A really random weekend

So that random weekend I just had (2 weekends ago now).

On Thursday evening Camilla and I went to an open air poetry slam in Aotea Square (Auckland's version of Trafalgar Sq - except about a 10th in size). It was quite good but not amazing.

On Friday evening Camilla was celebrating her birthday a wee bit early and had the most awesome idea for it ever.  We had a pot luck under the stars!  We drove down to Whatipu - the most beautiful beach area an hour out of Auckland, and made it just as the sun was setting.  My gosh the drive was just beautiful - you drive through Huia and it's like a miniature version of Marlborough Sounds, it is stunning. I can't wait to take my kayak out there and explore more.  The sun caught a layer of mist hovering on top of the water which was turning pink in the light - I wish I could have taken photos.

We arrived and rushed down to the beach to meet everyone else sat on a huge tarp.  I went straight to the waterfront and took some photos and stood in the warm water just thinking about how incredibly content I felt and how lucky I was to be able to do this - to leave work on a Friday and hop in the car and drive a little while to the most beautiful spot and watch the sun set on a remote beach with friends.  I almost didn't know what to do with my emotions.  The photos below didn't do it justice.







When the sun set I went back and joined the group and we ate the food everyone had brought and talked and pointed out star constellations.  It was awesome.  At one point me, Adam and a few others went off to find some caves in the dark - I forgot my torch so relied on everyone else's.  We didn't find the cave and it got a bit rocky and I kept hurting my toes so I headed back but they carried on and disappeared for ages.  Just as we were about to leave for the campsite they came back very excitable and turns out they'd found phosphorescents so went for a naked glow in the dark swim. I was SO jealous but no one would go back with me so I have to go back there again and camp sometime soon!!!

Back at the campsite we pitched our tents in the dark and I decided as it was such a warm night not to put the fly on - something I have always wanted to do!  It was brilliant - I got the nicest sleep ever right under the stars but knowing I wasn't going to get bitten my mozzies, and with a gentle warm breeze across my face.  It was a little bit damp in the morning with condensation but apart from that it was such a cool experience and I'd recommend. Assuming you don't need privacy.





We went for a quick swim, then drove back in the morning and I had a few dull chores to run including picking up a mattress and baking some cookies before heading off to my work friend Adeola's babyshower.  This was random - we played twister with balloon babybumps, pin the sperm on the egg and other babyshower party games (I never knew such things existed).  I left and met Ben, Sam and Adnaan at my house and we headed out to the Auckland Pride festival which was pretty cool, nice to see people putting such an effort into something they want to show off and celebrate.  Afterwards Shanyn was having a BBQ at home and he kindly cooked us dinner and Adam served us and we didn't need to lift a finger, it was fab! We ran out of light so had lots of fun pouring glowsticks into a bottle of water (video on my instagram) - it's sooo cool as it's like glow in the dark bubbles. Do it if you're bored.









The following morning was the randomest of them all - I had agreed to be a Princess for my friend at work's daughter's birthday.....I had to dress up in a princess dress and then sit and paint kids faces for an hour. I was half scared half excited - and I actually quite enjoyed it.  Though i thikn I overestimated my face painting skills...I reckon I am pretty good on my own face, but not so great on a small child's face covered in cake and snot that's constantly moving....I ended up doing a bunch of butterflies and rainbows and a unicorn horn for one little girl (when you read unicorn horn, think white triangle with a bit of pink and gold haha).  A boy came up and asked for a dragon, so I told him I could compromise and do a snake instead - he was ever so polite and thanked me profusely which was adorable.  The kids were all really cute actually, and thought I was Cinderella  so I played along and made up stories like I found my shoe that morning which is why I had 2 and not 1...kids are very observant!!



After that I rushed off to meet Sam, Adnaan, Lachie and Gokul at Woodhill to go mountain biking.  I thought it'd be funny to turn up in the princess dress but it was too hot to wear so I bailed on the idea. This was a beginner MTB challenge set by my friend's company Waywiser (I think I have mentioned this before, but to recap it's like meetup but specifically for outdoor sports, and they have started setting challenges for the site members so every Monday we have been doing the trail run challenges and I won the last one (not because I was fast or anything ut because I encourage everyone to come running with me, haha)).  Anyway turns out we turned up too late to get the whole challenge done so we just did a bit and ended up on intermediate trails and no word of a lie I nearly pooed myself as one part we had to go down a really steep hill and it was a bit scary.   It was fun but exhausting and I felt like I was holding the others back a bit so I left them to do one more trail whilst I headed home via a stop at the icecream shop.



And I think that was all of that weekend - a busy one!

The weekend just gone wasn't quite as action packed but it was good nonetheless.  On Saturday me, Amy and Colin took our kayaks out for a wee trip to Mahurangi Bay.  It's sooooo much fun having your own kayak - you can do whatever you want with it!  We spent a good amount of time floating about in the sea beside our kayaks rather than in them because that's equally as fun, and kayaked across to Mahurangi West where we climbed a tree and kayaked back again. I just mapped it and it was 6ks so not too shabby for an afternoon's work!

I think we're doing it wrong

Wet suit tan lines


On Sunday evening me, Franzi, Shanyn and Ben went to the Stardome Observatory and watched a presentation on the night sky. It was SO COOL and I want to go back and watch the rest of their presentations.  The seats are comfortable reclining ones and you lie back and look above you and they project the night sky onto the ceiling and teach you all about the constellations you can see.  Because we're in the Southern hemisphere we can see a different set of stars to back home so it was really interesting. I love space I do!

Comments

  1. You climbed a tree and kayaked, finally you're your mother's daughter xx

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  2. I love how Naino's regular weekend pics are now more action-packed than most people's holiday photos. Keep up the inspiration Nai Nai xxx

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    Replies
    1. thanks Dan :) hopefully if i move home i'll keep it up!

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  3. "No wonder I nearly run people over all the time" lol

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