Sunday

Editors note- the italics are my notes.. I moved the posts around a bit to make the time line easier, and it wont let me do blue comments.

It has just taken me ages to sign in the this place's computer....

Reading your blog at James's yesterday, Simon's contribution is SO much more interesting than ours!!! (Personally I think BOTH are as fascinating as each other!!) Oh well.

Yesterday we drove from Cambridge to the Coromandel, which is quite a long way - everywhere is quite a long way, especially when it is all twisty and hilly. The drive along the coast was stunning, the road is quite narrow and right by the sea, which is a brilliant blue/green and all shades in between, studded with many jagged islands. ( It's a volcanic area. )

Stopped at Coromandel Town, where we found the best bead shop I have ever seen, run by a lady from Kent, very friendly even though we didn't buy one bead. I did wish you could have seen it Anna! (I can't beleive she didnt buy one.. not even one!! gah!!! How COULD she??)

We went on to a place called Hahei, near the Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, where there was a smaller choice of hostels, and the best one had no doubles in the backpackers, so we had to have a cabin with ensuite at the (not) vast cost of $120 (divide by 3 roughly). The hostel is set in beautiful gardens, birds piping away. Very spacious and comfortable. I used kitchen in the backpackers to make usual bacon and veg. meal which pleased Paul.

We walked to one of the Bays, the Gemstone Bay, pretty hard on my joints but worth it for the views. Very good bird life, all sorts, nesting swallows in the viewpoint roof only inches away from us.

Paul has been for a jog this morning on the beach, and we shall move one towards Rotorua, not at all sure where we shall stay tonight. It is cooler thank goodness, and rain is forecast. Oh, snorkelling is off here because it is too rough, but we plan to shoot off to the Caribbean fairly soon so he can snorkel there. (really?? another "SKI" holiday?? wow!! cool! )

Lots of love, Parents. XXXXXXXX