After just one day back at work, my post mini-break glow has all but died. It was nice while it lasted though! So I shall try to recapture that inner buzz and tell you all about my weekend in Taupo

Sat

We set off at the sedate time of 11.30am in our friends borrowed van, sans smells of fresh paint this time though thankfully but with lots of interesting rattling sounds from the go-karts and related paraphenalia packed in. The weather, as is standard, turned to utter shite once we hit Waiouru and I had visions of a soggy and sorry weekend ahead. We decided to do a couple of touristy things before we checked into the Hotel; firstly to Huka Falls where we were almost the only 2 people without cameras slung around our necks (I kid you not) and then on to The Honey Farm just down the road where we tested and tried lots of honey and skin care stuff (well I did, the boy just wandered round aimlessly) and then indulged in quite possibly the tastiest Mochachino I have ever tasted. I cannot explain what was so damn good about it; prehaps it was merely due to the fact it was my first coffee of the day (and at 3pm was well overdue) or it was the perfect way to unwind after a slightly uncomfortable journey..or maybe that I didn't have to pay for it. What I do know is that I would highly recommend it, and their Ginger Shortbread biscuits.

So to the hotel - so gorgeous! Lush animal prints and beautiful shinning wood as far as the eye could see. The only downside was the teensy tinyness of our room. Because of the rail theme it was based on a rail sleeper cabin and consisted of wall, gap big enough to fit a book down, double bed, 1.5m walking area, wall. It was so tiny it was comical - one of us had to be sitting on the bed while the other got dressed! The bathroom was equally itsy - everytime I turned round in the shower my lard arse would knock the shower mixer and either turn it up to scolding hot (which would result in my squealing like a live pig on a spit) or turning it off all together (which would also result in my squeling like a live pig on a spit)...much to the amusement of Michael and probably the annoyance of the guests in the next room. We relaxed in the bar before going out to dinner at the delightfully named “Mole and Chicken.” Then back to the hotel room to relax, watch some crappy telly and catch some Zzzzs in preparation for

Sunday

for a full on day of awesome racing at the Kart Track after an obscenely early start, not helped by Daylight Savings kicking in (Grumble grumble). One upside to the crack of sparrows start was we were first to the Hotel Restaurant for the sumptuious breakfast feast that awaited; two different types of bread for toasting, muffins splits, crumpets, pikelets, an array of cereals, fruit of both canned and fresh varieties, yoghurts of every flavour under the sun, juices, teas, coffees and the site that brought joy to my heart; crossiants, pastries, muffins and danishes of every description to make your mouth water and your wasitline expand. Better still, we got to feast again the following day!

Racing was awesome (even if the weather threatened to come down on us throughout the day) and left plenty of time at the end of the day for drinks in the hotel bar before dinner I am ashamed to say that I was comaed out before 10pm that night; I just could not keep my poor little eyes open after the early start and busy day (over 13,000 steps on my pedometer that day; my new record!).

Monday

was pure crappyness weather wise in Taupo, but we braved the showers, and the school kids on holiday and did the shops, watched some Asian tourists throw themselves off the Taupo bungee (mad!) and then beginning a slow mosey home via a lovely secluded beach on the edge of Lake Taupo to collect some pumice...and that is not a euphamism...for maybe it is ...and then a visit to the Army Museum. The display on the 150 year history of the Victoria Cross was pretty special and if you are heading through that way I would recommend a stop. Lastly we detoured out to Gravity Canyon (damn, that is a loooong way down) just outa Taihape (where the tumbleweeds blow and the skanks abound, right  thewickerman? ) and finially arrived home around 5pm having had to crash start my beloved's car when we swapped the van back over as the starter motor had finally died on it.

And thus, the mini break was over and it was home to feed and cuddle my poor neglected cats, do copious amounts of accumulated laundry and get driven slowly madder and madder (like a twisted variation of Chinese Water Torture) from the dripping of rain through the still not fixed hole in my ceiling.

In the words of that grand early 90s movie, before Wynona discovered her lack of shoplifting ability : Reality Bites.