Leave.

This is my first longer-than-2-days leave in a row. Man, this feels really good.

I think, in a way, I’m still getting used to the idea of working and only having 4 weeks annual leave. I’m trying to make it up with you know, actually doing work but man, it does so suck to be only having that 4 weeks and nothing more.

Its been fun with the family.

But first of all, lets enjoy things from the paddle steamer ride I had earlier in the week prior to leave.

Went on the Waimarie, one of NZ’s last remaining paddle steamers, from what I think I remember. Grand boat.

As we were leaving the jetty. Smoke billowed from the steam engine and the horn tooted. Apparently, the captain of the boat recognises me as a physio. Scary. I didn’t even know he existed.

Don’t mind the hair. Scalped one of my colleagues while trying to take this picture. As you can see, it was a relatively cloudy day but it was warm enough that I had to take off my hoodie for a bit while the steamer picked up speed.

Boat and waves. We did pick up a pretty decent speed.

This was stuck to the back of the bench. I was taken by this sign because I didn’t know whether they were going to throw the bench in the water if anything happened. The doughnut thing behind it seemed only big enough for one.

We travelled upriver for about an hour. And they were getting ready to anchor the steamer so we could go and stretch our legs.

There was a pretty cool technique of looping it all around the beam by using a hooked pole and throwing the ropes but I didn’t manage to get it down.

Visited a small St Mary’s Anglican Church whilst the steamer was tied up. Dropped by a bar that I didn’t take pictures of.

So while getting back on the boat, I took a picture of the red chimney and decided that the picture didn’t quite do justice to the magnificent machine that ran the boat.

This was just the top of the contraption itself. There was a lot more going on that I just could not see.

Standing at the helm of the boat with the breeze in my hair, it felt like one of those Titanic moments where I could spread my arms out wide and yoo-hoo at the top of my voice.

And the elaborate anchor thingie that didn’t get used. Pity. It looked like a harpoon of sorts.

Welly in the evening. This was a different perspective from what I was used to looking at when I lived there.

Same view, shot three hours later when the sun had set. Its amazing how cities always look so pretty at night with all the lights sparkling.

Salsa party 2 weeks prior.

Trying out the night scene shot. A lot better in terms of colour but man, it sucked big time for movement.

And experimented with the sports shot. Even worse lighting-wise but I got a clear movement shot. I might need a dSLR camera.

Further pictures in the next post. But until then, good night. I’m off for a bit of socialising/and having a bit of fun with the brother.