Hi everyone ……… Hope your 2009 is starting well !!

Couldn’t believe the last update was way back in November ….

The Hughes household has been pretty active over the last few months ..new year sort of crept up on us really … it all started in November when mum and dad made their second trip of the year down under (very impressive….) chasing the sun. I had set the scene that it would be chucking down with rain, albeit cold and blustery ; totally wrong on my part - summer came early ….













A mammoth 24hr + trip all the way from the UK and no sooner had they arrived at Auckland airport then a few days later I had us on a plane down to Queenstown in the South Island (Sian, Reece and Debs left holding the fort)…. It was well worth it. Had never been before - don’t know why I left it so long ..its up there in the top places we have been to anywhere in the world …I know dad was impressed. I'd also forgotten what a lord of the rings fan I was, scenes were filmed all around this area … actually became a bit of a “ you know that scene from x was filmed here “ nerd - all good fun though.






























To top it all the All blacks were staying in our hotel … so I think mum and dad had a few stories to take back. Strange in a way as their presence was low key compared to the mania when Beckham came to town ..!! Sir David and his LA Galaxy played an exhibition game in Auckland vs an Oceania all stars team. The standard of the teams was a bit questionable - certainly wouldn’t want to watch the Galaxy week in week out - tactics are dead simple …get the ball , give it Beckham !! It was great fun though …..

Xmas and New year was spent split between Auckland , Papamoa and Rotorua - a bit of variety from City to Beach to geysers & mud pools ! Reece and Sian had a blast - think we have a budding boogie boarder in our midst….my job is just making sure I keep up and hoping Deb doesn’t freak when Reece catches the big ones - not easy …





































No January update would be the same without reference to the annual biggest music event to hit NZ - the Big day out …. a real mix this year …a few new bands to check out but it’s the headlining Neil Young that’s got the tongues wagging !! Should shift the age of the crowd up a few decades at any road to make me feel more at home :) Personally I’m looking forward to the Ting Tings and the Prodigy ….















Anyway wanted to keep it relatively brief ….have a great start of the year ……

:) P - a final word from the xmas Angel - Happy new year !!!