Hello everyone. It looks like we are all safe and sound in New Zealand. Yesterday everyone was pretty pooped and Ken and I left around 9.30 am to go visit family. We had a lovely afternoon at a restaurant over looking a beach. Great New Zealand food. We did not know that this beach was having a Christmas parade followed by all types of things on the ocean. A simulated helicopter rescue, model airplanes, jet skis, water skiing. We just sat in the restaurant and watched it all. A front row window seat! We were there so long we also had afternoon tea.
A devonshire tea, melt in the mouth scones with rasberry jam and fresh N.Z. cream. YUM YUM. We were there about 5 hours!!!!

When we got back to the hotel Karen told us that they were going to dinner with some others at 6.15 pm. We were SO FULL. However, we decided to join in the fun and went to a tiny Italian restaurant close by. It was fast and easy and I had a great pizza.

Today at 9.00 am they all loaded (or squeezed into) the vans and went off for their day at Sheep World and the winery. It was bright and sunny early but a little overcast skys have crept in. There is supposed to be a big high pressure over the country with very settled weather. Of course this is N.Z. - four seasons in a day sometimes.

Only two couples have lost their bags. One has them now and the other couple are supposed to get them today. I have my fingers crossed.

Tonight we go to Orbit the revolving restaurant on top of the SKY TOWER. Looking forward to that there are 43 of us for dinner.

Tomorrow we board the ship --- yippee!!! Cant wait.