Fate has played its card on this one, as alluded to in our previous blog.

So, there we were in New Zealand having a fab time and of course on return to the UK we were once again unsettled and suffering withdrawals from travelling. We would like to consider a move to NZ but that’s a big step with lots of processes to follow not to mention job hunting and all that. So perhaps not on the cards yet. So, we thought we’d have a change of scenery instead.

I had a brief look on the housing market and spotted a pretty looking house fairly close to where we are and opted to arrange a viewing- to consider buying or renting. We had a walk round and liked what we saw.

Now this is the spooky bit. We did not know that this house has a name: Wai Nui. Unbelievably this means big water in Maori!!!

All the last 3 rentals have also all been house names not numbers and don’t be too shocked – we are only renting for now 🙂

With odds like that we had to go for it. We have yet to ask the owner how the name came about.

House warming party to now be planned.

[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]

Tomorrow is the dreaded return to work and the start of a year without holidays, now ok we know we are a very spoilt pair who can usually manage loads of holidays and that it’s far more normal to just have the one break, but you have to factor in that we are just a little nuts too.

Mr Fogg is already depressed and has donned his new t shirt designed especially for him and I’ve donned a woolly hat and refuse to remove it.

Cases are still packed, laundry all yet to do but at least Mr Spike is deliriously happy. Has not stopped purring loudly since we picked him up yesterday. He too is cold having spent a month lounging under his very own heat lamp so last night was a fight for the duvet. The cat won.

Just to excite you all we have counted up and have taken 2500 pictures plus a load more on the video camera and hours of footage. Mr and Mrs Lucky have already foolishly said they would love to see them all. We estimate that will mean spending at least a couple of months staying in Tyddyn to get through them all ( tee hee).

So we are now waiting for Spring with bated breath and looking forward to Christmas Day in March with the Finks. We plan to get all festive!!!

The goal for the next few weeks is to ensure we have stuff planned in for weekends to look forward too. Suggestions on a postcard please…first goal is to rewatch ALL the LOTR films to see the scenery again. We started last night, only another two and a half films to get through- extended versions too so hours and hours and hours.

[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]

We did the Milford Sound Cruise today which was excellent. It started with a 5 hour (yes five hours!) coach trip with Bob (must make up time) which was supposed to include photo stops and little walks but it seems that Bob was late so we got two stops for 2-3 min toilet breaks (run, drop, flush, run) and a number of “and here is a nice view on the left as I drive past” from our driver. Oh and we got a 20 min coffee stop in a gift shop (anyone want a NZ trinket?)

But the highlight was the cruise itself. Wonderful small boat, the greedy people all opted to dash to the top deck leaving about six of us to spread out across the front and rear bottom deck of the boat. We sailed close to each side of the fjord (its not really a Sound but a Fjord but some welsh bloke incorrectly named it a Sound and they never chamged it) and could almost touch sheer cliffs, seals and two different types of penguin. We went directly under a huge waterfall (need a towel there Mr Fogg or just happy to wring yourself out later?) and hoped to spot dolphins or whales but no luck.

Two hours later and then we are dropped at the teeny airport for our teeny two wing flight back with another couple. Fab Fab Fab. Loads of incredible views, just breathtaking.

Having beaten those who opted for the coach trip back (ha ha 5 long hours to go yet!) we are now back in central Queenstown to sample the local delicacies. We saw the local crayfish pots today in Milford Sound so we just had to do it. Horace the Crayfish just did not stand a chance. Dear Horace, welcome to my plate…….

[Posted from Mrs Foggs super cool iphone]