There's more to NZ than sheep, kiwifruit and LOTR

NO PERSON OF SANE MIND SHOULD GO WITHOUT A NANDOS FOR 3 MONTHS - 

I needed the quiet, cheeky satisfaction of a Portugese peri peri chicken with peri-salted chips. The hot spice was not so spicy as it was diluted with mayo and my pita was smeared with salad of all things; forcing me to be more nutritious. That is, until I picked most of it out! 

This probably doesn't say much about my taste in music but I was beyond PSYCHED to relive my youth at the reunion tour of 90s era pop bands - Liberty X, Atomic Kitten and B*Witched. And at what cost? Only the best $20 I've spent since living here! The night before, I scored a cheapie seat on Trade Me at 1/4 of the original ticket value. 

TEENYBOPPED WITH THE BEST OF THEM - 

We celebrated the girl groups and I'm not even slightly ashamed of this night of nineties joy and singing my soul out, as was the almost packed auditorium. An S Club Party was tremendously enjoyed minus S Club 3, who were due to perform but it later turned out that Jo's suspected food poisoning was a far more serious strangulated bowel. Bradley and Tina came on to wave and apologise but since they were in the building and their songs were played out they could have at least stuck around to dance with us!

An awesome DJ spun (or however decks work - I know not of the lingo) tunes from that decade including old school R n' B brilliance. Friends were made with my whole row as we lol-ed at the dance solo by a Boy Britney up in the balcony. 

IT WAS EVERYTHING MY 13 YEAR OLD SELF HOPED FOR - 

All the bands sang live and surprisingly tunefully including Kerry Katona who I was convinced couldn't hold a note! I swear down all these women look *exactly* the same as when they were topping the charts; WHY DON'T THEY AGE?!!! Liberty X were an awesome opener with the saucy Just a little and let's just say the men were not missed. 

I now pronounce the Kitties fabulousssss and B*witched were a quite charming, double-denimed, Lyndsay-less trio. A fun time was had by all in attendance!

GELATO IS WHAT GIVES MY LIFE SHADE AND MEANING - 

And I fell in love with an ice cream! The haute gelato (no less) from Giapo was incredibly dreamy. I'm not usually a lover of strawberry and cream as a flavour but this version is to be cherished and then a scoop of avocado, yes AVOCADO topped with toasted almonds and a fresh strawberry was heaven. 

Waitangi Day was spent laughing with some of New Zealand's finest as we went to check out the resplendent Awhitu Peninsula. My good friends and I assembled at Kalolo's then onwards to the historical Manukau Heads Lighthouse with FANTASTIC views from the top. Any old dimwit can photograph somewhere so spectacular but the lighthouse and beyond is beaut. 

I'M DIGGING NZ BADLY - 

It is good for my heart. How fortunate I am to live in the coolest country for a short time. Kalolo fed our bellies brilliantly with a picnic fit for princes and princesses. Shortly after we went on to Kariotahi beach for chilling. It's an affront to be in Auckland and not visit one of the volcanic, black sand beaches on the West Coast! 

I absolutely get the expression 'hotfoot it' as that's what happened to us in cartoonish fashion with the sand too scorching for bare feet. There was no chance I was swimming as the waves were insane. Zani girl be cray as I filmed her sand exfoliation Youtube tutorial as she smeared some all over her face; explaining the beauty benefits as she did so before washing it off with salty seawater. 

COR, I HAVE A SIMPLE, HAPPY, LITTLE LIFE HERE - 

This is largely owing to my beautiful buddies who are sooooo nice that they'll never escape me - mwahahahaaaaaaAAAAA :D As if we hadn't eaten plentifully previously we sat down to our Truckie banquet to feast upon garlic bread, steak, potato salad, fried eggs and the BEST chips I've tasted in NZ. So much deliciousness was put away that I had food baby triplets and it almost hurt. 

For afters, cinnamon apple crumble and ice cream hit the spot as sweet stuff is my kryptonite. Zani's Oliver 'please Sir, can I have some more?' request for an extra scoop of ice cream led to the prompt serving of TEN more to the table, especially for us! Our car full CAR-a-oked as would James Corden cos you can't have a road trip without a sing song. We slayed the likes of Whitney and many more besides! This merry Monday was obviously the highlight of my hols weekend.