happy medium

*update – store as it is today:

and this one goes out to Carlos:

Well, it is winter after all, and this sunshine couldn’t last forever…

Here in Wellington we’ve had 90mph winds and torrential rain all day! Nothing compared to the South Island, where 75cm of Snow was recorded – overnight! Auckland had a black-out which pretty much put the City to a stand-still all day.

There was even a minor earthquake / tremor last night. It’s pretty common place due to the fact New Zealand is on a fault line, so didn’t even hit the news, but pretty impressive to a Pom.

The store is coming on nicely, the guys have fitted a wooden-floor which looks superb. Shouldn’t be too long until the store opens it’s doors to the public.

I’ve been back in Wellington since Wedesnday. Helping Gary and Carlos out where I can at the store-fit. Sorry for lack of photos, will get some posted up as soon as possible. The store is going to look great, they’ve put in a office and store-room behind slanted/curved walls. It’s going to be pretty minimal with black walls and wooden floor. Here’s a couple photo of the early stages:

(thanks to Gary for photos)

Have experienced a fair amount of Wellington Nightlife. The music scene is healthy here, loads of gigs going on. No attitude either, well apart from one stretch of Wellington where all the cheese clubs are based. A bit scary how much it reminded me of home. I guess your always going to get that in any city.

I really like it here though. However, I’ve not had a chance to explore much of Auckland yet. The trouble is your really need transport to get around Auckland as it’s so spread out. Not sure what I’m going to do yet, might start to look for a flat in the Auckland City area when we get back next week.

Update-

Took these photos of the store today:

Just started to lay the floor.

Maraetai Beach, Maori for “A meeting place by the sea”, and one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. Photos really do not do this place justice. Another blue sky, hot day, and the place was near deserted. The thing that took my breath away was the water, not a single wave, even though it’s the sea your looking out to. It’s shelted by an Island, so the water is very calm, and inviting (although pretty cold this time of year)

Then headed down to Carlos’ parents place, and another stunning view over the sea…

Check out what you can grow in your back garden:

Headed down/up to the sky-tower today, as there’s a crystal clear sky. The tower is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, and as there are no buildings even half the size of the tower, it provides some incredible views.

Being in the southern-hemisphere, there’s less pollution and smog and so can see even further on a clear day. If you ever visit the tower, pay the extra $3 to get to the highest public viewing platform, the sky-deck, which is 220metres above the ground. The lift has a glass floor so you can watch as you travel up 60 floors in 20-30seconds. Could have spent all day up there…

In New Zealand you can go from this:

to this in one day.

This is Milford Beach (with plenty of Milfs), about a 5 minute walk from Carlos’ place.

The sky really is that blue…

Today is a National Holiday (Queen’s Birthday Weekend). Just sat and watched the waves for an hour or so. This is New Zealand’s winter…

Gary invited Carlos and I over to his place today. He lives with his wife Jane, and children Paddy and Daisy, over on the west coast about 30minutes from Auckland.

The house is built onto the hillside overlooking the New Zealand coast and has the most incredible view I think I’ve seen. The whole house is built around the view, with a huge deck and all rooms facing out to sea. Just stunning. You can’t help but feel so relaxed in this environment.

Had a walk around the beach and just watched the sea and sun-set:

We set off from Wellington at about 8am on Friday, for a 10 hour journey back to Auckland. Not your ordinary long-haul car journey though, think I can let the photos show you why:

This is Mount Ruapehu (which is 9174ft, Britain’s highest peak Ben Nevis is 4370ft), an active volcano with a mile wide crater at the peak filled with a hot lake and ice cliffs.

This is Mount Ngauruhoe, 7514ft, almost symmetrical due to successive eruptions of andesite from it’s central vent.

(this is a geothermal power station, using heat from the earth to turn water into steam to power a turbine)

Even the vehicles are mammoth out here:

These trucks reminded me of the film Duel:

Our weapon of choice:

For all who know my tag:

(even weirder was the cafe in Wellington called “Offbeat”)

My favourite shot so far:

After checking out the store/building site (going to be black, with slanted walls), Carlos and I headed over to the cable car (more of a train/tram) with a great view of the city from the top:

Wellington is the New Zealand capital and so much of the population is either involved with or employed by the Government.

Nightlife and Bar Culture is one of Wellington’s best features. The three of us met up with Christine (who’s going to be working in the store) at a bar called The Matterhorn. Mad chilled vibes, loads of badly drawn boys though. She sings in a local funk band, took us a to a small bar/club called Havanna, dope little venue!