Auckland for Christmas

Well, I made it to New Zealand - after 36 hours of travelling! My plane was delayed for two hours, sitting on the tarmac, and then the London - Los Angles - Auckland plane journey is the very longest that you can do! But, I seem to have escaped the jet lag so far, although I am getting tired at the end of each day. That's because my parents are wearing me out... but we had a lovely Christmas in Auckland, although it wasn't that sunny, but we did go to a few beaches and see lots of nice scenery!

And yesterday, Boxing Day, instead of pigging out on the remains of the turkey etc, we went to the Coromandel peninsula, saw lots of lovely beach, the Pacific Ocean, and had lots of lovely seafood.

Today is our last day in Auckland, and then it's on to Bangkok for me to be reunited with my lovely John, and on to Christchurch for the parents, to commence their tour of South Island and Lord of the Rings land - shame neither of them have seen the films. But then, neither have I - I tried to watch the first one again on the plane, and quit half way through, because it's just still boring!!

So, happy day-after-Boxing-Day to you all - I hope you've all had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year - and that work isn't too grim for those who are there tomorrow and Friday.

And, very many Congratulations to Steve and Sally, who got engaged just before Christmas... another wedding to add to the list! Just Fab.

More later, if there's a computer anywhere. Bye...!

Pre Christmas Stress Disorder

I have it. But I'm holding it back... I lost my voice last week, and my passport this week. So, now, I'm typing this from my parent's house in Jersey (they're not here, they're in Sydney), where my brother should be (but isn't, he's in London), when I should be in London, and he should be in Jersey. Hmpf.

Reason for being in Jersey: the only way to get a new passport before I fly to New Zealand on Friday, all being well to pick it up at midday tomorrow that is.

Reason for missing passport: who knows. It's a most "un-Kate like" thing to do, as my Mum helpfully pointed out as I was winging my way to Gatwick on the train this morning - although she was most helpful in providing the exact location of my birth certificate for me, so that was rather handy! Thanks Mum.

Bonus good things of being in Jersey: dinner with Debbie and David, unplanned coffee (after surprising them rather well) with Jenny and her Mum, and buying a shony new camera, in time to take on travels, at a knock down price with lots of extras thrown in. With thanks to the nice man in Fotosound who took pity on me, and to my wonderful John, who is buying it for me for Christmas, and has remained admirably calm through the traumas, despite at the moment being at the tail end of a 20 hour train journey to Malaysia. Thanks babe.

In other news: I've finally finished reading Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. The verdict? Rubbish! On to War and Peace now. Yes, really.