The end of the journey

I have now been home for almost 3 days and finally had time to sort out the photos for our journey home and finish my blog. In doing this I have realised that I have missed out our last day in New Zealand.

On our final morning we left Rotorua and headed towards Auckland in very changeable weather. We stopped at Matamata for a visit to Hobbiton - where the Hobbit scenes for the Lord of the Rings were filmed.

We then headed on up to Auckland, handed over the campervan and headed off to the hotel for a few hours rest before getting the flight to Hong Kong via Sydney. All very uneventful and we arrived at our hotel in Hong Kong (Mong Kok district of Kowloon) about 7:30pm local time. Hotel was very nice and we were treated very well there. Hong Kong itself though is like nowhere I have ever been before - densely populated and totally manic.

Tuesday morning we set off down to the harbour on the metro and took the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island. Once there we boarded a tour bus for a trip round the main sights of the island and a trip on the Peak Tram to the top of Victoria Hill. Some fantastic views from there down over Hong Kong Island, the harbour and Kowloon - although a bit misty. We took the tram back down again and continued on our bus journey finally heading back to Kowloon on the ferry and back to our hotel. At 7:30 pm we set off back down to the harbour to see the light show which is a Guiness world record holder. It was quite impressive with flashing lights on lots of the Hong Kong and Kowloon buildings and lasers. Afterwards we had a walk round some of the shops and stalls operating at night before catching the shuttle bus back to the hotel.

Wednesday morning we once again boarded the metro and headed down to the harbour again where we boarded the tour bus for the Kowloon half of the trip. We then boarded the Star ferry again to the Hong Kong side and caught a bus for Aberdeen. This is a fishing village (not so much village as skyscrapers again) where there are people who live on their Sampans in the harbour. This is mostly now just for the benefit of tourists with the people living in the skyscrapers.

We made a second visit to the light show in the evening and the shops again, this time walking up Nathan Road and making a visit to the Temple Street night market.

Thursday was our last day and we took a trip on the metro to Lantau Island and the Big Buddha. This also involved a bus journey up into the hills of the island but definitely worth it. They have a cable car that goes up there too, but not for me! This is another Guiness world record holder - the largest seated Buddha in the world.

This made a very good last day- the day when it is very easy to spend waiting to leave. We left for the airport at about 9:30 pm and again had a pretty uneventful, if very long, flight home. Arrival at Heathrow was on time and we made it home by about 10:30 on Friday morning - delayed by and accident on the M1 and then another on the A46 when we were nearly home.

So now my journey is over and it is back to 'normal' life. I have very much enjoyed my time in New Zealand and am really glad I went. I have learned a lot from my experiences - including how to live one handed! I made new friends and faced new challenges and by the time I left felt I belonged to the team. One day I hope to return - if only as a visitor next time. Tomorrow sees the return to work and the start of a new adventure when I move to a new role as team leader on the Nottingham City audit. This blog is now ended.

Nearly home

Just a quick post - we arrived in Hong Kong 2 days ago and have been busy sightseeing. The hotel is fantastic and the city manic. I don't think I have ever seen anywhere like it. Last night we went to watch the Laser Light Show and are off there again tonight. Tomorrow night we set off back home - 13 hour flight. Not looking forward to that! I will post again when I get home - well sometime over the weekend anyway and then I can update the blogs with some photos and give you all the low down on Hong Kong

Nearly ready to leave NZ

Today is Saturday - only one more day to go. Since I last posted we have crossed from South to North Island and done a bit of touring on North Island. The crossing on Thursday was great. We got up to a lovely sunny morning and this carried on for the whole day so we had a magical trip up the Queen Charlotte Sound and out into Cook Strait. On the way up from Kaikoura to Picton we passed some basking seals which added to our journey.

Unfortunately there it is very windy but the trip was still OK. Three and a half hours later we were in Wellington - just in time for Thursday night rush hour! We had decided to stop overnight in Masterton - which was actually a duff decision as by the time we got there it was dark and hard to find somewhere to stay. Still we managed in the end. We had rain overnight but when we got up Friday it was dry so we set off for Hastings where we had lunch. We then drove on to Napier but didn't stop. There was a police incident going on in one of the residential areas at the time - the day before someone had shot and killed one policeman and injured 2 others and was holed up in his home. It was all very tense and lasted 50 hours in then end with the dead policeman lying in the street for most of that time as he shot at anyone trying to get to him. Predictably he is dead himself now though. Anyway - we drove on up the coast to Gisborne where we spent last night. Not really that much to see on the way there but when we left today we drove through the Waioeka gorge which was 58 kms long. That was quite something. We passed through Whakatane where we stopped for lunch and then on to Rotorua where we went to visit the Waiomanga Thermal Site. This is home to the world's largest hot spring - much like the Boiling Lake in Dominica which we never actually got to see.

Good visit to the site though - Jerry was really impressed. Because we didn't leave there until 5pm we have stopped overnight in Rotorua. Hotel room has a huge spa pool so I will be in there shortly! Tomorrow we will be going to Auckland via Matamata where there is a place that Jerry wants to see - something to do with hobbits. Next blog is likely to be from Hong Kong!!

Ready to leave the South Island

Well, since I last blogged where have I been? Monday we left Queenstown really early and drove to Milford Sound to do the cruise there. We had a good journey and arrived in plenty of time but unfortunately it is just a bit ticket office for the cruises so we just ate our packed lunch while we waited. Then Paul (one of the other secondees) came off an earlier cruise with his girlfriend. We each had no idea the other was going to be there and in fact seem to be going in opposite directions round the South Island. Paul is being much more adventurous than me though - and taking more time! Anyway, the cruise was really good and we saw lots of waterfalls and some very dramatic mountains. On the way back in we also saw some seals basking on the rocks and then a whole pod of bottle nose dolphins spent quite some time swimming alongside the boat and performing for us so that was a really nice bonus.

After the cruise we set off to see how far we could get towards Dunedin before time overtook us and we had to find a st0p for the night. We made it to Lumsden - a one horse town taking a day off! Still, we found a bed for the night and food and drink so what more did we need? The next morning we set off towards Dunedin, stopping at Gore for a short break en-route and getting into Dunedin at lunch time. Had a bit of a wander round and then visited the Chinese Garden. Mid afternoon we set off again planning to get to Oamaru but decided that actually it was a bit early to stop when we got there so we ended up going as far as Twizel. The weather is not too good at the moment so we have had to plan carefully when we cross over to the North Island. We had intended to cross Friday but Thursday is forecast to be good and Friday bad so we are making the crossing a day early. This has been the reason for pushing on and not stopping anywhere very long. Anyway, today we set off from Twizel to a fair morning although there was low cloud blocking the view of Mount Cook and the other snow covered mountains. However, once we had passed Lake Tekapo, where we stopped for breakfast, it started to rain and didn't stop all day. We made it to Kaikoura though where we have stopped for the night. Two hours up to the ferry at Picton tomorrow morning and then we cross to Wellington. Forecast is good so hopefully a nice drive and a good crossing. Will keep you all posted. sorry there are no photos - haven't been able to upload any yet.

