Sydney to Christchurch

---

---

Hi! Cath here. Finally got a turn. Just to confirm Julian is definitely with us, but as he is Editor in Chief he is not allowing any photos of himself on the blog. He's so shy! I'll get Rachel to help me sneak one on sometime...
Meanwhile, been a tiring day!
Shame to leave Sydney as we were just getting the feel there. Perfect blue sky, not too hot, even the sand at Manly was great for sandcastles!
But then in the real world, newspaper headlines complaining about failing schools and swine flu! Taxi driver telling us how bad public transport is so everyone has to use cars (traffic stationary by 7am - luckily going opp way to us!). And in the summer its 38C!!
So we set off to give New Zealand a try.
Not a good start!!
Flight was ok but then we had well over an hour in the queue at Christchurch for passport control as only about 2 people with 10 desks shut. Feels familiar ..... They also checked the immigration cards about 40 times so not altogether welcoming.
Luckily the taxi driver was great (thank you Colin!) and delivered us to a spacious apartment pointing out some useful landmarks on the way.
It was getting on for 5pm by now, so once Simon had stopped whoohooing we soon made use of the driver's first recommendation and had a excellent roast meal.
Time for bed now. All crackered!

---

Photos

P1000513
Going for some tea, via a very english looking Victoria Park.

Comments

[sue morris]

hooray!
Hooray a photo of Julian! It does all sound rather exhausting . Good job you will have loads of photos to remind you of all these antics. Off to Paris now - back in 5 days. Keep the blogs coming! GS

[peter]

Hi you seem to be having a great time and doing lots of stuff, the Sydney opera house looked amazing. Not much happening here - we are having a mixture of very hot days and then some heavy rain. Went to a barbeque yesterday - I expect you will be doing a lot of those - and drank too much but it was good fun. Have just had to deal with a student who has faked his results - not so much fun. Hope you have a great time in NZ and look forward to seeing the pictures.

[Blakeley Bunch]

wow!!!
Hey guys, well done you have made it out there!! You are so fab to do it and I am not jealous at all... !! It looks like you have packed in a lot of amazing things already. I am so annoyed that I didn't say goodbye but I kept thinking it was ages away!! We miss you but are so pleased things are going well, I am sure the welcome in NZ will improve once you have all had a good sleep! Big hugs to you all xo xo

[louise]

missing you
to rachel, we have been doing so hard wark not the same with out you helping us not the same with mr sharp asking you questions (how long leafed.)We whent in to mr leigh class on the 14 th of july looking forword to our mistary trip and looking forword fo you to come back can not whant to get in miss leigh class mr sharp is driving me (crassy.) rebcca (r) sate next to grace i think grace is missing you.me and grace whent to miss mapaels bbq on sunday the12th of july thair was a masive bouwcy castael slighd its been rainning at nots haer is it hot at your it the bferst day its sunny 15th of july miss you with all my love and friendship (lou lou)/louisej