5th November 2008: Phantom of the Opera

We spotted that Phantom was on at the Civic theatre in Auckland, so Soph organised it as a social Wednesday for the CHPers. Everyone seemed to have fun: it was a good performance, especially Christine.

Aucklanders seemed to be surprised that we haven't already seen all the musicals, us having come from London. However, we've already seen more islands in the Hauraki Gulf than most of them. Local's apathy?

27th August 2008: talk by William Pike

Saw William Pike give a talk at Intrepid Travel in Newmarket. William was near the summit Mt Ruapehu in September 2007 when it erupted, and was trapped under rock and ice in the Dome Shelter. He survived despite severe hypothermia and multiple injuries, and had one leg amputated below the knee.

Very interesting to hear him speak. He comes across as a very simple, straight-up nice guy who is a complete outdoors nut. He's already been climbing and cycling with his prosthetic leg and aims to go and finish off his mountaineering trip next year if possible.

Bought his book and am very much enjoying it. It's very readable and gripping, if not a flight of literary style. Particularly interesting to read it having heard him speak a year later and see how far he has come.