day 16 in Cromwell

i think i have a bout of sunstroke - a bit of headache.. or at least i've got a bit of a sore throat/cough.. the heat here does take quite a toll on ya body.. i wouldn't even think of working in this heat in Malaysia let alone in Cromwell.. have to get used to it with more of the same predicted for the rest of this week at least..

anyway had such a massive weekend, probably one of the best ever in my life.. it was just such a feel-good weekend.. and prob tired at the end of it which is prob why the start of this week feels like an anti-climax a bit esp when u're not working with ur mates for the first two days of this week - not necessarily a bad thing until u get sick and tired of that girl's singing while doing the shoot thinning at the vineyard..

anyway, started on Saturday morning.. early in the morning at 7 that is.. had to drive to the Gibbston Valley with the guys and girls - 4 in the back, Jared, Roxy, Jacqui and Joe - from Bannockburn for some extra work at the girls' boss' vineyard.. were joined by the gang from the Mullers two hours later.. it was fantastic coz we managed to do quite a bit in just over 4 hours..okay it was a small vineyard but still it is quite an achievement in this business, and it was nice to work with the other ppl from Dunners - and Mike's friend Mike Marsh from Kaitaia, who is quite a cool and likeable guy i must say.. was actually the first time where our big entourage of around 15 from Dunners had actually worked together in the same vineyard since we banded together..

after lunch at the shed, all of us climbed Mount Rosa which is just behind the vineyard in Gibbston.. my fear of heights started to come back to me, but it was alright.. just can't do the things that Mike Willis or Reeves would do.. well just the rock throwing off the ledge.. after reaching the top - still not sure if it was actually the right one -and enjoying the stunning views of the Central Lakes district on this hot and gorgeous Saturday, went with Jess, Mike Reeves and Willis, Kat and Joe down the less-trod-upon-path down Mount Rosa to the vineyard while the others took the conventional way back to the cars.. ceratinly was "less" conventional when it took over 2 hours, and the change in terrain we went through from the shingle at the top, to spear grass, to grass to thorny bush and finally - to our relief - ground level.. it was an epic adventure.. and to think we'd be playing ping-pong at the shed befroe the guys came down the Mount in their cars..

it was quite a scary experience for this guy who suffers slightly from fear of heights.. it was more the fear of falling which really got to me.. Mike Willis claims I was like Gollum sliding down the shingle.. but it was a struggle getting down at that level coz of the fear of heights and i think i slowed the guys down despite Jess' and Reeves' polite efforts to say otherwise.. i was that slow.. anyway, Jess and Mike helped out quite a bit - thanks - and then sped off once we hit grass.. or as fast as my knees would allow me coz they were really sore at that point..

the original plan was for all of us to go to Lake Hayes for a swim and get some ice-cream in Arrowtown.. well those who walked to their cars did after waiting for us for an hour, and left Rachel's car which was almost on empty for us to drive to "meet" them... well they were back in Bannockburn by the time we reached Lake Hayes around 6 o'clock, but we still hung out there, got petrol in Arrowtown and then headed home, v tired, with the two girls lying on ur shoulder or sitting on ur lap - 4 at the back again - while trying not to be caught by the cops..

and to think i actually cooked for Mike, Jared, Joe, Jacqui and Roxy impromptu that night prob shows how much adrenaline was pumped that afternoon.. all of them were too lazy and tired to cook so decided to make my fried rice and hot Chinese sizzled chicken in an hour.. they actually liked it, which was good..

anyway, Sunday, enjoyed "feel-good" church at the old Presb church in Cromwell.. really enjoyed the service and hopefully can go this Sunday if we don't go to Queenstown early.. the worship reminded me of my church in KL.. was actually a bit sad when they sang the "Great and Mighty" song coz it made me think of my music leader in that church who is in not very good shape at the moment.. we used to do that song in orchestra all the time, so it was kinda like a minute of silence moment for someone i really loved and knew so well and considered my mentor.. still have hope but it still is a big shock to hear about him being in this shape..

anyway, it was a gorgeous Sunday and after church, we "eventually" met up by the lake side in Old Cromwell for our picnic.. then went to play touch against the locals.. we absolutely hammered them even with our substitutes.. played a bit and played p well in my reckoning but had a slight headache and my time on the field was ended in the blood bin.. wanted to go and watch the Scotland v All Blacks delayed game on TV3 later that afternoon.. wished they'd
shown the league instead coz i knew the ABs had got the Grand Slam last weekend when they beat England, coz for NZ to beat the mighty Australians in the league - and keep them scoreless - was just a 10.0 Richter scale shock.. Joe and Jarod actually wanted to see the league and the ABs live but forgot to wake up.. mum' s taped the league though and will send the tape shortly..

ok it was a "quieter" Sunday to a very exciting Saturday but i was just as well.. but just the fellowship with the guys and girls who half of them are from Apo or Student Soul in Dunners was p good.. made the trip to Cromwell worthwile.. it was a feeling i haven't had this year - the sort when meeting ppl i dint really know unlike Matt's Life Gp, not that i'm saying LG is boring, or rather the feeling being with ppl u love being around with but have hardly been able to this year esp in the 2nd half of 2005.. and also being the summer hols made it even better coz there was no assignment or exam to worry abt.. let's just say it was a wonderful feeling and hopefully it'll come on the last weekend i'm in Cromwell next month, and the last time i'll be with a lot of the guys in our entourage for a while..

which brings to a big decision i've to make soon..kinda like Umaga retiring or not.. which by the way all that speculation in the Sunday paper was really all for nothing.. waste of $2..

well that's that for blogging.. don't know when i'll be able to get online soon.. it's also a bit frustrating coz i want to check on the progress of the Thailand missions teams.. and my sport.. well Internet to me is what television is to most ppl.. just feels a bit strange not being able to check it as much as i did during the year.. but it's not a bad thing..