Exploring Brisbane

Hi all. I am catching up with posts on my lunch break. I have three days left in work before I go to Wales for three weeks, and as you can imagine, I have a list of things to do as long as my arm! And having a broken laptop doesn't help!

A couple of weeks ago the bf and I popped off to Australia for a long weekend. We spent two nights in Brisbane and two nights in Noosa.

Here's what we got up to in Brisbane....

My suitcase had been neglected for a month!

As we fly so often we are gold Air NZ members and get to use the perks of the lounge - free bubbles and mags in this case!

Brisbane at night

Cocktails at a Turkish restaurant

This was a man-made beach in the city! Amazing!

I struggled to get a decent photo of the city hall...

The bf was a bit more determined than I was!

We hit the shops hard!

I really wanted this dress but it was too small. I'm gonna hunt it down online or just pick up a skirt and top and make my own version!

My goodies! I *heart* Aussie shops!

We went for Friday night drinks with my friend and her boss who were in Brisbane that weekend for business.
I wore my NEW LIME blazer, earrings and dress!

Cocktails on the riverfront :)

Brisbane was great. It rained all day on the Friday (our typical luck!!) but we spent most of the day in the shops so didn't mind too much ;)

Have you ever been to Brisbane?

What I did with five days off work - part one

Hey all, glad to hear that you all had fab Easter weekends! The uni I work for shut for three days, so in total I had a five day weekend - noice!!! :D

My time off involved a little bit of this and that...

As mentioned, the bf and I flew to Auckland. We stayed there Friday - Monday.

And had Mexican and margaritas on Friday night! Ole!

We ALWAYS take a trip to the Sky Tower when we stay in Auckland. It's the rules.

We lunched at the harbour....

And I was reacquainted with an old friend....

This was us in 2011 :)

I received a $60 Easter egg - that was DARK CHOCOLATE. I don't eat dark chocolate!!! Naughty bf!!

We went out for cocktails and dinner and found some very cool bars...

I wore a super huge quiff....

And ended in the Sky City casino :)

Share my journey!

Hello, and thanks for bearing with me as I update you on my last moments in the UK. I'm always sad to say goodbye to my home and my family, especially after spending so long there this time. I'm still missing home right now. Sniff sniff.

Something that lessened the sadness was the panic of fitting a million new beads and crafty bits into my (very generous) luggage allowance of three suitcases! My parents are horrified at how much I compulsively bought! But I couldn't resist as these things are hard to come by in NZ! (That was my justification anyway!)

I managed it (just about!) and had to leave a few things behind (for next time)...

Me and my three suitcases and three pieces of cabin baggage - and the hat I had to wear cos I couldn't pack it! hahaha!

Bye UK!! :(

The journey was eased by a wee upgrade to business class to Hong Kong - so sipping bubbly wine whilst waiting to take off was quite nice :)

Hong Kong - 13 hours in and a quick stop to refuel, strectch my legs and brush my teeth!!

And then eventually I was back at home with tonnes of this to unpack!!

And I have to figure out where to store all of these beads and crafty bits. (This about half of what I brought back!!!!) Yes I am mad. Bead-mad.

Have you ever been away on an extended vacation? How did you find settling back in? :)

I won something on Twitter! :)

Happy Halloween to those of you who are in a later timezone than me! Here it's already 1st November and I've sadly taken down most of my decorations already. I loved looking at all of your costumes and photos - great fun.

Last week I won a Twitter competition by Air New Zealand. I won a t-shirt by Huffer (an NZ designer). It's not my usual style but it'll come in handy for the gym - can't look a gift horse in the mouth after all! Air NZ are a really 'cool' airline and in the five times the bf and I have flown back to the UK, we've chosen to fly with them. They have a Twitter account called "AirNZFairy" and the fairy runs competitions and offers, it's a great social media tool. The fairy sent me my prize!

Cute bag it arrived in!

This is the Air NZ logo in smiley faces!

 

The card is in the shape of an airplane thingamajig! And was filled with gold hearts!

 

Have you ever won anything via Twitter? :)

P.S. If you're also on Twitter, find me! @sadiesadiesadie

Feejeeeee - Days One and Two!

Hi all, here are some pics from the first two days in Fiji. We flew Wellington - Nadi, then connected to a boat to take us out to the islands. Our first five days were spent on Mana Island, a very small island with just one resort. We went there last year and I cried when I had to leave (the Fijians sang the traditional farewell song on the dock as we were leaving and I was SO SAD!)....

Little boats come to collect passengers on the islands without a dock

Enjoying a glass of finest quality wine on the boat to Mana...ahh holidays!

Welcome to our island!

Watch behind you!! The bf was holding guests up to pap me!

 

The bf beating me to shore!

First night out -Butterfly top, Glassons; Vest, Primark; Harem trousers, Matalan; Bag, Primark.

DAY TWO....

Good morning!

An afternoon cocktail surprise from the bf :D

He also treated us both to an amazing massage at the resort spa

Second night out: Dress, Temt

Wedges, Hannahs; Gold bangles and starfish ring; Primark; Pink ring, Diva; Gold bag, Primark.

There were many mojito moments!

Watching the Wales v South Africa game! Shame Wales lost, but I found it amusing how everyone else there cheered us on against SA - Fijians, Chinese, Aussies and Kiwis!!

Little close up of my wooden parrot earrings. Well you know I love birds!!