My fave place in New Z

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is Kaikoura! Beacause it is on the coast and I have so missed the ocean.. and also it snowed a few nights ago and now the Kaikora ranges have snow caps!

So New Z continues to be beautiful, with lots of tramping/walking/hiking!

Went to Mount Cook and me plus 4 others decided to brave the rain and winds for a 2 hour Hooker Valley walk - was so worth it - things are beautiful not just in blue skies with the sunshine. (I did hear UK is on a heat wave now though!!)

Went to The Tin Shed and bought thernmals.. definitely needed them - my pakcing was for hot countires..!! So I ahve lots of New Zealand wool to keep me warm now!

So from Queesnstown we went to Milford Sound on an onite boat, then Mt Cook, then back up to Christchurch where we said goodbye to Mel and Trang who were only on the 10 day tour, and said hello to Neil who is on the 11 day north tour.. if that makes sense!

From there we went up to Kaikora and now in Nelson where I will brave kyaking tomorrow (that's not how you spell it I know Liz!!).. I have a double thing too so lucky Mike who gets to take me out and look after me :-)

Lots of fun and silliness in the bus, some great people on board, and others whose hats I want to sit on...!! Lots of mischief and a bit of a love bus.. hammockgate.... a couple (not me!)hooking up in a disabled toilet.. umm :-)

Went to a world bar in Queesntown and drank cocktails from a teapot.. bizzare!

Evenings are spent in pub, playing pool, chatting, cooking (I helped with chilli last night... kept adding in lots of hot powder to the hot one but it din't end up so hot..!!), tonight I;m just washing and internet, then food and maybe a few beers. On the way here we went to a winery and had free tastigns, and also 3 shots for 2 bucks.. wich include a cs cowboy (anyone know what that is?) and a ridgid richard.. very tasty.

Glad Kosovo are all home safe!! Was thinking of you a lot, and the whole tour was wishing you well. I talked about it A LOT!

Congrats to RCCB for the best car park ever! Looking forward to helping you out in the summer. Love to mjp and team in SC.

Heard from the street kids project in Argentina and that's all go! I've booked a tour of north Argentina from 5-19 MAy, and start with the kids on 20th May for 3 1/2 weeks so expect me home mid June, say 16th ish ready for handover, some UK sunshine, and then a trip up north...!

Will be a bit of an adjustment to go back to volunteer/charity work after Oz and New Z.. and alos I have to remember to be street wise again! New Z very safe and lots of people about. Very much looking forward to it though.

Sorry just a short blog... but not much time - we're always on the road or somthing to do/see... doesn't mean I don't think about and miss you all. Just some snippets of what we've been up to!! Trek holidays great, everyone mucks in, very easy going, adventure kind of thing so perfect for me and a lot of fun, plus tour leader Sue is fab and I don't have to organise anything for a chnage!

Home in about 8 weeks!!

Lots of love
Mich
xx

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Comments

[anonymous]

keep on having fun - one more week to go for me, off to Columbia in about 30 minutes - see you soon, from the Friday 13th evening blog photos you will see I am really having a hard time mjp

[Emma Hijinx]

Update from Hijinx
Hi Mich, we're all terribly jealous of your adventures ~ Ben (the new Outreach Officer) started this morning, Ceri's settled in to her new job, Sim's bump is getting very big, Jane is now the permanent stage manager, rehearsals started last week ~ lovely team (eloise, Cler and two new boys Rhys and Leighton) and i'm starting to panic as 10 more venues to find to make target! Enjoy yourself, with love from all at Hijinx xxx