Wow. The past week has gone by in a flash – I can’t believe it’s been more than a week since I last blogged! There has been so much going on that I want to write about…so here goes!
Taste of New Zealand
Last Wednesday Rian and I went to the opening night of Taste of New Zealand at Victoria Park. We arrived at the very start, and stayed until the man over the loudspeaker announced it was closing! Although it was muddy and raining (typical Auckland, aye), it was a brilliant evening.
Highlights included 2nd row seats for Nadia’s (Masterchef winner) nasi goreng demo, laksa from Rick Stein’s Malaysia Kitchen (which inspired me to create my own laksa a few nights later), Petal cupcakes (salted caramel for the win!) and The People’s Wine tent – where you could create your own bottle label. Good times.
Possibly the most amazing moment though was seeing Rick Stein in real life. In the flesh! I know, I couldn’t believe it either! Only wish I could have gone again to see his demonstration.
Purchases included:
This amazing pomegranate balsamic vinegar. Tangy and delicious, it is going to make the perfect salad dressing. Imagine it drizzled over barbecued chicken! Mm-mmm.
These natural fizzy drinks by Pete’s Natural. They are seriously good. And it was only when I got home that I realised they are made just up the road from home! (I live in Auckland at the moment, but Brightwater is home to me).
I don’t drink a lot of fizzy, but I really love these drinks. The lemonade tastes just like the fresh lemonade you used to make as a kid, but fizzier! And the orange-berry fusion is a much tastier interpretation of fanta. Yum!
Maison Therese relishes. Tomato, Beetroot and Balsamic Onion. They fill up our empty fridge and add a whole lot of flavour to everything.
Friends
My best friend came to stay for the long weekend! (I’m trying to convince her to move to Auckland…). We had the BEST time.
The Black Seeds!
Frothy coffees. Caramel Timtams. Cadbury Mint Bubbly chocolate (when we flatted together in Wellington last year we were obsessed with the stuff!). Chatting about life. Chatting about jobs (or lack therof). Pad Thai and cider at the Food Alley. More cider and the RWC Bronze final at Northern Steamship. Porridge with banana and brown sugar. Shopping in Newmarket. Catching the train. Beyonce. Freshly squeezed juice. The Black Seeds. Creepy hair-sniffing man. Getting amongst the RWC waterfront festivities. Feijoa cider. Corn chips, salsa and guacamole. The Spice Girls, Steps and The Ketchup Song. RWC final. All Blacks winning! Well-deserved Monday breakfast at McDonalds.
Lots of photos and lots of fun. Dee, please come back!
Rugby
Oh, that’s right. We won the world cup!
Queen St when we won the world cup. Yowza!
Rian and I are lucky enough to live right where all the RWC action was going down at the Auckland waterfront fanzone. We must have had about 30 odd people over to watch the game….in our little one-bedroom apartment! Needless to say it was a bit of a squash, especially when the game started to get really stressful, but was SUCH a good time.
On Monday afternoon Rian and I watched the victory parade on Customs St. It was super busy, but very cool to see all of the All Blacks.
Now that it’s over, I feel a little bit sad. It’s become much quieter down our end of town, and I keep wondering what we are ever going to do with our weekends now?! I’ve forgotten what life was like before the Rugby World Cup!
I wish I could relive the weekend over and over. It was perfect!
How was your weekend, where ever in the world you are?
Xx Christie