News from our holiday

Yesterday we started our holiday proper from Christchurch. Jerry had picked up the campervan when he arrived on Wednesday and then picked me up at the airport when I arrived on Thursday. We had a relaxed evening in Christchurch then set off on our travels after breakfast on Friday. We had a lovely drive through the mountains and Arthurs Pass where we stopped for a coffee. Before crossing a viaduct just outside the pass we stopped at a viewpoint. Here we encountered 2 Kea (mountain parrots) who obliged for photos.

Whilst taking their photos Jerry had one pecking at his boots - it has managed to rip the stitching and a bit of the fabric! Good job they aren't expensive or new! We arrived down in Greymouth in the middle of the afternoon and again stopped for a walk round then moved on down to Hokitika for the night so that we would have a good start down to Franz Josef Glacier this morning. Found ourselves an OK hotel (not ready to sleep in the campervan yet!) and a meal then made an early night of it. Jerry is still catching up the jet lag! This morning we woke to a crystal clear morning with some fabulous views of the mountains. At the hotel we had seen a plane flight advertised over the glaciers and mountains down to Milford Sound and thought we would try that but the person who runs it didn't seem to want the trip! He didn't answer my message last night and was not at his office at the airport this morning. So at 10am we set of down to Franz Josef. Before we got there we found someone doing helicopter flights (from Whataroa) so we had the chopper for just the 2 of us down over the mountains and glaciers and back - about 45 minutes. It was fantastic and I have taken some video and photos but can't download them at the moment.

Anwyay, after the flight we decided we would make our way down and try to get to Queenstown tonight but events conspired against us. Having filled the van with diesel in Whataroa we had only gone a few kilometres down the road when we encountered a Landcruiser taking a bend too fast and so we got sideswipped! Fortunately no-one was injured - honestly - we are both 100% OK!!! Unfortunately the campervan did not fare so well and we have had to have it recovered and are now spending the night in Franz Josef while we wait for a replacement to be delivered tomorrow. The other driver freely admitted it was his fault - he was rushing his dog to the vet and was distracted. There was a very nice old lady in the bungalow just by the bend where we had the accident and so she looked after us and helped us to get everything sorted out. Everyone had been so nice and really helpful. So the enforced stop here has enabled us to spend some time looking round the village - one big shop really - and an hour in a hot pool. Feel quite relaxed now. Hope to log again soon and will try for some photos then.

Last day

Well today was my last full day at work. I will be in tomorrow morning but that's really a token gesture to hand in the computer and stuff. I was kept busy right to the end of the day but unfortunately we didn't quite make it to finish. The hot review that would have been the end of the process at this stage isn't until 4pm tomorrow so I will already be gone. That's a bit disappointing really because I feel that I didn't really finish the job. Still, I did as much as I could.
Tonight I have been washing and packing - my apartment now looks quite bare and impersonal, much more like the hotel room it really is. Tomorrow I board the plane to Christchurch where I will meet up with Jerry and start our holiday. He has come down from Singapore today.
I am unlikely to blog now for a few days at least as we will be touring the South Island. On 11 May we move on to Hong Kong and arrive back in UK on 15 May. If I don't get to blog between now and then I will complete this blog when I get home.

Prezzies

This morning they had morning tea at work in my honour. Morning tea is a custom here - novel experience, every one stops for a tea break! I shall miss it. Normally that is all it is - chat over tea or coffee and the 5 minute quiz from the Dominion Post but on special occasions we have sandwiches or some other snack too. Today it was my farewell - a few days early but most of the others are going to be away this week, and we had chocolate cake and raspberry & white chocolate muffins. They also had a huge card for me and some prezzies - a greenstone pendant (only ever to be given as a gift and not bought for oneself - various styles with different Maori meanings), a buzzy-bee key ring, Kiwi fruit pieces in chocolate and some NZ fudge (yummy). I was very surprised and touched by their thoughtfulness. Now I know that I will be missed.
I have still had to work hard again today - but only 2 more days to go!!

Thoughts on my time in New Zealand

I am just about to start my last week at work - well 3 days really - here in New Zealand and thought that this would be a good time to record my thoughts on how it has all been. When I came out here I didn't really know what to expect - the main task was to be audit of the Long Term Council Community Plans (LTCCP). This is described on the Audit New Zealand web site as 'auditing the future' and is a pretty fair description. This makes it quite different to anything we do at home and therefore quite a challenge. The councils have to write a plan for the next 10 years in which they forecast all of their financial information making all kinds of assumptions. They have to comply with all the usual legislation and some specific to LTCCPs, and get audit approval with enough time to have a month's consultation with residents and make any necessary amendments before a publication deadline of 30 June or they can't strike the rates! Consequently there is a very short time line for auditing and hence the need to bring us in as secondees to help, and also the reason why it has become very time pressured towards the end. So, that has been the work. Sometimes we have had to stay away to do the work as the clients are more widely dispersed than back home. Although I have not been away as much as some of the others. I have worked in the local office for much of the time and that has enabled me to get to know some of the staff better. I have always been made to feel welcome here and found the people very friendly, although it has taken until the last few weeks to feel that I belong.
In the time I have been here I have travelled to a lot of the usual tourist places of the North Island, although not as many as I had intended due to the broken arm. I have seen mountains, lakes, beaches, cities and everything in between. I have found it to be a beautiful and welcoming country with wide open spaces we only see in places like the peak district. Even the cities have lots of green space, trees and parks, and the people mostly live in detached bungalows not terraces and high rises. I think it has been a very long time since there has been that amount of personal space for the people in UK! I have played at being a tourist rather than treating it as my home although I know some of the others have joined activity groups where they have been so that it has been a more 'normal' life for them.
I have missed my family desperately but have kept in touch with everyone in their own way - some through emails and photos and some through Facebook. I will be really glad to be back home and to see everyone again but I will miss New Zealand too. In the meantime, my husband is on his way here - just arrived in Singapore, and I have 10 days to tour the South Island and 4 days in Hong Kong before I make it back to UK and normality. I have enjoyed my time here and am glad I came. I have always wanted to see Australia and New Zealand and now I have - maybe one day I will get to come back.

Anzac Day

Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand - the day when they remember those who died in war so very much like our Rememberance Day. I got up early this morning to attend the dawn service in The Square - 6am start. I was totally amazed at the number of people there - many hundreds of all ages. I had been hoping to get some photos to post but I was too far back to get any photos of the memorial and wreath laying itself and those I took after, which I hoped would show the dawn breaking and give some idea of the numbers of people there, were out of focus! They have a second service at 9:30 when the Mayor of the city and a variety of other organisations lay wreaths but I'm afraid I didn't attend that one too. I did go back and take some photos of the cenotaph and the wreaths between the services and again after the second one. As you can see from the photos, the wreaths they lay are very different to ours - hardly any poppies although they do wear poppies, but only from the day before.

