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Published: March 22nd 2010
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El asked me if I wanted to do a sky dive today. Clearly her brain has taken leave of absence. I simply replied “Hell to the No” and she knew to leave it at that. We didn’t actually get out of bed until 11.30am (I’m not kidding when I say we’re suffering from Jetlag... yes I know the time difference is only 3 hours, but we’re wrecked, our body clock is completely messed up. Nothing to do with the wine last night I assure you).
Donna took us out for the day in her car for a tour around Auckland. We went passed amazing beach-front apartments and a harbour with some outrageously sized boats. We drove through Parnell, famous for its art galleries, cafés, and charming oldy-worldy shops; then passed Newmarket the main shopping area in Auckland with a mix of top designer boutiques and high street stores. Next stop was Karangahape Road (aka “K Road”) which houses everything from sex shops to strip clubs and is thriving with Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people. Apparently at night it’s guaranteed you’ll meet Drag Queens and Prostitutes as the bars and clubs get going.
We parked the car and walked round Ponsonby which
has lovely shops selling housware, jewellery and gifts. The shops were fab but it made me realise how little interest I have in shopping these days - I have no motivation for shopping anymore! I think it’s safe to say the “Clothes Account” (to which I ploughed 200quid from my wages each month) will now be renamed a “Travelling Account” and I can save for exotic and cultural holidays from now on instead.
It’s hard to believe that nearly every night out I used to have a new outfit, and most Saturdays I’d spend strolling round the Trafford Centre or Manchester City centre in search of new dresses and handbags. My main weakness was shoes. I’d spot a new pair in the window of Office and feel like the heavens had opened casting a deep glittering light on them, while dramatic classical music boomed around me and I would just know: I NEEDED those shoes.
I’ve lived for the last 3 months with 15items in my backpack and it’s going to be so strange returning to a mammoth wardrobe with a colossal amount of clothes. It’s actually quite ridiculous and I’ll have to bag up the majority and pack it
off to charity.
We watched someone doing a bungee jump from the Sky Tower: Ellie watched with excitement, and I peeked through the gaps in my hands. She has more chance of getting me to take of my clothes and dance naked in a library than throw myself off any kind of building or any type of plane.
Had a coffee at a trendy bar in Viaduct Harbour then had a walk round, before returning to the car and driving along St Helliers coastline and up to a Viewing point. Unfortunately the Viewing Point didn’t give us access to view anyone on the Nudist Beach (not that any boys would have been there showing off their gonads on a windy day like this)... but we could see some beautiful Islands - one in particular that was a Golden colour unlike the rest of the Green ones. We couldn’t tell if it was covered in sand or if the rock/grass was making it appear that colour, but it certainly looked remarkable.
Jenny came home from work and we had another lovely night in, just the four of us.
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