Roadtrip and other ramblings

Jake and I (and 16 other boys and 7 other adults) are off to Rotorua this morning for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Underwater Hockey Championships. I have always made it a policy not to travel on the bus with smelly teenage boys, so Robyn (mother of Jake's best mate) and I are going in my car. We're also taking her teenage daughter to drop her off in Taupo on the way.

Girlie roadtrip, my favourite! Plenty of coffee and a quick stop at that Bendon factory outlet in Otaki. Sweet!

The roads will probably be busier than expected, as half the country seems to be headed for Ngaruawahia for Dame Te Ata's tangi.

This will be the third year of the last four Jake and I have been away for Mark's birthday, as it always clashes with winter tournament week. The cupboards are well stocked with treats for him while we're away (including a little chocolate mud cake). He won't suffer too much - there's an industry function on Thursday night and he's racing the 600 (not the new bike) at Manfield on Saturday.

Hopefully he'll have eaten all the cake before I get back!

The motel in Rotorua has no ovens (!), so the usual feeds of roast chicken and baked pasta dishes are out. I have some lovely big stockpots with me, so stovetop pasta dishes and butter chicken look likely. Unless they've got a BBQ, in which case homemade burgers will make an appearance.

About the $900 clothing spree - sometimes you need to take me with a grain of salt. Although I did get two pairs of Levis yesterday. I haven't worn Levis for about 15 years and I just love them. Marg, I had to chuckle when Mark pointed out I now have a gap between my legs, it reminded me of an old post of yours.

A big wave to my parents, who are on their 2 month holiday in Canada. They were flying from San Francisco to Canada the day the terrorism arrests were made, so you can imagine they had all sorts of fun getting on that flight - particularly as they didn't know about it all until they got to the airport.

My August exercise challenge looks like going down the toilet. When I set all my goals I didn't know I would be going to Auckland every week. I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it, so long as I get some sort of exercise every day and my weight heads in the right direction. Eating-wise, the Auckland trips are quite good for me - I stay in an apartment and the only food is what I buy, so there can be no pantry-grazing. I stock up on fruit the day I get there and then usually get something like Japanese takeout for dinner. Lots of healthy options in Parnell, so that makes it easier. Although I have to admit, Emily, there is the treat of Burger Fuel just up the road.

Time to pack up the car and wake up the boy.