Tom and Rachael - The Wedding, Raglan 28th January 2007

It was the Auckland Anniversary weekend so we headed off to Raglan for Tom and Rach's wedding. After a large stag do on the friday night people were feeling a little worse for wear early doors so departure was set for mid afternoon.

We pitched the tents and headed for the pub in the heart of Raglan. This seemed to be the theme for the weekend. Raglan is a small coastal village on the west coast about 2 hour drive south from Auckland. It comprises mainly of baches and coffee shops and of course the pub. Oh and it happens to be a couple of km's away from what is regarded as one of the best left breaks IN THE WORLD! Basically it has awesome surf. Anyway, we were there for a wedding not a surfing holiday.

The wedding was on the Sunday. After a quick dip in the sea in the morning to clear our heads we got dressed to the nines and headed for the church. It was a relatively quick service, the highlight being Toms eagerness to plant the first wedded kiss. Rachael was in fact prepared to wait until the appropriate moment. With that out of the way it was off for champagne at the beach. After all thats all weddings are about isn't it - the booze. Sorry perhaps i should clarify - thats what other peoples weddings are about. Right?




Then it was off the the reception. This was held at Rachaels folks' house. A 3000 acre farm just outside of Raglan. It was a stunning place. The marquee was set up and the bar was opened up to the 200 odd guests. The food was excellent, and the speeches went without too much embarrassment. Then the party really began, and continued late into the night. Thunder and lightning and a down pour couldn't dampen the spirits.

The next day the primary focus was on rehydration. And after a grey start the weather soon picked up - not a cloud in the sky. And the surf was pumping. We hit the beach. West coast waves are like nothing you have ever experienced. The best way to describe them i guess is that they are thick. There is a lot of water in them. And when they decide to nail you, err, you get nailed. Its all good fun though.


A fab weekend. Just need to buy shares in aftersun now. After a weekend in the NZ sun i seem to be radiating somewhat!!!

Auckland Harbour Bridge...

On Saturday 6th Jan the New Zealand A1GP team were doing a publicity stunt on Auckland Harbour Bridge to promote the NZ round of the A1GP series. Half the bridge had been closed for roadworks, these were now complete, but before it was opened up to the public again the GP car was to have a few blasts over it - just for fun.

All well and good, but it gets better. Being an aquaintance of the project manager of the road works on the bridge has its advantages!!!! Darren and i got up nice and early and toddled off the the harbour area. High vis vest on we were given free reign of the bridge. It was awesome. We climbed the arch and walked the length of the deck. The views were fab - especially from the top. Then we got ourselves in position for the running of the car.

The arrival was some what of an anti climax. I was expecting a huge black truck and trailer with the car being rolled out in a cloud of smoke and lights. Sadly the best the A1GP NZ team could come up with was a hired flat bed trailer from a local garage towed behind a 4x4. Ah well. I guess the budget is some what less than F1.

After a little waiting around the car was fired up. Wow - it was super loud. When i mean super load i mean ear shatteringly super load. Very impressive. Up on top of the arch we had a spectacular view as the car blasted its way along the bridge. It only got to about 160km/hr apparently, but the police radar was having difficulty picking it up as it was so low to the ground. The driver also admitted he wasn't going flat out due to the lack of grip on the bridge and in the cold tyres. Still looked flippin fast though.

Not your normal bridge traffic.

Then came the burnout......

Busted!!!

It was a fab morning. Not something you get to do everyday. Especially walking over the bridge. People pay to walk over it. They get full rope access gear and harnesses and have to clip on to a safety wire. Hahahaha, we were running round on it with nothing more than a high-vis vest. Perfectly safe!!!!

Christmas and New Year

Not much to say really. Christmas was spent at home in Akld. Had a gang of fellow 'orphans' over to celebrate. BBQ bacon and eggs for breakfast accompanied by champagne in the sun. Then a little more champagne, then a BBQ christmas dinner - sausages, steak, chicken, salad, veggies and oodles of booze. Splendid. Then it was silly games in the evening until bed. Great day.

New year was very wet. Headed down to Taupo for a spot of camping. And it rained. But was still a good time. Except i was ill. Ho hum. Then back to Auckland on New Years day to dry out. The weather picked up so we headed north to Leigh for a couple of days. Its only an our north of Auckland but it is stunning. Goat Island is a marine reserve and you can snorkel with fish galore of all colours and shapes and sizes. We played on the beach, in the surf and in the sun. The weather was amazingly hot.