Back "on island"

Talofa all

Yes back "on island" as the locals refer to being back in Samoa as!!

We had a fantastic, frantic 3 weeks in NZ. Thanks to all our family and friends who we got to see and who fed us lovely lovely NZ food (and now we are running on the sea wall to shift the extra rubber tyre!!)

Did some fantistic things while we were away such as going up north of Auckland to the wineries, Leigh saw mill for lunch, Morris and James pottery and craft places, Matakana for icecream... the list goes on. And that was just one fantastic day out! Also had Christmas at Latika and Hedleys then Boxing day was a quick trip to Wellington for Angela to surprise all her family with a visit, at Nana's house, arriving back in Auckland in time to win the 2009 cork count at the Parker residence!

We then spent a week camping in Havelock North and some time in Napier shopping (yes a pre-requisite of the trip!) and Flaxmere seeing family again.

New Year was spent at the camp site sitting out under the canvas dressed in long pants, socks, hooded sweatshirts and a blanket. Yes it was a bit cold. Even the hardened kiwi campers had the fan heater on under the awning!! We did attend the open air movies though at Black Barn Winery and it was a lovely night then. Saw Separation City a NZ film set in Wellington which had it's funny moments but also underlying depressing story lines!

Took the bus to Palmerston North and the closer we got the more the wind got up so we were swaying around and were then greeted with gale force breezes we couldn't stand up in and rain pelting on our window panes!! Welcome back to Palmy that is for sure. Caught up with some friends there and got a quick bit of shopping done before heading to Paraparaumu.

Jackie remembered us. Ahhhhhh isn't that lovely. She is thoroughly spoilt at Mum and Dads and seems to love living there. We had a day at our beach house in Waitarere fixing the water pump and preparing the house to be inhabited by friends who are coming over from the UK to get married in ..... wait for it ..... Levin of all places!!! I hope they can fit in there with all our stuff. Nice to see the place again though and again be welcomed with sand in the face as it blew up Waitarere Beach Road!

Then it was time for the Birthdays. Went to see the Lovely Bones and out for Mediterranean Pizza's for lunch for Mum's Birthday then through to Wanganui to say farewell to my brother, sister in law and nephew who incidentally has started crawling and been introduced to the joys of eating toffee pops while in NZ!!!

Went to see Avatar in 3D for Adam's birthday along with Nana (aged 87) and we all loved it. It is absolutely awesome and if nothing else you should go see it for the special effects. This is going to be the future of movie making and was an experience for the senses. We left there thinking WOW and were still talking about it over dinner at Lone Star in Petone.

Birthday number 2 for Adam was a picnic at One Tree Hill, dinner at Sails nice restaurant in Auckland Harbour and the Peter Blake exhibition at the Maritime Museum.

Flew out from Auckland yesterday. So funny to see everyone we knew on the flight. One of the teachers from the school with her children, the vet (so that's who the cat carry case on the conveyor belt belonged to? no cat I add hastily), the Deputy Prime Minister and the ex Dean of Alafua Campus. Surprising the plane managed to take off with our 3 suitcases loaded in the hold!!! Note to self - do less shopping next time!!

Thanks to all for another great Christmas and New Year in NZ. Now you all have to get planning and saving for the 40th Birthday party we are planning for 2011 in Samoa. Watch this space...