So the last month didn't quite go according to plan. After arriving in Queenstown and enjoying a few nights out before I intended on starting work, I was struck down with what ended up being a tonsil and throat infection as well as an infection to my finger. Not quite what I had hoped for as this meant I couldn't start work as was planned and I was pretty much bed-ridden for two weeks with the inability to speak and eat, a very unpleasant experience to say the least. I was rescued by the family I was supposed to be staying with a bit later on in the month and without them I wouldn't have got better nearly as fast as I did so I am very grateful for that. An added bonus was that when I was better I was able to fully appreciate being settled down in one place and enjoy three good meals a day and a good amount of beer to bring me back to full health. So after being side-lined by this for a good two weeks I then made a few trips to Queenstown to meet up with people I knew and started to learn how to socialise again after having just my medicine for company over the last few weeks. Back on the farm I was taught valuable lessons in how to cook various meals that will keep me alive for the next four months. Eating more vegetables than I even knew existed I am now back to 100% and know how to keep away any illness for the rest of my trip ... I hope. In the last few days of my stay on the farm I got involved in a bit of work. This turned out to include flipping rams and trekking round on a quad bike with three dogs, an ex-all-black and me all crammed onto it which I'm sure would have provided a very amusing picture. I can't say I have ever experienced anything like flipping rams and dealing with a dead sheep but a great thing to put on my CV! After leaving the farm and the amazing hospitality I had enjoyed over the last three weeks it was back to the hostel in Queenstown for a week before I leave for Fiji on Sunday. Not really anticipating much to go on until Sunday as I have done so much in Queenstown already and become a regular in almost every bar. I at least have a new addition to my arm in the form of quite a large amount of ink to keep me occupied. So the next time I write on here will hopefully be from Fiji, although I have been told electricity is rare in some places there, as is hot water and several other things so it could be a bit longer before you hear from me. Wish me luck ...