Generations...

Wow! Interesting weekend. Finished work on Thursday evening and pretty much drove straight home to the parents house. Did have to stop off at mine, as I didn’t want to leave all my shit in the Jeep over the day…, to easy to steal anything, I didn’t want to run the risk. I tell you the last thing that I need is to have someone cut through my windows!

Drive wasn’t so bad, it’s only about an hour and a half away…, depending on traffic. Have always liked driving at night for some reason…, no idea why…, guess it’s just more peaceful. Anyways got home to find my brother and his Australian wife there. Out of all the years they have been together, I really have only spent a couple of days, in total, with her, so I still have yet to form a proper opinion. Not really sure about her though…, seems to need to be in the spotlight all the time, and I have to admit this bothers me a little. It was pretty late when I arrived, so we pretty much all went to bed…, well they did, I stayed up watching telly till I fell asleep a few hours later.

So the next day got rudely awoken far too early…, as I was on the lounge floor, by everyone walking around. I think I managed about five hours in the end. The kid was screaming, the brother was fighting with the wife…, all good natured, but they seemed to either forget that I was there, or they just didn’t care. Probably the latter…, my brother has been a right prick to me since we we’re both kids. I have no idea what his problem is, I mean he is the favourite…, and the oldest, so he always got everything, and I got punished and held back for his mistakes. Still…, I’m not bitter…, really

So when mum (The evil stepmother… hahahahaha…, no not really we love each other to pieces.), got home, we all packed up the vehicles and jumped in. Mum was riding with me, as there was only room for three in dad’s car, what with the baby in all, and I have this thing about smoking while I drive…, mum is the only other smoker of this group so she tagged along with me. Was a great trip, took about 4 hours to get to Taupo. Mum and I talking each other’s ears off the whole way. My sister, and my other niece, came down from Auckland and met us there. Was really good to see them, my god that little girl has shot up! My own fault for being lax in my visiting I guess.

Taupo itself was fantastic! Weather was beautiful, clear skies, sunny, and very hot the whole time we were there. Temps were hovering around the 30c (80f, for our American cousins) mark, even the nights were hot at around half that. Took the roof off of the Jeep, as soon as I got there. I just love the feeling of that…, that whole wind through the hair thing. Spent quite a bit of time, just running around the country side, doing the touristy things. The first night we had a kick ass bbq dinner, was super yum. Then the second night we went out for a picnic of ‘Fish and Chips’ on the side of the lake. Was just amazing to watch the sun go down over the hills, the sunstrike on water…, simply beautiful.

Went to a place called Huka Falls. It’s not really a water fall, in the traditional sense, but the awesome power of it can not be denied. The ‘Falls’ themselves is a passage in a river, where hundred odd meter expanse, is forced into a fifteen meter channel. You could feel the rumble of it up on the bridge. Went out on the second night. Town was pretty dead even though there was a big round the lakes fun run thing, but then I guess it is a little town. Didn’t see much in the way of candy, but there was a fella that I had my eye’s on. If I wasn’t with my brother, his wife, and my sister..., I may have even considered pursuing him. But alas, sober driver duties took precedence.

While I was there I took a walk along the track that ran beside the river. Was some truely beautiful scenery there. Reminds me just how lucky I am to live in the country I do...

On the drive home, the seating arrangements were the same, so mum and I spent even more time together. Was really great, as we usually don’t get to spend this much time together. Was an interesting trip home, ended up taking the loooonnnnggg route home. I admit, I missed a few turns, but neither of us really cared. We stopped at Ohakune for gas and a piece of bacon and egg pie…, YUM! Then headed down the island. Once we got to the homestead, we just chillaxed for a while, before having a bang up BBQ. Steaks and salad…, all good.

After dinner I drove home. Again at night, so I was shocked to see the hills on fire. Appears some child thought it would be fun to set fire to a few things. Shame for him it got way out of control. Still the skyline looked pretty cool as the hillside burned.

So that was my trip…., pretty cool huh?