month spent back in Blighty. We flew up to Auckland for the weekend, our onward flight booked for Monday morning, to spend some time in the largest city in NZ, housing around 1/4 of the entire population. Our hotel was right in the heart of the CBD, surrounded by the skyscrapers which accommodate the bankers and big businesses. Down at street level there were plenty of tourist shops alongside the high-brow clothing boutiques of which we had little interest in. With Amy still lame from her foot 
squashing incident, we took things a little easy and after a brief stroll headed back for a read and sit down. The Crusaders of Canterbury were then playing the local Blues in the Super 15 Rugby and so we headed down to a bar to find a big screen and watched a thrilling match that ended with our team in front, much to the disappointment of most of those around us. With a 
whole day to fill on Sunday we caught the ferry for the brief splash across the harbour to Devonport, a small village made up predominantly of cafes and art shops. It is also where one of the many old volcanoes can be found. It has long since been eroded down to little more than a stub but does still afford some elevation to provide a spectacular view across the water to the city centre. It may be winter but with the sun out and sky blue we were in luck. A little nap was in order 
when we were back in our room before it was time to head up the Sky Tower for dinner in the revolving restaurant. It may have been pricey but the view was superb and food tasty so worth the booking on our last night in country.
Monday morning dawned with the alarm going early only for us to turn on the news and hear how the ash cloud from a volcano in Chile was disrupting flights. Quantus had canceled all flights in and out of the city though Air NZ were still flying as normal, electing to fly lower to avoid the ash. As for Royal Brunei we would just have to find out when we got to the airport. thankfully the check in was open and we soon made it through the formalities to begin the long journey home. Around 30 hours later, a 2 hour break in both Brunei and Dubai, we
arrived in London town (after a mere 2 year absence) relatively fresh having set our watches to London time on setting foot on the plane. We then hot footed it to Paddington to meet Amelie and collect a key to the flat where we were being put up for the next few days, Russ being in France on a work trip. Their flat is within touching distance of the South Bank and so after a cup of tea and much needed show
er we headed out to stretch our legs making a circuit that took in Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge and St Pauls while at the same time taking no longer than a leisurely hour. The following three and a half days were spent running through a tight schedule trying to catch up with as many city dwellers as possible while still having fun. It was great, we eat well, drunk lots and relaxed as we entered holiday mode. The first pint of proper English beer was especially excited and got me thinking about home brew once back in NZ. Russ got back Friday and so I stayed in town for an extra couple of days to hear about all the imminent wedding plans and play playstation while Amy headed back to the New Forest and home.
A short 2 hour train journey on Sunday evening took me to Taunton where I was whisked to the Heights by Dad. 5 days were then spent relaxing with remarkably few jobs to do for the impending wedding, apart from trying to put the finishing touches to my speech. A round of golf with Dad did nothing to settle his nerves and my laughing as two successive drives found their way into the Bristol Channel did little to help. Of course the course does suit a left hander better, especially with the wind being so strong, as well as my clubs being more modern! 
Exmoor was looking fantastic and there is nothing in NZ where we are to compair to the lush fields, ancient villages and narrow, twisting country lanes. Amy traveled up on Thursday and we then headed to Cornwall for the weekend. After a delicious meal with Uncle Rich and Carolyn, we headed to Bude on Saturday, the light dimming and drizzle becoming heavier the closer we got to the coast. Still there were plenty of friends already there to lift the gloom. Special mention though has to go to 
Tim for sharing his birthday celebrations with our reunion get together along with Jack and Barney who ended up hiring taxi all the way from Exeter! It was dry enough in the evening to fire up the BBQ, though when did rain ever stop the British cooking outdoors!? Sunday was a different story, the sun was out, surf pounding, though I did not end up hiring any kit, rather spending the time playing football and catching up with people who had travelled far and wide for the weekend.
Amy and I headed back to our respective parents and the week soon passed. The bride and groom arrived Wednesday, ushers and Amy Thursday and the final flurry of activity ranging from suit collection, hair cuts, flower arranging and reception decoration meant Saturday was soon upon us. The church in Selworthy must be one of the most attractive in the country, both in terms of b
uilding and location, perched on a hillside overlooking Dunkery Beacon and the start of Exmoor. The sun was out for the big occasion and things could not have gone better. Both Russ and Amelie remembered their lines and no-one appeared out of the blue to give a reason why they could not be married and so it was that after 45 minutes they left the church as husband and wife. The reception was held in the converted Tythe barn 
in Dunster and after a lovely meal it was time for the speeches. Plenty of people had already commented to me by this stage that it would be hard to beat the speech Russ gave at our wedding a couple of years earlier which did little to settle the nerves. All in all I think mine 
went down reasonably well though perhaps the Belgium contingent were a little bemused by some of the jokes! The band then ensured the merriment continued long into the night with there being plenty of sore heads the following morning for the big clear up.
The last week of our visit
was spent in the New Forest with Amys parents, visiting neighbouring friends and enjoying the end of the holiday. It's amazing how quickly a month passes and we were soon back on a plane to New Zealand (via Dubai and a 12 hour stop over in Brunei). The killer was the 5 hour wait in Aukland for our connectio to Christchurch when all we wanted was to be at home. We eventually arrived at 8:30pm and were 
back at work the following morning at 8am. The following weeks were then spent house hunting as having decided to stay in Ashburton for a little while longer we were eager to move out of our small, cold unit and into something a little more comfortable.
