Bournemouth here we come!

So that's all the NZ pics worth seeing. Here's the news. Home at last after minor kerfuffle with final flight test. Then spent 2 weeks frantically doing the work I was supposed to have done whilst in NZ before heading down to Bristol for another 2 weeks of hell (groundschool). Actually not so bad this time, bit more relaxed as we had two weeks and as there are only 3 of us left on CP34 now, Matt Luke and I had plenty of space at Churchill Manor! Exams were in Shuttleworth, and that should be the end of all the ATPL theory subjects (unless I've dropped a clanger) which is a big weight off. So for now I'm enjoying a week off in the unseasonably glorious weather before starting the final stage of our piston engine training in Bournemouth. All going to plan, by the end of May we should all have our Commercial Licences and Instrument Ratings and ready for somebody to give us a jet to fly!

Kiwi's Fear Terror Attack

And then remember that nobody would be bothered to travel all the way from the middle east to claim religious superiority over a country that God has clearly already forsaken. Although, I can see why suicide bombing might seem so attractive over here. Anyway, this is the Skytower at midnight.

Seemed like a good idea

Proof that smoking is big and clever.

Seeing Double

This was the sum total of Auckland's talent. Jimbo found it a tough decision.

Cheers!

Actually, now I think of it, this was the night before, New Years Eve Eve if you will. Well, we had to have a dry run to make sure it was going to be a good night.

New Year's Eve!

Now I remember why I haven't updated for so long, had a temper tantrum and stamped my feet at Blogspot because it wouldn't update with pictures. Seems by ignoring it I have taught it a lesson so here are the rest of my NZ pics and some news on what's going on...

Boxing Day up the Tower

 

Sarah (from the Tower) invited us to work so we could bring her a bacon sandwich. In return she had to let us press the buttons. Look out for us on the news...

Dear Santa, I'd like some elasticated jeans

 

Yes that does say 38 and a half inches.

Seconds!

 

As you can see, I didn't go hungry. And yes Mum, there are some peas on there. As you can see from the state of the table cloth, some drinking had gone on during the preparation stages.

A Very 'Merry' Christmas

 

Faced with the prospect of being stuck in NZ for Christmas, when I was expecting to be at home, I was pretty miffed. However, once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and remembered how cheap booze is here, we decided to have a jolly good time. 7 of us, Jimbo, Tony, Shaun, Steve, Doc, myself and Sarah from the Tower (more of whom later) all pitched in and assembled an enormous Christmas dinner.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

And we nearly got it, snow was forecast for the southern part of the North island but didn't quite make it. With the cloud at about 600 feet we had to drive through it to get over the hills to Tauranga. Saw a patch of blue sky, paddled in the sea, had an ice cream and then came straight home to cook dinner. Did I mention how much I love the weather here?

Sunset at Raglan

 

Enough soppy scenic shots now.

The Bay

 

Its easy to forget when we're stuck in Hamilton in the pouring rain or impenetrable fog that NZ does have some stunning scenery, especially when my ugly mug isn't in the way. 

Raglan Again

 

Here we are, back at Raglan. Jo was really lucky with the weather while she was here and we got to spend a lovely evening down by the beach after I finished work. 

Bridal Veil Falls

 

Now that's a waterfall. Jo took this on one of her excursions to Raglan while I was slaving away at the airport. 

Huka Falls

 

More rapids than falls. Either way, I wouldn't want to fall in. 

Elephant Rock

 

A rock that looks like an elephant's head. Time to go home. 

Aladdin's Cave

 

They weren't too imaginative with the names of these features. Apparently this is one of only two volcanic caves in the whole wide world. I think I was starting to get cranky at this point as we'd walked quite a long way and still hadn't had lunch. 

Walking with Dinosaurs

 

Apparently the BBC came here to film some of the Walking with Dinosaurs footage. New Zealand being the time machine that it is, I'm surprised they didn't see any real Dinosaurs. 

Danger!

 

Having jumped out of a plane, wasn't feeling this. 

Diamond Geezer

 

After all that silliness falling out of aeroplanes we decided a more leisurely trip around some of the volcanic stuff would be in order. We visited this place just north of Taupo with geysers and mud and caves and stuff. Very exciting. 

Like a Puppet on a String (or not)

 

Not quite sure what happened with the pictures of my heroic return to the ground. These make it look like I'm a puppet with its strings cut. I think my unusual pose came from the wickedly tight harness around my undercarriage, and fearing that any kind of movement might render me gender non-specific. 

Jo meets Mo

 

I don't know how this one slipped the net. Last month was Movember, a charity event to raise money for treating testicular cancer by acquiring ourselves some facial furniture. I couldn't believe my luck that I had finally found a legitimate excuse for growing a Mo but, unfortunately, Jo did not see things the same way. Whilst curious to see it, it was gone within an hour of meeting her at the airport! To be honest, I'd gone off the idea anyway after two weeks of having an itchy upper lip.