C-town part deux

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Carterton - part deux

We got our woofing pants on and got stuck into some farm work, even after the pine cone incident. There was post and batton fencing to be done, chopping up logs, leaves to be raked, drains to be unclogged and the veg patch needed to be dug and weeded. Any jobs that I had to which was basically just the veg patch I did with so much enthusiasm I practically dug a hole to Ireland. See, didn't jean and mick learn from the pine cones I have a problem with listening?, had to fill back in the hole that I dug. Oops. Then while we were digging up some rohededendrums we accidentally dug up one of jeans favourite plants, a protea. Worst woofers ever, I'll just go watch despicable me with the kids. Leave it to the professionals. John did however make the best bonfire though, to the sky Mick to the sky!! And when we weren't trying not to destroy the farm and watching toy story we tried to get out to Carterton as much as we could. Enjoyed lunch at the buckhorn, a slice of gateux in the local French bistro and a not so spicy chicken madras in the local Indian. It had everything. And when we had a few drinks in the lounge one Friday night it even had an all singing all dancing entertainment in the shape of the mayor of carterton. Getting up and doing a bit of karaoke, belting out some elvis before dancing the socks off the local ladies. Where would you get it?

Carterton also has one of the best playgrounds too. Complete with tons if dangerous attractions to be worried sick about especially when they're not your kids. I remember we used to have a cool playground across the road from our house when we were kids with the best swings and massive roundabout. Then one day everything was gone, health and safety kicked in. But I still managed to constantly have scraped knees. Kids are always gonna fall so why nor when they're having fun and laughing. Anyway not today and not on our watch. We had brought poppy here before and knew that she just loved the swings and was happy pretending to kick John. But daisy had no fear of anything and wanted to do it all, particularly the hamster wheel. I has bruises on my knees the next day from going so fast and falling over after about 5 minutes of it. So much fun we stayed there for about an hour and a half everyone starving and as Jean and Mick were in Wellington we were off to McDonald's in a heartbeat. Got slightly worried when we asked the girls if they had ever been and they both looked away, looked out the car window and said "we promise not to run around", just as we pulled up to McDonald's. We knew we were all in for a treat. Good as gold and no one lost an eye, knackered after all of that. So it was straight home dinner, pinnochio and WE were ready for bed. There was do much more that we got up to like the greenpeace party extraordinaire, the time Mick and John went to the boozer and picked up a load of women (yeah, sure), the downtown abbey fest, helicopter madness, the talking cat and dog, making the handles bigger for the Eco bags, calling snowy the lil White dog and b&b the list goes on and on. Such a memorable time and we loved every second. As we booked our camper van, our new home for the next two weeks, we started to get a lil misty eyed at the thought of leaving. Settled in way too much and thanks to Mick and jean's amazing hospitality and awesomeness we just didn't want to say goodbye. But in another way we were looking forward to the next part of the trip. Two more weeks on the north island and then chile sure why wouldn't we. 

Had our last meal, an Indian oh how they know us so well. Said goodbye to Mick as he was in work the next day. That was it we knew we'd be a blubbering mess until we got in the camper van. Next morning we got our last wake up call from the girls. Gave them some presents to distract them from the big goodbye. Not a bother in them. Waved daisy off to pre-school as we packed up our stuff and all our food for the camper. Jean made some bread, Ginger cake and mars bar slices that prob didn't see day two in the van they were that good. Headed off for lower hutt to collect the camper with poppy chatting and singing all the way. We got upgraded from a backpacker van to a britz one which was worth the half an hour wait while they try to scare you into getting insurance. No chance of that. Poppy loved the camper and straight away started to clean it for us, aww can they please come with us. So more emotional goodbyes, hugs and kisses all round. We'll miss you guys so much. It is definitely one of the best things we've done, one of the best places we've stayed and with the best company we could ask for. 

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