New Zealand trip 2008
Later on the Sunday, we decided not to go on this crazy elasticated launching mechanism. 'Specially not on a cloudy day.
We met up with Ste Dillea and co. later that evening, in a Belgian bar. I ordered an Oxtail casserole, which came with the odd pea. I don't like peas.
Ste, on the other hand, had the mussels, discovering in the process that the mussels pan lid was a good fit.
I enjoyed a fine bottle of Kwak, a strong lager served in a unique glass and stand.
So, New Zealand started the final day (Monday) on 242-6, needing 196 runs to win the match. It was unlikely, but not beyond the realms of possibility. However, Sidebottom soon extended the long odds further by ousting Vettori for a duck. The shot below isn't of the wicket being taken - but imagine it is.
This prompted the Barmy Army to get right behind Sidebottom, as they had done the previous day. In fact, one or two of the wickets taken by Sidebottom were attributed to the Barmy Army as the roars they let out during the bowler's run-up had resulted in the dismissal of New Zealand batsmen. We thought so, anyway. It wasn't too long before Mills had departed, again to Sidebottom, taking the last of his five wickets. Here we can see the mighty Sidebottom in action.
A partnership of 41 between Gillespie and McCullum then ensued, and with the dangerous McCullum still at the crease, anything was possible. But with the last ball of an Anderson over, Gillespie was caught behind. Sidebottom must have been quite far away since he's still not joined the post-wicket huddle.
Then, in the very next over, McCullum aimed a swipe at Panesar, and it skied up to Sidebottom at long on, right in front of us, and he pocketed it. He turned to the Barmy Army and pointed towards us, then wheeled away to join his team-mates in celebration. You'll have to pretend that this photo shows that. In reality, it's just where Sidebottom was stood a few deliveries before he took the catch. It's hard to time it so that you take a photo of a wicket, without taking a snap every ball. Which I wasn't prepared to do.
We also celebrated. Not too raucously, though. First, me and Ste. We don't look convincing.
And then Lynne and me. Again, not too convincing. In fact, Lynne has switched to "I'm on holiday" mode, rather than the correct "We've just gone and won a ruddy Test match" mode.
Well, that was splendid. Not only did England win the Test match, but they left us with most of the day to explore Wellington. Plus still time to take a picture of Aggers (aka Jonathan Agnew, the BBC Radio commentator). Not really sure what's happening here.
New Zealand were all out for 311 in the end, losing by 126 runs. The two key aspects were the partnership between Ambrose and Collingwood, with the former winning the man of the match award, and Anderson's swing bowling in New Zealand's first innings (he removed the top five Kiwi batsmen). Really, that match was the start of the next stage of Anderson's career. It was also the match in which Collingwood, who yesterday retired from Test cricket in Sydney, took his Test career best bowling figures, with 3-23. We'll overlook the fact it was nine-ten-jack.
Ok, that's enough cricket for now. Well, that's not quite true, since we discovered Panesar's new business line.
Oh, it's that water fountain thing again, this time more colourful and a bit more watery. I have since read that this is called the Bucket Fountain (and is located on Cuba Street).
This was a strange produce - tomato sauce made with a splash of beer, Tui being a well known beer brand in New Zealand. We didn't get any.
We headed over to Wellington's cable car, more of a tram up a hill than a cable car, but hey ho. It was certainly a cable car that didn't have Schoey gripping on for dear life in. Once we got to the top, we were afforded a splendid view of Wellington harbour.
Look, definitely a cable car, not a tram. I suppose you can see cables pulling it up in the shot above.
A green insect very much liked Lynne's backside. It didn't stay there long.
Lynne tried to tell the time. You can't say she's not committed to the cause. Based on this, it's somewhere between 2pm and 3pm.
And just for balance, here's a shot of me. It looks for all the world like Lynne has just caught me peeing in the bushes, and I'm saying "look, what do you want, leave me in peace". Or perhaps "Av it!". Who knows. Well, I don't think I was having a pee, anyway.
Once up there, you can could then walk down through the gardens...
...checking out the weird and wonderful flora that was on show.
We found a nice little pond with ducks in.
And there were lots of vibrantly coloured flowers. Like this.
And this.
This column has Seddon inscribed on it, which may refer to Richard Seddon, the longest service Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was actually born near St Helens, it says on Wikipedia, which also mentions that he is regarded by some as one of New Zealand's greatest political leaders. He was born in 1845 and died in 1906.
This is the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, commonly known as The Beehive, for obvious reasons.
There were some interesting looking sculptures outside the parliamentary buildings.
On our last full day in Wellington, we explored along the harbour, where Lynne struck a pose.
As we walked along, we caught Airwolf going on his next mission. These days his missions are just sightseeing tours, though, alas. Ever since he fell out with Streethawk and Knight Rider.
We headed to Mac's Brewery for a spot of lunch.
And tucked inn to a pair of ginormous sandwiches.
Whilst were in there, merrily minding our own business and tucking into Mac Brewery's finest home-brewed beers, we noticed a shaggy-haired character at the bar. At first, Lynne thought that it was Ryan Sidebottom. We then discounted this notion, before realising finally that it was in fact Ryan Sidebottom, England's left-arm medium-fast bowl. He looked taller and slimmer than we remembered. As we left, we got a shot of him, with another England player (possibly Stuart Broad, as it looks a bit like him, but I have a niggling feeling that it was a squad player). I took this oh-so surreptitiously.
It really was a glorious day, enabling glorious shots of the harbour.
I'm not sure where this is from. It seems rather like I am on I'm A Celebrity, etc, etc. But I wasn't.
We visited New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, or to give it's full title, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The latter part of this title broadly translates as "the place of treasures of the land".
In it could be found some fascinating facts about New Zealand's history. It was one of the most recently settled major landmasses, with the first settlers (Eastern Polynesians) arriving by canoe in about 1250-1300 AD. These settlers developed into the Mãori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The museum also had lots of fascinating information about evolution.
This gives an illustration of the variety of Mac's beers available.
I can assure you that this has nothing to do with me.
I've taken a picture of this for no other reason than it is a funny looking car with headlights like nostrils.
Finally, here is where we stayed.
On to Christchurch!