I have just returned from a trip into the mountains of South Island, where I went with three friends and managed to go camping on a snowy mountain top over looking Franz Joseph Glacier, and woke up to the most fantastic views looking down on to the Glacier, under bright blue skies. I was told that we were camping beside the car, what I wasn't told was that although in distance we weren't that far from the car, we were about a 1000 metres higher than it. It took us 2 and a half hours to climb the mountain, all but the first 10 minutes in darkness, but it was definately worth it.

This gentle introduction to the holiday was followed by a days Cross Country skiing and a days downhill skiing near Wannaka, both of which were great fun and thankfully i haven't broken a leg and ended up in traction for the rest of my year travelling. Then it was of down south to go tramping (hill walking) in the mountains, near Queenstown, along the Routeburn Track, until the threat of avalanches made us turn back, the low cloud didn't add to the view as we were inside one of the clouds. We spent two nights up the mountain in a fantastically enormous mountain hut (48 beds) that was helicoptered in and now stands on stilts. A bit of cabin fever sat in as we were waiting for a break in the rainy weather so I pursuaded Kate that a circuit training session along covered out doors section, which warmed us up a bit. We had to cook on camp stoves and as it was getting dark by 6.30 and there was only torch light we were hitting the sack by a staggering late 8.30 ish. The torrential rain nearly drowned us as we walked out and when we got back to the car at the base of the mountain we drove to Alexandra in Central Ontago for a bit of mountain biking, it's only just stopped hurting to sit down.

The gale force winds and heavy rain put pay to further skiing on the return journey, so we had a couple more days of mountain walks in the Arthur's Pass area.

All in all it was a bit of a knackering but highly enjoyable holiday.

News on my flat sale is that it's fallen through, so it's back on the market. Looks like I'll have to get a job, that was very short retirement!

Anyway I'm in Nelson now at Kate's House for a few days, until I get my self sorted.

Must go as my time is soon to be up at this Internet Cafe. May be next time I will try and put some photos on. Cheerio for now,

Nick