18 months later...

Nick and I found another hour-and-a-half's worth of cleaning to do before setting out for Christchurch. We had planned a day out together and it was indeed wonderful - the boys were at school for most of the day and at John and Joan in the afternoon so we were footloose and fancy-free. With our slightly delayed start we only arrived in Christchurch with enough time for lunch and a quick browse around a shopping mall before getting to the airport, where we were suitably early for a cup of coffee and some silly photos...and then waited and waited. At last Pam, Geoff and Maddy were through customs and out the sliding doors! Pam ran around to greet us and there were very nearly tears :) Our island buddies had arrived!! There was no need to dilly dally at the airport so we took them to collect their hire car, then Nick travelled home alone and I kept the Garnetts company. I'm not sure if they appreciated my drivel after being in transit for 48 hours; Maddison fell asleep when I started counting and naming imaginary sheep in a soothing vanilla voice. Arrived back at the homestead around 5.30 and had an apricot chicken casserole thingie ready in the slow-cooker for the weary travellers. Maddy didn't even want to try stay awake after tea so took herself off to bed after a shower while the rest of us went to .... The Warehouse! (where everyone gets a bargain) for thermals and an introduction to what shops have on offer here. They did remarkably well in staying up and being good company after such a tiresome voyage...I remember feeling absolutely blank for a week after our arrival. Let the holidays begin!