Toilet Roll Art

Back on tour

2009-06-02T09:57:00.002+10:00

The Falafel Tour is back in 2009. At present I'm posting from Wellington, the windy capital of New Zealand where I have spent the last couple of days enjoying the cold and many, many beers.If you want to check out what we are up to, come visit!

Forces of nature

2009-02-10T18:12:00.002+10:00

The world - this country - is a crazy, crazy place. Two-thirds of my home state is under water while another state burns. We've all watched the human toll rise and rise and rise over the past couple of days. In such a "small" country, we all know someone who knows someone directly affected. It is real and awful and horrid.And the firefighters keep on working. And the rain keeps on

Internet, there's a rainbow at my window

2009-01-29T18:33:00.001+10:00

Internet, there's a rainbow at my window Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. In other news...Well, there is no other news really.Except for the rainbow. Outside my window. 10 minutes or so ago.

I wonder if this will work...

2009-01-25T15:25:00.004+10:00

Live blogging from Hear & Now festival in Brisbane. It's HOT here. Really hot.Update - so I cheaped out and didn't purchase the blogging application for my iPhone that allows me to upload photos so there were no LIVE photos, defeating the purpose of live blogging in the first place (unless you wanted to see me whingeing about the heat, and the $5 water, and the "new patriotism" that has swept the

Late to the party...

2008-11-08T00:33:00.002+10:00

But only cause I am so HAPPY!Even Brisbane says yay!

We're listening...

2008-11-04T23:00:00.001+10:00

America.We are all listening.So say most of you??????Gee, it's hard to be 15 hours ahead when you're impatient, isn't it?

Strange happenings

2008-11-01T15:32:00.002+10:00

It's sprummer time again...long sticky days culminate in short sticky (and occasionally violent) storms. Unfortunately, forecast sticky storms make for lots of drawn out speculation at work as colleagues do their best to time their departures, anticipating when or where the downpour will strike.Anticipation is a great time-waster. Mercifully, the IT powers-that-be at my govt workplace finally

I didn't forget, it just took a while.

2008-10-28T20:43:00.004+10:00

Random photos from the last six months.Scraps, really.Sorry life, I have forgotten what I am supposed to do with you.

Hello world!

2008-09-26T12:33:00.007+10:00

'Tis me...toiletrollart.Wow...it has been a long while. There were a few nasty mobile-blogging attempts back in July/August when seeing some live music but other than those, I haven't been around these parts much at all.I would have much photographic evidence of the life I have been leading away from the internet, but the little hard-drive-that-could couldn't any more and has moved into its new

Dear blog,

2008-06-05T17:56:00.005+10:00

I am sorry I haven't written to you for so long. I haven't meant to be so neglectful. I did have that other "friend" for a while but then I abandoned her too five weeks ago.It's not you, dear blog, it's me.You see, I miss Paris. I miss it so much that it hurts, like I've lost a friend or a lover. I miss Paris so much that since I left I have been filling my time thinking about Paris, reading

Soon to be on hiatus

2008-03-04T21:13:00.003+10:00

Hello there!Some of you already know this...but in 10 long days I am heading off on a H.U.G.E. holiday at last! Phew. And yes, Paris is getting a look-in.So to celebrate this milestone for 2008, and to keep my focus firmly on the task at hand (i.e. the sightseeing and the beer tasting and the falafel eating), toiletrollart is temporarily relocating to her second home, The Falafel Tour.Please

Thank-you for the challenge...

2008-02-13T20:16:00.004+10:00

I popped over to visit Blog Portion tonight after a particularly frustrating early evening of rain, slippery shoes, last minute Valentine's shopping and sticky dry cleaning bags and what did I find? One hell of a good list of things that get up Drewzel's goat.Which got me the thinking. It's been a while since I tagged myself a meme and I really, really, really like to whinge so...here goes. 25

I hope this is not a link to a porn site

2008-01-29T07:46:00.002+10:00

29-01-08_0744.jpg Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. As seen stuck to the inside of my bus shelter this morning.

