We're employed....& that's not a good thing!

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Afternoon one & all,

Yes it's that time of the month again, not the type in which us male's get chastised for no reason or can't win in any situation, no, the type in which you pretend that you enjoy our tales of travel, scrapes, drinking & adventure. So sit back relax, and I try and make this as interesting as possible......

Since the last entry we had a week in the Kingdom of Tonga where we tried our best to explore the big island and conquer the little one's. Once again we hired a car but unlike the last 2 countries the roads and landscape alike were less welcoming and far more testing. We drove the west coast on the saturday in order to take in some views and hopefully make the most of some beaches as we now won't see any till Oz (although the plan is we'll be living next to one then wahoo). Sod's law however meant that our map was more or less useless (especially in my co-pilots hands!) so we were limited to being chased by a giant paper wasp, seeing a giant flying fox (local's name for meter wide bats!) and ruining the hog's chasis on the unforgiving road surface. However, on the following day we chose the correct day to head out to one of the isalnds (Atata or Royal Sunset) which once again was breathtaking. The lonely planet described the snorkelling as the best in the pacific and they weren't lying. Spent hours floating over crystal waters, minefields of giant clams and abundancies of beautifully coloured fish and coral. All this was toped off by local lunch and a spot of sunbathing.

On monday were continued with the road trip which once again seemed a bad idea. We ventured east & south, stumbling on Cooks Landing place, the QE2 on her final voyage, royal Palace's and deep dirty potholes in which the car inevitabley got stuck in. Had to inlist the help of some laughing local's, Beck's became driver and Carl became the prat who got sprayed in copious amounts of wet mud!. We were on our way to lunch but that got invariably cancelled. So once again we followed it up with an island trip to Fafa island which again was stunning although snorkelling was a little limited (I'm fast becoming an island snob).

Our Tongan trip was finished off with us attending a traditional fia fia island night. As you've probably guessed, again it didn't quite go to plan as Beck & My non-dancing self were forced to strut our booties to some banging island beats whilst being laughed at by the locals. Fun.

Since then we arrived in Queenstown (our new temporary home) just under a fortnight ago only to be whisked off in Elsworths work Ute and forced to drink alcholic beverages within an hour of touching down on New Zealand Turf. Since then we've been stopping at Matt's house with his lovely girlfriend Alys (if not a little unfortunate for being Matt's Missus). It's hard in the morning when awakening at his humble abode, as you stroll into the lounge, eye's glued together from the previous night's sleep your faced with what looks like the countries largest window. Through that you are overwhelmed with the only thing that is possible to view though the large pane, the "remarkables mountains", quite aptly named and what a pissing view it is!

Unfortunaltey, despite the breathtaking mountainous landscape, the mirror like Wakatipu Lake and crisp clean lung expanding air, life is all to real here in Queenstown. We've had to start employment, a fact that was a very terrifying but distant prospect just a few months previously. I had a job within 18 hours of arrival and Beck started work at a very posh clothing Boutique only yesterday. Unfortunatley, contrary to many people's believe's, it's actually Beck that has been hardest hit by having to rise from her slumber and forced to work. Although only employed for a day the moaning has been incescent but is only margainly less than mine (but give it time). I have a 'barber's job, although hairdressing in it's simplest from I feel it's the most artistic my hands are able to perform at this present time as this is merely a stop gap job until our visa's are processed for Oz.

Many a session has already been had in Queenstown, unfortunatley it is predominantley a 'backpacking' town so the night life is 7 nights a week. I have already witnessed Mr Holder get into one of his legendry incoherant states, dribbling on a shop frontage only to be taken home by the loving Susan before the 'hardcore' moved onto the next drinking hole. Went to Arrowtown, an old mining town on Sunday but unfortunaltey the weather has taken a turn for the worse after our first couple of days. It only allowed time to obtain some of the "must have" New Zealand pies, venture into some cheesy tourist shops before hangovers reared they're ugly heads and forced our early returns.

We're off out on Friday night to Celebrate Matts girlfriends 21st b'day before they head back to the UK. We're moving out from their's next week (minus 'the' view) into our new little love nest. Found a 1 bedroom flat located underneath an old couple's / landlords house so may well be evicted within the month for loud late night drunken mumblings & laughter. To be fair though, think the old lady is pretty much deaf so should be ok, might not even be able to hear Beck telling me off!

Anyway, not much other than that as touristy things will be undertaken once we have saved up sufficient funding and this will include details of the planned surprise 1st wedding anniversary night (watch this space)

Unitil then, as always, love you all, take care and keep smiling

All our love

Spoona & Becks

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Comments

[Kev]

Jobs
Glad you managed to find work so quickly. Sion is having little luck. Perhaps you can tell him how. Only joking, Sion! See you in Oz.

[Siony]

Bloody whinging Kiwi's
Hey Guys, Sounds like your having an awesome time still, albiet in New Zealand. And yes, Dad's not wrong, I've been back a month now, and still no job. I can't really complain though, I am on the dole, pays for the piss at least. Missing the travel adventures already, you guys are making me jealous, although, being covered in mud ain't exactly my idea of luxury. Cya soon Spoona's.