Thanks Shirlene - well, I did take some pictures, then my camera died on the second day. I couldn't take pictures, but could take video so I did a lot of that. I didn't get my new camera till we went through the duty free counter on our departure!

Never mind I have lots of memories!

Love and blessings Chris

Thanks Pauline - I missed you guys too! I popped in and read some of the messages whilst away, but didn't answer just was checking up on everyone.

Glad to see you've all been good. Love and blessings Chris

Thanks Yoriko, Trevor and I had a wonderful time in New Zealand. The weather was simply stunning. We've come back to high temperatures and even worse - high humidity! I haven't stopped perspiring all day - I'm actually sitting out in the back room under the air conditioner - and it's nearly 10.00pm Monday evening!

Love and blessings Chris

Dear "Tanuja",

Thanks for the welcome back. We had a ball and I agree with you - we think it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It has so much going for it - and it's so easy to get around.

We only visited the South Island this time. We flew into Queenstown - breathtakingly beautiful and drove around the area and then onto Dunedin and stayed at Larnach Castle - by the way Dunedin is delighful. We then drove up the east coast to Christchurch and stayed right on the River Avon at the Rydges Hotel. Christchurch really put on the best weather. We went punting down the Avon with a Maori talking to us about the river and the surrounding Botannical Gardens, which we were told are the 3rd largest in the world!!!!

We had just such a relaxing time - it's a pity to come back home and back to the "normal" daily life.

Whilst away I kept saying to Trevor - you know whilst we are away everything just keeps on going. People everywhere are the same, eating breakfast, driving cars, going to work, etc. etc. Everyone we talked to were people just like us - enjoying life and getting on with their lives.

Isn't life great?

Love and blessings to you way over there in Africa - Chris

P.S. By the way where do your parents live in the South Island?

Thanks Angie - I'm glad to be back home and in a "normal" routine again.

I'm praying for better weather too, believe me - I've never experienced this humidity so early in the year. February is the worst month up here for that! And I've got the whole month to look forward to! How about that?

I pity my two girls - Dana is due in 11 days and Amy is due in 8 weeks - poor things.

Love and blessings Chris

Gee Carolyn, that's cold - we never get it that cold here on the East coast of Australia. Mainly in the snowfields or mountainous areas near the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

We could actually see some snow over in New Zealand on the tops of the mountain ranges near Queenstown - it was beautiful.

Love and blessings Chris

Thanks Lillian - it's great to be back. Love and blessings Chris

Thanks Yvonne, yes it was a wonderful relaxing trip. My camera broke after the first day and so I could only take video footage. I ended up buying a camera at the duty free counter at the airport. So I don't have a lot of pictures but what I do have I'll post.

Love and blessings Chris

Isn't it a fabulous place to holiday in? We went up to the Franz Joseph Glacier in a Helicopter when we were there 7 years ago - just magic! What a great opportunity in a small plane to see all the fabulous countryside and mountains.

I loved the Bay of Islands (we were there also 7 years ago) but it was raining when we were there and very overcast! I believe it is supposed to be absolutely beautiful!

Thanks for the welcome home, love and blessings Chris