Nothing quite beats the feeling of knowing that your home. Flying back into NZ always gives me a slight sense of relief - although that may be after the 2 kids opposite next me decided to spend the entire landing time screaming "we're gonna crash" "we might crash into that plane!" "we are going to crash right now!" etc... well that was when one of them wasn't just generally screaming at the top of his lungs...

The best thing about being gluten free would have to be the fact that due to getting a 'special meal' you get it first! So when mum and I had the very back seats of the plane, I got mine first and she got hers last... although Emirates hasn't quite gotten the whole gluten free thing quite figured out - they gave me museli bars and wheat crackers...

We spent half a night in Dubai after Alice found out that Emirates puts you up in a hotel if you have a stopover longer than 8 hours. We were amazed at the cleanliness of the bathroom, the fact that water came out of the taps, the buffet breakfast and the joy of needing a blanket when we slept!

Now back in NZ I have moved into the flat on Portland Rd that we lived in as a family during our time in Auckland. Luckily, this time round I have learnt that people don't walk to school in bare feet here (things were very different at Opua school than in Remuera!). I got some furniture from the good old warewhare, the kind you have to put together yourself, and after quite a few issues with my $3 screwdriver I know have a desk and some shelves. Hopefully soon I will have a bed too!

So I am now getting organised for starting Uni on mon, organising my flat and enjoying the little kiwi things I have missed these last few weeks. I will sadly be too busy eating pick n mix, sushi and gluten free pasta to write anymore... or at least until my Indian adventures in July!