Week Forty-Eight: The First of the Dos

Getting in early, we had our Book Club Christmas Do (with partners) at the end of the month. The weather has been gorgeous - perfect for pre-dinner drinks outdoors followed by ridiculous but fun party games.
 

It was a pot-luck and the Green Goddess (at whose house it was) was very impressed that everyone managed to bring interesting and tasty food (rather than 25 packets of crisps). Cous-cous salad; prawn kebabs; baked fish in banana leaves (that was my offering); roast potatoes with rosemary, asparagus and cherry tomatoes; barbecued chops; fresh fruit platter, and Saxby mush (a sort of trifle with excess alcohol all mixed up rather than layered). We generally do eat and drink well at book club...

Week Forty-Seven: Practicing Outdoors

For my birthday Him Outdoors bought me a tripod and a remote control thingie - who says men can't take hints. I have practiced taking landscape shots...

...nature shots...

... and this was actually part of an experiment with exposure times - the experiment failed (although I did learn from it, so not a complete failure) but I couldn't resist posting this sequence of photos.

These were taken at the top of the Crown Range at the weekend - we went over for a cycle ride and a cider in the Cardrona Pub - there was low cloud and mist on the Queenstown side; clear blue skie and bright hot sunshine on the Wanaka side - hence the inversion shots.

Week Forty-Six: Off and Racing

For the Great Galah's birthday we drove up to Christchurch through the fabulous Central Otago and South Canterbury landscape. He wanted to go to Lake Ruataniwha where he attempted to find something that wasn't there. It was gloriously blue though.
 

At Pukaki Dam, he wanted everyone to check out the big pipes, and he performed his one-man show, despite the signs...

At Ruapuna Racetrack the boys (and girl) get kitted out and listen intently to the safety briefing...

...before driving the cars. First the RX7.

Some last minute panicking and nerves.

And then it's all smiles afterwards.

The next challenge is the Formula Ford, which makes the drivers look like they're at the Wacky Races.

The drive back is a chance to check out Mt Cook and the stone cairn sculptures at Omarama.