Around the world in 407 days.....

So, our time in NZ draws to a close.

We fly out of Palmerston North tonight, which has been our home for the last 407 days.  We head back to the UK, to the next chapter of our life which no doubt will be just as exciting.

Our final route will take us through the US via Los Angeles, so technically we will have completed our round-the world trip. Phileas Fogg only beat us by 327 days, but I bet he didn't shoot deer, eat Kingfish and go Penguin spotting with a young girl named Scroggin?!

We are excited to be near friends and family that we haven't seen for far too long, and are sorry to leave some newer friends and an unbelievably beautiful country behind.  This has been an amazing two years that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Farewell New Zealand; you have been a good friend.

The funniest thing I have read all year....

...and who would have thought that Smurfette was a misogynistic Aryan??  I just thought she was hot!

A wine for the kids....or maybe not?

Just so long as it doesn't take this form.......unless it comes from a certain 'castle' called 'Le Pin'.

It's not McWilliam's, it's mine!

The newest addition to the family!

Finally we welcome Sammy the Sika to our home.  He is a good 'flat' mate.......

Couldn't resist the 'before' photo.....

and the glorious 'after' shot!

and as previously mentioned, soon to be joined by Ronnie the Red!

Coming soon to a wall near you...

I decided that Sammy the Sika was going to need some company, so I went out and found Derek who said he would be only too glad to keep him company.

Excellent.

This was all conveyed at a distance of 249m, message delivered via a 6.8mm bullet travelling at roughly 635m/s.

All that remains now is to get a house with strong enough walls to hold him (and more room in the freezer)!

Derek the deer

'Rapturous' applause required.

Once again, despite the threat of coronary heart disease (from 7 KFC burgers), we appear to have cheated death.

'Rapture' not seen.

However I was looking forward to being beamed up to a cloud and watching the view from there.  Oh well better luck next time.

I think there are only two things better than the world not ending:

1) Watching England win the world cup later this year.
2)  Reading Harold Camping's excuses in the paper tomorrow (just hope he didn't strangle his ex-wife, garrote the bank manager and shoot his boss).

 what      the               hell?             house     ......       shaking                                  thunder                    and                                                            lightn               ning         tsu          ........         nami                   didn't......         get      .............             ........ sums                                                  wrong        .................
                            .............Forgive                             me                          ......             Lord!

Double Down, Double Up, Double Over!

Well now that my dear wife has put a strange sense of normality on the Blog, and no doubt shocked the 3.7 million readers out there by not typing ridiculous missives, I though it high time to return to random ramblings.

So here we are, a real need to share with you the latest import to the fine shores of this country.  And it comes at a time of controversy.  Prime Minister John Key has come under a touch of scrutiny that he has mis-sold New Zealand, and that it in fact is not as green as the '100% Pure' adverts has led certain intrepid travellers to believe.

Now me, being a fervent (and ardent) supporter of the green rolling hills, and babbling trout filled brooks of this fine country was dismayed when I found a source of pollution  far closer to home; one that tarnishes the reputation of healthy living that this country offers.  This is what I found......(and o.k yes tried myself...)

Pollution for the arteries!

Here are the brutal facts of this monstrosity!  480 calories (it only weighs 253g) of those 480 a rather tubby 220 calories come from fat alone (thats 25g of fat, oh yes).  Now moving on to salt....brace yourself....17.7g of salt!  Oh how good it should taste.....

It didn't......I was left feeling decisively rubbish; in fact like I had eaten 25g of fat and a lot of salt....funny that?  God, it doesn't even look that appetising! 

On that happy calorific note I shall end, thankful that I have run 2 half marathons this week, burning off enough calories to eat 7 of these.......feel sick at the prospect.....but what a man test.....an idea forms.....