Hi there,

Yes, I'm still here and very much alive! (thanks for your note Roger). My 'good life' is going well and the sun has been shining on a regular basis too. I've heard alot about your weather in the UK and about the looting of the containers on the south west. We have even had press reports about Big Brother!!! (Sad but true).

The weather patterns in New Zealand are not behaving as they normally do. The summer is very intermitant. I don't think I have been so aware of global warming in all my years. I am seeing how the weather patterns are changing right across the globe. There was an ice-burg floating off the coast of Dunedin a month back. It was 5 km long!

We still go into Christchurch once a week for our shopping excursions. I have even managed to exchange a pair of trainers after two weeks worth of running because they were giving me problems. The customer service at this sports retail outlet was ourstanding. I even wrote a letter to the manager expressing my thanks for their service. The staff member who helped me had great product knowledge and such a willingless to help. It was a refreshing change.

The hostel is going well and keeping busy, lots of french, german, austrailian and english guests. My bed making skills are still appreciated and to add to it, I have been enlightened into one of life's little mysteries.... how to fold a fitted sheet neatly!

My days in Akaroa are drawing to an end. Nick and I are preparing to go on a three week tour around the south island before I fly to Sydney on 28th Feb. It's amazing to think I have been in New Zeland for nearly five months! We have been very lucky, in that someone has kindly offered a car for us to use during that period. Nick has been treating a man with neck problems who lives up the road. He suggested that we use one of his cars to go touring around the island. It's overwhelming how much help people give you over here. I'm really looking forward to visting Aurthur's Pass and Mount Cook. Nick will be continuing his touring around the islands on his bike after I leave. There is so much to see and so much to do here. He will love it!

When I get to Austrailia I will be visiting friends whom I met on my travels. I will be staying with Jules in Sydney, (a girl I met in Canada), Pattie in Melbourne (a girl I met in central americia) and Bob and Kath on the gold coast. Bob and Kath (the manger's at the hostel) will be returning to Austrailia at the begining of March. They come out to Akaroa for six months of the year to escape the heat in Austrailia. They have been coming here for three years. I read the other day that it was 42 degrees in Sydney! I will have to send my winter woolies back home.... (believe it or not, they still come in uselful here).

We plan to leave Akaroa sometime next week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday. I will miss Akaora and all the people I have met. I expect tearful goodbyes and I'm not looking forward to it. The people have been wonderful and I have so many fond memories. I have been very lucky to have so many wonderful experiences and I have have so many more to come!

Watch this space.

Loads of love Annie.