Tuesday 5th May

It has been a pleasure to have been back in Auckland again. We have not done very much apart from visiting various friends and relations, and I have really enjoyed staying with Heather and Michael who have made us very welcome. Today is our last day so we spent most of today at the house doing washing and sorting out packing etc. etc.

We left Titirangi during the afternoon and met one of Terry's sons for a meal. After we had eaten he took us to the Kiwi International airport motel where we were booked in for the night. We have a very early start looming tomorrow. Our flight departs at 0700 (2000 Tuesday 5th UK time) so we will be checking in around 0500 - yuk! We have about a 3 hour flight to Sydney where we change to an Air Canada flight for Vancouver. That second leg will take over 14 hours. Bring on the red wine and sleeping pill!!

One thing which has caused much hilarity during our travels though the North Island is either of us trying to find things in our various bags or suitcases. As most items of luggage these days have numerous zips and pockets you can guarantee that whatever we are looking for is not in the first, second or even the third place of searching. So the whole trip has echoed with the sounds of zips being opened and closed, noises of shuffling amongst the contents, the rustling of plastic bags and mutterings like ‘Bugger, I’m sure I put it in there’ or 'I know I put it somewhere really safe' etc. This, I know, will continue for the next three months!

So... that is it from Aotearoa (The Land of the Long White Cloud), and I'll see you all again in Canada.