Somewhere in Colorado, I think

2008-01-26T00:26:00.000+10:00

So... I went out tonight. Out, Out. You know, to places where they charge silly amounts of money for short drinks ($8 - seriously?) and where girls wear little dresses and bigger boobs than should be allowed.So there I am minding my own business, fully engaged in a quite funny conversation with a friend and a guy called Dave/Gaz/Baz (we can't be sure at this stage and blame the vodka drinks)

The best thing I saw at Big Day Out 2008

2008-01-24T18:37:00.001+10:00

20-01-08_1321.jpgOriginally uploaded by toiletrollart. The most awesome fly ever. R.I.P. 2008 - 2008.

Pop Princesses

2008-01-24T18:25:00.001+10:00

Pop Princesses Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. So...2008. Hmm. Where have I been, you say? Weeelllll.There were some birthday celebrations to be had, then the computer died (sigh), then it was Christmas, then I finally had the time and energy to attempt to fix the computer (phew), then I had to restore and back up our lives from the last two years (grrr) and then there were all these

Where I was two years ago today...

2007-12-04T22:05:00.001+10:00

Sacre Coeur Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. I was doing my best to avoid dealing with pretty much anything involving anything tonight when I popped in to visit one of my fave blogs, Molly's Les Cadeaux. Molly has just been to Paris and has managed, in just a few short paragraphs, to sum up pretty much all of my feelings about this most magical place in the world.Nowhere else have I

Me No No.Blo

2007-11-29T18:06:00.000+10:00

Bugger - it's almost an entire month since I posted.So what's been happening here at toiletrollart? Mmm. Hmm. (raises eyebrows).We signed up for the FFFFree! Foxtel! Trial!. Bad, bad, bad, bad idea. Now entire days vanish in a blur of Project Runway, Friends, Sex in the City, What Not to Wear (oh I have missed you), more Friends, Miami Ink, Pimp My Ride, back at Friends, bit of Gordon Ramsay

Eeek!

2007-10-31T18:59:00.000+10:00

Enter...if you dare!Happy Halloween! I have celebrated my down-under H-day with socially unacceptable enthusiasm, according to my critics. Bah!OK, so I get that it's seen as an American thing. And that, on the whole, American things aren't really very cool these days. Bah!But, c'mon peeps! You listen to iPods and watch House and say OK and buy Coca-Cola...can't you give a girl a break if she

December 2057 doesn't seem that far away...

2007-10-28T19:17:00.000+10:00

DEAD AT 79cancer

Ben's through my mobile lens

2007-10-24T19:38:00.000+10:00

1. Mr LeeProps for the gold suit. May you stay free from fungus this summer.Props again for the sharp wit (I am as ever, a German clapper).Mega props from Paul for inviting the beautiful Patience. He stood next to her and was v. cool and collected, even though she is probably on his freebie list. And taller than he expected.Concerns linger though...whole thing felt like a cult meeting with you

More evidence that I live under a rock...

2007-10-18T18:39:00.000+10:00

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Upgrades

2007-10-11T20:47:00.000+10:00

A few weeks ago I bought a new iPod, a whopping big 80GB Classic to be precise. I am very pleased with my purchase so far (and ever grateful I had umm-ed and aah-ed so long about upgrading to the 30GB that I didn't make the same mistake as my first iPod experience - buying a Mini two months before the Nano arrived), and have been uploading my CD and mp3 collection onto it as fast as I can. I

The air is thick with anticipation...

