Hello!

Just a really quick blog today, but we have good news: we've bought a car! We got a stunningly good deal on an ex-rental Toyota Corolla, whom we have christened Shadowfax (for non-Rings fans, after the name of Gandalf's trusty white steed) as she is going to sweep us across Middle Earth! (For all Rings fans, yes, we know Shadowfax was strictly a boy, but we're using a little artistic licence here - she feels like a girl, ok?)

So, we're going to sweep off now in our trusty white steed to Coromandel to chill out on the gorgeous beaches for a while and forget all about 14-hour days and life in a packhouse!

I had to add a few photos of her onto the blog, plus a photo of us in our hairnets and Su in her mask - we can laugh at them now (and we've just burnt them!) and a picture of our night with Mandy & Ralph. We do have a few more photos to add of Tauranga, but haven't the time today, too much to do.....

Once more, a big, big thank you to Mum & Dad for their assistance, we wouldn't have been able to get a car like her without them. Also, I have to say we met some really wonderful people in our search for the car: Keith, a true Kiwi gent from the i-site in Tauranga who has been a mine of information on the area, plus put us in touch with two very kind chaps, Jason & Pete, mechanics who looked over two cars for us yesterday, free of charge. And Clint, the manager of the rental place from whom we bought her - very patient, he even had time to do a quick car maintenance check with us yesterday. So many thanks to all.

Right, off to fill Shadowfax with petrol before we gallop off!

Lots of love, Jo & Su, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx