What A Fortnight

Brilliant brilliant brilliant - pictures to prove it....................... All I need to say really!! I have loved being with Elliot and Lew and the boys so much but it's been so so good to see my mates again

Such A Child

Well howdy doody folks..... Sorry couldn't resist!!

So it's been a little different the last 10 days compared to the last 6 months and man it's been brilliant. Not just being a child again for a couple of weeks (when I stop being one??? Had to get there before you!!) but being with friends again and eating and drinking well and having so much exercise. Seriously.... we're doing all the rides then back in the pool for an hour or 2 and it all means about 7 or 8 k's walk each day plus chucking kids around in the pool if you're name's Dunc. We all crash out by 11 each night which is hilarious as we're just wiped out although tonight is the 30 somethings and Marks(just turned 40!!) night out without children. Guess we'll all be tucked up by 11.30 then.... No, I'm putting my foot down - must stay up till 12 and remember the LBK days!!!! (life before kids numpty..)

So far we have done Epcot - best ride there was Test Track (Shaun and I both think best ride so far - girls disagree - it's a speedy car one, need I say more), Animal Kingdom (twice) - best ride there was Kila River Rapids (wet Tshirt comp for Kiley and Lindy Lou), Magic Kingdom - best ride splash mountain, Kennedy Space Centre and yesterday was MGM Studios - best ride there was Tower Of Terror, hilarious. Pics below are splash mountain, the team in our Deantours t shirts (i'm no. 11 - SAS Man - remember the beard!!), shoulder rides at the parade at Animal Kingdom, Epcot entrance (the golf ball) and me with 2 down and outs called Elliot and Lewis who I found at Magic Kingdom. That's about all for now, am off to enjoy the last few days here and Magic Kingdom this afternoon. Actually one last thing - you hear about obesity in the US, man they are not kidding in the slightest. It borders on child abuse in some cases. Never seen so many lard buckets in my life - makes me feel like Kate Moss. Rant over off out exercising again. Take care all and back in the UK on Sunday - boooo!!!! C u all soon

In The Old US Of A

Well hello again nutty people. Yup I'm back and full of sugar!!!!!!!!!! Well it is the states after all and I have just watched England make a complete mess of qualifying for the Euro 2008 tournament!!!! Ah well no international football of importance for us for at least 3 years then!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, onwards I have gone to the USA and Deantours in Florida and all I will say is thank God I have never given up the child in me!!!! So far we have done Animal Kingdom, Epcot and half of Magic Kingdom and tomorrow is Blizzard Beach (Water park - ace!!). I never realised quite how much I have missed my friends and the people that I love spending time with until I saw the Dean crowd come through customs at Orlando airport and I was so so chuffed to be able to meet them there and we have not stopped laughing since. It has been fantastic and our rented house is awesome. It's so good to see Els and Lew again and they and Joe and Will (Jackie Coggins' kids) are such a laugh and I am now honorary parent for the fortnight I think.

So anyway first couple of pics are Godley House where I spent a lot of time in NZ and it's view

Shaun and Pen in Mickey getting married mode

And finally for now, a certain Mr Disney and friend......................

Ready 4 Florida

3 months ago today I landed in New Zealand to be met by the very lovely Sam, James and Olivia and after deciding that I would much rather stay here than go and spend lots of time in the states, it has been a wonderful experience. I have found a new way of life (and no not just sitting on my arse doing nothing) which is all to do with enjoyment and just having enough money to get by. What I mean is that I am not going to be charging around working my balls off any more being stressed and shouted at by people I don't care about (clients not family and friends....). I have some good plans to put in place once I am settled back home and have found somewhere to live etc oh and a job!!

Just a bit of a quickie today really to say goodbye to Kiwi land and I will be back soon, promise..... Some pics of highlights of the South Island. Me being an idiot up in the mountains

Christchurch Cathedral with the Millennium sculpture next to it

And last but not least bit of a stormy day here yesterday - it was brilliant

Yes I'm Still Alive

Hey lovely people I am still here just not got access to tinternet at home so have to come into Christchurch to do this which is a good 40 mins away by car so don't get round to it too often.

Sad news last Friday as my lovely Uncle Nico died peacefully which was a long time coming for him and the family but at least he's out of pain now. He was a wonderful man and brought so much joy and fun to so many people. I will miss him terribly.

Right news update for you, this is where I am staying now until I leave New Zealand. Check out the view oh and the beast which is my wheels for next couple of weeks too.

Rugby was odd to watch over here with a few kiwis in the pub at 8 in the morning and I think we did bloody well to even get to the final and then give South Africa a decent game which they deserved to win. Beating the Australians and the French was bloody brilliant though. This country is still devastated by the All Blacks losing in the quarter final and it's still on the back pages of every paper here, get over it and harden up New Zealand it's just a game.... Hmm not sure I'd be welcome back at the pub if they saw that!!!!

I've got 2 weeks to go until Florida and being a complete child again and the weather here has turned amazing the last 2 weeks. The shorts are out and the sun cream on and you'll be pig sick of me in Florida guys due to the tan - sorry....

I'm trying something new here to see if it works. This should be a video I took up at Mount Cook a few weeks ago and man it's spectacular and would recommend it to anyone

Other than that not huge amount to report to be honest. Have been chilling out in Diamond Harbour for a while and I love it. There is such a great bunch of people here that have made me so welcome and I'm going to really miss them and this place. I'll get some photos on here of Godley House etc so you know where I am talking about. I am SO looking forward to Florida though and have a look at the Deantours blog to see where we'll be if you can be arsed www.mickeybigears.blogspot.com/ . Anyone think Shaun copied my blog idea?????????????? Think that's it for now, back soon peeps and you all go and behave yourselves. Including you Nards....