2007-10-08T17:50:00.000+10:00

I sit and type as this bears down upon me...the first storm of the sprummer. No, not of the spring, that season that lasts only a day or two in Brisbane, but of the sprummer, the month of grumbling greyness that precedes the beating sunshine of summer in the sub-tropics.The thunder is rumbling now, and flashes of lightening brighten the darkening sky outside. A little while ago it looked like

10 Things I Have in Common With...

2007-10-01T19:42:00.000+10:00

Ben Lee!1. We were both born in Australia.2. We were both born in 1978.3. We were both at the Tivoli on the day after Johnny Cash died.4. We have both touched my Ben Lee "Hey you, yes you" t-shirt.5. We have both felt awkward in each other's company. Sigh.6. We both like Ben Kweller.7. We both like Ben Folds.8. We both agree that a lot goes on but nothing happens.9. We are both kinda

Hello swappers!

2007-10-01T19:39:00.001+10:00

How many have your name?

2007-09-27T22:46:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Steph for this diversion...HowManyOfMe.comThere are 10 people with my name in the U.S.A.How many have your name?

Funny...

2007-09-27T21:43:00.000+10:00

How even using the machine can sometimes feel like this...

Stealing the meme - The Name Game

2007-09-24T18:47:00.000+10:00

So here goes something I've never done before - meme-ing myself after reading One Good Bumblebee...btw, when you visit check out the Pez wall, I'm still swooning!The Name GameCombine the phrases to make your “names”. I did mine below.1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) - Sooty Focus2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) - Double Choc Triple Choc3. YOUR “FLY

Blah, blah, blah

2007-09-19T19:28:00.000+10:00

Hola!Not many words going around at the 'mo.Work has eaten all my words. Two words. Parliamentary processes. No, three words. Machinations of government. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.Here instead, for your viewing pleasure, are some shots taken on recent mini-break to Melbourne, land of the perma-tan (or so it seems on Chapel St) and home to far too much that tempts me...like seasons. And

Things to do this week...

2007-09-04T20:25:00.000+10:00

Get well. No one likes the girl with the nasty cough.Go to Melbourne for shopping, eating and drinking fun with Erin. Oh, and Sean. Actually, I hope Sean doesn't come shopping. But I will no doubt enjoy his Melbournian-isms. "Going to grab a slab, back soon". A slab, you say, eh?Get my shopping mojo back. Hell, those puffy sleeves look so pretty on the hangers...why do they look so bad on

Look what we saw tonight...

2007-08-28T21:44:00.001+10:00

Lunar Eclipse - 28 August 2007 Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. And Paul FINALLY used his Xmas telescope for something other than spying on the apartments over the river...

Subject of Spam received at work

2007-08-17T18:10:00.000+10:00

"Bob, Joe, Ted, and Ann spend eight hours a day, five days a week, at tiny desks in tiny cubicles and you get to be their God."Damn. I knew my calling was not THIS job.

Splendid at Splendour

2007-08-12T14:19:00.000+10:00

Warning - this post may contain an unreasonable amount of whingeing. And photos. Sorry.So...Splendour in the Grass 2007. We went. We saw. We heard. We danced. We battled port-a-loos. We ate too many donuts. One of us cried. One of us came home with man flu. One of us came home without functioning spectacles. And now it is time to reminisce (and let rip).It all started OK, while my day

Miss Piggy

2007-07-31T21:48:00.000+10:00

Could you resist this face? No? Me neither.

Make it go away...(the unread HP book, I mean)

2007-07-25T20:39:00.000+10:00

I've been a bad blogger...

2007-07-19T19:04:00.000+10:00

Ah, my life is such a cliche.Mid-year blues, slump, funk, winter woes, whatever you want to call it, has arrived.I'm having my annual career "is this really what I want to do" crisis. Not going to pay that any more attention than I already have though, except to apologise to all the patient, understanding and candid girls/women/friends at work I have already rabbited on to about this...It's cold

Had way too much fun doing this...

2007-07-08T16:10:00.001+10:00

Feeling fragile...

