Maria and I were straight back into busy-busy working once our Tasman holiday ended.
Whilst we were away, Chris had off-loaded his car to the local breaker's yard - realising a $730 loss on a $800 "investment" after 4 weeks of ownership!
Brendan, Steffi and Olivia popped back into Christchurch for an evening before heading off to Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula for a couple of nights and then we had Jack and Evelyn arrive. We celebrated their first night in NZ - and what we thought was Brendan, Steffi and Olivia's last night in NZ - by hosting a BBQ - also inviting Matt and Lou around. It was a lovely evening.
To our surpise, Brendan, Steffi and Olivia were still around at breakfast the following morning! They had been unable to board their 6am flight due to not having the correct visa for a 10 hour stop-over in Sydney - and there was not customs staff to process one for them. So they were to have an extra day here in Godzone.
It took a few days for Jack and Eve to fully acclimatise and recover from their jet-lag. The weather was not particularly great for their first few days, but at least it wasn't too much of a climate shock for them. Maria and I had a busy week working - I actually held my first all day course - or at least a Day 1 from my 2-day i2i course. My audience were 7 of my BNI group who had been keen to experience what it was I actually did! They all seemed reasonably impressed with the experience - at least no-one cancelled coming to the 2nd Day (see later!).
We had arranged to head off to Wanaka for the last week of the school Summer holidays - staying at our landlady's (Nicky) skiing chalet - with Jack and Eve. Chris had managed to get some time off his work this time around - though not the whole week! - so he joined us for a couple of days of fun.
We spent the first night in Tekapo - staying at "The Chalet" - where we had stayed 3 years ago on our first trip. It's positioned on the lake edge and has fantastic views across the water and of the surrounding mountains. The weather was beautiful and the sun cast some fantastic shadows and different colours across the slopes as it set - whilst we sat chilling on the verandah. We then sat star-gazing as the night sky seemed to become alive and you could almost touch the Milky Way!
The following morning we headed up to the Mount John observatory to take in the great views across MacKenzie Country then departed south towards Wanaka - with the obligatory photo stop at the Mount Cook viewing point. The peaks were a bit overcast today - but we were to get some clear shots when we called in again on the return journey north later in the week. 
We had a fantastic week in and around Wanaka.
Maria, the kids and I had a go at quadbiking up near Cardrona - which was great fun and very amusing when Chris got stuck in a swamp and had to be towed out!
Of course, no trip to Cardrona is complete without calling in to the Cardrona Hotel for lunch. 
We enjoyed a trip over to Queenstown and a gentle steam across the lake on the Earnslaw to Walters Peak and back. AJ Hackett's Karawau Bridge bungee site was re-visited once more - but this time I resisted the temptation! I guess it didn't seem as appealing without having the pleasure of seeing Mike Guyomar putting himself through the mental torture of preparing to jump just ahead of me!
Further nautical adventures were to include Sarah and I taking a catermaran out onto Lake Wanaka for a very enjoyable sail
Maria, Sarah and I taking the River Clutha Jet Boat experience along NZ's biggest river (by volume flow); plus Sarah taking her water-hating grand-father onto Lake Wanaka aboard a very dangerous and life-threatening pedelo.
Sarah and I also visited Puzzlingworld whilst Jack and Maria went off cycling towards Lake Hawea.
The next day, we were all to head over to Lake Hawea for an afternoon's lazing on the beach and a picnic. 
It is a beautiful place. But then, so are most places around and about!The local beach at Lake Wanaka - heading towards Peninsula Bay - saw a visit from us most evenings - for a late dip in the water or an open-air dinner.
At the end of the week, Jack and Eve headed off further south in the campervan - Milford Sound was their ultimate destination - and we headed back to Christchurch.
Another busy week - including the 2nd day of my 2-day course - and then it was the turn of Ted and Sheila to arrive. Jack and Eve returned too, after a weeks touring the Fjords and a revit to Tekapo to take part in a star-gazing experience at the observatory.
So this weekend we've had a houseful. We enjoyed an evening of classical music in Hagley Park on Friday and then Matt and Lou invited us around for a BBQ at their new house yesterday. Yesterday, I delivered my first lecture to the boys at the Asia Pacific Football Academy - which went very well. There may be hope for me yet!
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