[FRIDAY] Well for the first time in the whole time I've been staying with Gordon and Liz, I can actually say I bet them out of bed.I set my alarm for 6am, and I got up and after hearing what sounded like Gordon earlier up the hallway, I tracked him down in Cheyenne's room.I asked if I could beat him to the bathroom and he said that would be fine. He said it was so I quickly went and had my bath.When I got out, Gordon was busy starting on the dishes.He asked if I wanted a cuppa, I said no.While I got my camera and some spare batteries, he mentioned that the tremor that we felt the night before was actually from an earthquake which hit a place called Gisborne - it measured 6.8 on the scale, which had resulted in one death.Being the first time I've experience anything like that, I said to Gordon, it would be pretty scary stuff, considering what we felt, was probably nothing compared to what Gisborne felt.It was close to 7am.I told Gordon I would be back before he left.I grabbed the car keys and headed off to Dean and Catherine's place.I arrived.Dean had just got out of bed and Catherine was ready and just organizing Savannah and Skyla.Dean offered me a coffee and I said no, I was fine.We had a quick chat until Catherine came out with the kids.Dean was meant to head to work at 7:30am, he obviously wasn't concerned, as he said, he's one of the head foremen - so we got he photos started.I got them all on their couch, and got a few reasonably good pics of them, although Skyla always seems to turn her head at the wrong time.I then got a few of Catherine and Dean together by them selves.After that, Dean had to head off, so it was a firm handshake with him, he kissed the kids along with his wife, and he was gone.Catherine knew I wanted photos with the kids, so she took my camera, and Skyla and Savannah hoped on the couch with me - although I was disappointed that Cheyenne wasn't there to be in the photo.After that, Catherine and I had a chat, when I realized it was around 7:45am and that Gordon would be leaving soon.I told her I had to go, and she said for the kids to give me a hug and kiss - which they both did - and then gave Catherine a huge hug.We said our goodbyes and I left.I drove back home, and just as I'm coming through the driveway, Gordon was just about on his way via his bicycle.I quickly parked the car and went over to Gordon; he said he was already running late, so I thanked him for putting up with me, shook his hand and he took off down the driveway.I was also hoping to get a photo with Gordon - seems I should've done it the previous night.I got my things out of the car, locked it, and then headed inside, where Liz was still in bed… but awake!I'd told her that I'd dug a hole out the back, but she'd have to supply the headstone.She didn't know what I was on about.I reminded her that she told me I'd suffer… for giving her my flu!She laughed.She said, her whole body ached.I told her that that wasn't my flu, as I didn't get the whole sore body thing.She apologized sarcastically and said, "Oh must've been someone else! Sorry bout that!"I made myself a cuppa and booted up the laptop, so I could download a copy of the photos for Liz to keep.She sat beside me as we browsed the photos.While I was there, she had a few things to ask me about the computer so I happily obliged.After that, she asked to see the footage I took of Cheyenne's award at school.While Liz sat watching that and the footage from the previous day, I checked my email quickly, and then went and started packing and re-packing and re-organizing my bags and luggage.We had time for a 5 minute talk before Bill Arrived to pick me up - 9:30am sharp.I bought all my bags out, gave Liz a kiss and quick hug, and hoped in Bills blue tilly.We headed on to the main highway; we passed through Mangatanoka and turned off at Woodville, and headed straight to Palmerstone North. We stopped at the drop off zone at the airport, I got my bags outs, I shook Bills hand, thanked him and he took off.I made my way inside the airport and headed straight to the domestic departures.My bag only weighed 12kg's.After getting my boarding pass, I was told I had to buy a departure fee stamp from one of the shops near buy.I proceeded there immediately, got my stamp, and then went and sat down in the visitors lounge until our flight was ready.Two planes arrived simultaneously, one from Christchurch and the other from Wellington. My flight was called, and the line queued.The officer verified our stamps and boarding pass.As I headed out to the plane, I was thinking there was something not right or different.The flight attendant greeted me and I took my seat - next to the emergency exit. The plane was not very full with mostly 1 person to 2 seats, I was surprised.The plane hit the runway, and took off. Destination: Auckland.The plane landed on the runway.The sky was extremely overcast and very windy.I walked from the tarmac to the arrival path.It suddenly hit me what was missing at Palmerston Airport.There was absolutely no, security, drug or baggage screening. Not even a metal detector.It didn't worry me but, Palmerston Airport is both domestic and international.It surprised me that none of those security features were present.Never the less, not my problem !!!I picked up my luggage bag, and proceed to the front of the airport and headed outside.I found one of the City shuttle buses.The driver took my bags and I hoped in.There was a lady already in the bus, and she greeted me and started asking questions.Very sweet lady.As it turned out, I'd just been on the same plane with her, she was from Palmerstone North and headed to Auckland for a few days with her family.An olderly couple also boarded the bus, and were heading to the international terminal - bound for Australia.The lady, Mary, and I basically talked about anything and everything until she reached her destination.She wished me a happy Christmas and hoped out, paid her fare and left.The driver then started taking me to where I had to go.I simply viewed the wonders of this city as I drove though it.We rocked up at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the driver offloaded my luggage luggage, I paid him just as the concierge came out and collected my luggage.I really didn't know what to expect when I walked through the door - until it smacked me in the face!The inside was absolutely breathtaking and exquisite.Huge even - and as we not so rich people would say… posh!!! At that moment, I thought of Kevin McCallister from 'Home Alone 2' when he checked into the Plaza hotel in New York (except I wouldn't be spending $967 on room service!!!)I went to the counter, checked in while the concierge guy held my luggage patiently.I received my access card for the building and my room - 2301.The guy holding my luggage then showed me to the elevators, where he showed me how to access it.My card had to be swiped in the reader, and then hit my floor number on the panel which was 23.My door was opened for me, he switched on the lights, opened the curtains and turned on the big screen plasma television which was mine for the next three and half days.He greeted me, called me SIR, and closed the door.As most of you can imagine, I got that cheeky grin on my face, and jumped on that huge queen bed.I basically had 1 of 3 of the best rooms on the floor - it was a corner room, so I had a somewhat clear view of the ocean - as well as the top half of the Skytower, (which is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, and which I hope to do the sky jump from) and the ANZ building, which was nearly as tall at the Skytower.Having the room that I did, I didn't really wanna leave it.But I decided to have a look around the rest of the hotel.I went down the elevators - with see through glass, and headed back to the lobby.Since the Lobby was floor 4, their were 3 floors below, which was all linked to the hotel, but kind of sealed off separately - like subsidiaries I guess. The number of shops were endless.There was a whole floor just with International food cafeteria, like Italian, Mexican, Thai, French, American, Chinese, and Japanese foods.They are just everywhere.Other shops had anything you can imagine, sport shops, hairdressing and beauty, food shops, clothes and jewelry, food shops, electronic shops, banks and of course… more food shops.After exploring the bottom 3 levels, I headed back to the lobby, and purchased an Internet card for the business Centre, then headed up there to check my email.

[to be continued]

[TO BE CONTINUED]