This is just added so that the map starts from home

So.... Up at 4.30am Tahiti time (1.30am Sydney time) for pick up at 5.30am. Use up some of our Pacific francs for check out. Of course the other snack had not been taken off our bill, but the lovely reception man fixed that with no problem at all. Then began the long day to journey back home. The bus transfer to Tahiti airport, check-in, check out their duty free/souvenir shopping, board the plane. For the long flight back to Auckland we were fed brekky and I wat...

Afternoon departures are soooo tedious - the day just takes forever. We spent this morning packing and waiting before Chari drove us down to Jess and Pete's. After freshening up we left just as a freak storm hit Penrith. We were doing 40kph on the motorway, with our hazard warning lights on! - until we pulled on to the shoulder and waited it out for five minutes or so...... There were trees down and the side of the motorway was littered with the shredded leaves f...

Well, the day before finally arrived - and isn't it always the longest day ever? Saturday saw the entire family celebrating Tom's and Shannon's birthdays. On Sunday we went to the movies with Jess and Peter, Sophie and Char, and that just left today to get through. A haircut for me, double-checking on the packing, and afternoon tea with Char, Shannon and our grandchildren. Shannon, cake maker/decorator extraordinaire, made a classic sponge cake for the first time...