Back at Waikanae

2008-02-07T10:39:19+01:00

Returned this evening from blissful trip round some of the North Island. East coast and mountainous interior with waterfalls and steam coming out of the earth, plus a couple of volcanoes. Lake Taupo is wonderful but we resisted the temptation to go white-water rafting or bungee-jumping. Stayed in lovely B & Bs and met my newly discovered 6th cousin once removed who is a Kiwi who lives in the UK but was visiting NZ for his niece's wedding. We all had a meal with him and his wife and friends on Sunday evening in Martinborough - heart of the wine-producing area. Saw Kiwis, albeit in a reserve, and lots of Tuis with their unique calls. Not seen a live possum yet though Bridget thinks she saw a dead one by the side of the road! (There are 15 million of them in NZ!!!)They are universally loathed here. This evening we have watched NZ being trounced yet again by England in the 20/20 cricket. As Michael says, he knows how we must have felt last year - he doesn't.... For those who know about B's finger, it's healing beautifully - it no longer sticks out like a sore thumb! Sorry to hear about the awful weather in UK - the last four days have been cloudless here and a lovely temperature, but no doubt you will be saving some of the wet stuff for us when we get back. John and Bridget.

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New Zealand now

2008-01-30T23:57:05+01:00

We arrived in Wellington in beautiful sunshine on Tuesday and were met by my cousin Michael and his wife Jennifer, their daughter Diana and her son Mark. A quick cup of tea and cakes at Diana's before driving up to Waikanae, about 45 minutes up the West Coast from Wellington. Drinks and supper under the Kiwi friut vine with cicadas singing in the trees. Yesterday we drove up the Otaki gorge and swam in the river just below the rapids - gorgeous! This morning I have been to the dentist to have a filling replaced - it came out in the Rod Laver Arena at the Australian final on Sunday...I was just going for a winner down the line when it happened........! A lovely South African dentist called Celeste - very efficient too! Michael and I are hoping to have a game of bowls later on today and tonight we are dining at a cambodian restaurant (no Pol Pot on the menu!) Tomorrow a barbecue at Diana's when we shall meet her husband Gerry. We set off for a few days looking around North Island with M & J next week. NZ is so different from Australia - hard to believe it was part of the same land mass originally. John

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johnbdownunder

Back at Waikanae

New Zealand now