The weekend is here again and the week has gone so quickly...we have done very little this week. The weather has been very tempramental, so hard to plan anything.

On Monday we joined the local library - we were very proud of ourselves - but to be honest there was very little choice in recent books so we are trying some unkown Kiwi/Oz literature.

On Tuesday we visited Auckland Domain and the Museum - which was packed with people trying to avoid the rain like us. The volcano exhibition was really good! Obviously its a major topic here and it was as always, a bit scary to see how many fault lines and volcanoes there actually are in NZ. We cheered ourselves up by going straight to the section on War and the, I have to say, very impressive war memorial on the top floor.

On Wednesday we debated about what to do about the flat - lovely though it is, it is expensive for its size. Our shipping boxes are due to arrive mid- feb and would basically take up the whole flat.
Our living room:



So we decided to give our notice in for 11 February, which gives us about five weeks to look for and sign up for something new. I doubt we will be able to get something as close to the beach as this flat but we will have had four months at the beach so maybe time to see a different part of Auckland. Its a bit like London, where u only really go out in the bit you live in. So for us, a new neighbourhood will be nice new challenge going into Autumn.

Talking about the weather, we have seen the sun so rarley this holiday its been our only let down about NZ so far...I know we are very lucky to be both on holiday for so long (me particularly) and in NZ and everything but its not quite the same without good weather. Apparently, the met centre is saying its the worst summer for 60 odd years, but talking to people here, they say its always like this! :(

On Thursday we went out for a drink - which is soon becoming a rare occurence for us - I know I cant believe it either!
Our local bar 'The Point' is a really nice laid back little bar full of local character! We ended up staying till closing and stumblng back to flat at Midnight...we met a very nice scottish guy from glasgow, who is a chef and his partner who owns an irish pub in town. Apparently the scottish guy knows Kenny Dalgleish.

This weekend we are flat hunting and tonight we are meeting up with Mal, Owen and Lavinia as Mal heads home to London next week.
Hope you are having a great weekend. Missing you all.

p.s. Dont worry Lofty - we may have the passports back but can't afford the fligths home, so u are safe for a while at least!
L x