BBC News Report on Emigrating to NZ

I missed this on the BBC when it was broadcast in January. Apparently the number of British emigrating to NZ has doubled int he last few years! View the report here.

Spinnaker Tower

On Saturday we visited some old Friends near Portsmouth. As it was such a nice day we decided to visit the 170m tall Spinnaker Tower. It was meant to be called the Millennium Tower, but after it missed its opening date by 6 years it was renamed! There are 3 floors at the top to view the surrounding city, countryside and sea.

Despite a half hour wait to pay and queue for the one serviceable lift, it wasn't too busy at the top. The Italian built exterior lift has yet to be put into operation as it hasn't worked - ever!

'HMS Warrier 1860', the UKs first armoured warship and Her Majesties Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth.

'Spice Island' and the 'Still and West', both famous pubs in Old Portsmouth, at the mouth of the Harbour.

Gosport Marina on the right, with Haslar Hospital (the former Royal Naval Hospital) and Fort Blockhouse on the left and the Isle of Wight in the background.

Across old Portsmouth towards Southsea. An Isle of Wight ferry is making its way in. The Solent Forts are in visible too.

The lowest deck has the largest glass floor in Europe, which you are welcome to walk on as long as you remove your shoes. For some reason most people didn't want to do this. I leapt at the opportunity (on re-reading this perhaps that wasn't the best choice of words). I though it was great!

The top deck is exposed to the elements. The views are quite restricted too - we all thought the lower decks were better.

Portsmouth Harbour towards Fareham Creek, with some of the many warships being disposed of in the latest round of defence cuts.

HMS Victory and whats left of the Royal Navy.

French state owned Brittany Ferries are now the only cross channel line operating out of Portsmouth after P&O left.

A little hazy, but still a clear view of Roman built Portchester Castle across Portsmouth Harbour.

First Snow

The first snow of the winter in London fell this morning. Good stuff to, nice and fluffy and great for a morning snowball fight!

Skiing in the Alps

We hope to ski once we're in New Zealand, so I thought it's about time I learnt! My wife is an experienced skier, but I was starting from scratch. We went to the RN Ski and Snowboard Championships in Les Menuires (said to be the ugliest ski resort in the Alps), part of the Trois Vallees regions in France. After 4 days of excellent instruction I was able to tackle some red runs, but still need to build on my confidence. Unfortunately my wife was injured twice (the second time hit by another skier who catapulted her into a ski rack from which she was just recovering her equipment) so has had much of her confidence dented.

Christmas in Dubai

We have just flown back to the UK after spending Christmas with my parents in Dubai, practicing for those warm Christmas's in New Zealand! We flew with Virgin which we were impressed with when we flew with them to Barbados a few years ago, less so this time. I'm quite tall and felt very cramped. Air New Zealand have a much better seat pitch.

Christmas Day on the beach, with the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the distance.

The Christmas Tree in the Jumeriah Beach Hotel. A love this hotel, but it is very expensive unless you can get deals from the UK. If you book there in Dubai you're talking £200 a night. Over Christmas I was told they were insisting on a minimum stay of 10 nights at £400 a night, not including food!


The Creak. These vessels are mainly used for dining in the evening. The Shopping Festival was on - this usually start in January but was extended to 2 months (from the usual 1) as last year it had been cancelled with the death of the previous Sheik.


This city is growing fast, even since we last visited 18 month ago. The Burj Dubai, set to be the tallest building in the world, is half way complete now. We travelled onto the causeway of one of the famous 'palms' and you have to be impressed at their size, if not their ecological impact. Some 60% of the worlds construction cranes are in Dubai, and travelling around I can well believe it. The next phase is out into the desert (including the largest Theme Park in the world - Dubailand), which will help take Dubai from its present population of nearly 1.3 million to 10 million in ten years.

An incredible place.