Hi all, Great to see the messages are still being put onto the websiite - they keep me going and make me laugh! Sorry I didn't get to meet you Dani when I was in the US, but I promise I will be there again as I love America and we will have to meet up. What are you up to these days? I have just arrived in Melbourne Australia after a crazy last week in NZ. I got up to Taupo after leaving Janet and Ed's and went on a nice walk that evening. Yawn Yawn, but it was nice and the views were pretty cool. On the Saturday I went down to the lake and tried my luck at the hole in one golf. They have an island in the lake which you belt golf balls out to. Needless to say I didnt get it in and I wasnt much cop at the longest drive competition either. The lions were in action for the 2nd test that evening and I met with a few of the girls from the hostel and headed out to an Iriah bar for the night. The girls had met some of the Lions' player (Irish & Welsh ones) at the cinema in Wellington a few days before and commented that it looked pretty bad the way the players grouped together with other players from their country, so the welsh boys were together and the Irish lads sitting in another area of the cinema. No wonder they didn't look like much of a team. The session carried on after the lions pasting and I didn't get home until 5ish. The next day (needless to say) was a right off. I didnt get out of bed until gone three! I got the kiwi bus up to Auckland and managed to get a room in the YHA in town for one night. Sooty & Co were also in Auckland staying out on the race course, but it was a bit of a journey out of town, so I didn't meet them. Instead I headed to Dan Doolans bar for a few jars and bumped into a crowd from Cork.There was a girl called Miriam Forde from Carrignavar (do you know her Anne Flynn? - I'll put a picture on tomorrow). The others were from Fermoy and the city. I stayed on the brew with them for the night and listened to the band that were playing. The craic was great and the whole bar joined in with the Irish sing song! The next morning I collected 2 tickets for the Auckland Vs Lions match and then met up with Sooty, Joe, Seamus and Brian at the Barmy Army HQ's. We headed to the sky tower, which is the highest building in the southern hemisphere. Whilst up there you could see people bungee off and I got a few cool photos. The guys had booked to do the bungee today, but I believe a combination of too much alochol and a late night last night put a stop to that! To be honest I think they just chickened out and wanted an excuse. It was 7 this morning when I said good night to Jim! We went to a bar called the fiddler at around 3ish and began the warm up session before the match! We got a train out to the ground and watched the Lions narrowly beat Auckland. It does not look promising for the last test! I had two tickets for the game and couldn't even give the ticket away! No one wanted it and they were great seats (you'll see the photos tmrw) After the match we headed back to the fiddlers and had a few in their. Some bird tried to walk off with my jacket (my passport in it also), but luckily I was on the ball and nabbed her on the way out of the bar. We moved on from that bar and went to a few other bars before landing at Dan Doolan's to show the lads this great bar.When we got in their this stranger was buying a round of drinks and bought us all a shot of some thing - why Im not sure, but he did! We left there at around 3:30 and headed back to the race course. Im sure I had a nap at the bar, but ended up going to sleep at 7ish in the front seat of Sooty & Brians van. Sooty set his alarm for 9 to drive me back into town, but the next thing I looked at my phone and the time was 11 - s***. My plane is leaving in 4 hours, my bags are in a hostel room that I should have checked out of an hour ago and I don't know where I am. I said good luck to Sooty & Brian and got a groan, which I took as a "see ya later". That was a seiorus session and I was steaming, unfortunatly I'm suffering for it now. I got a taxi into town to my hostel and got my stuff together before heading to the airport. God I was wrecked. I checked in, in plenty of time and sat down on a chair by the gate for the plane. Next thing I hear them making the last call to get on the plane so I woke up and walked onto the flight! How bad would that have been to miss the flight and be at the gate? That would be worse than what Dad and Mary Morgan did! That's another story for those who know it youll laugh! ANy way I got to Melbourne, bought a mobile at the airport, so some of you will have got a very plain text from me with my number. If you didn't I will put the number on here when I know what it is! Melbourne seems like a great city so I am planing to stay here for a week or so. Apperantly the ratio is 3 to 1 women to men, so I might meet the next Mrs O'Connor here! Then again I probably won't as they are all mad! Sooty, Seamus and Brian all went to do the Nevis Bungee jump. I promised I wouldn't spoil their stories and tell you which of them jumped and which of them was a chicken s***, but Im sure you could have a few bets after take your pick when they get back. Sooty is going to add some of their photos to the site when he gets home! They are leaving tomorrow and I think New Zealand will be happy to get the two campervans back in nearly one piece but will notice a hit on the proffits at the bar!! Well that's all for now. I am staying in a cool hostel tonight, which has free internet access and is having a wine and cheese evening, so I am on the vino! Heading for an early night though as I am shattered. Looking forward to seeing Melbourne tomorrow and making plans for the rest of oz. The neighbours tour may have to be done! I know cringe! Any way ttfn - love to all, Michael