NZ Summer, Australian New Year, Singapore

True to form, I have been very lax in updating this blog. Currently I am on a work trip, in my hotel room in Tarragona, Spain, Wi-Fi'd into their free internet. Just thought I'd give you a little update. Yes it's Saturday night, but it's still a bit cold here for the Catalonians to get too excited. In fact, most places are closed early.

To complete The New Zealand story, I spent a total 2 months downunder enjoying what was to be one of the best summers Christchurch has seen since I can remember. I arrived at end of November and left end of January, so Christmas was smack in the middle.
I stayed with my Dad while in NZ. We managed several trips out in the Jetboat, 4Wheel drive, and motorcycles. I caught up with many old mates from dancing, old-school, to just old... and a few new additions!

See pre-Christmas photos in New Zealand:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81286&l=c2533&id=882525575

If you have me tagged in facebook you will already have seen my photos as I posted them, but for those who are not I will throw in links where appropriate. This site is also pathetic at doing photos, so I'm going to test the linking thing..

Christmas at Dad's place, Christchurch
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81298&l=0c29e&id=882525575

I was fortunate to spend 10 days over New Year with Mum Val, her Husband John, my Brother Matt and Karina in Australia. Matt and Karina have been based in Brisbane for 3 years or so, but Mum and John had moved to Noosa about the time I moved to the UK. They bought into a Management Righs scheme in a Resort Hotel near the Noosa River. It was amazing to see all of you again in your new life surroundings!
Unfortunately the weather was rather wet and windy for almost the duration of my stay, but we made do, and got out when we could.

Photos from Brisbane and Noosa, Australia
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81307&l=86140&id=882525575

Back in New Zealand after the brief Australian excursion I was again working on my tan. I can't say enough about the fantastic weather.. I thing my UK mates were getting rather tetchy with me at the time!
The work side of things went really well, including a visit from my Manager Steve from the UK, and also our US sales manager. Dad and I took Steve for a blast up the Waimakariri river in the jetboat which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Other activities illustrated in the photos below are a motorcycling trip to Akaroa, Ruapuna Speedway, the SounDay concert in Hagley park, work/friends/family group shots.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86786&l=6dff2&id=882525575

On the return trip I managed to meet up with Carmen Doran in Singapore, an engineer and dancing mate from years past. She now works and lives there. Her apartment is high in one of six(?) buildings horse-shoeing around an impressive garden and pools complex. Stay at Hotel Carmen if you can!
We lazed by the pool for a while, grabbed some dinner in town then headed for drinks and dancing. I thought I wouldn't last long with my jetlag kicking in at about 9pm, but Carmen saw the signs and uplifted the group, and led us into Clark Quay. I think it was somewhere around 4am that we made it back to the apartment?

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=90971&l=8b8b6&id=882525575


Well that pretty much ties up the two months away from the UK. I have been back 3 weeks, over the jetlag and finally seeing some improvement in the miserable UK winter. As I said, right now I'm in Tarragona. Tomorrow I will explore Barcelona, then it's work mode from Monday. More on all of that in the next exciting episode!

Cheers