Mangapapa Petit Hotel Hastings

... it... the wines were very good ...in all 5 wineries.... it took us all day....and I have a bit of a headache today ........<br><br>We are currently in Kaikora on the east coast very wild and scenic we have seen baby seals playing in a waterfall we just happened upon and then on to the seal reserve in the town. On the way back we stopped at a sheep sheering show...really funny...see attatched picture ...

... Uncle Bruce - it got very hot and steamy at Hastings Golf Club but we got round in goodtime - a win for me against the boys and we had lunch before retiring for a sleep. The party last night was tremendous. Tables all laid up ready under the awning and Jim in his kilt lent an appropriate formality to the occasion and there was much taking of photos and celebrating of the four '0' birthdays ...

... soccer coach. They have actually bought a house together, thus allowing her to establish residency. It was quite interesting talking to them the next morning over a yummy breakfast, and finding out that it is actually easier to become a resident here than we had previously thought. Of course, she said the easiest way was to do it through your partner. Well... doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon for me! After breakfast, Jes gave us a ride into ...

... which is funny considering I almost crashed into a shuttle bus in Hawaii while driving a vespa! But it wasn't really that bad just different and I dont expect it to take long for the two of us to get accustomed to the roads here. At the house where we are housesitting, we are not alone! We have a roommate named Vicki who is a 25 year old Chinese woman who has been in Napier for 7 years. She was going to school here and she now works at a local sushi shop ...

Well we have 4 days to go and there has been a lot of packing today. We are busy researching Motorhomes to buy in Vancouver and studying the travel guides to decide where we will travel first - is it skiiing or head south for warmer weather?? We have booked a Hotel and Rental car for the first week, which should allow us time to buy our home and wheels for the big trip.

Welcome back to groundhog day, after an 18 days break, I find myself back at Kilmanagh Orc******* the outskirts of Hastings ready for another stint of apple picking. Forced back here due to a severe lack of money and a looming WOF (warranty of fitness) - new Zealand equivalent to an MOT for my vehicle prevented me leaving the Hawkes Bay region. However this time I lasted for a whole months and despite it not being a enjoyable as my initial stint it ...

25/02/2008 Wie sind noch immer auf der Apfelfarm und wir haben Gott sei Dank einen anderen Job bekommen!! Die Behaelter (bin) mit den Aepfeln werden nach Frankreich verschifft und wir machen sie bereit fuer die Reise... So ein "bin" hat uebrigends 350 kg!! Bis man den vollgepflueckt hat......... Wir sind soooooo froh, dass wir einen anderen Job bekommen haben! Wir arbeiten zwar laenger als die anderen ...

... guys walked in and were apparantly with a bachelor party. (They have a different term for it here, which I have forgotten...) One of them, who was already three sheets to the wind, obviously had not showered and gotten ready to "go out", and looked like he had just gotten off work... decided to sit next to us and admire our dinner...and then help himself to a slice.. two slices of pizza! I couldn't believe this guy. We were trying to cut the steak with a not-so-sharp ...

... 28 year old trainer. Ouch. Then again I was yelling at Jaime for not eating his breakfast and for not drinking enough water and for not getting out and getting exercise. Maybe I'm a nag. We left yesterday morning. 40 minutes into the trip I remembered I forgot some stuff. We had to turn back. It turns out Camiel forgot his towels. Too bad he didn't remember until 3 hours down the road, after we had already gone back. We are staying in a prison. It's a ...

... 20 par semaine soit 10 euros). Au final nous avons travaillé deux semaines complète soit 12 jours et on a décidé que c'était assez! Au final c'était pas si mal, l'ambiance était excellente, nous avons fait plein de barbeque et découvert une spécialité d'Australie ''le crapaud dans le trou'' (un oeuf au milieu d'un toast que l'on grille au barbeque!), fait des batailles de pommes, pecher des anguilles (non electrique), etc... En revanche, on ne pense pas retenter l'expérience.