Next stop on route was Christchurch, easily the best looking town we have come across (one hesitates to use the word 'city' for anything outside of Auckland). Lovely old colonial buildings which triggered minor pining for home. We were there firstly to meet up with Emma and Regan (who is a very first rate chap by the way, typical Kiwi) over the weekend and then to meet up with Amy's mum and Dad once more (oh no, not the dreaded inlaws I hear you cry!) before they flew back to the UK. We looked round the Cathedral and ate at a stupendous local food market, were entertained by the wily streetfolk and generally a good time was had by all. We took a drive up to the surrounding hills and looked out over the city on one side with lovely bays and harbours on the other. In the evening we had easily our best curry in Australasia, at a place called 'two fat indians' (Amy had one and I had the other) where the restaurant motto on the wall was something like "Perfecting the art of Beer and a Curry" Clearly we had died and gone to heaven? After gorging ourselves we headed to a local pub and asked the kind barman if he would put the football, sorry soccer on one of the TV's. Being a Kiwi he of course couldn't turn us own and we sat in the pub surrounded by punters mostly wanting Rugby on the other 243 screens. Spurs beat Man City 2-1, Great. By the way if you didn't already know, the NZ populous is absolutely bonkers on Rugby. If you were to walk into any bar and say "what time is the game on today?" without a question of a doubt any game involving a round ball would not be considered and only blank looks would be returned if you mentioned anything to do with FA or Premiership. If Regan is say your (better than? why of course Im!) average Kiwi bloke then we outsiders should try to understand their passion for shootin' stuff (mostly imported pests such as possums). So on God's holy day what does Regan have in store for us? Why a little target practice with shotgun, pistol and rifle and to coin a now well known phrase - "Let's go for a Yippee, mate" So we did and Amy was the best (Stu beware!!) shooting the baby in the head on the fairy liquid bottle from about 10m. Regan was a superb tutor but kind of got distracted when Magpies got anywhere within shooting range (and we are sure he was tempted to dive behind the nearest bush smearing black paint over his face shouting "cover me I'm going in for the kill" or something like that. We had a great time and the Shotgun was the best laugh, at one stage Stu couldn't be bothered aiming the thing and just looked forward to the 'kick back' which the shotgun gave, nearly knocking him off his feet. We have promised Regan not to report him to the police but we will recommend him to be given an official role in the next 'Visit NZ' Advertising campaign. So yes where were we?, er Christchurch, next we went to a little type of petting zoo thingy were we got to feed the animals, ducks, goats horses, eels - that sort of thing before retiring to the cinema to watch a NZ film 'Seones wedding' (not bad) and then for a meal before saying our goodbyes. The next day was once more pretty sunny and we drove to the banks peninsular (the bit that sticks out near Christchurch). We went for a super walk up to one of the mountains overlooking the whole peninsular and got some great photos. On the way Amy decided to tread in 17 different types of Sheep poo. We met Amy's mum and dad in Akaroa and Amy cooked a fantastic Chill con carne. The view from our campervan was superb that night looking right out into the ocean from halfway up the valley. With hindsight this is when the alarm bells should have started ringing (sticky outy bit in south Island, halfway up the peninsula lovely ocean views.....). That night has to be one of the wettest and windiest ever with the van positively rocking (and NO funny business was going on inside for all you jokers out there!), hence we got little or no sleep. With the planned mornings Swimming with Dolphins cancelled (gale force winds and multiple Tsunamis hitting the coast, or something) we decided to play some Boules (as you do in NZ in late autumn?) followed by teaching Geoff and Carole how to play pool, they were both pretty good by the way. Evening meal in Akaroa that night was pretty good. A return to Christchurch followed for one more day with the beloved in-laws and we went punting down the Avon. (no you didn't read that incorrectly it's just the done thing in Christchrch alright) and of course Geoff paid for hired help to push us up and down the river for a bit.