Moving House - Literally...the whole thing!

When someone says that they are "moving house", this is NOT usually what I would have in mind!

It is quite normal over here to move entire houses, that you have been living in, to new locations like this one. They just stick it on the back of a trailer, lift it up a bit and off they go - relocation at its finest. I have actually seen a house on the road! What next?!

What's wrong with this picture?

Just some randomness I came across while walking along Courtenay Place over the weekend...one of those double take moments. Yes, it is a real bird - I waited for it to move! Poor thing must have gotten stuck inside the shop and then gravitated towards the shop front window. It would actually look pretty cool for an ad campaign so no wonder I had to look twice - ... although maybe which book the bird was placed on (cook book) would probably have been better thought through for an ad.

INSINKERATOR!!

Okay, okay, here we go Stacey. Just for you, I snuck (so my flatmates wouldn't think I was nuts) into the kitchen one evening with my camera to take photographic evidence of the existence of the INSINKERATOR (of course only ever pronounced in an Arnie accent). I feel extremely uncomfortable putting food down the INSINKERATOR, but apparently it is Kiwi common practice to put all, ALL, food waste down there - whole chicken breast, whole pie, whole apple! It is a truly amazing invention.

It looks like a normalish, but rather large, drain hole - just got to be careful not to drop a fork in there! (it would not be fun trying to fish that out!!)





And then there is the wonderful, all devouring "waste" button. Just deposit whole food waste items into sink, run some water and flick the switch. Tra-daa! - all done. No mess, no fuss?

Flying Burrito Brothers

There are quite a few funny little things on the menu at the Flying Burrito Brothers...

We went there for Lindsay's birthday dinner. It was delicious! I had chicken Tacos, Andrew had a Burrito, Lindsay had the Fajitas and Glenda had an interesting looking thing that had lamb in it... I really like this place - next time we'll ALL get frozen strawberry margaritas!!

...And Doughnuts!!!

Novelty it may be, but don't you wants it!!!!!

@ Stacey re CUPCAKES!

Cupcake machines are definitely a novelty, but they are soooo cute and pretty. Here is the one I found in Wellington. I want it!!

You're a winner!!

Am I? Am I reeeaaaally?

Someone at work was selling tickets for a raffle for his kid's hockey team. So, being the good colleague that I am, I donated my share for a ticket. I don't think I have EVER won a raffle...EVER!

That morning as I walked into the office people congratulated me and I was tempted, momentarily, just to say "oh, thank you!" and happily go about my day in ignorant bliss of what I had done right. The moment passed and instead I asked "um, what for?" - which was answered with much enthusiasm; "You won the raffle!" I excitedly clumbered (yes, clumbered - I just made it up) over to my desk to find a giant red box balanced on it...

I had won second prize in the raffle - a pair of Scorpion Multi Terrain Quad Skates (children size 3 - 6) RRP $199.99 - Just what I have always wanted, but could just never fit in a Christmas stocking :)

They are ridiculous - they could be one of Ellen Degeneres' latest gadgets - the Shake Weight sequel!

I know I can only see the feet of the person on the side of the box, but she just looks incredibly uncomfortable.

Did you see? - any terrain? Because we all want to go hurtling down a gravel path without any brakes!

I was a bit confused when I noticed that the feet were different sizes, but then I remembered one of the unique features of this extreme sports equipment - adjustable footplate.

And last of all I especially love the IMPORTANT note on the side of the box...

...shoes not included :)

I honestly don't know what to do with this. Sell? Somehow I don't think there is a very big market for multi terrain skate technology...

