughed even more!
We all waved Good Bye to New Zealand - me Good Bye for a few weeks....
Cause Andy and Sarah, Celia, Cracker s and Tim......it is only 16 SLEEPS TO OUR TRIP!!!!!
The Captain announced that we are heading into rough seas for most of the night. 6 metre swell and huge winds. "Not to worry - the ship is very safe" he said.
Don't mention big seas to Vivian - but I say "bring it on!".
NOW GO TO THE NEXT TAB - LAST DAYS!
No comments:
Post a Comment