2007-06-28T23:27:00.000+10:00

Wanting to run away and join The Polyphonic Spree...Happy that Howling Bells and Gotye and Holly Throsby and Spiderbait have joined the Splendor in the Grass line-up...Been wondering why the size of your umbrella seems to be a good indicator of how big a wanker you are...thanks to the golf umbrella-toting wanker who broke my beloved brolley earlier in the week...Lost three of my nine lives this

Under construction

2007-06-20T21:55:00.000+10:00

I am making some "improvements" to TRA.I am not very skilled at this.Feedback always appreciated as I am a Mac user with browser difficulties.

The shopping must stop!

2007-06-20T20:28:00.001+10:00

The shopping must stop Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. But I looooooooove Fred.

Why...

2007-06-20T20:16:00.000+10:00

Didn't anybody tell me about the Cold War Kids?Or, this site?

How do I make it stop?

2007-06-20T19:39:00.000+10:00

About six weeks ago I moved to a kind-of new job. It's not really new - I have done it before and it's with the same government department that will not be named - but it meant a total relocation, from a next-to-the-CBD suburb to smack-bang, central-CBD, directly opposite Brisbane's GPO and ooh, 35 metres from the Queen Street Mall.I've had a little trouble adjusting to this.First there was the

Why de-lurking is not so bad....

2007-06-14T21:00:00.001+10:00

flossy-p swap Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Meet my new friend...Ms Green.She and I both have long strands of pearls. Mine are from Sportsgirl, hers are from flossy-p.

Once there was a drought...

2007-06-13T20:13:00.001+10:00

Once there was a drought... Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. So this drought thing is getting kinda serious. Here I am, pretending the world is carrying on as normal, albeit now(!) with carbon offsets, oblivious to the obvious investments made by our government in egg timers.No ordinary egg timer though. Nooooooo. This is the egg timer that will ruin the most gleeful part of my

Toilet Roll's new crush

2007-06-12T20:15:00.000+10:00

See this movie.

Melissa rocks!

2007-06-12T20:10:00.001+10:00

Handmade on the Long Weekend Swap - ReceivedOriginally uploaded by toiletrollart. Handmade goodies from Mel who is now on holidays...shout-out! Go Little Red Riding Hood - no more Big Bad Wolf for two and a half weeks!! Woo-hoo!Log it!

Withdrawal

2007-06-12T20:06:00.001+10:00

Handmade on the Long Weekend Swap - SentOriginally uploaded by toiletrollart. Arghh...swap-bot seems to be down.I don't know what to do. I have sent swaps and received a swap and some people have rated me and I CAN'T SEE THEM!In happier (and less neurotic) news, other swapping goes well.More photos to follow.

ATCs

2007-06-06T21:22:00.000+10:00

I got great swap-bot feedback on my first ATCs today. This has given me such a boost that I now have the nerve to swap with flossy-p (could have done this yesterday, but I would have been the first one and I am not comfortable with that) whose work I have been admiring from afar.Eeeekkk...de-lurking is still scary.

Mostest!

2007-06-06T20:21:00.001+10:00

I heart purple Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Today has been a mostest day!It has been the mostest cold day for the whole year!We have had the mostest rain in a day for over two years!!I got the mostest mail ever (3 packages)!!! It was mostest purple!I caught the mostest number of buses in a day ever (5)!!!!I'm mostested out y'all.

Bi-lingual magic!

2007-06-06T20:17:00.001+10:00

Bi-lingual magic!Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. I am concerned about the logistics of this. Maybe the French side faces the front only in Quebec.

Two for Tuesday on....

2007-06-05T18:17:00.000+10:00

...Lessons.Lesson 1.Inanimate objects do behave badly.Lesson 2.Bonds Seamfree Undies and Leona Edminston Luxury Opaque tights are friends. Friends in that there is no friction in their relationship. So little friction in fact that if you wear them at the same time they will eventually turn against each other out of boredom. The tights will then escape, repelling their way down your torso until

Grey day

2007-06-02T15:48:00.001+10:00

Grey day Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Ohhhh...today is a lovely grey day! I recommend doing the following things on grey days in winter -Sleep-in, hidden under the marshmallow-ness of your doona...Eat gooey salami, brie and spinach toasties...Have a choc-chip icecream chaser...Curl up on the sofa and watch Doris Day (those hats! those coats! that voice!) on TV (and get excited *

This week's news...

