July Update

Gosh its shocking that I have not updated my blog since April - and how the year has flown by. Lots has happened since April, so this could be a long blog, or I might just split it, we will see how we go. So I will update you with the interesting fun things that have been going on over on this side of the world.

Please check out my photos, http://picasaweb.google.com/debslee.n.z which I have updated too for you.

In July my good friend Annie and I headed off to the beautiful city of Christchurch in the South Island. She was dancing in the National Ballroom Championships there and asked me to accompany her....well I think it was more of a case of me just inviting myself, because if anyone knows me, they know how much I LOVE ballroom and latin (watching that is). We bought really cheap seats and flew down on Friday lunchtime. It was a rush to check in, as I got lost trying to book Humphrey into weekend parking at the airport! The flight was short, only about 1hr 4o mins or so, but flighing into Christchurch we could see the snow on the alps - it was really was stunning. I dont think any pictures can do the place justice. We had a nice place to stay, just a regular motel, and then rented a car to take us to the dance venue every day. Of course, I was glued to my seat the entire weekend, watching all the dancing and just thoroughly enjoying the atmostphere, the costumes, the amazing moves and sequences. Absolutely stunning. Annie was afraid that I would be bored.........not me boy!

On Monday, seeing as our flight was in the afternoon, we took the morning to look around Christchurch. No wonder this place has been famed "The Garden City" because it really is beautiful. Its a quiet town - not like bustling city life in Auckland. You can also see some great pictures if you go to http://www.christchurch.org.nz/ . Unfortunately, we were there in winter, so we missed out on all the beautiful scenery when it comes to the flowers blooming. I think I will have to go there again in the summer or spring, because apparently its breath taking. Annie and I also found ourselves lost manytimes, because I was doing the map reading! But Annie was very gracious I must say! We ate at a lovely quaint cafe in the gounds on the Christchurch University - felt like we were in England - it just had that air about it. We did try and get a "punt" along the Avon River, but sadly the only booking we could get was at 3:00pm when our flight was leaving - we were really disappointed about that. I think we probably could have gotten a punt if I hadnt had gotten us lost so many times! Well now that Ive got a taste of Christchurch I know I will be back!