Two day update

Monday 25th / Tuesday 26th bJanuary 2010
Hi Bloggers, sorry there hasn't been a report for two days but I have been to the South Island and Kath couldn't find the laptop as I had hidden it under the chest of drawers. I though she knew where it was but apparently not.

Kath writes:- Andrew and I went to the Botany Shopping Centre in the morning to and look around the shops and find some cotton for Brenda so that she could turn up Harry's new school shorts. Andrew bought some sandals and treated me to some flip-flops which cost $3 (just over a pound !) After lunch, Kenny came around and took him to the airport for his trip to Nelson. The weather was beautiful and so I sat in the garden all afternoon and chilled. Legs were ok(ish) but don't think I will be drinking alcohol again as I always feel crap the next day. Upon Darren and Maxine's return home from work, we all had dinner and Darren went out with a friend whilst Maxine and I stayed home and had a glass of wine....not drinking didn't last long did it?

This morning I did very much the same as yesterday but did a few household chores whilst everyone was at work. Weather was beautiful again.... two days running, not bad.

Andrew says:-
I arrived at Auckland airport about 25 minutes before the plane departed. Good job we didn't leave it any later or I would have missed it. The traffic around Manakau was horrendous. I scanned my print-out from the internet into an Air New Zealand ticketless boarding card machine and then walked to the plane which was by then boarding. No checks of bags, in fact there was no security whatsoever. Within half an hour of arriving at the airport, I was in the air and on my way down to Nelson on the South Island to see my old mate Neil Kitchen. Neil was waiting for me when I arrived on time, 80 minutes later, with his 3 year old son, James. We drove to a local bar for a drink but James was asleep when we arrived so we sat outside and kept an eye on him until his Mum, Jo, arrived a short time later. We made our way back to their home in Wakefield (isn't that where I work?) and had a most enjoyable dinner with Neil, Jo, James and daughter, Olivia. I used to work with Neil but he has since transferred to the New Zealand Police and seem to be settled there. Their house is set in 10 acres of land with cows grazing in the adjacent field and surrounded by rolling hills and forest. Olivia (13) is in the process of looking to buy a horse. There is certainly plenty of space for one there. We sat and talked well into the morning, recalling people and incidents from our days in Bradford in the late 80's. Most sentences started with, "do you remember..." .

I was up at 9am and after saying goodbye to James and Olivia, Neil and I went into Nelson where we met up with Jo for coffee. He showed me the beautifully tidy but small city centre before enjoying a late breakfast/early lunch of Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce in a bagel. I had smoked salmon with mine - most agreeable. After a little more sightseeing, it back to the airport where we said our goodbyes. It was a short visit but very worthwhile and I hope to visit them again one day, hopefully next time, Kath will be able to come along. If you read this Kitch and Jo, thanks for a good time.

I was booked on a flight to Wellington where I had to change aircraft for another flight back to Auckland. As I waited at Nelson, there was an Air New Zealand flight going directly back to Auckland with spare seats so I tried to swap my tickets for that but 'the computer said no'. Jobsworth's, what would have been the harm in letting me on? I waited another 10 minutes for my flight then flew to Wellingto, again, no security or baggage checks. As we landed, a fog rolled down the valley and covered the airport. It was really strange watching it tumble down the hill and block out everything in view. The airport announcer said there may be delays but as soon as it came, it started to disappear just as quickly. I departed on time and was joined on my row of three seats by two uniformed police officers returning from an enquiry in Wellington. The man at the other side of the aisle said that I had better be on my best behaviour with two cops at the side of me. I told him that I was in the same job as them and it was he who had better be on his best behaviour as there were three cops at the side of him, which caused much hilarity. Good old Kenny was at Auckland Airport to take me home which was very much appreciated.
Kath and I sat in the garden in the sun, there were quite a few people across the road on the beach as this is the last day of the school summer holidays for a lot of Auckland kids. Harry starts his new school tomorrow at Macleans College. When Darren came home from work he suggested we have a trip out in the bay on the canoe. We headed north towards Brown's Island and turned around after about 20 minutes and paddled back against the current, much more difficult than the outbound journey.
Upon our return, Vernon, Brenda and Harry had returned from their two day trip down to Taupo where they had problems with the weather and the car. We are supposed to go tomorrow but the forecast is a bit dodgy and I don't fancy going if it going to rain again.

As I write this, it is almost mid-night. Everyone is in bed and I am watching the Murray v Nadal match in the Australian Open, what a good end to a day, or, it will be if Murray wins....could this be his year to win a Slam at last.