The sun shone brightly as we went back into Auckland, on Wednesday, where we met up with Merv and Jennifer Reeves for a delightful lunch at McHugh's on Cheltenham beach - literally. Apologies for the quality of the photo but the waitress who took it was in a hurry and there was too much light behind! When it was adjusted it so that friends like Gary and Gail and Sigi could see how well Merv and Jennifer look....we lost the background! Then off across the city to Glendowie to meet up with Christine and Jim Gildea and their two delightful children, Emma and Daniel. Chris had arranged entertainment and we went to see the Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy at St. James' Theatre in the centre of Auckland; we had the best laugh for quite a while. Thursday also turned out very warm (getting the message? We're leaving tomorrow!). After coffee and cake on the prom at St. Helier Bay we said our farewells and went into Auckland to "do the sky tower"! It may be just another tower but the views were spectacular, not that it seems so from the photos because of the heavy tinting of the glass. Off we went, after that, to the last campsite of our stay in NZ; this time to the one in Manukau, nearest the airport ready for the morning. We cheated a bit and took a motel cabin so that we could empty out the van ready for handover. It's amazing how much you collect in six weeks and poor Jill had to try to make it all go into the ONE case we'd brought! After that we'd earned a good last meal in the country....and had one at The Lone Star, a chain who would make TGI Friday look second rate in the UK and who provided terrific value for money! We slept well...and hope you are too, as we write this the last card from NZ, although it will say Sydney because that's where we'll be when you read it...unless the plane fell out of the sky! Lots of love to you all and THANKS A MILLION, KIWIS! Richard & Jill xx