Commenting on the blog

Have just realised that we had this set so only registered users could heckle comment on the blog.  Should be fixed now so no registration required.  Any comments come through to us as emails but if you're not using a google account you'll be anonymous unless you put your name in too.  Thanks

Doing Auckland

We've been here just over a week now - feels like longer because we've been doing so much - and we've really been enjoying getting out to see what Auckland has to offer.  So far we've:

We are not homeless

Hurrah! We've just signed a tenancy agreement for a house in St Heliers, Auckland. That this is a relief is a bit of an understatement!

So what's with the Godzone?

We thought this might need some explanation as a couple of people have been asking us why our blog has the name it does. New Zealand, as its natives know, is in fact God's Own Country (say it out loud!) and they've been describing it as such since 1890. Coming from Leeds, we should feel right at home because Yorkshire is also God's Own Country (or County if you don't hold with exaggeration). And really, what's the difference, apart from the fact that Yorkshire has more inhabitants...?

What a difference a day makes...

Slight delay in service - darn internet, but we wrote this on our first day here...

Made it. And with surprisingly little trauma it must be said. Visions of ejecting children from Boeing 777 mid flight were entirely unfounded - they were both absolute stars. Reuben particularly enjoyed eating sausages for breakfast, still in his PJs and whilst watching Bob the Builder - his idea of toddler heaven. Tilly charmed everyone, and certainly helped getting passed through all the security checks quickly.

Waiting at Gate 43

Just landed at Hong Kong airport at the halfway stage where it's 4.20pm local time.  Got an hour or so to wait before getting back on the plane to Auckland.  Flight so far has been absolutely fine, we've all had a reasonable amount of sleep and nobody has had a tantrum (not even Dave or me!).  Think we definitely benefitted from Reuben and Tilly having recent experience of flying to Israel as it has seemed relatively familiar to them.  From where we are in the terminal we are right next to the gate for an El Al flight - Reuben is definitely into jet-setting mode as when we told him the plane was going to Israel he said 'I want to go to Israel again because it was so brilliant!'.  Maybe next week Reuben... Tilly has been busy saying 'whoosh' at every departing plane and flashing cheeky smiles at a Sikh gentleman sitting behind us.

Dave is currently 'exercising' the children on a travelator, which is relatively deserted, so we hope to have them well tired out ready to do some more sleeping in a few hours time and wake up just before we get to Auckland feeling all perky.  That's the plan, anyway.  When I post again from NZ you'll be able to find out what really happened!

'Ready' for the off!

So, we're off!  Or very nearly.  I'm typing in the kitchen as the house is rapidly disassembled around me by our packers, who are doing a great job and being kept liberally supplied with hot drinks (2 sugars, 1 sugar, no sugar) and biscuits (chocolate) and the odd cupcake.