2007-05-28T20:41:00.001+10:00

This week's news...Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Nothing earth-shattering to report!I did learn the following this week:Platform shoes are much more comfortable than they look but do cause (the appearance of) cankles.Someone thought Toilet Roll Art was for real. Like a real craft. Sorry! (Update - purveyor of Toilet Roll Art disagrees and says it's for real and to look at the top

Tuesday's Mail

2007-05-22T19:37:00.001+10:00

Tuesday's Mail Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Everyday I wonder why people are so miserable on the bus as they head home from work...guess they're not getting this kind of mail!On top of the work swap today this is the best swap day yet!

New blog header?

2007-05-20T15:21:00.001+10:00

New blog header? Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. UPDATE! Does it look any different? Yes?I really want to change the layout of my blog but I just can't figure it out...now trying using Firefox cause Safari just wasn't working but still NOTHING WORKS.

Shoeaholic

2007-05-20T14:04:00.001+10:00

Shoeaholic Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Some people I know have suggested I have too many shoes. This usually happens at work, or at home, when a new or forgotten pair appear from the tower of boxes in the built-in robe. Trouble is, I don't agree.While society see-saws between a love of consumerism, and utter loathing of consumers; I don't. It's all out love for me. That is, buy

Hump day

2007-05-16T18:40:00.001+10:00

What I've been up to lately... Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Wednesday is always a great day for reflection. Weeks are flashing by so quickly but today I took time out to stop and catch my breath.Two swaps were waiting at home today - some spare stickers from Pennsylvania (middle) and a Handmade Star all the way from Qatar (bottom left)!The orchids are from Paul's parents, hand

More international treats...

2007-05-12T00:13:00.000+10:00

I'm getting used to this. It's like having a birthday every day! Tonight I came home to more swap-bot fun, this time some "Handmade Star" notecards and envelopes from Michelle in Pittsburgh. Yesterday I had stickers and postcards from Norway! Who knows what next week will bring?

Holy Sticker Sheets Newbie!

2007-05-09T18:45:00.001+10:00

Holy Sticker Sheets Newbie! #1 Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. Yay! Nothing cheers Wednesday up more than international mail!Especially when those shoes weren't in stock...

Current Crushes

2007-05-07T22:53:00.001+10:00

Current Crushes Originally uploaded by toiletrollart. The long weekend is over (frowning). Tomorrow is a new day, a new job (argh) and a new workplace.Needed reasons to smile and here they are! Am really considering the shoes...

Buddha's Birthday Festival

2007-05-07T01:45:00.001+10:00

Buddha's Birthday FestivalOriginally uploaded by toiletrollart. My 24 hours of flickr day was warm! Went for breakfast at Oxford Street (Citrus Cafe), did a bit of window shopping, then headed to James Street Market to stock up on Wasabi peas for Paul. One of my favourite stores, Made in Japan, has closed down which means I am going to have to find a new place to buy washi in Brisbane.Paul

24 Hours

2007-05-04T18:09:00.000+10:00

I have joined a flickr group "24 hours of flickr" that is raising money for Mecidines san Frontaires (terrible spelling, I know) by producing a coffee table book for sale compiled from flickr member's photographs over a 24 hour period. That 24 hour period is tomorrow, Saturday 5 May.So far I only have a couple of things planned - breakfast and a tentative trip to the Stiches & Craft Show. No

Swap madness!

2007-05-04T18:04:00.000+10:00

So I have been going a bit crazy with all the swapping this past couple of weeks. But today I received my first swap so it was all worth it! Then I logged in and discovered one of my partners had received a swap from me too so all is good in the world!I think there should be an enquiry into the cost of postage though. My American partner paid only 84c (about $AU1 at the moment) for an envelope

One for the girls...

