we got to the luge in rotorua just after it opened but the queues were still massive. we were there four hours, jane had 2 rides down and the girls had 6 each. weather was magnificent (though still cold). the journey home took about 4 hours due to traffic
frosty morning in taupo. watched the dam open and the rapids form. drove to rotorua to go to the redwood forest (for the rope walkway and then a land based walk) then rainbow springs. checked in to the holiday house then back to the redwood tree walk in the dark then some dinner and rainbows springs in the evening. in total we saw 6 actual kiwis wandering about which was quite impressive (3 indoors during the day at rainbow springs and 3 outside during the evening at rainbow springs)
up early, stopped at Matamata for breakfast then went to Waimangu Volcanic Valley which was rather excellent. weather cleared up a bit by the time we left.
stopped at huka falls then our holiday house then out for dinner
We’re still on holiday. Will totally update gonorrhea
Update: Typo. Meant ‘tomorrow’
Jane spent most of the day driving esther around to various appointments (dentist, violin lesson) and I think the other girls tagged along at various points.
In the evening the younger ones went to the cathedral to watch a choir and jane picked them up after.
I was meant to be photoing an MTV unplugged show but mtv wanted to pre-approve the photos and getting images wouldn’t agree to that.
So instead I came home and went to bed early and ignored all my various chores (such as my massive backlog of photo editing)
I will update with some photos at some point as I popped out at lunchtime to see the world press photo award winning pictures.
girls went shopping.
jane walked pearl
i had lots of meetings (which were all in auckland)
this evening i’ve been trying to teach myself how to take red carpet photos as i have a photo assignment for tomorrow evening
kezia brought some fun birthday presents back for esther
i’ll sort out photos tomorrow evening as i ended up whizzing off down to wellington this afternoon for a 2 hours meeting which i was 30 minutes late to due to flight delays
on the way back i saw the americas cup arrive in wellington
the girls went to the zoo
jane did meeeelions of ironing
esther turned 18 today
we made her put her own candles on her giant ice cream birthday cake
church this morning
cake at lunch
open house viewing for the ladies this afternoon
then i took esther and katie to a computer shop to get esther a phone cover for her new birthday phone
this evening we went in to auckland to an amazing italian restaurant for a birthday meal. the restaurant was lovely and gave esther a little cake and us all some lemon hello drinks
meanwhile kezia’s choir won the Treble Voice category and got a fun trophy and are singing at the gala concert this evening which is excellent for them!
here are a few photos from Thursday showing jane, andrew and katie and the cup. and rainy umbrellas
i ran two street photography courses
jane did dog and housey stuff then met up with Debbie in the fanzone to watch the rugby
esther and katie went up sky tower, went to the art gallery, the museum, the rosegarden and various other places before joining jane in the fanzone
kezia is having fun in brisbane but everyone has had to hand their phone in so they get a proper night’s sleep before their competition tomorrow
andrew went to the airport early on
here are some of my photos which I was able to contribute to getty images: http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/collaboration/boards/5TAqLCBokUq1IFBpSgorZg