We arrived at our "cabin" in the holiday park delighted we changed our minds on the crazy idea of a tent, seeing the poor souls struggling to erect them in the wind and rain. The strangest bird woke us up in the morning with a tweet that can only be described as the ring of the phones in 24 crossed with R2-D2. I swear I thought a kid was messing with a PSP.

We headed into town to change our final tickets at New Zealand Air. After a slight panic that we couldnt get to Los Angeles from Cook Islands we've had to swap the route so we are heading to the Cook Islands first then flying to LA from Fiji instead.....I was worried we would miss out on some beach time! Also changed our date home...15th May. Get the flags out!

We went to the Albotross colony, the only mainland colony in the world or near enough, saw a couple but to me they are simply big seagulls. Nowt to write home about (oh I just did....)

Went to see Lanarch Castle, how we laughed, it looked just like a big house might down Cambridge Rd in Southport.......very nice to have a nosy around the restored rooms though. What is the definition of a castle? Methinks it should have at least a turret or two.

Went to the fantstic museum, there was an exhibition on Antartica, this week sees the 50th Anniversay of the building of Scott Base. Fascinating stuff. did you know that near the Antartic there is the Weddell sea? Now, add a letter and what do you get??? T-Weddell- could this be the origin of the family name?

Finally got a message from Nick to say he had arrived back in the UK, bless him, he must have had the journey from hell 24 hours later than expected.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM! You don't look a day over 39! It's only us old children that give the game away!