My trip to the Antipodes

Good flight through to Singapore. The A380 is great and Singapore Airlines do good nosh and very attractive stewardesses.

More later when I can get piccies downloaded. This computer at the B&B won't recognide my card reader!

Finally arrived at this heaven on earth B&B 6pm local time on Tuesday evening after taking a liesurely and investigative tour up the coast.

Several "Senior Moments" , couldn't find my wash bag. I knew that I'd taken it out in a lay-by to use the nail clippers to take the security tag off my sunglasses. Assumed that I'd left it on the bench at the lay-by. Eventually found it tucked well under the passenger seat and then remembered that I had had to break hard at one point and that everything shot forward off the back seat!

Wednesday I took off for a ferry ride to Russell and had lunch at The Duke of Marlborough. At the ferry terminal there  was a notice offering the chance to crew on an ocean racing yacht that evening. Went for it and had a fantastic evening. My crewing job was helping replenish beers for those doing the work. They were very good but we didn't win. Celebrations back at the clubhouse were very friendly. Met a fellow "drafted" crewmember, Jo from London, who recieved a bit more attention from Rob the well tanned skipper, than I did.

Thursday set off to do a tour of the local beaches but ionly made it to the first one at Motauri Beach. The surf looked so inviting so in I went. Brill. Dolphins arrived in the bay and leapt. played with the surfers and came right up to within 30 yds and you could clearly see them in the face of the breaking waves speeding along it.

Unfortunately I also took my car keys surfing with me and presumne that the dolphins are now playing with them.

Must go for now.  Waithing for the courier with a second set! More news later