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Published: March 2nd 2008
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Me n Paps
The three of us en route to Paihia, via goat Ilsnd! Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family, in another city.
- George Burns I dont think we could have got more into our two weeks if we had tried. Certainly, if we did, we just wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. So, Auckland for a few nights as I had the start of my filming in Underworld 3. For those of you that are curious about it, you can see whats been published online here:
Underworld 3 I stayed in Auckland for my first two days filming and after much discussion about plans and what not, sent Mum and dad off to see some old friends further south, the Battersbys. The rentals were great to me. Here was I, originally telling them last year that i'd be in Queenstown, and making them change all their itineries for this job. They switched to fly into auckland and then had to change all their plans too, just to suit me. I ended up meeting them in Papamoa (see map) and catching up with a distant family relative, Richard Ninnes. First thing we did was go for a wee stroll round a stunning peninsula. Never seen so many shags
Me n Mum
En route to paihia, via goat island either!
Click4Shags! First night we went out to a great resturant and I had my absolutly most favourite food... Scallops! (and in a jack Daniels sauce too!) Richard was fantastic, he had set out the lower of his house for us and planned a brilliant itinery of things we were all to do while we were with him, it was exhausting! After a huge hearty breakfast, Richard drove us to see some of the areas famous sulphur pits.
BubblingSulphurPools! I saw my first Kiwi bird, they are so much bigger than I had thought! Shame the poor wee guy was stuck in a dark glass cage though. We went to a cultural performance show at Rotorua that night (which Richard volenteered me to step forward for as a chief, thanks Richard, no no, really...) which was actually fantastic, really quite moving. As chief of the clan I had to, somewhat initially embarrasingly, stand up and chant loudly at evryone on the bus! But I got into the swing of it and started to enjoy being at the head of the tribe. Basically I got special treatment and the best experiance of eveyone there by having this
Sailing
On board the R Tucker Thompson role, front seats in the show, first to eat, general applause by everyone, participated in another Haka and was given a token tourist pendant too. On the bus on the way back i had to get everyone ion turn to say something about themselvs and sing a song. National anthem number 3... The bus driver guy was great, full of beans, really cheeky and very funny. On the way back into Rotorua, he and his othe colleagues, blocked up the round a bout by all three busses staying on, honking their horns and doing about 7/8 laps. this was much to our hilarity and every car drivers annoyance! I had decided this night to not use my camera. for this one occasion, I chose to experiance it wholly and not spend time trying to store it digitally.
The following day, and after another hearty braekfast, we took a slightly more chilled approach. If memory serves, and usually it doesn't, we just relaxed at the beach after a wee trip to see some local surf. Now, having given the old man serious credit for the Pirece Brosnon look when he got off the plane, he managed to show me
wall carvings 1
Marae house wall sculptures at the treaty of Waitangi that old habits die hard (or dont even die) as we walked together accross the road from riochards house to the beach. Sandles, hat, towel and wait for it... rainbow speedos! Awesome, one of the many reasons I love you dad, your total lack of care for what others think of appearance. Unfortunatly, I seemed to be suffering from an allergy to the water, or something in it, and came out in hives again.
I had to make poor Mum and dad head back to Auckland the next day for more filming that week. They took themselvs off to do the odd thing around the city and seemed to have really enjoyed their time. I made sure though that our last day of the fortnight I didn't go filming and the three of us went off to Waiheke island and went wine tasting. It just wouldn't have been right to have put them through all the hassels of rechanges of itinery (especially when Mum and Dad are Uber efficaint, you know, emailed several itineries of where they are going, when, all possible contact details and emergency numbers, updated weekly and thats just for when they decide to go
wall carvings 2
wall display in the marae at Waitangi out walking the dog!) and not be with then on our last day. So I told UW3 that they'd have to reschedule my shoot and speak to my agent if they had any problems...ahem...
Hot, glorious day. A small ferry ride away the hubub that is down town Auckland and we were in the most beautiful tranquil island paradise. It used to be the alternate and Hippie region on NZ and people still reffer constantly as to how liberal the place used to be. Now it is where anyone who has money and common sense lives that works in Auckland. The smallest commute from work to home, from busy, hectic, office life to calm, relaxed, homely beauty. The wines weren't great if i'm honest but they day out itself was magic. My elders may dissagree as I was contantly hounding them about drinking more water and putting on extra sun cream! Haha, tables turned!
DadsSunnyReflections WhyLiveHere?! The next day they were due to fly back home (Via Singapore to see cousin Keith and my old buddy Angus). It was a wee change for me to be waving them off at the airport this time! All in
wall carvings 3
wall carvings at the marae at Waitangi all it was a fantastic time, well spent despite my constant move of the goal posts, that made all our 2007 spearated festivities, all ok. It just wasn't long enough as the chances are that it'll be July 2009 earliest before i'm back in the UK, for John's wedding. Ok, so we all know that eveything changes, yada yada yada, but at this point in time, thats what I envisage. So, Mum and Dad gone and me setting my sights on getting a camper Van to spend the rest of my time in NZ living in, Viva la voyage!
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