Kia Ora!

Our last weekend in New Zealand had arrived, a little too quickly for our liking but it had come nonetheless. Luckily the weather was beautiful for us and the sun was shining. Matt and Tash originally had a fancy dress party organised for their touch rugby team on Saturday evening but not everyone could make it so they decided to just have a gathering anyway, and it just so happened that it was our last weekend in New Zealand! On Saturday morning Matt and Kie went to the supermarket to stock up on food and beer, when they returned it was about time for Sophie to go with Desma, Tash's sister, and the kids to watch Tash play netball. Kie had eagerly agreed to take part in Matt's social rugby team on Saturday afternoon so straight after watching Tash, all the girls (and Ethan) went along to watch Matt and Kie play rugby. Lloyd, one of the many Bugbrooke boys to travel to New Zealand, came up from Christchurch for the party and had arrived just in time to watch the game. We all sat in the blazing heat watching the very chilled out rugby game - so chilled out in fact that one of the lads on the opposing team didn't even have boots on!

Once the game had finished we all headed back to New Lynn where we got ready for the BBQ. Jo and Pyke were the first to arrive, followed by Talia and Mike who came over from Onehunga, Lappin who drove up from Hamilton and a few of Matt and Tash's friends with their children. In total there were fifteen of us and it was a really good night with lots of chatting, laughing and joking. Everyone had bought at least one dish with them so we got to sample lots of really good food. Sophie went up for seconds! Then the puddings came out, which were equally as delicious. The hours past ridiculously quickly but luckily for us, the clocks went back an hour at 12am! We stayed up until the early hours and finally called it a night at 2am. Wow, what a great BBQ it was and a great way to end our final weekend.

Luckily for us, that wasn't the end of a great weekend because it continued on the following day. On Sunday there was already a full house from all us English travellers crashing over and Desma had also stayed over. We all woke up pretty early despite our late night and ate the large amount of leftovers for breakfast. Jo and Pyke came round at around midday in time for the Warriors v Sharks game. Sophie retreated to the garden for half an hour in the sunshine while everyone else chilled out with heavy eyes in front the TV. Lappin went home after the game. It was such a chilled out day but great to have a big crowd to chill with. We had decided to cook for Matt and Tash to thank them for everything; our well tried and tested pasta bake! There were twelve of us, but we still put on quite a feast and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

The evening came quickly and we were all really shattered so made it an early night which was a good idea as we had to be up at 6.30am to get ready to leave the next day. We packed our bags before we went to bed, realising the next time we pack will be the night before we come home!

The next morning we woke up feeling fresh after so many hours sleep and got ready to leave. The kids were up and getting ready for school so we were able to say goodbye to them before we left. Jo and Pyke also came to pick Ethan up for preschool so we also got to say goodbye to them too which was nice! Matt took us and Lloyd to the airport to save us getting a taxi so we passed a couple of hours chatting and having a McDonalds breakfast before Lloyd went through to the domestic departures and we said goodbye to New Zealand. Funnily enough on our way through security we bumped into Renee, a Dutch girl we had met in Australia on our Fraser Island tour; she was on her way home to Holland and was sad to be leaving - we knew the feeling, at least we still have a week left. Goodbye New Zealand, you've been good to us!

We're nearly home now guys. See you soon! Lots of love, Sophie and Kie