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 !!!

happy birthday grandad!!

happy birthday Grandad ......21 today !!!

see you soon

love Reece and Sian :) XX

The clocks go forwards ..............

Hi everyone

Well summer is officially here ! The clocks changed last weekend …… so just thought I would let you know we are now exactly 12hrs ahead of the UK, 20hrs ahead of Los Angeles and Vancouver …. And a good old 3hrs ahead of Sydney ……now all we need is the weather to go with it - although to be fair we have a good week….

So, a bit of a milestone is fast approaching , no not my birthday - it’s 2 more months and we will have been here 4 years - must have a bit of celebration - especially when you consider that when we embarked on the this little adventure Deb and I made a commitment to 2 years irrespective of the ups and downs that might come up…. Not sure where all the time has gone - The fact we have 2 pommies and now 2 kiwis in the family probably explains some of the blur …..

What’s in the news down here you mayask ? Well if you cast aside all the column inches dedicated to the financial mess in the US the main thing here is the General election coming up - on Nov 8th . Going to be a tricky one I think. On one level you have a nation feeling that we need change , on the other hand you have a national party (read conservative) in the last few weeks that have dropped some real gaffs that suggest you just can’t trust a word they say behind the glossy billboard advertising. ..... The only other option worth considering is the Greens - which given that we will more than likely have a coalition govt wouldn’t be a wasted vote; they have about 6% of the vote in NZ which is significant enough to influence some policies ….. Their campaign certainly says it all (see below). Couldn’t imagine Gordon Brown or the Mr Cameron with such slogans ….. Quite refreshing …….

Not sure If I told you but I am in training at the moment for the Auckland Ocean Swim. There is a series that runs around the country through the summer months - so I signed up for the 1st one on Nov 16th - its 2.8km across the harbour which works out at about the equivalent of 112 lengths of a 25M pool …. Should be interesting as I reckon I’m a half decent swimmer but I have certainly never swum this far …. - had one nervous moment when I realised I had entered a time of 1hr 15 mins to complete the swim , and then realised I didn‘t have the faintest idea as to how long it would really take me. I'm glad to report that I should make it.

Last thing I wanted was to be the bloke that was pulled out of the water by the rescue boat and televised on the TV3 news !!! - have to confess it took a bit of persuading Deb , she was convinced I was going end up as shark food or like one of the seals that those killer whales “play” with on those David Attenborough docos (Orcas are relatively common in these parts) ….finally mangled to persuade her it was ok and my life insurance covered it ! …last fatal attack was 1920 anyway !!

Reece has just started school holidays this weekend so its day trips for the next 2 weeks - top of the list so we have just been told is 1) The Farm 2) The Zoo to see the baby tigers with Sian 3)The jungle (read the bush) to hunt for dinosaurs …..

Speaking of the Bush ….News today is that where we live “the Waitakeres’, has achieved national heritage status which is another way of saying that extra policies are now in place to protect the natural area that we live in - limiting roads and new housing projects that damage the natural bush - doesn’t sound much I know but this campaign has been running a number of years so to get this status will no doubt have some people dancing in the streets (sorry leafy forest footpaths !)

Anyway …that about does it for this instalment …. take care everyone …… let us know what your upto …..:)

Before I go though this little update wouldn’t be complete with our mention of Liverpool and the fact the are joint top of the league - staying up late at the weekend to watch Torres put Everton out their misery was a joy to watch …after me everyone Torres Torres Torres !!!!

A Day off at last..............................

Hi everyone

I finally managed to take a day off from work recently (was planning on a ski break but the windy weather conspired against me).... not to worry though the alternative gave me an opportuntity to get the camera out and head out to the west coast about 25-30mins from Auckland....so backpack & boots and a 4 hr walk later ....

I thought you might be interested in some of the photos I took - all around Piha beach and into the bush of the Waitakeres....

