Sunday:
I'm sat in a hip bar called Snapdragon at Viaduct Harbour drinking a glass of crisp Riesling- not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Tina has just left, so what did we get up to?

I arrived from Fiji Friday afternoon after my 3.30am (2.30 NZ time) start. The roads to the airport were clear so it was an easy journey and I arrived at the airport really early but lots of queues so time went quickly and I was soon touching down back into Auckland. When I got to the hotel and Tina and I met up, it was like we'd not spent anytime time apart.

Heading out for dinner, we turned the wrong way out the hotel so the harbour area felt a long way away but its actually not if you go the direct route! Found ourselves in Soul bar and bistro, really great place. Funky bar - good age group - mojito hit the spot, and delicious food, great music and fabulous company. A lovely evening and amazed myself by staying up even with the very early start.

Next day after a lazy start, we headed to Waiheke Island. We got a ferry and bus pass. It was about 45mins away on the ferry. We walked to the village and wandered around and then decided to get on the first bus that came along. At the bus stop Tina started chatting to an older Pennsylvanian man who spent 6 months on the gold coast and 6 months on the island. He suggested we went to palm beach. As the bus that turned up was going that way, we decided to follow his advice and get off at palm beach. A beautiful beach with a handy fish and chip shop meant we just had to share a bag of chips and enjoyed the sun trying to come out. We didn't go for a paddle as two small patches of rubbed off skin on my toes from fins from diving were looking a bit sore and probably shouldn't get wet.

We decided to head further on the bus to a couple of wineries - the island is renowned for its boutique wineries. When we got to the bus stop, there was a small artists studio and gallery of Ingrid Berzins. So we wandered in. I recognised the artist - maybe from a card or illustrations in books and liked her stuff. After chatting to her, Tina bought a small painting of a dog chasing a butterfly. I asked what time the bus came and she offered to take us as she was shutting up and heading that way - she also suggested a different winery. As she was packing up, I couldn't resist buying a painting I had been eying up too - extravagant for someone with no income but I loved it (Tina will get it to me or someone next time she's back in England) .

The winery we ended up in was very chilled - we had a flight of wine and tapas (see picture) sat outside and afterwards wandered along another lovely beach. Had a coffee and got the bus back in time for the next ferry. All in all a lovely random day.

I also introduced Tina to words with friends - and now she is obsessed!

This morning we met with Tina's friends who live in Auckland, and had brunch in a great cafe called Benediction. Very apt for a Sunday morning. Great place in a trendy, edgy, arty neighbourhood. Delicious food - we were starving as we didn't have any dinner. I had garlic mushrooms with a side of bacon on 5 seed homemade bread. After we headed to te Viaduct area that had recenty been done up for te Worl Cup, and wandered around a seafood festival that was on before Tina had to leave to catch her flight back to Melbourne.

My toes were definitely infected so I decided rather than have to sort it out in Thailand I would try and see a doctor. The concierge rang round and found a walk in clinic that was open on a Sunday afternoon about half an hour walk away. I was seen straight away - the nurse laughed that it was the same toe on each foot. Doctor gave me antibiotic ointment and tablets and I got the wounds dressed. I needed to buy some cling film as well to put over them so they don't get wet in the shower! All done on 30 mins - incredibly efficient and hopefully I can claim on my insurance.

Monday update:
I was supposed to meet a friend/colleague on the FLO board who lives in Auckland this evening for dinner before I get my midnight flight to Hong Kong. He has realised his flight from India is not getting back till the day after so that unfortunately is not going to happen. So after a lazy morning (yes another one) I headed back down to the harbour as there is a sailing boat thingy - this is the place for it and it's Aucklands public holiday. Wandered around, got a boat around the harbour - called in at Devonport and an island and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day. Yesterday I bought a ticket for the for late afternoon as I am hoteless and a bit of Daniel Craig can't be turned down- but I'm not convinced about an American version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Also I've booked a boutique hotel in the backpacker district of Bangkok (flashpacking for me), a days cookery course and have dinner with another friend planned for Friday night at his house - so although my main reason for Bangkok is to get a visa for Burma, I hope to have a good four days - but no doubt the rain will follow me as it has so far on every leg of this trip!