At this point I should really give you a round-up of the less newsy things that we do. This isn't supposed to be a guide book, or a tick box collection of where we've been, but it's certainly true that despite being a bit off the beaten track there's a few things here to keep us interested. We try to let you know that NZ, despite outward appearances, is just a wee bit different from the UK. Aka.....a midday news bulletin is read from my $9 (£4.50, brand new...

Ha, I hear you say, no blogs for a few days! Maybe you thought that Lesley was working her socks off and Roy spent his days surfing in Wanui Bay. Actually, the first part is true, though embellished a bit, Lesley is really happy with what she's doing.....and what she does best......seeing and advising patients. And she meets a lot more of the locals than I do. The luxury of fifteen minute appointments means that some fat can be chewed : she has seen a patien...

Lesley has left for work (yesterday was Lesley's day off and we ventured 50 km north to Toluga Bay). It's still chilly in the mornings and after her shower she dresses in front of our treasured electric fire. The depression has passed and we now have had a couple of beautiful sunny days and can see south across Poverty Bay all the way down the coast. We are glad to report that Young Nick's Head is still there. Just by way of explanation, Nicholas Young was ...

Young Nick's Head is out there somewhere across the bay. We've been looking for it from our beachfront motel for two days now. Rain hammers the balcony windows, like a drum roll reaching a crescendo, then dies for a few moments before resuming its attack. The balcony chairs are sodden. Beyond the grassy strip sea trees bend in submission to a ceaseless south wind. Tons of tree trunks have been piled up all along the shore, driven in on the winter wind. Th...

Lesley really has done us proud with our hotel, it is the Art Deco 'Masonic', which actually does not feature in our 'Rough Guide' book. We think that it has been closed for refurbishment, and what a restoration job they have made of it. Every detail is reproduced in 1930's style, and the receptionist proudly points to a wall plaque with the signature of King Edward who visited in 1934. That was three years after the horror of earthquake and fire razed much...