Month: February 2006

This is just a quick update to let you all know that we have been to Oz and it was amazing. Thank you to everyone and I will give detailed info and thank you all very soon.

We have been to Bangkok and it is big, full of people, brilliant fun and most of all smelly.

Were now in Koh Samui just having the most relaxing time in the world and sweating like pigs, sorry that should be “glowing”. Sure beats working…

Thinking of you all and more to come soon.

Brendan

Australia…. Australia is a big big country with a lot of peopla and it is hot. For those of you that didn’t know this it may come as a surprise.

We have had such an amazing time here with Bella & Paul Norton, Ca & Vincent Carroll, Liz & Innes (and Harry & Elisa) Hendry in Brisbaine. We were chaufferred to Surfers Paradise and Malooloolaba on the coast and South Bank in the city. We ventured into the city ourselves and hopped on the City Cat (water taxi type catamaran) and had a wander as well, so we got a really good feel for the city.

We then Jetted to Melbourne where we were extended the legendry Kelly family hospitality. Geoff picked us up from the airport and took us over to Donna and Brett’s. Chelsea, Sharny and Chloe all came home one by one and suddenly I had more family than I ever knew.

Then we went out for a meal and I got to meet more of the Kelly side and there is even another Peter Kelly that looks like my Dad a little in Oz. Great people.

I also got to meet up with a good mate of mine from school, Eamonn and his partner Anna. Chelsea, Sharny and one of Gwens mates, Kristal, from NZ came out with us and we ended up in a place called Big Mouth funnily enough in St Kilda. Needless to say there was some chatting done that night and Gwen got to meet some of my Irish mates, the transformation has begun. It was lovely to catch up Eamonn and hope to see you on the other side whenever that is 😉

Donna, Brett and the girls took us up (or across) to the Yarra Valley and Mansfield where we ate, drank and generally had a brilliant weekend. I got to see a kangaroo in the wild, which was lovely and we also saw a bush fire on our way back on Sunday… Quite awe inspiring and humbling when you see how it can destroy peoples lives in an instant. Chelsea was able to give us all the inside info as well as she works for the Rural Fire Department that covers a lot of the big fires. On Monday we took the train to Epping to visit Gwen’s lovely Auntie Wendy, the Whanau (family) just gets bigger by the day on these travels… 😉

After we had washed our clothes and rested up and been looked after so well we headed off to the airport for yet another flight to another city (Sydney) for a connecting flight to Tahiland.

Sydney airport is expensive but there is a few free Samsung internet terminals which are cool to use if you are there for 8 hours. It was initially meant to be 4 hours but the outgoing flight was delayed twice. Needless to say we were glad to finally take off.

All in all Australia was wonderfull, we were looked after very well by all 3 sides of the family (Donna and Brett) and had such a lovely time. I know that it will be a great place to go back and spend some quality holidays…

Well it has finally come around. After so long talking about it Gwen and I have managed to get everything packed and are ready to leave New Zealand for the sunny shores of Ireland tomorrow morning. But we will have a few stops on the way, namely Australia, Thailand and England. We have been offered generous accommodation by many friends and relatives in Australia and England, which we will be gladly taking up. It will be great to see you all and catch up. I am just looking forward so much to seeing Australia and Thailand and just generally having a holiday with Gwen on the way home.

I have to say that I have a million mixed emotions right now. I am really sad at leaving New Zealand and all the wonderful people we have met here. My cousins and friends, we both really do have family away from home here in Napier. Gwen’s friends in Palmy have been so kind and welcoming to me as well once they figured out I wasn’t a dodgy Irish fella. And basically everyone else I have met here. From my sisters mates in Auckland that became my mates (Congrats Barney & Sue) to the lovely farmer I worked for who became a mate in Central Hawke’s Bay (Thanks Mike) and to Gwen’s lovely Mum, Joan.
Joan, God bless her, has been looking after us both this last week and as you can imagine we have both been a little stressed but Joan just kept smiling and serving up the loveliest home cooked meals to get us through it. Thanks Joan!

I would also like to send a special shout out to all the people we have both worked with. I know that I have met people that have changed the way I look at the world and I will cherish their friendship forever. Just keep giving me hassle guys 😉