And the times, they are a-changing...

Craig and I used our nice long holiday to firm up some plans for our future. It's a two year plan at this stage, so nothing very exciting for this year, but things will start happening next year - guess you'll all have to stick around to see what's up!

So, this year is all about getting some things done. The main one is the renovations to our little cottage. It's tiny and we love it that way, but it needs some major layout changes and I need a kitchen that can at least fit a dishwasher and a microwave! We're extending from 72 sq.m. to 80 - doesn't sound like much but gives us the space we need to make the internal changes, then we'll add a big deck on the back (with a pizza oven).

We've been mucking about with these plans for almost a year, so we've got to get on with things. Tuesday night is now planning night for us - to make sure we have things on track and work out what's next.

I also am making some changes to my health and fitness stuff. For too long I've been just meandering along. I need to ensure I have the skills to stay fit and control my weight - no matter what changes in lifestyle or circumstances we may go through.

So, I am going to spend 12 weeks with Hamish (who some of you will remember from Helena's blog). This will include body audits, 2 PT sessions a week, time with a nutritionist and lots of learning! This all starts on 8 February, after my triathlon. We have suspended our membership at the gym for 3 months while I do this - Craig is injured, so his focus for those 3 months will be to get his shoulder right. I think he may be facing some surgery there.

A big focus on saving for us this year too. We are fortunate enough to not have a mortgage, so we should be able to stash away a fair bit. Have to cut back on the overseas holidays!!!! That said, we do have a short trip to Adelaide booked for the end of March - my sister there is having her 50th; about 10 of us are going over from here.

I feel really good about all these plans - we work so much better as human beings if we have goals and focus. I know it is much better for Craig and I in our relationship if we have a feel for where we are headed.

Of course, plans don't have to be set in stone...

Is it over already!

I’m still trying to pretend I’m not back at work! As always, having to wear shoes again is one of the hardest parts – and I’ve only got as far as tinted moisturiser and a bit of eye colour; can’t do the full make-up thing just yet!

It didn’t help that when we got home to Wellington on Saturday it was just 12 degrees! We actually lit the fire.

We did about 2200km on our holiday and had a really cool time. We stayed at Paekakariki for the first week, then trailed our way through: Taupo, Whitianga, Omokoroa, Maketu, Ohiwa Beach, Waikite Valley then back to Paekakariki. So, for a quick summary:

Best coffee:
Two Fish Café in Opotiki

Best find:
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools – if you camp there you get free use of the pools, even when the staff aren’t there. They empty the pools each night, but they’re full again by 5.30am. They don’t open to the public till 10am so it’s like having your own private thermal wonderland. There are only about 16 sites so we're not talking a horde of people!

Best camping ground:
Ohiwa Beach – surf on one side and the harbour for kayaking on the other.

Best place we stayed:
Mercury Bay Holiday Park with Helena and Craig. It was just so wonderful to see them and to see what a great life they’ve made for themselves (and apologies to the other bloggers up there who I didn’t get around to contacting).

Best tourist spot:
Without doubt, the Driving Creek Railway. Met up with some friends (and a niece) who were staying nearby and went on this very cool train ride. If you do nothing else on the Coromandel, do this.

Best treat:
The Lost Spring in Whitianga. We had a very luxurious soak in the hot pools (love being served cocktails in the pool!), then Craig had a massage and I had a Sea Kelp and Coffee Body Wrap. Heaven!

Best first experience for Sue:
I’ve never been to the speedway before, but we went in Tauranga. I wouldn’t bother with speedway again – but the caravan demolition derby at the end was one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen.