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Thursday 19th April
We stay with the Atchinson's for the next few days. They are more of Simon's parents friends. I can't believe how lucky we've been with so many people opening their homes to us. It's been a great experience and a good way to see how people here live. In the evening two of their three children come round - I say kids but they are our age.
Erin is the middle daughter and is delightful. She and her fiance Chris have been living in Edinburgh for the last 3 years. Ian, the youngest has been living in Wolverhampton but returned to work as a lawyer. He's looking to move back to the UK next year. We sit around chatting and it's nice to be in a family environment. It makes me miss home.
Friday 20th April
We get up early and drive to Pakiri in the Bay of Plenty to go horse riding on the beach. It's a little disappointing as they don't let us do anything but walk on the beach. I wouldn't mind but it's a private beach with no-one on it so it's not like I'd be mowing any children down - hee hee. The view is beautiful though and the owners two dogs come with us.
Afterwards we drive to Goat Island beach and then back through to Warkworth before heading back to Auckland for dinner with the Atchisons.
Saturday 21st April
Simon goes fishing for the day and I stay behind to post yet more parcels back to the UK. Then I get on the ferry to Waiheke which is one the large islands off Aucklands coast. I hire a mountain bike when I arrive and cycle a fair way across the very hilly island to Stonyridge vineyard. Naturally it would be rude not to stop and check out their wines and sample some of their fine cuisine.
After a very enjoyable lunch I hop back on the bike and peddle frantically to get back for the ferry to pick Simon up from fishing.
In the evening we meet Morag, the eldest daughter of the Atchisons. She's an opera singer and was also living in the UK until recently! We go to the pub and sample some locally brewed beer with Erin, Chris and Ian. Afterwards Morag drives us up to the top of Mount Eden which has a beautiful 360 degree view over the entire city.
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