Monday was a strange day as the daytime passed so quickly but the evening was a different story both Mel and I were huffing and puffing around the house by 7pm.We did salvage the evening by pulling out the scrabble which did the trick.

I spent part of Tuesday sorting out things to do with my mate Martin who was arriving on Friday.It was then onto making a homemade beef and ale pie.I got broken off half way through to go and fix my neighbours TV which was playing up.He invited me for a beer but I took a raincheck until Wednesday.
I was soon back in the kictchen putting finishing touches to the pie,when mel sent me a text saying she was looking forward to eating the pie!!! ( no pressure then!!)

Mel arrived home while it was still light so we went out walking and to work up an appetite for the pie,which I am pleased to report was sensational if I do say so myself.I received news that my bike had arrived in NZ but it was in a bonded warehouse waiting to be released by customs,but hopefully that will be ready in the next 7-10 days too.

The weather had been flip flopping this week and Wednesday was excellent so I spent a nice afternoon with our neighbour Doug,the war veteran,sat on his porch chatting and having a beer which was a very pleasant way to spend time.I had been under the weather for a few days and when Mel arrived home she wasn't feeling too good either,we were wishing that we had a TV in the bedroom so we could have laid in bed watching it.The last thing I remember was looking at the clock and it was 9.30pm....

Martin called from LA to say he was on his way so it was an early night again as he was arriving at 5,30am Friday.

I dropped Mel at work before 7 and drove to the airport.It was my first time there since we arrived and it took me a few minutes to get parked up,he was waiting for me in arrivals and didn't look too tired. We headed off to Devonport for breakfast and devised our plan for the next 10 days.I dropped Martin at the hotel for a few hours rest and we met up in Devonport that evening for a drink in our local.

On Saturday we finally received the letter we had been waiting for from the UK so now we can get moving with the next part of becoming residents here in NZ.Hopefully in the next 4 weeks we should have a decision as to whether we have been accepted.

It took a phone call from Martin to wake me up,I wasn't feeling 100% and Mel was not too good either,we were sure it wasn't swine flu but we definately had some kind of bug.It was raining heavy today and I dropped Mel in Takapuna while I went and spent the day with Andy and Martin.I had planned to go round the city but the rain put a stop to that and we went to the museum.

It went down really well especially the house that simulates an earthquake and we were there around 3 hours before moving onto our next activity which was Kelly Tarlton's aquarium. Martin loved the penguins and Andy the stingrays so by the time we had finished there it was time to head into the city for a few drinks.We ended up leaving at midhight while the 2 lads carried on into the small hours.As soon as my head hit the pillow I was out like a light.

After 2 long days and late nights there was no let up today with more things to see and do.Mother NAture had served us up a beautiful day after yesterday's washout and we used it to it's full potential.Out on the West Coast we went to Muriwai Beach,the blue sky set off the beach perfectly and the sand glistened like jewels with the sun shinkg on it.

We had a climb on the rocks and saw starfish and crabs before walking along the beach.We had planned for lunch at Riverhead winery but the place was heaving so we ended up a little down the road at a converted train carriage which was excellent.On the way there nearly ran a chicken over as it ran into the road but managed to swerve and miss it.

Mel must have had chicken on the brain as she plumped for the open chicken sandwich while us 3 had gourmet burgers that were as big as saucers and as thick as a railway sleeper and tasty.We fed the bits of bread we had left to the ducks in the pond below us and also an eel which popped up for a look.

Beacause the weather was so nice we decided to head over to the East Coast for a look at Goat Island and the drive took us about an hour.Andy slept nearly all the way and only woke up when we stopped for fuel.Unfortunately we had timed it badly for the tide and it meant the fish were hard to see but the late afternoon light made the place look stunning and we sat and watched the sunlight bounce off the water for a while.

All this driving around had made us thirsty so we made a pit stop at the Leigh Sawmill Brewery for a quick drink before heading back to the city to drop off everyone,our tour guiding duties for the day were done but we still had our grocery shopping to take care of.

Mel was looking forward to work tomorrow and I had a day in the City with the guys hopefully with a trip up the Sky Tower at some point too.

Lots of Love

M & M
xx