2007-05-01T18:26:00.000+10:00

Can you imagine the cup-cakes? Better get baking - I only have 10 silicone pans plus 7 in the tupper muffin form. Two batches to fill this baby!

Sticky fingers

2007-05-01T18:22:00.000+10:00

Home-made rice paper "sushi" for the non-nori eaters. Rice was a bit sticky - it's really hard to justify rinsing until clear when you'd rather have a four minute shower in the morning...

This is something I have pondered for a while...

2007-04-28T03:40:00.000+10:00

Back in 2002 I went to Paris and I bought this print (BOTTOM) from the Musee D'Orsay by Vincent Van Gogh. And then, in November 2003 after I had come home to Brisbane, Paul and I rented the apartment we still live in at Auchenflower. We have a lovely view towards the city, and of the "Toowong Reach" of the Brisbane River (TOP).The print was home-framed (thanks IKEA) and we look at it every day

Breaking News

2007-04-28T02:26:00.000+10:00

So what I have been up to....I made up my first www.swap-bot.com swaps today - spare stickers for Lucie (Czech Republic), Nikki (Ohio) and Candi (California) tonight...ready to post tomorrow morning-ish.I de-lurked on one of my favourite blogs.I organised the laundry (yay!).I found Mac's Beers (Gold and Sassy Red) at 1st Choice, Regatta.I stayed up very, very late (it is currently 2:33am) with

And so it is done.

2007-04-25T01:05:00.000+10:00

181 photos uploaded, titled and occasionally tagged on www.flickr.comPlease feel free to look. If you open up a photo you can even see the little details - what camera we used, when the original was taken etc.Excuse me but I need to go to sleep now. Enjoy.

Stop imagining!

2007-04-24T22:23:00.000+10:00

Photos are in the process of being uploaded!You will see there is a flickr banner to the right - here are the photos I have uploaded so far, in no particular order. I might actually get around to editing each of the posts at some point (you know, to provide context) but until then have fun exploring on flickr.I am missing all the extra Blogger features I had access to on PC while on holiday - I

Booty

2007-04-24T22:05:00.000+10:00

Whilst I didn't get around to trying a Kiwi Big Mac (breaking my official travelling code), I had no hesitation grabbing all the confectionery I could find in my worldwide quest for the perfect chocolate / lolly / sweet / snack.Paul had a definitive favourite - vegetarian friendly flavoured licorice (think orange and raspberry) shot through with chocolate, shaped into 20cm long rods and sold in

Home Sweet Home

2007-04-22T20:56:00.000+10:00

So here we are...is Brisbane always this warm? We have arrived home safely and soundly (what does that mean) and I am now looking at the giant pile of luggage that needs to be unpacked. I am terrified by the speed of the internet here, so quickly you get used to the waiting. I've done more browsing in an hour here than I got to in three weeks and a $100 worth of internet cafe fees.Over the

There's no place like home, there's no place like home

2007-04-21T19:00:00.000+10:00

The last days of holidays are terrible. We have been wandering the streets of Christchurch looking for interesting things to do that we haven't already done and counting the hours until it is time to go. I am missing the freedom of the car, we can't just jump in and drive somewhere else for a change of scenery. I guess we could always catch the bus!Last night was spent at Dux de Lux although

C'est La Vie!

2007-04-20T14:52:00.000+10:00

Before leaving Oamaru we checked out the local op shops and were in for a treat - Paul managed to pick up two awesome vintage ties (look out W&W) for $5 each while I managed to find two scarves, an obi belt and some great buttons at St Vinnie's for the whopping total of $5.30!It was time to go though - we had booked a super last-minute stay in Akaroa (the hostel we had planned to stay at only

The Chocolate Suprise vs The Waddle of The Penguins

2007-04-19T07:05:00.000+10:00

We awoke, undisturbed by ghosts, to a "beautiful" Dunedin morning. By "beautiful" I mean not raining or snowing or blowing a gale. It was still a bit chilly so we packed up, loaded the car and headed into town for a warm cup of coffee to await Cadbury time...and it came around so quickly. All of a sudden we had checked in and were exploring the chocolate museum and waiting for our guide.It

On sale in NZ...

