Slumming it in New Zealand!

View from our bed!

Moana Lodge, Plimmerton.

Finally we have arrived. We had prepared ourselves as much as possible for a crazy long journey and indeed it was. We were due to be into Wellington at 2.00pm on the 4th, however due to some hiccups on the way we finally got to the hostel at 3.00am on the 5th! Without wanting to bore you all I will share some details of the reasons for the delays. It would have been all fine if it had not been for a security scare in Bangkok where we (meaning all passengers - not just the two lesbian terrorists sat in cargo class!) were taken off the plane. Now appreciating that high level of security is all good, I did not realise that a pair of 'imaginary' golf clubs would cause such problems. Apparently someone saw a passenger go onto the plane with the golf clubs, after an hour or so of continued asking if that person would come forward and the stewards searching the plane we were asked to leave the plane. A good 2/3 hours later we were told that the security alert is all over. However we never saw these golf clubs come off the plane, I think this person who had spotted the dangerous objects was on drugs. Anyway would you not find something a little less conspicuous to take on a plane if you were going to cause some injury!!?? Whilst waiting though they did discover that the plane had a technical fault and we were held in Bangkok for just a little longer.......you dudes fallen asleep yet! Long story short we missed our connecting flight from Sydney to Wellington and waited a further 8 hours before leaving to Wellington. Needless to say Angie and I looked like the extras from Shaun of the Dead, not pretty!

After overdosing on Beechams, crazy hours travelling and body clocks having a fit we slept for over 15 hours to wake up at 7.00pm! Lou B Lou, your predication was right, I have flu (cold for any of you hardcore people). We have not seen much of the area due to only being awake for a few hours! We're staying a a really lush hostel in Plimmerton on the west coast of the North Island, 20 minutes from Wellington. It's right on the water front, very beautiful and as it is commonly referred to, very, very windy! I'm not sure all those t- shirts I packed are really going to be enough! We did mange to have an hour of day light to walk along the coast to the local shop, look who we met......even too windy for those used to it!

Hope all well with you dudes and you all enjoy the fire works! We've had ours already! Thanks to my lovely friends for all their kind thoughts, actions and words before the final departure. I feel very lucky to have such beautiful friends-Thank you (sounding a bit like an acceptance speech!) Missing you all and love you heaps. Keep you posted! xxxx