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New Zealand – we are back home in the Land of the Long White Cloud – and it is beautiful autumn weather – sunny, still and relaxing – just what we needed. We have coped quite well with the jet lag by having reasonably early nights and keeping busy during the day seeing our family and friends - but unfortunately we haven't had enough time to catch up with everyone.

Ken and Leigh have been very welcoming and we enjoyed staying in their little 'motel'. Lovely food and company went with the accommodation so we recommend it to visitors. We've enjoyed the take-away scene again with fish and chips, pizzas and Indian as well as a number of home cooked meals, lots of coffees and restaurant meals, while catching up on all the events that can happen in a year.

We are again reminded that Wellington is a lovely city (and we have now seen a few to compare it with) and it turned on some great weather for us. We have wandered around Oriental Bay and Petone Beach, up Mt Kau Kau - one of my favourite places, around Wilton's Bush and the City Park and Brooklyn Hill. Everytime we come back we wonder what might have changed in the last year. A few buildings gone and some new ones, some shops closed down - including the one I always buy my summer tops at, new upgrades to roads eg the Tawa off ramp development. And this year I have said goodbye to friends as they move to other cities, hello to new little babies as well as family and friends. And we have explored some places for the first time - the Government Buildings - now the Law Library. I've been in it a few times but not as a tourist and so wandered the old Cabinet room, looked at photos - found out it was built with a million feet of kauri timber. I also walked up Nairn Street to the little Colonial Cottage on the way back to Ken and Leighs.

Quotes I saw:

• We did not inherit the earth from your ancestors you borrow it from your children
• Te Kotoku Rerenga Tahi - Rare as the white heron taking a solo flight
  

Oh it is so hard to say goodbye.