Hello from Auckland!!

Well...what can I say we are here. After 23 hours, locked securely in a Boeing 747 along with a couple of hundred other mortals, it is with some relief I write my first blog on New Zealand soil.

The journey was long, and though the stop-over in Hong Kong was a welcome release, it prolonged the journey a good few hours and meant that we arrived at Auckland International well and trully frazzled.

I do though have to give Air New Zealand a massive thumbs up! Having not travelled with them before I was simply amazed at the entertainment package we were afforded (Richie broke his on the first leg and had to flirt at length with a male member of the cabin staff to get it fixed!) and also the food. Really was good - we even got our first taster of New Zealand lamb. Lovely!

Yesterday evening and this morning was spent in the harbour area of the city. It feels rather strange that such a relatively large city can be so relaxed and free of the "hussle and bussle" you associate with cities back home: no one seems to be rushing around like a "t*t in a trance" and there seems to be an alarming lack of queues and traffic build-up even at peak times. This also seems to be the place where my fellow compatriots seem to congregate, and you cannot go far without hearing an English accent. As wer're relatively newcomers to this city and country it is oddly reassuring.

Today, has been like yesterday, in that we have spent most of it doing the "tourist thing". Richie bullied me in accompanying him upto the top of the Sky Tower (well nearly, to the top!) yesterday. It afforded some great views of the city and I tried out the digi camera for the first time on the trip.

We walked to the Auckland Museum this morning. This Greco-Roman building sits on a hill opposite Albert Pack and you are immediatly struck by how impressive archictecture is. The exhibits inside seem to mirror this, especially the Armed conflict areas called "Scars of the Heart 1 and 2". Like my travelling companion said, this country does not shy away from its folly and mistakes in history and there seems to be an honesty to the both written and verbal commentarys.

Well should really go. Its 2.40pm and Richie is cajouling me into buying him his first beer of the day!!

Hope everyone is well. Tony G, have noted previous comment, thanks for that.

Hi to mum and dad - both sets!

Well done to John O'Shea (Richie again!) as he made his day!

Kat, for some reason cannot log-in to English version of Hotmail. Will e-mail soon.

Take care

Richie and Steve