Oh yes - last thing met someone who used to go out with Robbie Williams as you do down at the pub!!!!!!!!!!!!!

About Time I Know

Ah greetings fair Northern Hemisphere people ( and some Southern) and how are we all?? Been a while again I know but I've been busy man, you know....drinking, socialising, travelling around South Island etc etc and am currently In a place called Takaka right at the top of the South Island in Golden Bay and it's gorgeous.

Thought it best first though to put some pictures taken on the way back from Queenstown to Diamond Harbour last week after the leaping of a cliff thing. First two are the mountains reflected in Lake Hamilton followed by Mount Cook (Aoraki in Maori) and the same reflected in Lake Pukaki. It was just a fabulous day and top drive even though it was 9 1/2 hours!!!!

Spent night before last in Kaikoura (pics below) which is just stunning and the drive from there to Takaka via Nelson was absolutely beautiful. You go through snow capped mountains, along the East coast passing the Ohua seal colony,

through the Marlborough wine region and the most fabulous forests with the twistiest roads I have driven on. Makes going through Glencoe a little dull I'm afraid!!!! And to top all that even had a small earthquake here this morning which woke me up, bit bizarre that!! So I have come up to this part of the island on the advice of the locals at the pub in Diamond Harbour (Godley House and it's top) and am off down the West Coast tomorrow for a day or two then over to the Fox and Frank Josef glaciers next week. Below is the view from my cabin in Takaka, not bad ay

At the moment I have another 6 weeks here before going to Florida with Dean Tours and will be looking to get up to the North Island for a bit and see if I can pick up some work for a few weeks in Diamond Harbour and see how it goes.

Well that's about it for now. Hope all is well with everyone and will be back soon. Take care all

P.s. Yes I have shaved......

Quiet Day In Queenstown

Morning all. Okay okay I know, I've been neglecting my duties for the last few weeks and not been that communicative but have just been enjoying New Zealand and especially Diamond Harbour. I have a great place to stay for 6 weeks, check out the view from the deck......






Really fantastic bunch of people that I have met here and so so accommodating AND they don't mind that I have grown a full beard!!!! Don't worry better shots coming but this was taken at Lake Pukaki or something and that's Mt. Cook behind my right arm (highest point in NZ).



Finally came down to Queenstown for a few days the other day and had bit of a day out yesterday. Did a thing called the Canyon Combo which consisted of The Canyon Swing (109m up a cliff and scariest thing I have ever done - so I did it twice....), white water rafting, helicopter ride and shotover jet. Brilliant brilliant day and so much fun and fresh air etc etc. The swing was really weird as we are just not meant to leap off cliffs and survive and I found it really hard to just go for it. First time went off sideways







2nd time went off backwards and THAT was the mother of scary.....






Then went shotover jetting, helicopter riding and rafting....





I think the best part of the day was the rafting in the end as it was a great bunch of people and was a brilliant thing to do and would be the first thing I would go back for. The swing was a real adrenaline rush but don't feel the need to do it again and the shotover jet was excellent too but only about half an hour long. The rafting was for about 2 hours and took us through category 4 rapids which are pretty big and our guide Deano was fantastic despite his mullet......

Anyway back up to Diamond Harbour today and the work research begins.... Hope all is well with you all and will be back soon

1st week in New Zealand

Afternoon one and all from a beautiful but slighty cooler New Zealand. The weather is top and loudless skies every day after the first rainy one when I got here and you can see for miles up in the mountains. So Lou, I know you've been desperate, here you go....

Not a huge amount to report to be honest other than Sam's house where I am staying which is the large one four in on the middle row to the right of the picture. This was taken from the mountains between Christhurch and Lyttleton which is where you see me sitting and yes I did walk most of it before you start taking the piss.....

No after effects from the bombing but they have charged 2 people this week. Have started running again and feeling much fitter and healthier and sleep like a log. Off down to Queenstown next week to throw myself off a bridge (with a rope tied on Mum, don't worry....) and over to Frank Josef and Fox glaciers too. You know me, I love my glaciation!!

Kiwis are really nice people and have got talking to a few and there's none of that "Hah you're just a pom!" attitude that you sense from Australians sometimes (no offence to those Ozzies on this distribution list..... oops), but if you don't like rugby at the moment there's not a huge amount else to talk about. Not seen that many sheep yet either but am sure that will come along.

Right am off now to go look round Christchurch and will be back on next week. Take care all x

New Zealand

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4168647a6009.html.

Check the above link out to a Christchurch front page news story and guess who was in the CD store on Columbo Street at the time????? Right by the entrance too... God it was loud and made me jump a bit but everyone just carried on as though nothing happened and I saw the bin smoking and the lid blown off. Closest I've been to a bloody bomb and saw the guys in the white holden looking a bit strange beforehand. Wasn't expecting that on this journey!!!!

Anyway to New Zealand - wow!!!! On the South Island at the moment for about 3 weeks and it's beautiful. Just the drive from the airport to Sam's house in Diamond Harbour is like driving through Glencoe. The mountains are beautifl and run all the way to the coast, loads of snow here right now as well and will be off to Queenstown next week to start my skiing career. Got a hire car with snowchains and really looking forward to it. Will be going bungy jumping and shotover jetting and whatever else I can do during 3 days there.

So far have been to Christchurch and Akoroa in my first couple of days here - this is Akaroa.

Today have met Wayne Smith the ex All Black and Northampton coach who is now forwards coach for the All Blacks under Graham Henry and is simply one of the nicest guys I have met. Got introduced by Macca and he is getting the All Blacks to sign an All Black shirt for each of us and will send it on. So will get that when I get back - how superb is that? Jealous Karlos?? He's the one on the left here and under the mat in other pic. Top bloke