But at least this 3 month hiatus has provided me with plenty to write about!!
Sydney
So I last wrote about the fact that I was heading off to see Ruth prior tp her wedding. Well ACTUALLY (she wanted me to keep it a secret for a while), I went over there to be a part of her Australian wedding to Shane. It was a last minute screw-up by her wedding planner... you see her wedding in Sardinia (to take place the following month) would only be legal if they were officially married before the ceremony (unless they wanted to do a huge bureaucratic run-around in Italy before the wedding which they just didn't have time for). Which is where this 'shotgun' wedding came in. Being just over the pond and all, I was thrilled for this mess up, as I'd been quite upset about the fact that I couldn't make it to the Sardinia wedding.
They were getting married outside in Sydney, and Ruth was faced with the prospect of walking down the rickety stone staircase 'aisle' by herself as her dad couldn't make it over. She definitely needed a helping hand down the steps, so I was honoured to accept when she asked me to 'give her away'.
Sydney
So I last wrote about the fact that I was heading off to see Ruth prior tp her wedding. Well ACTUALLY (she wanted me to keep it a secret for a while), I went over there to be a part of her Australian wedding to Shane. It was a last minute screw-up by her wedding planner... you see her wedding in Sardinia (to take place the following month) would only be legal if they were officially married before the ceremony (unless they wanted to do a huge bureaucratic run-around in Italy before the wedding which they just didn't have time for). Which is where this 'shotgun' wedding came in. Being just over the pond and all, I was thrilled for this mess up, as I'd been quite upset about the fact that I couldn't make it to the Sardinia wedding.
They were getting married outside in Sydney, and Ruth was faced with the prospect of walking down the rickety stone staircase 'aisle' by herself as her dad couldn't make it over. She definitely needed a helping hand down the steps, so I was honoured to accept when she asked me to 'give her away'.
Ruth, me and her dog, Barney
Ruth decided not to wear a white dress for this wedding, as in her eyes it wasn't the 'real' one. It was the real one in my eyes though, so I was really happy that I could be there. I think it meant quite a lot to Ruth that I was there too, as we were such close friends growing up, and it gave the ceremony a bit of meaning having someone there who knew here pre-Sydney. Ruth's mum, Eileen, told her that she felt that I was 'representing the family', which I thought was a lovely thing for her to say :)
On the big day, just as we were about to walk down the aisle, the heavens opened, and the rain poured down. It had held off all day until this point, so it really was sod's law!
I know it's blurry, but this is us at the bottom of the 'aisle' - someone had just run over and handed me an umbrella!!
Urrrrrmmmm... AWKWARD!
And then they were married!
The girls...
The setting :)
Ruth and her mother-in-law / Me and Ruth
Me and Ruthy!
Over the next few days, I had a chance to walk around Sydney... I took a free tour around in the Botanical gardens, mosied around the old 'Rocks' part of the city and mingled with the tourists around the opera house / bridge. I even made it over to Manly on the ferry.
Sydney really was a lovely place, but I couldn't help missing Wanaka. I missed walking down the street and seeing at least 1 person that I knew. I missed the small-town feel, its beauty and the friends that I've made there. I even missed working at the Creek! But I guess what I missed most of all was the great energy that radiates throughout Wanaka - whether it comes from the place or the people, I'm not sure. But one thing I am sure of is that I'm so happy and lucky to be able to call home.
Ski Season & Dad's Visit
I came back to a less snowy place than I had left, which was favourable for the drive home, but a bit gutting knowing that I'd missed all of the great snow up the mountain. A few days after I got back, I drove the short drive to Wanaka airport to pick up a VIP. My dad had arrived!! It was so great to see him, and in the excitement, I completely forgot that he'd never seen me as a blonde! He said he liked it, but I'm not so sure!!
He stayed with me at my house, and we had a lovely time skiing together most days, and he amused himself whilst I worked most nights. He even came out 'clubbing' (if you can call it that in Wanaka!) until 3am. My friends thought he was a pretty legendary father, and I had to agree :) As an early birthday present, he even treated me to the whole shabang of skis, boots and poles! Horrah!! :)
Whilst he was here, Dad decided that he wanted to go flying, so hired a plane (with instructor, as he hadn't flown a small plane in the mountains before), and it had 2 extra seats in it... so Hayley and I joined him for an amazing flight over the Mt. Aspiring National Park!
Yet another great day... thanks Dad! I was really sad when he had to leave a week later :(
During the time between when Dad left and the end of the season, I went to one of the Rugby World Cup matches in Dunedin. I went to the Georgia vs. England match with my friend Kiera, and it was so much fun!! The stadium was great, and despite the fact that neither of us had a clue about what was going on, we had a great time. Unfortunately, however, I lost my camera, which means that I can't show you any of the great photos I took! Nooooooo!
My birthday this year was one of the best ever. Possibly THE best. All of my close friends had arranged to have the day off so we could all go up boarding together. Whilst boarding with a few of them, the others (who had gone up in another car) un-be-known to me, set up a picnic in the snow, with lots of goodies, and lots of beer. It was incredible - and I was so touched by the effort they'd gone to - they even baked me a cake and brought it up the mountain with them!
And then we all went off to snowboard!! OH WHAT A DAY! At the top of one of the chairlifts, an Argentinian friend who worked for the mountain's photography took the following photos. I love them:
I came back to a less snowy place than I had left, which was favourable for the drive home, but a bit gutting knowing that I'd missed all of the great snow up the mountain. A few days after I got back, I drove the short drive to Wanaka airport to pick up a VIP. My dad had arrived!! It was so great to see him, and in the excitement, I completely forgot that he'd never seen me as a blonde! He said he liked it, but I'm not so sure!!
