Christchurch - Day 2

Up bright and early this morning and headed for Cathedral Square where I started the day with a rather delicious breakfast at the Cathedral coffee shop. (french toast with banana, crispy bacon, & maple syrup.)

There was a craft market in the square so I checked it out before heading for the Arts Precinct and the market there.

And wow, what a market. I think my credit card almost melted.

I did a fair bit of Christmas shopping at the woodcraft gallery - a wooden scarf knitter (sort of like a knitting nancy but a rack rather than a tube); a cotton wheel racer & a pompom maker for young cousins overseas; jewelry boxes for myself & my sister, etc etc etc.

And there is of course the fudge cottage...

There was a range of international food stands to choose from for lunch.

There were some beautiful woollen craft stands but on a gloriously warm day buying woollen goods seemed impossible.

After a late lunch it was across the road to the Canterbury museum to see "The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton & Antarctic Photography." It was a great exhibition and well worth seeing.

The Robert McDougall gallery (where the exhibition is on) is in the Botanic Gardens so a perfect place for a spot of afternoon tea and a rest in the sun before continuing on with my touristing.

After rogan josh at an Indian restaurant near the hotel it was off to Hagley Park for the Christmas concert in the park.

The concert was great - there were thousands of people there, it was a beautiful night to be sitting in a park listening to music.

Christchurch - Day 1

The flight was uneventful - I was flying Virgin Pacific - & it pretty much left on time and landed on time.

I had just taken my suitcase off the xray machine when the airport went silent as the whole building observed a minute's silence for the Pike River Miners.

Caught a shuttle to my hotel (Holiday Inn City Centre) dumped my bags and headed out to gegt my bearings and do a bit of a reconnoitre of the city.

Grabbed a souvlaki for tea from the souvlaki stand in Cathedral Square.

New Zealand - the game day version

So the great birthday escape began before dawn as I waited on Mont Albert station for the 5.07 am train.

It's the first train of the morning, & this is the third time I've caught it, yet it has never been on time. Go figure.

This, of course, meant that I was at the airport ridiculously early but gave me plenty of time to a) earn 2 dollars helping an american lady find where to check in (she was queueing to check in international but her flight was actually domestic.

It also gave me time to bump into a couple of people I used to work with - Michael B & Patti M.

Eventually however i checked in & headed through passport control to the duty free that lay beyond.

There is work going on so it was a quite a trek between the 2 duty free shops but i managed to purchase some food for the journey so i was happy.

Then it was on to the plane & off to Christchurch.

Thank G for holidays

Well I had the day from hell at work today. So crappy that working at Macca's seems preferable.

Now I need to get the hurt & upsetness out of my system cos tomorrow I'm going to New Zealand for 12 days.

Holidays - yeeeeeesssssss.

I cannot wait.

Still need to pack & find my passport (minor details) but I'm almost there.

New Zealand here I come.

Day 3 - fave food

Hmmm.

Savoury - crispy bacon (definitely #1)

Sweet - chocolate.

Other favourites in the food department.

Vegetable - potato

Fruit - banana

Meat - no favourite

Takeaway - pizza

Indian dish - rogan josh

Chinese dish - dumplings or peking duck pancakes

Pasta - gnocchi

Pizza - aussie, or margherita

Dessert - chocolate mousse, lemon meringue pie

Icecream - chocolate or vanilla (or a magnum gold)

Lolly - pineapple lumps

Soft drink - pepsi max

Hot drink - white hot chocolate, flat white (coffee), apple & cinnamon (herbal tea)

Day 2. Fave animal.

My fave animal - thats a tough one.

We had dogs as pets when I was growing up.

Our first dog was called peanuts.( labrador)

Then came Andrew (also a golden lab)

Then last up was Murray (known to all & sundry as Murray Dog Malcolm after the little girl next door nicknamed him that)

My niece has a dog called maggie, my two youngest nephews have 2 cats called Soda Pop & Chilli.

Yet outside of pets I think my favourite animal is the giraffe, or penguin. If I'm at the zoo it's the giraffe, if I'm at the aquarium it's the penguin.

30 day drawing challenge -Day 1

The part of me that can't draw to save her life is taking part in the 30 day drawing challenge.

As my drawings won't be recognisable I'm going to blog the challenge as well.

Therefore Day 1. Me.

I'm a librarian.

I'm 5ft 3 (don't know what that is in metres)

I have dark hair & greeny hazel eyes.

I love musical theatre, chocolate & reading

I've got 1 sister & 3 brothers.

I've got 3 nephews & 1 niece.

I think that's all for today.