2007-04-17T19:59:00.000+10:00

Break Wind Fleeces and Sweaters, Princes Street, Dunedin.

The Presidential Highway

2007-04-17T19:43:00.000+10:00

It was a beautiful morning in Te Anau, sunshine and blue skies. After packing the car and checking out we headed back to the "Miles Ahead" pie shop (again - we had stopped here on the way to Milford on Sunday) for a couple of the best vegetable pies EVER. They were too hot to eat straight away (Paul was still nursing tender taste buds from his first experience) so they were packed away in the

Overheard in NZ...

2007-04-17T19:41:00.000+10:00

"How long exactly is Happy Hour?", American tourist to bemused barperson at The Moose, Te Anau.

Milford Deep...

2007-04-17T19:20:00.000+10:00

Back at the hostel we decided the only sensible thing to do was to head for the only pub in "town", the Blue Duck. Deciding against jumping in the car (who knows where the night might lead?) we instead took the courtesy shuttle bus the 1.5km down to Milford. A couple of beers and some decent food later we were forced into occupying the 1.5hrs left before the next shuttle back by playing some

Giddy up!

2007-04-15T15:26:00.000+10:00

It was tough after jet boating. I can see how it all comes about, this adrenalin addiction thing. All of a sudden bungy jumping doesn't seem like that big a deal. But we resisted, we were sensible. We turned to the one thing we knew best, beer drinking. Back to Dux de Lux for some more yummy local beers and to book a table at the restaurant (we had been denied the night before).After

We survived!

2007-04-13T12:58:00.000+10:00

You should be able to check out photos of us on Shotover Jet (they aren't up yet) by going to www.shotoverjet.com then clicking "Daily Photos" and typing in the following code:SOJT74134958It was good clean (cold faced) fun!

QTown

2007-04-13T08:38:00.000+10:00

Hello from snowy Queenstown! We made it!It was a quiet night in Wanaka after our big drive, I had a lovely fish dinner while Paul looked on (nearly the most embarrassing thing you could do to your partner, watch them eat) and then it was back to the hostel for a big sleep.We were up bright and early again and after warming up and admiring the fresh snow on the mountains surrounding the lake we

Franz Josef to Wanaka

2007-04-11T14:33:00.000+10:00

After a really, really, really bad nights sleep for me (tossed and turned while listening to the torrential downpours outside), we were up bright and early again for our drive to Wanaka. This is one reason why I should not trust American mapping websites (no thanks Mapquest) - their travel itinerary for this portion estimated it would take a whopping 2hr and 47min to travel the 230km from Franz

Seen in NZ...

2007-04-11T14:29:00.000+10:00

Sign on Hostel Door. "If you see Hat Yai (picture of cat shown) inside after 10pm, put him outside. He should be killing possums."Possum fur "Willie Warmers" and "Nipple (I say nupple) Warmers".And for the fashion police out there - how's this for fun....Thermal long johns with shorts over the top AND socks with sandals. All at once.

Overheard in NZ...

2007-04-11T14:24:00.000+10:00

"Yes, we have rented a little - what is it called, dear - oh yes, a LITTLE Ford Falcon" - very loud American woman from Reno, Nevada at the Landing Bar, Franz Joseph."Is it a bit cold matey?" - Cocky middle aged Aussie man at Fox Glacier car park to a t-shirt wearing Paul (he may have been shielding his nipples at the time)."Have you seen any tour groups up there?" - Abandoned large Jamaican

Ooh Foxy!

