Wednesday, 29 November 2006
Thinking about packing now; huge dilemmas! I am reassured though that New Zealand does have shops and it won't be the end of the world if we forget something. Usually my case is loaded with enough books to get me through a 2 week holiday - I am limiting myself to one for the plane..then will have to hope that I can find a second hand bookshop quick! Lucy sent me an email to remind us that fleeces and raincoats were sometimes necessary even in summer...point taken. The children have been advised about the soft toy packing regulations recently imposed- only one allowed! Talk about 'Sophie's Choice'; will it be Lulu or (theotheronewhosenameIcan'tremember) who has to stay at home?
Friday, 10 November 2006
Looking ahead-
The planning machinery has swung into action as the trip draws closer. Not one to enjoy the thrill of leaving things to chance I have planned the trip in some detail...obsessive compulsive? moi? Maybe it will compensate for our compete lack of forward planning regarding the decision to go. It was as impulsive a decision as a round the world trip can be...but with perfect timing as Richard embarks on several months 'gardening leave' before he changes jobs. We eventually managed to get flights when and where we wanted, then struggled to locate the last remaining campervan for hire in NZ! A very nice man in Nelson called Stefan helped me. (Or was it Nelson in Stefan...?) Hmmm...seventeen nights in a camper with 2 double beds...that will no doubt push the boundaries of sibling (and spousal) tolerance. Richard's osteopath has insisted that we spend every fourth night in a hotel, and a 'proper' bed. Sounds like justification enough for me!
So, we fly from Heathrow on December 7th, to Hong Kong for a couple of nights.
We plan to spend 3 days in Auckland on arrival and will catch up with my old mate Lucy (from my working days at Hampshire County Council) before travelling down through the North Island, over to the South, down to the glaciers then across the Alps to Christchurch where we will spend Christmas. Then north again, ending up in the Coromandel peninsula where we will collapse for a week in a villa before flying home via San Francisco. We should be home on January 10th.
Some trepidation, lots of excitement and still more planning to do. I'll keep you posted!
The planning machinery has swung into action as the trip draws closer. Not one to enjoy the thrill of leaving things to chance I have planned the trip in some detail...obsessive compulsive? moi? Maybe it will compensate for our compete lack of forward planning regarding the decision to go. It was as impulsive a decision as a round the world trip can be...but with perfect timing as Richard embarks on several months 'gardening leave' before he changes jobs. We eventually managed to get flights when and where we wanted, then struggled to locate the last remaining campervan for hire in NZ! A very nice man in Nelson called Stefan helped me. (Or was it Nelson in Stefan...?) Hmmm...seventeen nights in a camper with 2 double beds...that will no doubt push the boundaries of sibling (and spousal) tolerance. Richard's osteopath has insisted that we spend every fourth night in a hotel, and a 'proper' bed. Sounds like justification enough for me!
So, we fly from Heathrow on December 7th, to Hong Kong for a couple of nights.
We plan to spend 3 days in Auckland on arrival and will catch up with my old mate Lucy (from my working days at Hampshire County Council) before travelling down through the North Island, over to the South, down to the glaciers then across the Alps to Christchurch where we will spend Christmas. Then north again, ending up in the Coromandel peninsula where we will collapse for a week in a villa before flying home via San Francisco. We should be home on January 10th.
Some trepidation, lots of excitement and still more planning to do. I'll keep you posted!
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