The rest of the day has been spent trying to prepare for the trip home. I have packed some of my stuff and prepared to take some to the charity shop. Will probably do the rest on Wednesday night now!

New hair

Yesterday I treated myself to a new hairdo - it was the longest, most expensive session I have ever had with a hair dresser but I am so pleased with it. I have tried to take photos of it but it's not easy to take photos of yourself so the one I am attaching is not the best but it is the best I can do at short notice. Will try to get a replacement tomorrow which might show it better.

You can't see it but there are at least 5 different colours in it!

This week has been quite quiet at work while we wait for a council to get its act together. I think it might change tomorrow as the replacement document is expected to arrive. Then only 3 working days to go. It occurred to me the other day that in all my ramblings I really haven't given my thoughts on New Zealand as a place to live and work - plan to remedy that at the weekend.

Sunday

Another weekend draws to a close only now there is just one more to go. Time to leave is racing closer. I have spent today trying to sort things out so that I can pack within my 25kg baggage allowance. I think the charity shops here are going to do alright out of me! I have also been transferring all my photos and video from the pc to cd so that I can take them home, although a lot of them are already on Flickr anyway. I did realise today that I hadn't uploaded any from my short sojourn into Napier so I have remedied that too. It is all surprisingly time consuming. I have been using my right hand as much as possible and the more I use it the easier it gets - I just wish the swelling would go down!

Happy birthday to me

Today is my birthday. I had a few cards from home and one from the staff at my apartment block - along with a bottle of fizz. I also had one yesterday from the people at work and a few birthday wishes by email and on facebook. I have spent the day doing not very much at all. This afternoon I had a pamper session at the beauty salon which I have been using here. They were all very nice and friendly, as they have been all the time. They even sang happy birthday to me! I will celebrate properly in a couple of weeks when Jerry comes to join me to tour the South Island.

Plastered no more!

At last the plaster has been removed! I thought that once it was off it would be fine but actually it still hurt like it was still broken. Apparently that is quite normal and that will ease off over the next few days. Trouble is they now tell me that it hasn't healed completely straight - 10 degree displacement still - which is at the limit of acceptability beyond which they have to break it and start again. I have also lost a millimetre of length, both of which can cause long term problems! So I have been given a wrist support which I have to wear during normal activity (take off in bed and in the shower) and some exercises to do to help regain movement. I will need to see my own GP when I get back for physio - these exercises are just to start it off as I will soon be leaving the country. Have to exercise to the point of moderate pain to have any real benefit though. Guess I still need shares in Nurofen!

Other than that this week has been pretty uneventful but fortunately short. I have put in some very long hours this week as we were pushing the limits of a deadline. At least now I should be able to have a more relaxed week next week as that will be mostly tidy up stuff which got pushed to one side while we dealt with the important stuff. Expect to have a pretty relaxed weekend too although I will have to make a start with preparations for leaving - only 12 days to go now.

Easter weekend

Friday morning I was up bright and early to catch the Overlander train to Auckland. It was scheduled to leave at 9:45am but you have to be there at least 20 minutes early to check in. Once at the station it was obvious that there was nowhere to check in but there were baggage labels with various destination stations on them so I selected the Auckland one and waited with quite a few other passengers for the train to arrive. Ten minutes before it was due they announced that it was 15 minutes late! Just like British Rail! However, once the train arrived the similarity ended. We checked in with train staff, had our luggage put in the baggage car and were allocated our seat. I was disappointed to find that I had an aisle seat - fortunately there was no passenger in the window seat so I moved over. The journey goes right up the North Island through the mountains of the National Park. We stopped at Okahune for a lunch stop of half an hour then a bit further up the line we met the southbound train, the crews swapped over and we continued on up to Auckland. By the time we got there it was 8pm and we were over half an hour late. It had been a very long day and I was tired and hungry. Fortunately it was only a 5 minute walk from the station to the hotel and I was soon ensconced in my 17th floor room.

On Saturday morning I walked down to the harbour looking for the information office and ended up taking a boat trip out into the harbour and to Waiheke Island. I had a coach tour round the island and walked some of it before returning to downtown Auckland. The island was very nice - part of the city but a whole world away. I also walked round some of downtown Auckland before returning to my room for tea etc.

Sunday morning I decided to do the Coast to Coast walk - 17kms walking from Waitemata Harbour on one side of the peninsula to Manukau Harbour on the other side. A lot of the walk was through city streets but there was also some very nice parks too and some very steep climbs - not least of which was up Mount Eden, the highest of 5 volcanic peaks which make up the city. Unfortunately the end point was in a less than pleasant area and was a disappointment after I had walked so far. Still, I found the bus station and made my way back downtown. Once there I did a quick visit to the Sky Tower - just in time to see someone do a jump from it - insane! and to another city park before it was time for tea again. This time I had to pack up my belongings again for the train journey home again today. I had to be up at 6am for the train back at 7:25am. Journey back was very pleasant though and we arrived on time too! So this evening I was back at 5:30pm and now it is time to prepare for work again!

Easter weekend

Here we are at the Easter weekend already. Where has the time gone? This week has been busy as usual - pressure is on as the councils have to get their LTCCPs out for consultation by the end of this month to be able to meet statutory adoption deadlines.

Tomorrow morning I will be taking the Overlander train to Auckland. The journey takes all day but goes through some beautiful parts of the country. I will then spend Saturday and Sunday in Auckland before taking the train back on Monday. This will be my last trip before I finish work here at the end of the month. The weather here is getting cold now and the South Island had the first serious snow of the season. I guess actually it will be much like Easter at home!

Hotel from the 1960's

Arrived in New Plymouth about 11pm on Friday and, after a half hour walk (because I started off in the wrong direction courtesy of the bus driver) arrived at my hotel. Unfortunately this time I had made a bad choice and this one looked as if it had come straight out of the 1960's. It had a very busy pattern carpet, a faded rose pattern bedspread and lots of hardboard panels hiding strip lights. It also had the scuzziest bathroom I have seen in a hotel for quite a long while! Cooking facilities left a lot to be desired too - not what I expected. I had paid a little less than usual but not much so I was very disappointed.

After all that though I did have a good weekend. The weather was good and, as usual, I walked my legs off. New Plymouth is only about 25km from Mount Taranaki and the Egmont National Park but without my own transport I couldn't get there in the time I had available. This was a bit of a disappointment as I believe there are a couple of nice waterfalls there - apart from very good walking. I did do the coastal walk, Pukakura Park and lots of other walking though. I also got my first New Zealand sunsets - New Plymouth is on the west coast.

I got back home at tea time last night but by the time I had done shopping and washing there wasn't a lot of time for anything else. Hope to post some photos to Flickr later though.

successful sale

Tonight I handed my car over to its new owner. After only 3 hours on Trademe I had my buyer and he confirmed on Monday so today, when I got back from Hawera, we completed the paperwork and he drove it away. Didn't quite get the asking price but near enough for me to be happy. Now I have cash for the holiday when I finish work.