Hope you you like em :) P

Spring is on its way ...maybe

Hi everyone

Another little note from down under that hopefully finds you all well, just as the kiwis (and pommies) are looking forward to spring ......... been a while since we have let you know how the little un's are doing , so what better way to start..... Reece is cracking along at school .... had our second parents evening the other week and all seems like he's doing well. Reading is really improving which gives dad a rest as now Reece can read me stories after 5 years of the other way around!. Wait a sec ...... Reece is sat next to me and asked me if he could share his favourites with you :)

Favourite Team - Liverpool. (Reece did ask me who Man Utd was so I felt I had to introduce him to the concepts of what's right and what really is just plain wrong :))
Favourite Colour : Red
Favourite Band : U2
Favourite Animal: Lion
Favorite TV Prog: Ben10

Latest thing he is picking up at school is Maori - impresses me and Deb , as all we know is Kiora and Harea Mae.....little clip enclosed.





Sian has just started to go to Kindy a few days a week so a big event really .... she appears to be enjoying things so far.In the next few months it will be more of a full time thing .... have included a few piccies taken the last week or so .... glad to report both of them are getting on really well and compliment each other - even defend each other when one of them has been upto no good :)!


Anyway was just a short one - ta ta for now

:)P

Sounds for August .....

Hi there listeners ....change of topic this week .... wer'e going to take a look at what little kiwis downunder are listening too ...10 albums in all to take a peek at ...here goes

5 Albums well worth a look

Can nothing can stop the Foos ..latest album is a great rock treat

Back to his old ways , not heard of since Odelay !!

Hard to classify Santogold - A woman with attitude .....
Repeat after me "that's not my name , that's not my name"
Sister Bliss steps out of the Faithless spotlight to create a great compilation set
And the next 5 ......Albums well worth a risk ( some new names here )

You may have heard of these chaps before - recently played to a packed house in Auckland great guitar / blues .....

PJ on top form - The Piano - is a stark but hugely enjoyable listen ..sticks with you days after you have heard it ...

Could this be Primal Scream back to their crazy best ? Why Yes !
Bought this today - not sure how to decsribe them - some great lyrics ....
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - my find of the month (thanks Brother :) ) been going years - don't know how I missed them ...playing a pub in Auckland next month can't wait !

That's all folks ...hope you have fun tacking these albums down

Cheerios for now

Phil :)

Storm Warning !

Hi Everyone …… hope you are all enjoying a nice warm summer (those of you in the northern hemisphere that is) . In stark contrast we are sitting here in the aftermath of the North Island being hit by the worst storm in a decade…….

The weather bomb - that’s what it’s being referred to as by the weather chaps - left a trail of destruction across the North Island, cutting power to more than 60,000 homes, giving us blasts of up to 165km/h, bringing down trees , flooding roads…oh yeah and half the nation couldn’t watch the All Blacks v Wallabies live on TV ….

We only got our power back on after 12 hrs of darkness ….. Reece and Sian loved it mind you, all one big adventure …..We actually weren’t hit that badly but then we are sheltered by the Waitakere ranges somewhat …the same couldn’t be said for those people who saw their boats ripped from their moorings and the 10,000 skiers from Mt Ruapehu who had to be evacuated off the mountain as 200km/h winds lashed the slopes…. The SkyTower was even closed because the spire was swaying too much …. :)




Enough of the weather eh…… things have been quite active despite the winter climate……we have still been managing to get nice walks on the beaches ( looking out for the beached orcas - one came ashore 2 weeks ago and had to be transported out to safety … I kid you not !) and give the little uns some exercise (code for tire them out so they don't wear us out :)) Reece and Sian both love exploring ... its really great to see.....

We also had our first trip to the planetarium - and possibly the last for a while - great build up until we got into the stardome , where I stupidly suggested that we were going into space - promptly left after 10mins as Reece didn’t think that space travel on a Sunday afternoon was such a a great idea …..

Anyway , going to fly ..that's our little update …take care and hope to hear from you soon …..
:) P

ps. Sian and Reece asked me to share with you their latest drawing