Sunday 20th December - The Bog!

Handley:

Today has been a really cracking day.  It started with a lie in which was heavenly, so often we have been up early to move onto the next place so to just sleep in was a real treat.

Next we got caught up on all the blogs, I know, I know how sad does that sound, but it really was a good feeling to get back on top of them.  We generally write them up by hand first in our notebook so to have a few entries in the book and not published is not good.

Once we were up to date on the blog we had a steady walk up the road and picked up some sandwiches in a lovely Italian bakery down the road.  We then headed to the park and had a mini picnic in the sun.... it had started out thrashing it down this morning, but by dinner time it had really come out nice again although the wind was a little cold.

Next we moved onto the Auckland museum, which was really good.  There was a time when I would have turned my nose up at wandering round a museum, but I'm really getting into it!!  The museum started life as a war memorial and the top floor is still dedicated to remembering those lost in numerous wars including 3 Handley's and 3 Hudson's from the Auckland area who died in the Second World War.

There was a funny moment in the museum when we entered a Maori house and you have to take your shoes off to enter. We had taken our shoes off before going in yet one of the women who worked their ran over screaming at us like we were defecating in the corner, we asked her what she wanted and she screamed... you have to take your shoes off.... we replied... we have and she looked at our feet and saw socks and went oh yes so you have.  Hmm yeah thanks for that lady now everyone is looking at us and we have actually followed the rules!

After the museum we decided it was time to have a Christmas Party.  As we had both missed our respective work do's we thought a quick night out in Auckland should make up for it.  We started with a very nice meal in the local Thai restaurant in Parnell, which was delicious this was then followed by a few drinks in 'The Bog' our local Irish Bar.  There was a bunch of musicians free styling and playing loads of Irish tunes, we requested Whiskey in the Jar and they kindly obliged.

It was a really brilliant night and we got on well with the people playing, probably because we kept requesting tunes and singing along.  We stayed for a few drinks and decided that Cider after Kilkenny after Guinness after Wine was absolutely fine, or even foyne!  But obviously the other way would have been crazy and we would now be drunk writing a blog!

It was funny watching the dynamics of the band, as people just kept rocking up at various points in the night and quite late on Tom a real Irish guy turned up and he was really good and you could see the hatred in the locals eyes, this guy was showing them up and what's worse he was a hit with the ladies in the group!!  Quite funny to observe as an outsider!

Right it's bed time here so I'm off to hit the hay ready for another top day in Auckland!