Shannon McDuff’s Blog

Woke up this morning around 10:30am and had breakfast/lunch at the bakery around the corner.

Was a pretty relaxing day – Walked down to the Harbour and took a look a the water. Went and looked at a information place for what we can do the rest of the days that we are here and to find out where we can pick up the car tomorrow. (heading off to Rotarua tomorrow) Went to westfield shopping centre….. then went to the Maritime Museum, which is a museum about boats. Was a tad hard to read everything with Ben just racing through everything! After that we were going to go into minus 5 but they wouldn’t accept our australian drivers licence as I.D, and we didn’t have our passports with us.. so just went back up to the room because I couldn’t be bothered to go all the way back down again.

For dinner, we walked to the Skycity tower and went up that to have dinner on the observation deck. Was a buffet! After dinner, headed back to the hotel for a few drinks then bed!

I am a bit late in writing this – but it doesn’t matter.

28th of April – my birthday – I set of on the plane to New Zealand.

Flew from the Gold Coast – Auckland. 

The plane was delayed 25mins.. which was a tad annoying, but I survived. Arrived in New Zealand 12:15am NZ time, but before getting off – We were all reminded about the swine flue and if you have any of the symptons to let the staff know.

Went through customs fine and got a taxi to our hotel which took about half an hour to get to. Cost was $70.. which sucked but we were both pretty tired by this time so we didn’t care that much.

Checked in, and was in bed by 1:30am

and … that was day one – and yes, I had a good birthday = )….. 20 years old now – i feel old! haha

I just feel like keeping tabs on how many times I have been pulled over by police since starting to drive:

Number One: After being in a car crash (partners car) and heading home (in my own car) I was pulled over for a random breathalyzer and was told to take my tow ball off because they couldn’t read my number plate clearly. PASS

Number Two:Driving to give blood at the blood donation centre, they drove up beside me while I was in the traffic lights line and told me to pull over. After going through the green light, I pulled over, only to have them harass me about “being on my phone”. I told them that I wasn’t, and to go ahead and check my phone, which they did I hadn’t done anything for about 4 hours. He then persisted to ask me “well, why did you have your hand up to your ear”.. which I continuously told him “I wasn’t on my phone!, and didn’t have my hand up to my ear!”…. after realising his decided to stop harassing me, the other officer gave me a breathalyzer. (that guy was a real arse! and I didn’t NOTHING wrong which annoyed me even more) PASS

Number Three: Driving home from work at 11:30pm on a Wednesday night, I was pulled over for a random breathalyzer. They were also pulling other cars over as it was a Wednesday night, and Wednesday is club nights at uni.

Number Four: Driving to work LAST NIGHT. I went passed the cops who were sitting at a red light, I accelerated quickly to 60 as I was worried I was going to be late for work. As soon as the cops got their green light they race down towards me and I was just about to pull into work and they put their lights on. I told the officer that I was just about to go to work, and he asked for my licence and it was alllllllll good. PASS

I’ve only been driving for..2 years and 8 months… = )