And for interest sake, here is the list of all the prizes I could have won - I think I could have used every one of them except the quad skates! So now I have to figure out a way to transport them - other than on my feet! - otherwise they will continue to sit under my desk, only to be ill-advisedly used in random office shenanigans...so who really won here?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prize 1 Pat Thompson: 2 nights at a bach at Waikawa Beach (half way between Otaki and Levin) 2 bedrooms + sleep out, sleeps 8 comfortably $200
Prize 2 Scorpion Multi Terrain Quad Skates (children size 3-6) RRP $199.99
Prize 3 ORB Communication: Oricon Twin land line phone set w/ answering machine RRP $279
Prize 4 Zambezi: Women’s Cut and Blow dry voucher + kerastase Salon Ritual, both together $99 value
Prize 5 Normablue café: Set (12) Maxwell & William, vitrified china platters $250
Prize 6 Mojo Coffee: Assorted mojo products gift basket $100 value
Prize 7 BIC NZ: Gift basket of assorted BIC products $100
Prize 8 Tool Team Petone: Power built Socket set RRP $155
Prize 9 Empire Hotel Petone: Dinner Voucher $100
Prize 10 Halo Hair: Cut & Blow wave with Judy - $55 value
Prize 11 Aotea NZ Souvenirs: 6 x Koha Lanolin Hand Crème $47.40 & free postage in NZ (www.souvenirs.co.nz) $47.40 & free postage in NZ
Prize 12 Personal donation: Assorted Manuka Honey toiletries $50 value
Prize 13 Personal donation: Natio Spa Pep-up body cleanser and Natio Spa Coconut & Turmeric Body Butter $40 value
Prize 14 Maidstone Sports: bag value $25 & The Cycle Centre: $20 voucher & Sevens Bar & $25 stone grill voucher card (All Upper Hutt Businesses) Total $70
Prize 15 Tawa Central Fruits: Fruit & Vegetable Box $25 & Hardy St Meats Meat Pack $25
Prize 16 Mad Butcher: $40 gift voucher
Prize 17 Flannigan’s Dinner Voucher $50
Prize 18 Flannigan’s Dinner Voucher $50
Prize 19 Lever Rexona: Assorted Levers Rexona Products $50
Prize 20 Personal Donation : $40 Tegel turkey voucher
Prize 21 Kelly from Hutt City Cabs donated: $50 Normablue lunch voucher
Prize 22 Normablue café waterloo: $50 lunch voucher
Prize 23 Rob - Hutt City Cabs: Taxi Vouchers $25
Prize 24 Jessica the Florist: Fresh Plant gift wrapped & Living H.Q – giftware value $50
Prize 25 Treasure Island golf: Pirates Cove Mini Golf voucher TBC
Prize 26 Cricket Wellington: Family pass to a HRV Cup (twenty20) match of your choice at the Basin Reserve $35
Prize 27 ZEALANDIA: The Karori Sanctuary Experience, Family pass to ZEALANDIA $70 value
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Haha, I shouldn't really take anything away from the fund raiser though - they did a good job and it was super nice of them to bring it into work for me. It is just so typical for me! 

(for some unknown reason I am unable to put any spacing in... and then it randomly added its own? wtf - just deal with it, oaky, I'm too tired to fight with formatting thrice in one day)

Photo of the Day

@Stacey: I see your Canary Wharf and I raise you a Queens Wharf :)

It was such a beautiful evening tonight in Wellington - clear and no wind! What a pleasant walk home :)

Unexpected entertainment was happening at Queens Wharf - not sure exactly what was going on...

They started climbing the ropes and setting things on fire

I got bored and very cold after 2 minutes so carried on home.

Also just thought I would give you an example of Wellington weather. I have a pretty small window in my room, so when I am deciding what to wear for the day I generally peek out to see what Wellington has on the menu...It is always blue sky, but, without fail, it is raining by the time I get downstairs!

...and this is why...

This is a picture I took on Saturday morning as I was on my way to the train station - looking South. Looks like a pretty decent day, right?

Wrong!

I kid you not, I turned around on the spot and took a picture of the north side...

It was freezing, windy and the rain was a-coming. That is Wellington weather for you! ...like a box of chocolates? :)

Quote of the Day

"You can't teach an old tiger to change his spots" - Outrageous Fortune (New Zealand drama series).
My flatmates introduced me to this series tonight. I think it might turn out to be as annoyingly and fascinatingly addictive as the likes of Home and Away and 7de Laan. I miss 7de Laan...

Quote of the Day

"The investment strategy of an Investment Scheme is the responsibility of the Responsible Entity." - that summarises my work day. Got to love legal documents!
I swear at 16:23 I almost, almost caught my tail!
That is all...

Photo of the Day

It seems that all the art works and sculptures in Wellington City are transformed at night. I ended up leaving the city late last night and just stumbled onto these pretty sights that I openly mocked during the day as being slightly ridiculous. I eat my words, they are rather pretty at night. 

Well, actually, I still fail to understand the balls - I guess they do make the waterfront interesting and unique though and they are not unpleasant on the eye...