All change again

When I left home yesterday morning I expected to be here until Friday and possibly to get a weekend in New Plymouth but, as seems to be common at the moment, things have changed today and we go back to Palmy tomorrow. Still, since the last time I posted I have had someone interested in buying my car so I should be able to finalise that now. I guess I will have to look at where else I might go for the weekend! Still a few places I would really like to visit so I guess it is back on the internet to see where the buses go to on Friday night!

Sunday

Not much to report this weekend. Treated myself to a pedicure yesterday and went to step class this morning. Only managed half the class before my hand sewlled up and made the cast tight. My hands always swell when I exercise but I hadn't taken account of that. Still half the class is better than none! Took a bit of a walk this afternoon around the town - but that's just temptation to spend! Oh yes, and I put the car up for sale on TradeMe - the NZ Ebay! Now I have to pack for a week away!

Purple plaster

After 3 weeks I have finally lost the dirty, heavy plaster of paris cast! It was changed for a pretty purple fibre glass one this morning. X-ray is still OK so the plan now is 3 more weeks in plaster and then they take it off, x-ray again and it should be OK. That will give me 2 weeks to get some strength back before I have to carry bags for the journey home.

Work is getting very busy now and will stay that way until the end of the secondment. I spent this week at Dannevirke - last minute change of plans to deal with the workload presenting at the time. Next week I am back to Hawera again. Hopefully we will finish that one this week. I think after that the plan is all local councils but like all good plans they are not set in stone!

I have booked my flight down to Christchurch for 30th April to start our tour of the South Island. I have also booked the Overlander train to Auckland for the Easter weekend. Guess that will be the extent of my travels before I finish work.

Visit to the South

Friday evening saw me on the coach to Wellington and then the flight to Christchurch. Internal flights in NZ are really easy and the airline staff made it as easy as possible for me, with a stewardess producing a pillow for me to rest my arm on within seconds of me taking my seat. I arrived in Christchurch to be met by Claire at 9pm. Where I live in a serviced apartment (cross between hotel and flat, a furnished flat. Very nice but cleaning etc are down to her. Fortunately she has a second bedroom so she was able to accommodate me - albeit sleeping on the sofa cushions on the floor. Unfortunately I did not sleep well - I think flying had upset my arm a bit so I was in pain again.

Saturday we set off with Sarah, who lives in an adjacent flat, to meet Amy off the plane at 9am. The weather was a bit grim but still dry when we set off for Kaikoura for the whale watching. A little over 2 1/2 later we arrived in time for the start of the rain. We went into the whale watch office to find that weather at sea was deteriorating and that there was some doubt that trips would run - and they were all carrying sea sickness warnings! We were offered an earlier trip than the one we had booked - which we accepted as the earlier ones stood better chance of funning. Anyway, we departed at 12:45 without Sarah as she had decided that the seasick potential was too great for her - they give full refund. The trip out to the whale watch area was choppy but no problem. When we arrived in the general area the earlier trip was watching a whale on the surface, however, we arrived just in time to see it dive. They make everyone sit in the cabin until the boat has a whale in sight and then it is a mad dash to get outside where they can be seen. It was very windy and raining so not that pleasant to be on deck anyway but it meant that actually seeing the whale was much harder. During our time at sea we had the same whale on the surface 3 times and each time for only about 5 minutes max each time - not long when you have to get from airline type seats (about 80 people) to a position on deck where you can see. This meant that I didn't get much chance to take photos although I did video a couple of times - very wobbly though as I was doing it left handed in choppy seas! We did betterethan the last trip of the day though as they got an 80% refund because they didn't spot a whale at all! By the time we got back though it was pouring with rain so we had a warming drink and set off back to Christchurch. After a meal and a few drinks it was back to Claire's for my second night on the floor.

Bettter night's sleep though and we went for breakfast at the Arts Centre and a bit of a look at Christchurch before back to the airport to fly homeat midday. All in all a lot of travelling - I didn't actually get home until 6pm, for what turned out to be a disappointing whale watch trip but overall a good weekend. It was nice to be with others this weekend - and I even managed to do my own bra up for the first time in 2 weeks! Sorry, only picture I took was the trams in the city centre this morning.

healing OK

I went to the hospital today for another x-ray and the news is good - the bone is healing in the right position. Unfortunately my hand is still a bit swollen so they haven't changed the plaster yet - I have to go back next Friday for another x-ray and to get the plaster changed. I was a bit disappointed about that as there are a few places where the cast presses on my arm but I guess all the time it is healing properly I am grateful. I was a bit worried because I did some veg preparation last night and made my arm hurt again - not that it has ever stopped hurting but it has been getting less. Feels like I've gone back a week but at least I haven't made things worse.

Last night I went out with one of the other women from work and her friend to the cinema. We saw Confessions of a Shopaholic - good chic flick although having read the book I was prepared to be disappointed. I often feel let down if I see the film after I have read a book but not this time. Only sot NZ$8 too. Should make time to go more often.

Sunday

I've been told a few times now that people trying to comment on the blog are unable to. I can't find out what is wrong so if that happens to you please email me. I have changed a few settings although I don't think they are things which will make a difference. Claire has posted a test comment yesterday with no problem. Please feel free to add your comments - it tells me that someone is reading my ramblings.

So, today I decided to get back out there and try to do some of the local geocaches. Mixed success, 2 in the Square - found one didn't find the other. Also went down to Hokowhitu Lagoon for a cache this afternoon. I think I found the location of the cache but couldn't actually carry out a proper search because of my arm so had to miss it. The lagoon and park are very nice and there are some really nice houses round there. The photo is of a couple of them I have been trying to do a bit more and managed to make a VERY rough chopped salad for my lunch. Not easy with one hand! I just hope I am not doing anything to make the break worse.

Saturday

This weekend I planned to visit New Plymouth, following on from my few days in Hawera, and it would have been the perfect weekend as the weather has picked up again. Having to make the best of being at home instead. Not that I have done very much though. Just a few bits of tidying up and sorting things out really. I have booked the campervan ready for our south island tour when the work finishes at the end of next month so that is starting to feel closer. I have also booked a bus to get me down to Wellington for the flight to Christchurch for next week. Really looking forward to that. Hopefully I will be able to work out how to use the camera left handed too or there won't be any more photos to log. Things are improving though and I can do a little more each day without too much pain although I have a huge bruise from my elbow down into the plaster. Still very dependant on the good will of others though. I have been working every day since Tuesday - just not at full capacity. I have to go back to the hospital for another x-ray on Wednesday to make sure that the bone has not displaced again then they will replaster. Can't wait for that as this one presses on my arm and makes it very difficult to get comfortable. Not thinking about the outcome if the bone has moved again! The phot is the view from my window - not nice foreground but the distance view is great!

Getting better slowly

Each day that passes I do feel that things are improving. For the first time today the swelling has gone down and my fingers look almost normal. I still get a lot of pain in my wrist though and am still taking pain killers day and night. I keep trying to do things and then realise that I shouldn't when the pain shoots through my wrist! I am using the sling to try to stop me doing things but it's not working very well! I am working in Hawera for the rest of this week with 2 others so I have some help on hand for a few days anyway. It has been quite cold and miserable today so I haven't been able to see much of the town yet but it doesn't look particularly attractive. May get the chance to find out tomorrow.

