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Published: June 19th 2006
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Well, this weeks days off have been the best for a long time. Lots of things for young Marc to do and lots of happy Claire and Marc times for you to read about. After wangling days off work and getting shifts to fit in with my hectic schedule it was all go for darting on rivers, gardening my socks off and ‘um bongoing‘ queenstown to bits.
Late on Tuesday last at work I was muchly happy to get a phone call from Claire to say that she’d been able to sweet talk a lovely man named Mick from Dart River Safaris to give us a free ride the following day. Proper jet boat stuff, but with less of the death defying antics that some of the companies offer. More of a scenic cruise with lunch, heated seats and heated hand rails too. Well, that was what we thought, but in the event it wasn’t quite like that. Anywho, we were picked up by our extremely enthusiastic driver Stu at midday and taken for a stunning drive out to Gelnorchy where the Dart River Safaris operate from. Claire’s been on this drive lots before but it was my first time
and it really was breathtaking, with huge snowcapped mountains and deep blue lakes aplenty. After around 45 minutes and a commentary that was legendary for its constant use of the word ‘beauty’ from the driver (fair enough though) we arrived into Glenorchy. Population 230, and all of them film stars apparently. As the area is used for so many films (Lord Of The Rings, Narnia, Vertical Limit to name a few) the locals generally end up being extras in the films, which they proudly claim gives them the highest proportion of film stars for an area anywhere in the world. The area is also used for many commercials; a film crew present at least every couple of months all year around we were told. My favorite of these stories from out driver was the shooting of a Jeep advert which called for the Jeep to be perched on the top of a mountain looking heroic and explorer like. The Jeep itself however couldn’t make it up the mountain and had to be helicoptered up, while the support crew for the filming made up of Toyota Landcruisers made it up no problem. After a bombardment of such interesting titbits we were
On The Forest Walk
Very Near By To Where The Lord Of The Rings Ents lived then taken off by new driver Ian on our 4x4 adventure with bonus nature walk (very talked up really, and Frank could have easily taken on the 4x4 route). The nature walk was very pleasant though, and we learned lots of things about New Zealand flora and fauna which were soon forgotten as we started to here jet boats wizzing about nearby. And so to the jet boating. Despite as I mentioned the lack of heated seats or handrails, and the visit of a large rain storm just after we started, it was still a really fun ride with lots of lovely views and a few jet boat spins for good measure. It was also nice to be out doing a proper activity with Claire again and it was just like being back in our traveling days. As an added bonus, we also got to do a few extra fast high speed spinny jet boat twirls at the end as driver Dion was forced mid-way through the cruise proper to slow down when one of the other people on board decided it was a bit too vigorous for him and ejected his earlier eaten lunch over the side. Consequently he
Your Team
In The Very Freezing Cold left early at the end, while the younger, firmer stomached pups ventured back on the river for more bonus high speed adrenaline hits. Lots of fun all in all, and after some tasty soup and salad (not quite the food bonanza we had hoped for) we got back on the bus and were shipped back to Queenstown in time for an evening out watching some live music at a local bar. A lovely chap named Tim Guy - you can read about him on Myspace if you so wish.
Not the last live music that would occur this week either, as finally I managed to wangle some gainful employment in the music sector. Thursday saw an early start for me gardening and transplanting plants all over the hostel, so the afternoon could be free to rehearse with Robin (now new band mate) for two shows that he had arranged for us. One on the Thursday evening at Irish pub ‘Pog Mahones’ (which means something slightly unsavory in Gaelic - I’ll leave you all to look it up if you’re intrigued), and another the following night at another Irish pub. Practice had been scant in all honesty, but we played
And then the rain...
Marc and a scarf wearing claire mainly original material which either myself or Robin had penned, and thus one of us sort of knew how to play it. We were also lucky enough to have a sensational bongo player (hence our name…’Um Bongo’) with us, Leon, who made pretty much anything we played sound exotic and danceable. So onto stage we went Thursday evening and played for two and a half hours, mostly winging it as we went and trying to have a good old time. This we did, and the mixture of our own songs, Irish Trad and some well known covers seemed to go down very well. Free beer and monetary payment for the night followed making a very happy Marc. With the first night over, I was much more excited about the second (minor nerves had occasionally crept in after not playing live for so long on the first), and it turned out to be an even better show. Same songs with a very appreciative crowd (and bar manager more importantly), including a professional belly dancer who jigged away to the bongo beat for us. We were also lucky enough to be supported both nights by a number of groupies headed by an
helooooo...
wizzing on the river ‘Um Bongo’ t-shirt clad Claire (see pics), I’m sure swooning because some of the songs played were about our travels together. Special mention must also be given to Helen, definitely equally as ‘head groupie’ like as Claire.
Good times for Marc then, also now counting down only one more week at liquor king before I take in the Queenstown winter festival and then move onto Wellington.
Marc xx
(Sorry if the blog is a bit disjointed but I’ve had to write in between serving lots of people eager for beer, as the all backs are playing tonight. Terrible really that I know more about what’s going on with the all blacks than dear old England over in Germany. I did watch the first game but was thoroughly disenchanted. I’m sure I’ll get into it for the later stages if we’re still in it - oh of course we will, we’re bound to be playing Germany in the semis - its tradition).
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Joy
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARC
Hope you have a great Birthday on the 23rd. Don't drink too much! Just one little comment on recent photos. Whats with the funny face on most of them! Still love you, even with a funny face. missing you loads, come back soon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARC, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. Lots of love, Mumxxxx (some money will go into your account over here)