Sunday 21 February 2016

Edinburgh Military Tattoo! Wellington Westpac Stadium.

As far as I was concerned this was a must see.  We had seen the original tattoo at Edinburgh Castle in 1995.

Known as the "greatest show on earth, Scotland's Military Tattoo has a 65 year history.  Coming to Wellington for an exclusive New Zealand performance how could we miss it.

Queuing already at 6pmQueuing already at 6pm show doesn't open until 8.30pm.Mockup of Edinburgh CastleGreat seats in front of the ‘castle’

Our original plan was to take ‘Gypsy Rover’ down to Ngatitoa Domain and make a weekend of it and catch the train in. We are glad we didn’t as there were Motorhomes and Caravans everywhere as people had travelled from near and far all looking for somewhere to park.

We drove to Paraparaumu and left our car at our friends and travelled in by train together. Getting home at 2am was a bit hard at our age though.

Welcome to Bill EnglishMaori welcome to Hon Bill English, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand.Combined BandsCombined Bands.Looks like the real thing. Maori Wecome.Looks like the real thing. Maori Welcome.NZ Army Band.NZ Army Band.

Performances from Top Secret (Switzerland), Royal Marine Band, Royal Air Force Band, Welsh Guards Army Band, The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band, HM The King of Norway’s Guards Band and Drill Team, New Zealand Army Band, Auckland Police Pipe Band, and the internationally renowned Wellington’s Lochiel Marching Team.

Who would know it was a mockup castle?Who would know it was a mockup castle?1200 participants!1200 participants!Lochiel Marching Team in front New Zealand Champion Lochiel Marching Team in front.

Only four fantastic performances the last one is tonight, the show has now become the  most popular Wellington Show of all time. Congratulations Wellington.

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Lets go to South Wairarapa!

Last weekend we had a club rally near Martinborough.  Several of us decided to take a couple of days extra and take a look around.

IMG_0561A great POP behind the Fell Museum in Featherston.IMG_0563Not sure I like these roads too much.IMG_0575Cape Palliser Lighthouse, yes (some of us )climbed the 234 steps.IMG_0596Seals on the beach at Ngawi.IMG_0606We even did some freedom camping on the south coast.IMG_0604Time for an ice cream.IMG_0641Hanging over the edge with the sea eroding the cliffs.IMG_0662Scary cliff faces.IMG_0667What can you see?IMG_0610That’s the best we could get, they did how wonderful sunsets and we missed it.IMG_0654Club picnic on the beach at Lake Ferry.IMG_0668Lake Ferry looking out to the south.IMG_0674Christening the new BBQ.

We had a wonderful weekend and even got back to the old kite flying.  Haven’t done that for a long time. Another few weeks and we are rallying on a farm. Now that will be interesting.