Hi everybody! Thought I would drop you a quick line. I am in Kaikoura at the moment waiting for a boat to go (sea looks choppy,argh) and see some albatross. Apparently they are really big sea birds and the photos you can take are meant to be good. That is what I have really liked about New Zealand. The scenery is absolutely amazing. It is so photogenic. The locals here are really lucky but despite being polite and everything, out of everywhere I have been so far, the New Zealanders ,to me, seem the most discontent and it is a shame cos it lets the country down a little.

Anyway yesterday, I went to Akaroa. It is so pretty, you will see the pictures. It is a French township. Some French whaler used to use the harbour to shelter when the sea got rough and one day, he though hmmm, this would make a nice settlement for the french so he went back to france and got lots of people to come back with him. The journey from france took them about nine months and on their way back, they stayed in the NZ capital of the time Russell. There, they went out drinking with the english sailors and let slip about this beautiful piece of land in the south. Six weeks later, the french arrived in Akaroa to find the English flag flying! Heard so many stories like that since I been away. Us English have got a rep. Pretty amazing though when you think how old England is yet apart from Maori, New Zealand has been settled less then 200 yrs. That is only like four or five generations ago.

Christchurch on Saturday was like a different place. All these cities seem to be at the weekend. There was one street entertainer and he was actually quite funny. When ever a tram came along, he would set something up like pretending to nick a lady's handbag and getting some guys to beat him up (and he emphasized that they were only to pretend) or jumping up in front of the tram with a scary mask on. It was quite funny seeing the passengers' faces. Also Nath, there is this huge huge chess board in Catherdral Square with pieces about half my height. Reckon I would still beat you on it (NOT!) even if I needed a crane to move the pieces!

Oooh and one more thing.You might wanna censor the end of this entry, Trace and Liz.  which did not impress me much, was all starry eyed after I wrote my blog Sat. Took a walk around the Botanical Gdns (Christchurch is known as the City of Gardens) with a silly smile on my face reflecting on the trip. Smiled at all the families and Japanese tourists passed me by. Then a harmless looking clean cut middle aged man came out from behind some trees and out of habit, I think I probably smiled. He was like 'morning, how are you today?'. I was like 'Oh, fine thank you' and about to pass him by and he was like 'Are you on the game?'. 'Sorry?' I spluttered. 'Are you on the game?' He repeated. 'No' I replied quite snotty before racing off towards the kiddies park where there was lots of families. He was like 'Oh, right'. Well, I hope that there was a treasure hunt or something going on that day in the park and I misunderstood him cos I was really insulted. It was eleven o'clock in the morning and I was sdressed in jeans and my coat which is falling to pieces now. I looked like a backpacker. He couldn't have had it more wrong! So even though I reckon smiling has helped me out a little on this trip. Gonna plaster a scowl on my face now.

Anyway got to go or I'm gonna miss my boat.

Sam