Another eventful day

Woke at 2am today with a very swollen hand. Didn't think I should go to A&E in the middle of the night with it so waited until 6am by which time it was even worse. The cast was too tight and they had to split it to relieve the pressure - the nurse said it was a medical emergency and I should have gone in earlier as it can cause permanent damage to the tissue. They x-rayed again to make sure that splitting the cast had not caused the bone to move then let me go - about 4 hours after I arrived! So I didn't actually make it in to work today but plan to go in tomorrow - we will see how well I get on! Could do with a nursemaid now to help me - any takers?

Eventful weekend

My weekend in Napier did not work out as planned! I made an early start and stopped off at a cache en route arriving at the hotel about lunch time. Too early to check in so had my lunch on the seafront then headed off into town. Had a wander about for a couple of hours taking in some of the art deco architecture then headed back to the hotel to check in and have a sit with a cup of tea before heading back into town. After an hour or so I noticed the forecast rain clouds so popped into the supermarket to pick up a bottle of wine to have with my dinner before heading back. When I came out the rain started and very quickly became very heavy. As I was quite wet very quickly I decided to continue on to the hotel rather than shelter not knowing how long it would last. Unfortunately when I got about 500yards from the hotel I slipped and fell breaking my right arm! The hotel owner very kindly took me to the Napier medical centre but they were unable to deal with it and about an hour after I fell I was on my way to Hastings hospital where they had to manipulate my wrist to put the bones back where they should be. I am now back in my apartment learning how to things left handed - but my car is still in Napier! Still pretty painful too!

Attacked by a labrador

Tonight when I left work I was going to go to the gym but, like last night, it was such a lovely evening I decided to go for a walk instead. Last night I went down to Victoria Esplanade and along the river so tonight I thought I would try Rangitane Park and try to pick up a cache that is in that locality at the same time. I had been walking for about 5 minutes and was about to pick up the first clue when a lady walked past calling to her dog. We spoke briefly and the dog came bounding back to her than came back to me and jumped up - to say hello I guess. However, it not only left very muddy paw prints on my top it also knocked my camera bag open and tipped both camera and video onto the pavement and my mobile phone! I have switched all 3 on and so far they are all working although the video has some nasty scratches on it. Poor lady was very apologetic but more concerned about the muddy marks on my top than any potential damage to my equipment. Then to top it all I didn't find the cache either! Still, nice walk in the park on a very warm evening. Unfortunately it is forecast to change by tomorrow night again. I have booked accommodation in Napier for Saturday night though and will go to the Hawkes Bay area for the weekend anyway. They are forecast to clear up first anyway - well on North Island - so that is the best area to be in. The photo is of the Manawatu River taken last night. The river is now twice as big as it was a couple of weeks ago which is the result of all the rain we have had.

White Rabbits

Today is 1st March - and I remembered to say my rabbits! First time since I left home. I have had some lovely emails from family at home this weekend and feel much better now. It has been a very wet weekend and I have done very little - in fact I even spent a couple of hours working this morning after I'd been to the gym. Deadlines are very tight at the moment and I did not achieve all I needed to before I left work on Friday so I caught up a bit today. I did go out this afternoon and take some photos around the city. It's amazing what you see if you just look up above street level. Nothing very exciting at all! The week ahead is looking OK for a few days but Friday is downhill again. I think I will pick somewhere to go next weekend and just do it.

Saturday 28 February

Well here we are again at the end of another eventful week. I spent 2 days in Wanganui again this week and the rest working in Palmy. Work is starting to get a bit more pressured now as deadlines are looming. Home life goes on as normal although I did make a bit of a fuss this week over the standard of cleaning in my apartment. They only clean it once a week because I get a reduced rate for long term rental, which is OK if they do it properly. Unfortunately they haven't been so I complained and that day they did it again. When I got back that night there was a definite improvement but still not spectacular - and I'm not houseproud so not applying critical standards! When I got back last night I received a letter of apology, at NZ$25 voucher for a local eatery - and now they are cleaning every day!
Weather here has become very wet and windy again just in time for the weekend! I have decided though that I am going to go to the Hastings/Napier area and hope for an improvement for tomorrow. The east is supposed to fare best and if I just sit here because the weather is bad I will never see the country!
I have also been uploading photos today so you should be able to see some of my more recent activity!

Wide Open Spaces

I spent yesterday not doing very much and bemoaning the loss of my planned weekend. I did go out and do a few local geocaches - with mixed success, but not a lot else. Today I was up early so after a chat with Claire I packed up my lunch and went out. No real plan except to head east because that was where the sun was this weekend. I ended up on a Hawkes Bay beach (Kairakau) where I dipped my toes in the sea, ate my lunch and had a read of my guide book. This talked about the mountain ranges and I though why not? I checked out the map and worked out the road to take and set off. The book was actually talking about some mountains inland from further round Hawkes Bay so I didn't cross the ones in the book but I had a good drive anyway. The road went from Hastings to Turangi and as I started on the road it said 'no fuel for 142kms'. What it didn't say was that there was no anything for 142kms! The road started off very good and passed through rolling hills moving up to forested mountains. All very nice to look at. Before long it became an 'unsealed' road - my first experience of them here. Compared to those we have encountered in Greece these were childs play - although some bits did have quite a lot of loose gravel which made for some slipping round the bends! In all 142kms I think I saw not more than a couple of dozen cars and even less houses. The vast majority of it was just miles and miles of wide open spaces. Top travelling! In all today I drove over 500kms and have seen sun, rain, sea, mountains and everything in between. Unfortunately it's back to work tomorrow!

Friday again

Here we are at the start of another weekend. I have spent the week in Wanganui with 2 young men - both younger than my own children! It has been a good week though and we have managed to make a big dent in the work. We have also eaten lunch and dinner together every day so that has been quite a change too. We went for a walk before dinner one evening to the Durie Hill Memorial Tower. This involved climbing a very steep hill which started with 193 steep steps or taking the Durie Hill Elevator - we took the Elevator. This is, apparently, unique in the Southern Hemisphere and involved walking 200metres down a tunnel and then what is really just a rather ancient lift to the top of the hill. Great views over the town but we didn't stop there. We then climbed 176 step spiral staircase (closed in like in castel turrets) to the top of the Tower for even better views. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so only got photos on my phone. I am going back for a couple of days next week so might just go up again to get the photos but in the meantime I'm back in my temporary home again. Stay aways are a way of life for the audit staff here but new experience for me. Because they audit central ans well as local government here some of the staff even have to travel abroad to carry out audits.
I was planning to spend the weekend touring in the Taranaki region - mountain, waterfalls, beaches - but events have conspired against me and so I will have to defer that trip for another time. Just as well really as we have had torrential rain today and it is forecast to be showery for the rest of the weekend. When they have rain like this is causes big changes in the rivers, as you would expect, but for a few days they can be quite dangerous. Could make the waterfalls fantastic though. I shall be consulting the map shortly and planning this weekends activity.

