L&G took me to the airport, I checked in my bag and then we had lunch together. It's time to say goodbye to L&G. Hopefully they will come to live in the UK next year. I'm flying from Christchurch to Sydney, Sydney to Bangkok then Dubai on Emirates. Everyone says how fantastic Emirates are but I didn't rate them at all. I thought their food was worse than school dinners. I spent the rest of the day and all night flying.

Leigh dropped me at the big shopping mall - Westfield at Rolleston. I had a quick look around but all the shops have winter stock where as I was looking of something I could wear in Dubai and then bring home. By 11.30 it started to get busy so I caught the bus back home. It's much warmer and sunny today so I went and sat in the park after lunch. Watched Forrester on DVD.

I had a nice relaxing morning and then went for a walk around the block after lunch. In the evening my friend Linda from Walton-on-Thames came to pick me up. She is working over here with her husband and 2 of her daughters. He is in the construction industry and has come to NZ to help with the post earthquake rebuilding. We went for a pizza and glass of wine. It was lovely to see her, have a good chat and catch up.

This morning I had to return my hire car to the rental company near the airport. I had driven over 2,000 miles in the 27 days I'd had her. After all this time I had just about managed to remember which side the indicator and wipers were on. Of course when I get home they will be on the opposite sides again. Leigh gave me a lift to central Christchurch and dropped me at the museum. As it was pouring down with rain I decided to go for a coffee first. Dodging show...

I spent the morning chilling with L and G. In the afternoon we went for an origination tour of Christchurch by car. So Leigh could point out the main places of interest and how I can get around. I was surprised how much devastration there still is in Christchurch and how the CBD is still a huge building site 4 years after the earthquake. I found it very upsetting and depressing. We drove along the coast and stopped for a coffee at Sumner. Leigh needed to atte...