After three nights in Napier we are, once again, on the move. McHardy Lodge has been a lovely vantage point to visit the area and we have very much enjoyed our stay. The very English Yvonne has been a wonderful host and the breakfasts have been fantastic!

The packing didn't go quite to plan and the suitcases were looking VERY over-stuffed. Maybe all those bottles of wine had something to do with it!! After a short and easy flight we were soon back in Auckland and enjoying some wonderful spring sunshine. It was almost warm!!

We were soon settled into our hotel, the Amora this time, and making grateful use of the washing machine. It's amazing how quickly a huge pile of laundry can mount up. Gone are the days when we were prepared to wear the same set of clothes for three whole weeks without changing!

In the evening we were picked up from the hotel by our friends, Gordon and Gwen. They took us over to Parnell where we went for a pre-dinner drink in The Windsor Castle before going over the road to eat in a lovely French restaurant called St Tropez. We had a fabulous evening, great food and great company!! It was wonderful to catch up after so many years, and some of us were meeting for the first time but it soon seemed as if we had all known each other for years. The evening was over far too soon but hopefully we can get together again along the way.