He stayed with me at my house, and we had a lovely time skiing together most days, and he amused himself whilst I worked most nights. He even came out 'clubbing' (if you can call it that in Wanaka!) until 3am. My friends thought he was a pretty legendary father, and I had to agree :) As an early birthday present, he even treated me to the whole shabang of skis, boots and poles! Horrah!! :)
Admiring my beautiful new skis whilst on a chairlift :)
Whilst he was here, Dad decided that he wanted to go flying, so hired a plane (with instructor, as he hadn't flown a small plane in the mountains before), and it had 2 extra seats in it... so Hayley and I joined him for an amazing flight over the Mt. Aspiring National Park!
Our house is down there!
B-E-A-UTIFUL!!
A short video...
A bit of turbulence going over the mountains... :)
Look at all of the untouched powder!!
The summit of Mt. Aspiring, the 'pointy mountain' you can see from the view at my house!
The island in the lake on the island in the lake on the island
Wanaka
We love DEB <3
Yet another great day... thanks Dad! I was really sad when he had to leave a week later :(
During the time between when Dad left and the end of the season, I went to one of the Rugby World Cup matches in Dunedin. I went to the Georgia vs. England match with my friend Kiera, and it was so much fun!! The stadium was great, and despite the fact that neither of us had a clue about what was going on, we had a great time. Unfortunately, however, I lost my camera, which means that I can't show you any of the great photos I took! Nooooooo!
My birthday this year was one of the best ever. Possibly THE best. All of my close friends had arranged to have the day off so we could all go up boarding together. Whilst boarding with a few of them, the others (who had gone up in another car) un-be-known to me, set up a picnic in the snow, with lots of goodies, and lots of beer. It was incredible - and I was so touched by the effort they'd gone to - they even baked me a cake and brought it up the mountain with them!
They asked the lifties to write messages for me at the bottom / top of various ski lifts :)
Hmmm... I'm not so sure I'm 21 though?! I think they may have been implying that I'm getting old...
The snow picnic! :)
Everyone together
With the 'Captains Cafe' below
Reflection in Vicki's goggles
The obligatory party hats :)
And then we all went off to snowboard!! OH WHAT A DAY! At the top of one of the chairlifts, an Argentinian friend who worked for the mountain's photography took the following photos. I love them:
They jump up; I squat down...?? ;o)
Corrina & me
Claire & Liam
Hayley & James
Lars & Seb
Everyone :o)
After the wonderful day up the mountain, we had a BBQ and went out to a houseparty. What an epic day - I love life :o)
So over the next few weeks, whilst persevering with snowboarding, I FINALLY found that I could do it! It had only taken a season for it to click - doh! But towards the end of the season, I got a bit cocky and started doing metal boxes in the board park. It was great at first, and the adrenaline and sense of acievement when I landed them was amazing! But then I fell. And I hurt myself. I face-planted the snow and thought I'd broken my nose (only got a fat lip and a grazed chin, thank goodness!) and bashed my leg pretty badly on the metal box. Grrrrrr. Being just 2 days before the end of the season, that wasn't how I wanted it to end!! But my leg hurt too much to carry on, so I had to admit defeat.
The next day my leg was still really painful, but thankfully the snow was rubbish anyway. I made it up for the last day of the season, and I'm so glad that I did! Yes, my leg was still hurting, but I conquered that box-rail again, so hopefully I won't be scared to progress on them next season! The feeling was incredible. I'm so happy I did it. The first half of the day I boarded; the second half I skied. And then, that was it... my first season: over. But what a great season it had been!
Here are some photos from the rest of the season that I don't think I've added here:
Hmmm... this post is getting extremely long now, and I've still got so much more to write about. So I think I'll end it here, and continue on in another post soon. Get set to hear about residency applications, Melbourne adventures, springtime in Wanaka and White-tail spiders!! Eeeeeek!
So over the next few weeks, whilst persevering with snowboarding, I FINALLY found that I could do it! It had only taken a season for it to click - doh! But towards the end of the season, I got a bit cocky and started doing metal boxes in the board park. It was great at first, and the adrenaline and sense of acievement when I landed them was amazing! But then I fell. And I hurt myself. I face-planted the snow and thought I'd broken my nose (only got a fat lip and a grazed chin, thank goodness!) and bashed my leg pretty badly on the metal box. Grrrrrr. Being just 2 days before the end of the season, that wasn't how I wanted it to end!! But my leg hurt too much to carry on, so I had to admit defeat.
The next day my leg was still really painful, but thankfully the snow was rubbish anyway. I made it up for the last day of the season, and I'm so glad that I did! Yes, my leg was still hurting, but I conquered that box-rail again, so hopefully I won't be scared to progress on them next season! The feeling was incredible. I'm so happy I did it. The first half of the day I boarded; the second half I skied. And then, that was it... my first season: over. But what a great season it had been!
My beautiful board and skis!!
See that little box there? The one that guy's going backwards on like it's nothing? That's the box I fell off :-/
The fluoro green ribbon was for the 'last day of the season'
Leaving the Cardrona sign for the last time this season...
Here are some photos from the rest of the season that I don't think I've added here:
The view from by bedroom window in early June: no snow...
...and then again in July: lots of snow!
Stunning :)
First day of the season
Hayley
Hayley & Sophie
L-R: Liam, James, Lars, Shay, me, Sophie & Hayley :)
Hmmm... this post is getting extremely long now, and I've still got so much more to write about. So I think I'll end it here, and continue on in another post soon. Get set to hear about residency applications, Melbourne adventures, springtime in Wanaka and White-tail spiders!! Eeeeeek!
We head up for the second day of the season tomorrow! Looking forward to it immensely! Snow has been crap so far this year... Glad to see you're having fun still xxx
ReplyDelete