2007-04-11T14:16:00.000+10:00

After our vegetative morning it was back in the car to head to Fox Glacier, a 23km drive south of Franz Joseph. The glacier itself was much more accessible from the car park, just a short 15-20min walk on a clearly marked path to the terminal face. Fox is not as steep as Franz Joseph but it was much quieter. We hadn't really prepared for the weather though (will we ever learn from those clever

Pancakes on Ice

2007-04-10T10:40:00.000+10:00

We awoke bright and early again (!) and after showering, packing and grabbing a freshly baked muffin at Te Nikau, we headed out on the road south to visit the big attraction at Punakaiki - the Pancake Rocks. Paul needed coffee first in order to function like a human (rather than a primitive, grunting ape) so we sat at the cafe opposite the rocks and enjoying the sunshine whilst Wekas foraged for

Go West!

2007-04-08T18:38:00.000+10:00

Happy Easter to you all!We checked out of our lovely (can I say that again, it was lovely) hotel bright and early-ish and filled up the Corolla for the first time. At $1.52/litre we Aussies shouldn't really complain...We headed south west on SH6 through some lovely countryside and yep, mountain ranges, towards Murchison where we turned west to follow the Buller Gorge to the west coast. A must

Twisted vines

2007-04-08T18:25:00.000+10:00

So you learn the hard way that wineries aren't open on Good Friday. Nor is anything else in Renwick. So we did the sensible thing and headed up to Picton, home to the Wellington Ferry Terminal and a sure thing for coffee. Not to mention the views of the sound (I can't remember which one it is!). After a nice walk around town and a couple of coffees we jumped back in the car for our trip to Nelson

Whales and Wine

2007-04-06T13:03:00.000+10:00

We made it on time to Whalewatch Kaikoura to be greeted by a "sea sickness warning". Paul thinks this was just a ploy to get us to buy herbal sea sickness remedies. Remembering the last time I went whale watching at Hervey Bay I decided the safest thing to do was to relent and spend a whopping $2 on an @ease tablet. Money well spent if only for the psychological effect!It was a beautiful crisp

Arghhhhhhh

2007-04-04T14:26:00.000+10:00

Well, we have departed lovely Christchurch and headed north. But not after finding some great vintage shops (Tete a Tete in particular) and a lovely Japanese shop where I found some beautiful washi paper - Cherry Blossom. Our lazy afternoon of shopping finished up at an Irish pub for a few COLD beers and some wriggling sideways up the bench to get closer to the heater! Then it was the usual -

"Do you think the ducks say queck instead of quack?"

2007-04-03T11:31:00.000+10:00

Hi all,Here we are in sunny Christchurch. So far it has been lovely...great weather, great food, cold beer and lovely autumn foliage. We are staying in the tallest hotel in town (thanks wotif) and have an amazing view over the city and "hills" from our room. So far we are taking it slowly, catching up on sleep, wandering the streets like lost sheep (ha!) and stopping to take in the

Packed and ready to go.....

2007-04-01T14:38:00.000+10:00

Tick tock tick tock.New suitcase is huge! I have packed everything as planned but no big coats as I have been rational and decided that lugging around a big coat for one half-day walk is a bit silly. So, we will be hiring waterproof jackets for the glacier walk.Now it's just a matter of waiting until its time to go to the airport. Unplugging appliances, turning off the tap to the washing

Feel free to loot and relax at our place...

2007-03-30T23:13:00.000+10:00

This is what happens when Erin comes to our house and gets into the window markers!

This is where we are going and what we will be doing.

2007-03-28T21:18:00.000+10:00

So far wine drinking and penguin spotting are at the top of my list!

I'm dreaming of a little bit of white April

2007-03-27T21:11:00.000+10:00

So...on Sunday we are off to New Zealand. This will be my way of sharing what Paul and I get up to, what we like and what we don't like so much.Will it be as nice as our last trip? I don't know. It's a little bit daunting thinking about seventeen (SEVENTEEN) days on the road in another country, on roads a little more challenging than our usual Auchenflower - Toowong - Milton - Indooroopilly -

Me me me me me - nice to be so easily classifiable....

2007-03-27T20:58:00.000+10:00

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