Browns Bay, Rangitoto, Rothesay Bay

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Think we had the best New Years Days ever this year, we went to Browns Bay and laid in glorious sunshine. A beautiful day (thank goodness as everyone was blaming us for the downpour of rain on New Years Eve!)......we went back to Marion and Johns for dinner and played a quiz and Jayn was drinking! The quiz was good fun and probably beat Christmas Day as it was loads of people getting together and playing games what Christmas should be! We were on our lonesome last year, but I'm ready to make up for it on 25th Jan when we're having a get together at M+D's. On the way home I got breathalised when coming onto the motorway to go back to Jayns.......oh crap this isnt my car sprung to mind...but just wound down the window and was asked my name and address....as I was saying it the policewoman shoved a dictorphone right at me...little did I know that that is how they brethalise you over here! And once I'd said England that led to more questions....what driving licence do you have? I was trying my hardest not to say 'the pink one!' But said full and she asked to see it and then could drive on......in New Zealand you get an on the spot $200 fine for not producing your driving licence. You have to have it on your person at all times. Lucky we had it! Didn't know that one. And you'll be pleased to know that I didn't have one sip of alcohol, might of had something to do with New Years the night before.....:-)

On the 2nd it was Jayn's Birthday, she is now the same age as dad for a month! Jayn feels old now. Sara & Gary had invited us to come up Rangitoto with them, a volcano (not a dormant one either!) that gives 360c views of Auckland....it was blue sky when I got up at some unearthly hour but by the time we'd left to go it was peeing it down!!! No!!!! But we went anyway and had such a laugh. Sara & Gary took the train up the volcano with Sara's mum Sylvia but we did the 1hr walk up it! And once at the top we were looking into the clouds, no lovely view and ringing wet through. But we did it and I'm sure Jayn will always remember that birthday! That evening we had a barbie round Robs, was very nice and good to see Sam again after 5 years! He has grown loads! 6ft 5! A whole foot taller than me!

On the 3rd we just lazed around and Jayn spent her birthday vouchers in Shantons....who happened to have a half price sale.....I was window shopping but did my personal shopper bit and convinced Jayn to buy a pair of smart shorts for work, grey pinstripe :-) Dan was very well behaved sitting through the trying on session :-) He was the accountant at the end adding up all the items and having to decide what made it through to the till.

Yet again another invite for a barbie and food, have been so spoilt we invites! We went to Rothesay Bay, again on the North Shore. We dumped our food at Gill & Grahams and then chilled on the beach for a couple of hours before going round. It was all in aid of Graham's 52nd Birthday, I knew he was well gone when the Jager came out! A new bottle which was no more in around 20 minutes, all had a birthday shot....not my favourite but it beats Sambuca! Evil! Was another good night with the piss heads, Jayn was the driver.

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Photos

New Years Day
Browns Bay before a BBQ @ Marion & Johns

A view from the beach
...what was instore for us tomorrow, a climb up Rangitoto, little did we know it would be in the rain!