Start of another week

Well here we are again, Sunday night and I have to get ready for a week away this week as I am off to Wanganui. It's about an hour away they tell me and we are staying there Monday to Friday. Travel time to clients is included in the working day here so journeys of that length would greatly reduce the amount of work you get done! I will probably take my own car and stay in the area for the weekend too. This will be an opportunity to see another area of the country.
The weather has picked up again and it has been a nice weekend. Yesterday I visited a Medieval Market and Festival at Levin - horse and foot soldier battles, jousting (which I missed) and a wide variety of market stalls and game stalls, many of which were geared to the active medieval particpants. Today I went out geocaching but without much success, only found one. then the batteries died in the GPS and I didn't have any spares so that ended my day's caching!
Might try to find some in the Taranaki area for next weekend - it's a good way to find some of the interesting sites.

How time flies

Can't believe how quickly the days are going - it's been 5 days since I last blogged! The weekend in Rotorua was great - although very smelly! The whole area is a centre of geothermal activity so depending on which way the wind is blowing it can get very smelly indeed! I managed to visit quite a few places over the weekend - Whakarewarewa Maori Village, Lake Rotorua, Government Gardens, Hells Gate (where I enjoyed a mud bath, spa and massage as well as a walk round the mud pools and geysers), the Buried Village, Lake Tarawera, a Maori concert and hangi (traditionally cooked meal), Orakei Korako (Hidden Valley) and Huka Falls. I have taken loads of video and photos of bubbling mud pools, steam vents and geysers which I will upload as soon as I get time. The Huka Falls were truly something else. The drop is not great but the force of the water is phenomenal so I'm hoping for some good pictures of that. The town was hosting the RaggMuffin Reggae Festival on Saturday so town was busy all weekend and most of the 'attractions'. I did consider going to the festival but it was all day on the Saturday and it seemed a waste of a visiting day when it had taken me over 4 hours to get up there. I drove up through clouds and rain but fortunately the weather improved and turned out to be very hot on both Saturday and Sunday. Driving back on Sunday I saw the mountains which had been hidden by the clouds on Friday - they are fantastic too, especially when viewed from across Lake Taupo. There are still a few sites up that way that I want to visit but they are closer to Taupo so I will need to plan another visit and stay in Taupo next time.
Work this week has been a bit different as I have had to spend 2 days on site at one of the councils. Fortunately only about 3/4 hour away so just day trips. Next week though I will be staying away from Monday to Friday in Wanganui which is about an hour drive from here. The weather has also changed this week as we had heavy rain yesterday. Just like UK - one day's rain and the drains can't cope so there was flooding in the towns! Today was Ok but they are forecasting very heavy rain again tomorrow. Sounds like I might need wellies - or swimmies!
This weekend I am planning to spend here in Palmy catching up with a few chores and exploring the local area a bit further than I was able without the car. Hopefully also ge the photos uploaded too!

Waitangi Day

Tomorrow is Waitangi Day in New Zealand - a celebration of the signing of the treaty with the Maori in 1840 - so it's a bank holiday and we all get a long weekend. This is great as it means that I get longer to visit some of the places on my list of to do's while I am here. The car will make that easier too.

This week has been very quiet still at work - I hope it doesn't keep on like that or it will get very boring. As the deadline for completion of the Long Term Council Commity Plans (LTCCP) gets closer though I expect it will get quite hectic.

On Tuesday evening I went to a yoga class for the first time ever! I found it quite difficult as I am not very flexible and have lousy balance! Still I do intend to go back again, and to some other classes to get back into good fitness habits.

After work yesterday the social club put on a barbeque to say farewell to a couple of interns who go back to University next week and to welcome me and Mike who has emigrated from UK with his family and is an Audit Manager now. Used to be head of finance for Durham Police force so has changed sides! I think we must have put the british barbeque jinx on it though because it was cloudy all day and started raining just as we lit the barbeque! They use gas ones here though not charcoal!

Having bought the car I had to investigate insurance. It is not compulsory to have car insurance here but advisable to have at least 3rd party. Unfortunately, because I am only here for a short time I can't insure through the usual annual policies so have had to go to the only company who do short term insurance. They only offer 3rd party, no fire & theft etc, and the premium is based solely on the age of the youngest person who will be driving the car. Because the majority of people who need this type of policy are young backpackers they are high risk groups so the premium is high. It has cost me over half as much for 3 months 3rd party as for TPF&T for a year on a regular policy. The other down side is that they only do 3 month blocks so I am now about 5 days short of the time I will have the car. It was either that or pay for 6 months insurance! Still couldn't risk having to pay for damage to someone else's car!

So no update for the next few days as I will be luxuriating in mud baths and spa pools in Rotorua! That's where I need the peg! Oh yes - photo at the top of this post is a bird which lives in the park on the Square - not sure what it is - looks like a cross between a duck and a turkey - but I think it must be the same one which Neil took a photo of last November.

Mobile again

This lunch time I went out and bought a car! And even better I took possession of it tonight without a penny changing hands! It will take a few days to get the money over from UK but the garage doesn't have a problem with that - how trusting! Deep red, well burgundy actually, 1995 Mitsubishi Galant GXSi 2 litre. Cost NZ$3,000 (about £1,200) and expectation of about half that back when I am ready to leave. No picture yet but I will get one as soon as I can and post it next time.

February already!

Forgot until now that it is February 1st today - I have now been away for 5 weeks. Not really much to report this week. Work is very much like UK although the actual job I am on is different as it is auditing council's future plans. They are able to do this because their funding is not dependant on Central Government allocations - much more locally funded. However, they are very much like UK councils because they can't get things done in time and are providing information in bits and pieces. This means that you can't do the whole job in a co-ordinated way - you just do the bits you have. I have working in the local office every day this week and it will be the same again next week. After that I don't know - I don't yet know which council I am working on so don't know whether it will be close enough for day trips or whether it will mean staying away.

Yesterday I did a bit of research on buying a car. I have checked out hiring a car and to rent a car to cover all my weekends and the 10 days at the end will cost in excess of NZ$2,000 - about £800. I found a car to buy yesterday (Mitsubishi Galant) which will cost me NZ$3,000 to buy (all on road costs and a service included) and an expected buy back of about NZ$2,000 in 3 months so would actually cost me about NZ$1,000 and would be mine 24/7. There is, however, a third alternative as one of the girls at work has recently bought a new car and is selling her old one. I don't know what it is yet but I will be seeing it tomorrow and hopefully we can come to a 'hire' agreement so that I don't have the selling problem at the end. Either way I expect to have a car to use before the end of the week. Which is just as well as I have arranged to go to Rotorua next weekend. We have Friday off work but it will take about 3-4 hours to get there so I am planning to start off early on Friday morning and then return on Sunday night. Quite looking forward to it as there are lots of spas there and Maori culture attractions. My hotel is in the centre so I should be able to get around quite easily.

