Sheila writes:

Arrived in Christchurch hotfoot from the mountains. Clare spotted that a northern coastal suburb was called New Brighton - so of course we had to go and visit! It turned out to be a siamese twin of our own much loved namesake on the Wirral (except for the wet-suited surfers). It even had a pier, town hall, community centre and, since it was Easter Friday, a little fair with swings and rides! We celebrated by having an ice cream (but were a bit taken aback when charged a 15% 'holiday' surcharge on two ice cream cones!)

Just south east of Christchurch are two ancient and heavily eroded volcanic craters. Of course we had to explore those - but we didn't expect to be riding the scariest roller coaster of our lives - being driven along the twisty-turny summit road of one of the craters in the dark at night with the lights of Christchurch 1000m below what appeared to be vertical drops on all sides!

Clare writes:
And Sheila had never even met our driver before - my old chum Maree from kibbutz days, who was astonished that we were both clinging to our seats and whimpering as she whizzed around the bends to our certain deaths!
But we had a lovely time staying with Maree in her stylish (she's an interior designer) little house with fab views over lyttleton. We needed some sofa time and a break from the rough and tumble of hostel life (they're broadly fine, but I nearly had one of my turns over too many people fighting for cooking spacet the other night!). Over the weekend we went shopping in oh-so English Christchurch, did the ladies who lunch thing, watched movies and went for a day out on the Banks Peninsular) SO it was a great easter break for us to feel so at home... thanks Maree if you're reading this! (we've stopped shaking now).