In early July Delanie and the kids left for NZ, to escape the harsh Dubai summer (as I write this it is 45 degrees outside and starting to get humid). They are in NZ for 8 weeks, so if you haven't caught up with them drop Delanie a line! I followed about 10 days later, and had just over 2 weeks with the family in NZ. The first week of the holiday was spent in Wanaka, skiing at Cardrona with Tracy, Damian and the family. What a wonderful place. We had such a good time - first time Jack and Jaime have been on a 'real' mountain - they're pretty good skiiers (will discuss below) but all the skiing has been in the ski dome inside the Mall of the Emirates, 5 minutes drive from our Villa in Al Barsha. First photo below is taken from the plane on the flight from Wellington to Queenstown - and is really only there for all the strange people in Dubai who told me time and time again ..."but New Zealand doesn't have any mountains...".
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Nah - no mountains here! |
When we first landed in Queenstown we decided to do a Queenstown day - brunch in town (I love Eggs Benedict in NZ!), up the Gondola, Shotover Jet. Was a wonderful day, until Delanie developed a migraine - so into the Doctor, and then a very quiet drive across the Crown Range to Wanaka.
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| The kids in central Queenstown - lots more clothes on than in Dubai |
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| View from up the Gondola - Beautiful |
Many thanks to Tracy for having the kids so kitted out in the ski gear - there was no way that either Jack or Jaime was going to get cold, with them being supplied with thermals, socks, overalls, great jackets, neck warmers, goggles and helmets. We did bring their gloves and hats from Dubai!
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| Well-rugged up kids |
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| Jaime making the best of the snow... got to keep the hydration levels up any way that you can... |
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| The day that it snowed - lovely big soft flakes of snow |
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Delanie in the snow... this is the day that I decided that my 14 year old ski jacket wasn't doing the job any more....
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We all loved the skiing so much - Delanie and I had great fun each day screaming around the mountain with Tracy and Damian, and despite some early grumps and tears the kids really enjoyed their time in Skee Wees - they were placed in groups of 4 or 5 kids, with one instructor who had them for the whole week. Both instructors were wonderful with the kids - we heard a couple of times Jaime being told that "the tears won't work on me Jaime, you're not a baby, so let's get on with it..." or words to that effect. Both kids went to amazing places on the moutain and amazed us with their ability. One evening on the car trip back down the mountain Delanie and I were both very proud that we had done 'Powder Keg' - a black run. That was until Jack nonchalantly told us that he had done that yesterday and they were doing 'harder stuff' now. Each morning we would ski with the kids for an hour or so before they went into their groups - and as the week progressed we were more and more amazed at how good they (and Cailin, Ryan and Alexa) were. One particular morning stands out, where we were heading down one of the steepest bits of the Captain's Run, and the Race School passed us - well passed all of us except Jaime. I'm standing at the top of the hill yelling 'Slow Down!" (of course she can't hear me) but I needn't have bothered because she pretty much floated across the snow to the bottom.
Invariably there were big smiles from both kids at the end of the day - the photo below shows Jaime, and I think this might be the day that I saw a monster crash by her (got myself in trouble swearing on the chair lift I was so worried!), and asked her about, a bit worried about the response, but I needn't have worried - "it's OK Daddy I have had LOTS of crashes...".
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| Jaime all smiles at the end of the day |
Jack and Alexa were in the same group, which Jack was very pleased about. They are great mates.
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| Great mates - but one is always just that step in front... |
There were some early mornings to get up the mountain (in fact you'd be surprised how early Delanie used to get up - competing to get a better park up the mountain than her sister!). Jack wasn't big on the mornings...
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| 6am is not a time that should exist Dad.... |
And Jaime was even worse. But you can't tell from this photo because she has developed a sixth sense - whenever a camera is around she poses and smiles and generally tries to take over the room. This one is taken about 6am....
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| Two seconds after an early morning tantrum - ie we have seen the camera! |
The evening after we got back from Wanaka we attended Kelli's birthday party. A 70's party - lots of fun. Everyone got dressed up. From what I understand it took Adrian most of the next day to get out of the tightest white flares in the history of the universe.
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| Perhaps orange is not my colour? |
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| Love the hair honey - but perhaps only for 70s parties |
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| Jaime in the wig - a good look but Dad is not keen on bleaching that hair |
We also had the chance to catch up with Kirst, Gerard, Hannah and Lucy. Was lovely to see the kids together - they really did have a lovely time together.
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| Once you tell them to be models taking photos is easy |
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| Jack and Hannah loving the sun out the front of Kirst's house |
The time in Wellington went very quickly, unfortunately. But we did have time to visit Mr Whippy - arouund the bays at Whitby there. Always a favourite. We also took advantage of very good prices for Lego and Polly Pocket compared to Dubai - much to the kids' delight.
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| Love Mr Whippy |
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| Polly's Water Park |
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| Dad took 3 hours to make this so I better smile (Ed's note - this is prior to Jenelle cutting his hair - thank goodness!) |
Then it was a flight to Tauranga, and a lightening visit with my family. Many thanks to Adrienne and Dot for the organisation. It was lovely to see Dad, Ray, Liz and everyone, even if just for a very short time. We then drove to Auckland, managed to catch up with Claire and her family, and Carl and Rachel, and then I was back on the plane back to Dubai, with the family on the plane back to Wellington. It was very hard leaving, and the house over here in Dubai seems very large and empty without them. Oh well, just under three weeks to go now.
We loved being back in NZ, but we also realised we're not ready to leave Dubai just yet.
