My parents arrived safe and sound yesterday, minutes ahead of a fantastic southerly storm.   The storm head cloud formations looked fantastic.   But they at least could tell it was a good day up till then.   We collected Toby on the way home and he was very pleased to see his Grandy and Gramps.   We had a relaxing dinner and then Mike took them home at about 7pm (they were very tired by then and itching to get home).   They were pleased with the Trade Me action Mike has been getting.   Now my mother wants to buy furniture to replace the gaping holes made by the auctions!

 

We have booked our flight to Sydney for Christmas.   Mike, Toby and I fly out Dec 20 (Sat) from Wellington to Sydney at 6am!     We get into Sydney at 8.30am or something.   We are more than happy to catch the train into Blacktown .   But if someone could collect us from there, that ’d be grand!

 

We think we should fly to Christchurch on Dec 29 (cheapest flight we found – JetStar A$329) and hire either a people mover or two smaller cars.   So we haven ’t yet booked our flight back.   Queenstown flights are more expensive for us.   This part of the journey still needs a bit of work in defining the parameters.   ;-)   Stay tuned.   However, we are definitely in Sydney for Christmas.

 

The website we found useful to compare prices and flights was www.webjet.co.nz .  Careful as these are in AUD.   But we hopped onto www.airnewzealand.co.nz to actually book as Mike thinks webjet add their fees on the end.

 

Tonight I will be riding like the wind to the Lewis house to look after Ramble and Benjamin.   Vivienne and John are off on the scuba diving course.   It goes from 1800-2200 (I ’ll be shattered just sitting on the couch let alone swimming around a pool trying on bits of gear!!!) so I ’ll be there at 1730, if I make it up their hill.   I suggested my parents come round so see me there. But that only adds to logistics so the rest of them can stay in Ngaio and Mike can take Toby home early from there.   1900 into the bedroom, 1930 lights out.   Toby did well last night under the new regime.   I ’ll get a lift home from the least exhausted SCUBA diver at 2230 or so!