More interiors porn

Another Saturday, another interview for Your Home & Garden Magazine. This time, up the coast in Waikanae.

The boys went to the beach while I interviewed the owners of this stunning eco-friendly new build. Now I need to stop pissing about on the internet and write the bloody thing.

  

Cover photo shoot

Remember late last year we had the photo shoot at our place for an article I wrote for Your Home & Garden Magazine?

Do keep up.

Today we had the cover shoot, with the lovely art director Tanya flying in from Auckland and Wellington-based snapper Nicola returning to capture the elusive cover shot.

Having spent the week doing a slow and torturous dance with the flu, a LOT of warpaint was involved in making me look presentable. Bristol was mostly well behaved - apart from when he nipped the photographer's hand, drawing blood - and I'm hoping the shot of him sitting next to me makes the cover.

Today's pics are of the girls hard at work and a fraction of Nicola's equipment. It was a fun way to spend a Friday but of course the day ran away from me like a crazed horse and I got zero work done.

Guess who will be playing catch up all weekend?

  

Huge fist pump...

Sadly I wasn't able to be there (see previous whingeing posts) but last night not only did I win the Newspaper Story of the Year I also, by some odd combo of madness and luck, took out the CATHAY PACIFIC TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR!!!!! Click here to read the media release. 

Yes, I almost needed the smelling salts when they told me.

Thank you to the judges, Travcom and, of course, Cathay Pacific for giving me lots of lovely moolah and a  trip to Hong Kong which just happens to be one of my favourite places on the planet.

If I wasn't still feeling so ruff, I'd be breaking out the bubbly about now...

(Pic credit: Google Images)    

Epic fail

This is the tangle of sparkly goodness I was planning to wear tonight to the Travcom NZ Travel Writers Awards.

Sadly, it is still hanging in my wardrobe in Wellington. My seat on the flight to Auckland, which should be cradling my buttocks at this very minute, is empty.

Yes, the lurgy foiled my valiant attempts to put it back in its box where it belongs. Here's a tip: don't combine Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for quick results, it only makes the contents of your stomach reappear.

If anyone needs me, I will be doing laps of the self pity pool. Perspective Police, please hurry up and get over here.
   

Things to be thankful for today

• Paracetamol
• Lemon, honey and ginger
• Central heating
• Ugg Boots
• Understanding colleagues
• Doggie hugs.

I am talking myself better and am determined to fly north, put on my party pants and have a great time tomorrow night. Wish me luck.

(Pic credit: Google Images)

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sickness has inserted itself into one of the biggest weeks of my year.

Tuesday afternoon I fly to Auckland for the Travcom Awards, Monday, Thursday and bits of Tuesday and Wednesday will be filled in with the day contract and evenings will be spent in a frantic blur of cleaning and running around town to pick up flowers and props for the cover photo shoot at ours for Your Home & Garden Magazine on Friday morning. And next Sunday it's someone's birthday.

The last thing I need right now is flu tugging at my eyelids, making my limbs feel like lead and my brain like warm scrambled eggs. Go away germs, there's no room for you this week.

Sadly, the deadlines don't stop because the virus circus is in town; I am currently tucked up in bed with my laptop, notes and more paracetamol than is advisable.

No time for images so here's a couple of the Boy Wonder taken earlier this year...

DIY Cheese In Welly

My first ever Forbes travel post is live! Click here to read.

Thanks to the lovely Donna from Feast and Vine for the heads up.