Hi everyone,

Thought i'd give you an update before i forget a few things, and also I'm going to be on the road forthe next 5 weeks and I haven't got a clue whether I'm going to be able to get on the internet in the meantime. So....

We arrived in Auckland at about midday on Monday 21st April, was an early start and an emotional farewell to sunny Fiji and hello to cold New Zealand! Said goodbye to a few people we met who we travelled around Fiji with. We got on a bus and were greeted with the happiest man in the whole of New Zealand, he called the girls 'blossom' (in true dame edna style) and the boys he called son.... a good start... we asked the man to shout out where we had to get off, and I s*** you not, he literally belted out, YOU'VE GOTTA GET OFF HERE, suddenly the fuses lit and the rockets set off up our arses. Loaded like blackpool donkeys we were off and had arrived in Auckland city centre.

Well, we eyed up our hostel from outside, looked like the entrance to the foyer down Sheerness High Street, single glazed doors, a lift that didn't work, carpets that were floral like the walls and the place smelt reminiscent of Halfway Chinese- chicken chow mein anyone? Anyways, Jet Li tried charging us more, and in true Sheppey style- Me and Katie brandished the knuckle duster and the problem was sorted.

Anyways, the hostel was adequate, full of zombie like people who just grunted and appeared to not be able to walk as they didn't move from their slumped position for the duration of our stay. We went out to explore... ended up impulse buying for the new laptop, as you do, almost bought a young chinaman to sit by my laptop to help me with my every need... decided against it, no more room in the toiletry bag.

The place reminded us all of Toronto, skyscrapers, a mini CN tower, and full of Asian people... suppose one city looks like the rest, but the place is immaculate, not a spot of litter. Nice.

In the evening we decided to meet up with Leah, had some true New Zealand style food... burger and chips... can never accuse me of not trying anything new... Had a few drinks and home for a early night...for most people this would be the end of the night but OH NO... we all climbed into our bunkbeds, alongside an old chinaman, the man was wearing an eye mask and was laying cocooned in a purple blanket, suddenly the chinaman was fast asleep... well... what followed was, what can only be described as a man possessed... the man's snoring was comparable to a donkey with the worst sinus problems imaginable... sometimes he breathed, sometimes he didn't, then all of a sudden... the snore could be heard in the South Island.... Nick was having none of it, up he flew out of bed, down to reception and demanded we be moved... we were, into a girls dorm... hard life.

The next morning the chinaman woke up to an empty room...

We decided to change hostels, as the smell of chinese was getting more and more pungent by the day... we moved down the road and into a hostel we are still in, nice hostel with friendly staff. Went food shopping for our forthcoming campervan journey... walked back with 8 bags on each hand, bag split halfway up the stairs unveiling the 'tesco value' contents.... I love backpacking.

Spent the next two days searching through every campervan company in the southern hemisphere, finally found one and booked it. We leave Thursday, works out cheap, so it's all good at the moment...

Went out last night and we all got pissed as farts, got the photo's to prove that... Jade thought it'd be a good idea at 2am in a bar to get us all a glass of water... great idea... walked over to the table with them.... missed the table and smashed the glasses over the floor... mop anyone?

Apart from that everyone, life's been great, hope all your lives are interesting, let me know!!!!

Keep in touch, i'll keep you updated with my antics x

Oh and i've got SKYPE now, so if you're good with computers, go to the website, download the program, count your 2p's and buy a headset, and i'll give you a ring.

Take care x

Marcus x