Trundling around New Zealand in my campervan, in a world where talking about dumping your waste is acceptable. Spent 4 days with Kate's friend, Tracy. Lovely person she is. And it was great to meet her family too. She has two lovely boys - Fletcher (3 ish) and Monty (13 weeks). Fletcher LOVED the van! ('Mummy, where's Jo and the Ban?'). So wherever we went, Fletcher came with me, strapped into his carseat in the front of the van. Tracy lives near the Able Ta...

Just had very scenic sailing from North to South island. On my way to see a friend of Kate's who lives in Nelson. Skydiving...oh my god! It's amazing. Managed to persuade myself to throw meself out of a plane at 12,000 ft and it was such an awesome experience! Did a tandem dive which meant I strapped to the instructor (unfortunately not a sex god, but a very nice woman nontheless). Went the whole hog and paid for the highest jump on offer and got photos and ...

This postcard is dedicated to Celia and John, the lovely British couple I stayed with in the North Island. I tried to get a room in the B&B next door to them, but it was full so Celia and John put me up for the night. They gave me food, wine and great company and John, who still likes to skydive, gave me the push to do it! And I even got to help them chase a mouse round their front room in the morning. Thank you C & J for your great British hospitality....

To all those who had palpitations at the thought of me travelling South America...I'm out..alive! I didn't get mugged, ambushed or kidnapped, and the worst thing that happened is I had a bottle of shampoo stolen. Or maybe it was travelling with the odd chain-smoking idiot with verbal diorrhea that nearly pushed me to homicide. Now in New Zealand and just lost a day...I don't get a 1st Feb this year! I enjoyed flying Lan Chile...a refreshing change after t...