Ok we're very behind on the blog so take yourself back to November 2010, the next event in our calendar was the Toast of Martinborough which is a wine festival held at the 11 vineyards in Martinborough to toast the new season of vines.
We all met at the train station to catch the 9.30 train. Here I am with Hannah who was later known as Miss Marple thanks to her darling Dave who decided she looked like her in her new hat!
The boys found some time to play with dan's poker dice. They played with the monopoly money we changed up for cash, they don't accept cash at the vineyards during the festival.
When you arrive you change up your ticket for a wine glass which hangs around your neck. Then you jump on a shuttle bus and they drop you at the vineyards. the buses run all day doing a circuit to each vineyard. All the vineyards have a bar with with all their wines and food, they also have live music playing throughout the day.
Here we are at the first vineyard.
Onto the next vineyard and we've met up with the rest of the gang....
Here's a distance shot of one of the vineyards to give you an idea of what they were like...
On the move to the shuttle bus and onto the next vineyard...
Here's Dan proving you can still spill wine down yourself even with a wine glass that hangs around your neck!
On the bus again...
This ones for Shelly - still practicing the poses - chins down eyes up!
Krissie & Hannah laying down some moves...
This guy wanted to get 75 people on his stage by the end of the day, you would have to be completly drunk or a little crazy to even think of doing this, of course dan one one of the first on there.
The weather had been bad all day - check out the clouds - but the sun finally came out...
Here was are on the move again. Now let's not let it be said that Miss Marple doesn't know when she's being photographed you can just spot her in the background in Coral....
Getting closer...
Got ya!
When we got to my fave vineyard 'Atarangi' the sun really started to shine, so we laid out for a bit, this guy decided he wanted to share his red wine with Dan!!
Me and my Sis catching some rays...
The girls....
More poker dice gambling!
On the move again you can see all the baby vines to the right
We managed to blag our way onto to a private coach full of people and booze which made Justin happy as he doesn't like wine and unfortunately they don't sell anything else at a wine festival! I thought this Samoan dude was cool....
It was an amazing day and after testing all the wines it was time to get the train back to Wellington for a well deserved pizza!
Before we knew it it was time to put the Christmas Tree up... ok so we put it up at the end of November!
When you have a summer Christmas you have to go all out to get in the spirit check out our fairy lights...
Enough of that Christmas lark then it was time to start work on the 'dick' (deck).
Back to Christmas and our first and last 'Christmas' night out with Rona. To save on taxi fair home Rona sorted us out a hotel room at very reasonable price. Check out the views.....
Nice room...
We didn't have the room to ourselves for long before people started to arrive for pre drinks...
Rona had stocked the fridge with our fave drink falling water' which is a vodka called 42 below which is made here in Wellington, Chi herbal mineral water, ice and a large piece of cucumber. Here's our gorgeous bar lady :)
Out on the balcony..
Then it was time to see how many we could fit in the lift!
There was a massive Cristmas Tree made of lights accross the road with loads of bean bags to lay on while you look up the lights change colour, Rona and Dan enjoyed it a bit too much :)
This is the view from beneath it....
There were telephone boxes with direct lines to Santa! Dan could not believe his luck, this year he didnt have to write santa a letter.
Then is was onto a bar for some Christmas/Goodbye drinks...
Check out the view in the monring...this is Orinetal Bay just gorgeous..
Managed to find a spot in the sun for breakfast and a coffee in Wellington....
Every day I get the train to and from work I see a lovely walk through the gorge so we went to check it out...
It was gorgeous and got us thinking about the next part of our trip but before we pack up and leave we've got the arrival of the Lawrence's (my folks), Christmas and New Year. All that to come in the next blog.....
So that's why Santa was engaged, you were hogging the line.
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