Yesterday afternoon I walked down to Victoria Esplanade which is by the river and about 20 minutes walk from the apartment. It had become quite sunny so made a nice afternoon out. Lots of things for the kids there - large paddling pool and lots of play equipment. Also a miniature railway which takes you on a ride all through the park.

I have been to the gym this morning - step class! Nearly killed me - it's been almost a year since I last did anything and even longer since I did step. I am planning to go to a yoga class on Tuesday evening too but continued attendance at either of both of these will depend on my work locations and what plans I have for the weekends. I am doing some research on what places I want to visit while I am here and when I might do them. I think it will be best to alternate longer trips with short local ones so that I can have some 'normal' weekends too when I will be able to do things like going to the gym. This morning has made me ache quite a lot so I need to do something regularly to ease that. Hopefully it will improve the fitness for walking too as my plans include a fair bit of that.

Back to work

Well it is now a week since I started work here in New Zealand. The first 3 days - at the end of last week, were induction in which we received lots of information about Audit New Zealand, the work we are expected to do and some background to the bodies we will be working on. All a bit intensive not least because days start at 8am here. Part of the process was also to provide us with our pc's and all of the necessary IT - unfortunately it did not work out well as my pc had not been set up properly and so it had to be returned. I didn't get it back until Friday and it worked OK during the day but once I got to my accommodation it wouldn't work again. I had intended to catch up on things like blogging last weekend but was not able to. However, all was sorted yesterday so I am now fully contactable by electronic means and am now able to blog.

So what is Palmerston North (Palmy) like? Nice little university town about the size of Loughborough. Nice square - right outside my accommodation block, with park in the middle and shops, bars, etc around the outside. Shopping is OK! My apartment is OK although there are things I would like to have which I don't but for the most part can manage without. Two large supermarkets are within 5 minutes walk of the block too. The photo at the top of this post is of TSB Tower (where I live) from the square. Unfortunately, I don't have that view - I look out over the buildings at the back. Speaking of which you might have noticed that I have posted photos to some of my previous posts now that I have been able to access them.

Work is OK and they have provided me with a pool car to use during the week. This is actually quite limited as it is not that far to and from the office and that is where I am at the moment. Things are prone to change from day to day though so no telling where you will be next. Almost all cars here are automatic and so I keep trying to use the brake as a clutch! Really need to demobilise my left leg!

The weather since I got here has been pretty good. In Wellington it was pretty much how I remember summer as a child, mostly warm and sunny with some cloud about. We have had a little rain too - or to be more precise, quite a lot today. Forecast is good again for tomorrow though. Not sure what I will do this weekend, maybe just stay local and see what is here. Next weekend is bank holiday again - Wangarai Day (signing of the treaty with the Maori) so am looking at going up to Rotorua or maybe Lake Taupo. Watch this space!

Holiday ends

Today is the last day of my holiday and tomorrow work starts. It has been a bit lonely being a lone traveller in Sydney and here in Wellington. However, I have tried to make the most of my time here and have visited a few of the sights. Yesterday was a bank holiday so not much was open in Wellington but I decided that I would take the cable car - which is really a funicular railway, to the botanical gardens and then walk back down. The views up there were terrific although the weather wasn't brilliant. However, it improved considerably on my way down. I did get wet in the morning though - that will teach me to buy the waterproof I need! I also did some geocaching - some of you will already know what that is and others won't so for those of you who don't check it out on www.geocaching.co.uk. I had been tasked with releasing 2 travel bugs to race back to the UK so had to find 2 separate caches on the same day. I started with a list of 7 but only managed 2, I have been unable to find 4 of the others - partly due to them being in very busy areas which makes true searching almost impossible. However, 2 was enough and one of the travel bugs has been picked up already.

Today I took a bus - yup public transport - to the Karori Sanctuary which is just in the suburbs of Wellington. They are trying to preserve the native animals, birds and plants and have enclosed a huge part of the hillside to prevent imported species getting in (well not birds obviously) and to create favourable conditions for a variety of threatened native species. The kiwi is one of these but as it is nocturnal I didn't see any of those. I did see quite a few others though, many of which I could not identify but a few that I could - from the boards they have up round the sanctuary. Unfortunately, as the birds are all flying past at speed for the most part it is not possible to photograph them but I did take a few photos and some video.

Tomorrow is the first day of the secondment so time for work. Guess from now on weekends will be my holiday time and I will be trying to get around as much as possible then.

Sunday 18th January

I have now been in Wellington for 3 days - well almost - and have hardly managed to do anything. I spent some time on the first day wandering the streets locating places then on Saturday - my first full day - went out to try to get the walking gear (boots, waterproof, rucksack) that I need while I'm here. Unfortunately I don't seem to have my shopping head on and so have only managed to buy a daysack. This is not good as we had rain yesterday and more forecast! I have been very tired since I arrived and have had an upset stomach so haven't really felt like doing much. I guess it is just a combination of crossing time zones and too much rubbish to eat. There are loads of places to eat here - far too many to choose from - but I really haven't felt like it much so have mainly eaten prepack salads, yoghurt and fruit from a local supermarket. It is also a bit awkward being a lone diner - not quite sure what to do while you sit waiting for food etc. Fortunately I will not be alone much longer as the rest of the secondees should be here by Tuesday night - not that I know any of them but I have been in contact with one so should at least know when she arrives.

Today I have been to visit the National Museum - Te Papa - which is only a short walk from the hotel and on the sea front. It was very interesting and, I would think it is more so for children as there are an awful lot of interactive bits and sections specifically for kids to do things.

I also took a walk to the Audit NZ offices - which turn out to be above a few shops! They are near the Parliament buildings and the Cathedral. I have once more taken loads of photos and will upload as soon as I can. At least now I have put in the link to the photos that I have uploaded so you can see the South Africa ones!

Tomorrow I plan to take the cable car (funicular railway I think) to the botanical gardens and then walk down to the city again - better hope it doesn't rain!

Stage 3 - New Zealand

Three weeks after leaving home I have finally made it to New Zealand. I am now 13 hours ahead of UK time so communication with family will be by emails mainly I think, although I have been told about a mobile phone package which has reasonable international call rates so may go that route yet.

I was up very early this morning (4:30) for my flight to Wellington so once again I am absolutely shattered - should have recovered by the time we start the induction on Wednesday though. The flight was truly uneventful although being greeted at the departure gate by the news channel showing the plane crash in the states was a bit unnerving. The plane approaches Wellington from the top of the South Island and I think I can safely say I have never seen anything like it before. Looked like loads of forested mountains (although probably not mountain height) surrounded by the sea. Probably a bit like the Norweigian fjords but as I haven't seen them I can't be sure! I am really looking forward to getting out and seeing some of the island now. When I arrived at the hotel it was already mid afternoon - lost another couple of hours - so I haven't had time to do anything yet. I did find out that it is bank holiday on Monday though so everything will be shut! Wellington Day apparently. Typical bad timing!

