Cupcake Parlour - yumm :o)

As you know I like to look in the touristy guides for places to go, cafe to sample and things to do. I was reading the Indugle Guide and came across a place called the Cupcake Parlour. It's this cute little place that you would end up driving past if you didn't know was there (on Sailsbury St). Rach and I were out and about today and I said how about popping into this place. She was egar even though she had been before. We managed to find a car park space and went it. It is really cute place and serves the cupcakes and your tea in the type of set that your Grandmother would've had. They had a small selection of sweet things to choose from, they mainly do the cupcakes to order. There was a mother and daughter next to us, looking at the choice for wedding cakes. Thought that was a nice idea to have individual ones rather than a large cake. We both had a cupcake and I had a cuppa tea - would have been rude not too.
Rach was about to tuck into her cupcake and I was,"no, no, hang on Rach, I've gotta take a photo first" - photo will be added later. I think she thinks I am sightly weird as I often take photo's of random things!!!
Think I might have to revisit and sample some of there other sweet treats.

My Brothers Moved

My brother would like me point out that he's moved to Wickford not Basildon as previously stated.
Hope the move went well and looking forward to seeing you and K really soon
:o) x

Mamma Mia - the movie

Met up with Mel, as we are not housesitting at the mo and she is living with her sister. We had a hot chocolate and a catch up natter before we headed to the cinema to see Mamma Mia. I have seen the stage show in London and loved it. For those who don't know - I LOVE Abba. I think I was weaned on it.
I sang throughout the whole movie and had a good giggle at it. It wasn't the best movie in the world - no Moulan Rouge (can't spell it) or Chicago. But I liked it.
Something that made me sad though, was that I should have been at the cinema with Lindsay watching this and it made me really miss the friend who's known me since I was 9 months old. The story of the day before we went back to school pops in my mind ....... :o)

Fat Eddies Comedy Night

Fat Eddies is a bar in Christchurch in the main drinking area called SOL square. SOL actually stands for South of Lichfield (street), very New York. I've been to this bar before and really like it. It's tucked in the corner of SOL square and you walk up stairs to get to it. I'd seen advertised a while ago that there was a comedy night on there on a Tuesday. I'd asked Zoe about it and we'd agreed to go, and finally got round to it this week.
Zoe picked up her new car on Tuesday and therefore wanted to chauffer us, which I wasn't complaining about. Her new car, please remember that the average age of a car over here is 12 years, she has a 1990 Toyota (Toy-motor) estate car. Zoe picked me up and then we went and picked Cass up, an Irish girl who is temping at Zoe's work. I've met Cass once before and she is dead easy to get along with, so no probs on the conversation front.
We arrived at Fat Eddies about an hour before the comedy show and I was suprised at how few people where there, mind you the majority of the bars where closed in SOL square. Now I am from Newcastle and this doesn't happen in my neck of the woods. Was also slightly odd that there was 4 other groups of people in the bar dotted around, but all where woman.
Any way, we found a table and had a good discussion about life the universe and everything (didn't come up with the answer 42 thou!!).
The comedy night was us and about 25 others supporting 3 guys on a stage. It took a wee bit of a while to get going and wasn't helped by one side of the audience not helping the guys out. Then they came over and asked me a question !! I think I helped out when suggested that they do something in the style of an action movie and it had to involve a mode of transport - so what did I say - unicycle!!! Just popped out of my mouth. They guys did well and had me, Zoe and Cass laughing.
The second half was one long skit. It was in the style of Shakespeare and the bit that still has me laughing is when one of the guy was playing a woman and was about to go into "the pool of skin-er-rey-dip-er-rey" - one of those you had to be there. The night gave my stomach a good work out with all the laughter. Would recommend it. Don't think people in Christchurch go out much during the week !!!

Am Still Going To Exercise Classes

With a little less enthusiasm, I am still going to the exercise classes. Am only averageing about 2 a weeks but better that than nothing, eh? As I don't get the bus anymore due to Rach living not on a direct bus route and it only taking 10 minutes in the car to get to work, I am not doing my walking to and from the bus stop, so Tash and I have been walking during our 30 min lunch breaks. There is a house development - well more like a new small town development opposite work, so we wander round the streets there (that sounds dodgy!). Some of the houses are amazing, but some of them are quite small with absolutly no outside space. We've found a few 30 mins routes. One is past a pond/lake which is surrounded by Pukeko's, Geese and Duck. I'll take my camera one lunch time and take some snaps to add to this blog. Is nice to get out on the lunch break rather than be indoors all day. Plus the good thing about NZ is, that even though it is mid-winter the days are generally clear skys and bright sunshine.

Only 3 Weeks Until I am in Newcastle

Where does the time go?
It's only 3 weeks and I'll be back in the UK for a holiday. I'll be back for just over 2 weeks and it looks like I'm all booked up already!! I arrive back on 7th August, just in time for Mam's birthday on the 8th August. We're off out to dinner at Alnwick Gardens, to the Tree House resturant, which I am very much looking forward too. Then a family day for people to drop in and catch up on the Sunday. Am looking forward to boring everyone with all my photo's (if I can sort laptop out first that is). During the first week, Mam and I are off to Basildon to see my brother and Kristina, and their new family house. Bump will be joining S&K in January to live in the house too.
Then on the weekend, it's a big night out with all my friends at our normal venue of Mr Lynch's. Can't wait to catch up with everyone. Have already booked myself in Linzi's spare room as she is only a 2 min stagging distance of the place!
Am very much looking forward to my second week too. I'm off up to Edinburgh to see Stella. She's taken the day off work to spend with me and am sure we'll wander around town as the festival is on (look out for photo's). Wouldn't be surprised if we went and saw something too. Can't wait to see the rest of her "88(oops orry 89, only made so by BA) days around the world" photo's. 4,000 in total wasn't it???
Am very much looking forward to seeing people and giving everyone massive hugs.
See you all very soon :o))

