The weekend with our first ski trip of 2025

 Hi,

What a fabulous weekend - our first ski trip of the season. Thank you to Ana and Daniel for looking after us in Rolleston and driving us up and down the maunga both days.

We were up early Friday and on a flight to Chc at 7.45am. Super easy and Toby and Tessa came to see us. It was -3C when we landed - but really nice weather.

Early Fri flight

Strange bandit brekkie

Mike had to work - so off to Strange Bandit -which was packed. Had a nice brekkie there. Left Mike and we went to see the new flat that Toby and Tessa hope to secure. Looks nice from the outside. Let's see what happens. They want to move in later rather than sooner so I expect they will miss out on this one as it is available now.

Off to Sala cafe for a quick coffee. Then off to Wigram to look around and go to the movies to see Fantastic 4. Not a bad movie. Retro. Good.

Strange bandit

Good latte at Sala

Wigram has balls

Silky Otter for Fantastic 4

At the movies

Chilled for a bit then off to City Fitness at Burnside to workout with Tessa. A run and then rowing. Good fun. 

Gym session near our work

Mike finished work and we headed off to some dinner. Decided to try a pub in Wigram - The Good Home. Good food - a long wait as they were very full but it was really good. Definitely an older clientele, it made Mike and I feel quite young in comparison.

Dropped Toby and Tessa home and then drove to Ana and Daniel's place in Rolleston. The pups were in the kennels for the weekend ahead of a big ski weekend so we didn't see them until late Sunday.

We settled in to catch up on all the news and see some pics from their recent huge adventures in South America (then Europe).

Up early to be away from Rolleston by 7am. Got to the top of the maunga by 8.20am. Not as crispy as Friday.

Truck is ready

Early Saturday drive

Through the checkpoint and up to the top

Great day - the high winds had put punters off but it wasn't very bad at all. Dropped away by the afternoon.

Found Angus and he skied with Mike and Ana and Daniel a bit. Good to get a couple of days skiing done and build up my confidence more.

Let's do this

Bacon sliders and Vege sliders at the mountain cafe were quite delicious

Summit 6 

Such a good view from the top

DJ cranking sounds, a great vibe at the bottom

Back home to Rolleston and a shower and then off to Christchurch to see Toby and Tessa at the Vegan Night Market. The food was so good!

Saturday night Vegan Night Mākete

Toby and Tessa

Home again and off to bed at 7.30pm. I swear I was asleep by 8pm. We were both quite exhausted!

Up early again for a Sunday rinse and repeat. Away slightly later and in the top carpark by 8.30am. A lot busier today though. Nice conditions. Ana was on a snowboard in the morning with Daniel coaching her. So Mike and I skied together a lot.

Finished at 2.30 and got away down the mountain early so we could pack up and go to the Coachman and Ana and Daniel could pick up their two doggos.

Met everyone at Scoundrel, including Angus' new girlfriend who happened to be working as a waitress there. oohhhh.  Good to see Steph and Sam there too. Yummy food. Played with the dogs. What fun.

Sunday night Scoundrel

Awww

There's my boy

Dropped off Toby and Tessa and the car and walked back to Coachman for a sound sleep. 

Up early to fly back home. The Euro football final was on! It went to penalties just as I had to put my phone to flight mode.

Iced latte and football in the departure lounge

Good flight and drove the car home to see the cats.

And now at work.

Hope your weekend was great fun. Thank you to everyone for an awesome time.

Enjoy the week ahead.

Love,

Angela