After I got back to my room last night I realised that although I said I had walked my legs off in Sydney I hadn't actually said what I'd done so:

Day 1 - Walked to the harbour (about 30 minutes), located the steps up onto the bridge and walked across - on the footpath not the bridge spans like Kerry! Although there were loads of people doing that. Then I walked back again, round Circular Quay and up to the Opera House. By then I was very hot and thirsty so stopped for a drink looking over the harbour before taking a walk round the Botanical Gardens and Domain then into Hyde Park and down to the Anzac Memorial before going back to my room for a rest. I returned to the harbour in the evening for my meal and watched Rhapsody of the Seas leave port - she had been moored in the harbour all day.

Day 2 - Walked across to the Chinatown part of the city - not so far from my hotel, intending to visit the Chinese Gardens but they weren't open so went on to Paddy's Market. Hundreds of stalls there so could have spent all day but I was very good and only stayed a short time before going back down to the harbour to get a harbour cruise. This gets you round an awful lot more of the bay. I took an Explorer ticket so was able to get off and board a later one wherever I chose. I got off at Watsons Bay and had a lovely walk up the cliffs and then down into the bay where I dipped my toes in the sea (South Pacific) before going back to the harbour to catch the next boat and on round the rest of the tour. Once more loads of photos and video but unfortunately I can't get them off the camera until I get a laptop from Audit New Zealand - so about another week yet.

Well I think that brings us all up to date now - until I have had time to explore Wellington

Moving on again

My time in Sydney has almost come to an end already. I thought I had 3 days here but with the flight times and delays getting from the airport it really only turned out to be 2 useable days. I have walked my legs off trying to see as much as I can. I have seen a lot but unfortunately not enough time to do anything justice. It has been very hot - up to 40degrees today in parts of Sydney and there are a few bush fires in the west of the city area - nowhere near where I am though. This afternoon it clouded over and we had lots of thunder and a bit of rain. It is now a little cooler and a lot windier - not good for the firefighters! Once again I have loads of photos which are still in the camera at the moment - I will upload to Flickr when I get to Wellington and promise to link here as soon as Claire tells me how! In the meantime you can see my photos on Flickr. Someone also said I can upload video to Facebook - something else to look into when I get time!

I have to be up at 5am tomorrow for a 6am pickup and 10am flight. I hope to be online again on Saturday so more news of my travels then

Stage 2 - Sydney

Today I have arrived in Sydney and lost almost half a day in the process. Yesterday (12 Jan) morning I left Cape Town at 10am to fly to Johannesburg where I met up with Richard Milligan and family. They are just coming to the end of their stay in South Africa and very kindly spared some time to take me out to lunch to fill some of the time I had to wait there. We went to Emperors Palace which is a very impressive gambling place. Apparently it has only been built in the last 12 years but looks a lot older. Anyway, we had a wander round and then had lunch and then returned to the airport where we had a coffee. I had booked my luggage through to Sydney from Cape Town so I didn't have to do any more checking in - just wait. The flight started boarding on time but ended up almost an hour late taking off due to delays in boarding and then a closed runway meant all arrivals and departures had to use the same runway. Once we were airborne everyone was kept in their seats for over an hour due to bad weather so even the refreshment service was delayed. Flight itself was Ok but as always I can't sleep on the plane so manged to watch 4 films and finish my book. Saw a lovely full moon before they closed all the blinds. No sunrise today though - blinds had to be kept closed until what was about midday Sydney time as we were supposed to be sleeping.

Arrival at Sydney was OK then a very boring transfer to the hotel, arriving about 5pm. Hotel is OK. Not had much chance to check out the location yet - I just need to get some food and some sleep and be ready to roll tomorrow morning.

Almost time to move on

It is now 2 weeks since I arrived in Cape Town and tomorrow I will be moving on to Sydney - which I am quite nervous about. I've had a great time here and met loads of very friendly people. The weather has been fantastic and the sights amazing so I'm really glad I came. Unfortunately I have already missed 3 birthdays, Tom, Derek and Claire so sorry to all of you but I trust you got your cards OK. I will also be missing a whole load more before I get back to UK - including my own!

We are winding down now here so not much to report on new sights. We went on Friday night for another great meal in a very unlikely place. A restaurant on the docks called Panama Jacks which looks as if a strong wind would blow it down! Great food though. Then on to Doodles where some of John's friends were celebrating their wedding anniversary. Another late night and too much booze. Seems to be the lifestyle here - amongst the white south africans anyway. Other things they like doing - running, cycling and kite surfing, so generally very active lifestyles.

Big braai party today as my farewell to Cape Town. I will not post again now until Sydney, by which time I should be able to attach the photos!

Thursday 8 January

Well another four days have passed in the blink of an eye. On Monday we went up Table Mountain. You have to choose your day carefully for this because there is quite often cloud on the top which spoils the views. However, we chose well and only had to wait an hour for the cable car to the top. That in itself was quite an experience as it is a car holding about 30 people which slowly revolves as it goes up a very steep cliff face. Once at the top we had a walk round the immediate vicinity of the cable station then had lunch before exploring further afield. It was quite an experience as I was able to look down on some of the other places I had seen in earlier travels.

On Tuesday Alta had arranged for me to have a manicure (also pedicure and facial on Thursday) for a Christmas gift. Afterwards we went down to the Waterfront to book a tour to Robben Island for Wednesday before driving out to Stellenbosch to visit a vineyard. This is part of the Wine Route and there are lots of vineyards you can visit. We went to the Spiers Vineyard because they also have a cheetah enclosure (about 6 animals) which Fleur was keen to see, and also a very good restaurant. Unfortunately by the time we had visited the cheetahs we had left it too late to taste the wines. However we had a booking at the restaurant, Mojo, which is very African in style. It is an open air venue with tables in trees, under trees, under tents and in a large marquee. The food is a serve yourself buffet with huge choices and I tasted a few African dishes including mealie meal, sweet potatoe and antelope as well as a few others whose names I cannot remember. It was a very good night out - if somewhat expensive by African standards.

Yesterday we visited Robben Island which is famous for being the prison of Nelson Mandella. This entailed a ferry visit, a bus ride round the island and a tour of the prison conducted by a previous political prisoner. The island itself has also been used for other purposes before the incarceration of prisoners, including the housing of lepers until they found out leprosy was not contagious and sent them all back to the mainland. The tour was very interesting and I'm really glad I went although I did not feel how I expected to about it. The commentary given by the ex-political prisoners is all very one sided and I couldn't help feeling that, whilst they had been badly treated many of them (including the one who was our guide) was a terrorist who had been imprisoned for using and being in possession of firearms and explosives. I just felt that maybe some input from those who used to be the warders there for instance (many of whom still live on the island anyway) would have given a more balanced view. They are after all extolling the reconciliation of the races.

Today has been a very quiet day at home - apart from the trip to the beauty salon for my facial and pedicure. We have visited the places that I wanted to see and now we will be spending some time relaxing before I set off for Oz.