Sunday + Dog + Bright Sunshine = Walk on Beach

Jazz, the dog is a 6 month old puppy, with too much energy. She is a brown lab/bulmastiff cross, and is cute - at times!! The weather was lovely on Sunday. The sky didn't have a cloud in it and the sun was shining brightly, was still cold in the shade though. Rach was a bit restless, and after a bit of "what shall we do", "shall we ...", we settled on a walk on the beach with the dog.
We went to New Brighton beach, my choice as I hadn't been there. We where out in the fresh air and it was great. Made me realise how much I missed Long Sands in Tynemouth and the cafe there. I've taken lots of photo's of the dog which I'll put on once the laptop is sorted.
Jazz is scared of the water and they are trying to get her used to it, so Stu was in the water, with the dog on the lead. She was ok, after the first initial shock - mind you think the water is as cold as the North Sea and I wasn't in a hurry to take my shoes and socks off!!!

Moved - again

The house sitting finished at the first place I lived so was time to move on. Thanks to mel we have quite a bit more house sitting lined up, but we had a week between the first and next house sitting. Mel went to her sisters for the week and I moved in with Rach and hubby Stu. Rach is an ace kiwi friend I have made from work. I settled in really well and enjoyed the company of the cat Joe and dog Jazz.
I moved out after an ace week and did a 3 week house sit, the house was an older style 2 storey brick house. It was a very cold house. The main sort of heating was via pellet fire. I was a wee bit glad when that house sit was over as we also had problems with the washing machine braking a few times, then leaking water all over the floor - which was nice to be greated with first time on the morning. But again, we didn't pay any rent just replaced the pellets which we'd used on the fire.
We have a gap again !!! I looked into alsorts of different options and thankfully and luckly, Rach said that I was welcolm back at hers. I'm spending the 3 weeks before I go back to the UK here. Actually the day before I fly out to the UK, we start the next house sit, so will be moving again !!!
Que - Littlest Hobo music (again).

Laptop is Kaput

Laptop died last week and has been fixed but all my stuff (photo's and itunes) is still there, I can see it, I just can't access it (bummer), as I need all my installation disks which are in the UK. It'll have to wait until I'm in the UK in August.
So I'll keep writing my blog, but it'll be rather boring looking and photo-less for a while and then all of a sudden it'll spring into life.
Am forewarning/asking Dad and Si to give me a hand with this, pretty please. I'll bring you gifts from NZ!!! :o)

Exercise Class no 2, on a Sunday too !!

I had arranged to meet Zoe and go to a 'Stretch & Release' class, so no getting out of this one. I was still sore from my Pump class. It's a yoga/pilates class, but you kind of use a wee plastic ball called a Chi ball. Is a rather odd but a good class, I had much difficulty with the lunges after yesterdays class, but the blancing on one legs with arms out stretched was brill. Zoe was a bit wobbly with those ones. We did the relaxation bit at the end where you lie on the floor and are meant to concentrate on your breathing, but I was thinking 'did I leave the heater on in the laundry' as I woke up this morning to the contents of the washing machine (water) all over the laundry and hall floor. So, not as totally relaxed as I could've been, least I didn't fall asleep - which I have done in the past !!!
We counter acted our goodness, by then going out for brunch. The place was somewhere out of the Entertainment book (discount voucher) and is rather random, is a cafe in a garden centre right on Riccarton road (a suburb of Chch). We both had jacket potatos instead of my normal Sunday brunch - pancake, bacon and maple syrup. But I did round it all off with a caramel slice -yummy :o)

Exercise Classes

I decided that I really need to get out and do something to get me fit again. It's really hard to motivate myself, with it being winter here and once home I just want to stay in front of the fire. Now that my car is fixed I seriously have no excuses anymore.
I got up this morning (Saturday) and decided that I would go to the local council run sports centre and do a class. So, Pump class - here I come.
Oh my god, it was not a "jump all over the place" type class, you used a bar and weights - with lots of lunges. The muscels in my arms are still shaking now. Some parts I could do, some I couldn't either because I am too weak or they'd make my clicky-hip (technical term used by my chriopractor) click which is rather uncomfortable. But I shall go again next week and see if I can do any better - might use lighter weights though !!!
Meeting Zoe tomorrow and we are doing another class called "Stretch and Release", yoga/pilates type class. Am hoping it'll help sooth my sore muscle. If I just keep telling myself that - I might even believe it !!!

Let Me Introduce You To A PUKEKO

Now I think these are really cute. A Pukeko is a native New Zealand bird and are as much as symbol of the places are the kiwi, silver fern and sheep are. Pukeko's are actually native swamp hens. There is a field I pass every day on the bus and see at least of dozen of these birds burring for their dinner. It brings a smile to my face. They really do have a red bill and legs, and a blue body. They have massive feet as well. So I thought that I would share this with you :o)

The Car - Is Fixed

YEAH !!!! Finally.
I decided to bite the bullet and put my car in the garage to get the heater fixed, so that it would stop a) leaking into the passenger footwell and b) overheating as there was no water in the radiator !!!
So, am $600 lighter in the pocket but the ikle 1991 Toyota Starlet is hot, hot, hot and keeps my feet toasty warm.
Just had to share my pure excitment with you all :o))