We got to the Jucy office about 9.30, so we were there before the queues and so we could get all the paperwork done and out the way (you're supposed to collect the vans at 10). We had left our bags at the hostel, and returning back there once we had got the van was a bit of trouble with all the one-way systems. It was a bit annoying as the Jucy office was right next to the junction you got onto the motorway we needed, so if we had just brought our bags with us we...

We got up early so that we had plenty of time to organise the next stage of our trip, and to sightsee afterwards. Peter Pans travel agent wasn't open when we got there, so Alice had a look at phones/ tablets in Vodafone and JB Hi-Fi (an electrical shop), which were conveniently located next door to each other. She ended up buying a tablet which you can insert a SIM card into, and so can use as a phone, which was somehow loads cheaper than getting a phone which ha...

Although I was a tourist in Sydney, it didn't feel like I was really travelling again, but today, getting an international flight made it hit me... we're on the road again! We were half an hour later leaving than we were aiming for, due to Ian offering us breakfast, but it was still good timing. I liked the fact I saw a Maori man in a skirt as it felt very New Zealand-y. The safety announcement video on the aeroplane was hilarious as everyone was dressed up like...

This morning was spent visiting Eric (Beryl's father), and Beryl popped into the bakery to get a teacake for the occasion, which was yummy. Beryl told him that it was Heidi's first day of preschool, and Eric asked if Louise was OK about it as he had forgotten whose little girl Heidi was. Beryl kept pushing him into remembering, and he tried escaping with the excuse of going to the toilet. He's doing pretty well though given that he's 94! We met back up with Ian,...

During the week, Beryl and Ian look after Heidi, and so Heidi came upstairs to brush her teeth with me, and show me all around the top floor (which is where they used to live, before they found an apartment). I blame this on the fact I left my camera at home, as I didn't have my full attention on packing what I needed for the day. Beryl drove me and Heidi to the shops, and she showed me where I caught the bus from, and how to get back to their house on the w...