Run out of petrol!

Any trip in the car has meant scanning the horizon for breaching Humpback Whales, apparently there are 4x the usual no. out here at the moment.

Our car is stuck on the Coast Road and it and the Island have run out of petrol!!!!!!!!!

Snorkelling for a change

The weather allowed underwater exploration at a different location, The Muri Beach Lagoon.

More snorkelling

Too rough to dive though. Enjoyed a long run under the coconut trees. Followed the sound of the drums to The Rarotongan in the evening and caught a glimpse of local cultural spectacular but alas couldn't stay cos got chucked out by the bouncers so ended the evening with an icecream!

Fishy feast

Hung out at the Raro. resort feeding fish from their promenade. Coffee and snorkelling with the sea life followed by fresh local fish for dinner.

Hired a car from town today but the petrol gauge doesn't work!

Avoiding falling coconuts...

It's blowing a hooley here ( Is that an English phrase?!) Yep, we are trying to shed our London accents right now too.
Some flights are cancelled, I've checked out the forecast, how do we feel about not getting home???!!! I could research whales and the kids could grow up in grass skirts we could have a pet hermit crab????????!
We want to come back.........yearning for routine and I can't wait to have 30 mins. on my own and run up the Maitai.
We are enjoying this time of reflection with few decisions to make other than which bit of beach to walk on...

It was fun experiencing the daily jet blast in the afternoon, an Island event, where one waits for the 777 comes into land and you wait and watch and listen.

Lets get some photos on here to show you the flowers............

30 hours in motion.........

I'm so glad we have stopped in Raratonga we are not in a fit state to see anyone!!!!!
We dropped onto the tropical Island in shock at 6am. We were greeted by garlands of sweet smelling flowers and smiley faces........the taxi driver thought we had emigrated!
We were transported to a coconut hut near The Lagoon. Its beautiful, warm and wet. We took in the exotic scene through our blurry eyes and jumped into the lagoon to see fish and coral.
We spent a while rescuing sea cucumbers and chasing ghost crabs.
I vaguely remember tropical curries, hermit crab races and avoiding a karaoke!

A Whole Day Packing....

Can you believe it took us all day to pack and we had 2 experienced helpers (my cousins used to to and fro from Africa with 3 kids). We have even got things stuffed into shoes. Things like packets of Hula Hoops and White chocolate Mice ( yum English food). But I'm worried the supply is already being consumed here in Rarotonga!
We went on a 2 hour supermarket excursion in the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is to know you are not going to see or sample this stuff again for maybe another 20 years.. although Holly is already booking in her O.E. ( 10 years sounds better!)
The day ended in a thatch cottage with a glass of N.Z Sav.

Mum and Holly Day

Holly and I woke up in London and hit Regent street. We giggled our way round designer dress shops and collapsed in a heap on the train at 3pm. The content of the day is best left to your imagination; now 4 days later blogging from a tropical island in the Pacific the memory of the day makes us go blurry eyed and laugh at one of the most special days of our lives.

Mum' s hair do..............

3 wolf whistles and a parking ticket!! photos soon!!!

Today we drove down to Bedford, we are back where we started 7 weeks ago! A bit older and wiser...more on this astounding feat soon!

Golf in the garden in The Far North East

We had lunch with cousins about to emigrate to Australia..already planning the next lunch together in Brisbane!

Check Out Harry's New Hair Cut!

Sad to leave so much unseen..

Lily will return to see Nessie one day.. ~~~~:O <---- Nessie by Holly
Our return train was packed with English people returning home and we only had floor space for 1.5 hours. We all squashed together on top of our 1 suitcase. Every stop we came to I hoped would be ours. At the next station we rushed onto the wrong train! (Which didn't stop at Newark.) So we had to negotiate where to hop off. When we were back on the right train we all lay back and relaxed, apart from Harry playing with his Boink! ( A toy from the children s museum) :o) Mummy dragged our heavy suitcase to the other side of the station. I was relieved to see Auntie Val waiting for us in her car. :)

Ghostly Underground Passages

We started the day viewing the castle from where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter... I can understand where some of the ideas came from; we had a coffee in the famous Elephant House cafe. Then we went on a city Sightseeing Bus Tour. Holly, Lily and Harry enjoyed "The horrible histories" on the audio! We walked The Royal Mile and were entertained by Actors and Clowns performing in The Fringe. We shivered our way to Mary Kings Underground Passages.
The tour was very ghostly like i think i felt one drift past me!!! (Lily)
I was spooked in the ghost story. I thought I caught a glimpse of Mary King! ( Holly)
Harry felt sick and faint and Mum had to tale him up to revive him with can of coke!
We were keen to get back to modern day for dinner and so far no sign of having caught The plague!

Alarm set.....TO GO

Our time clocks still slightly out getting up at 7am wasn't easy! Boarding a train with 1 huge suitcase and 3 kiwi kids wasn't easy either...........but we claimed our seats that I have a vague memory of booking in the early hours of the morning in New Zealand many months ago...My Boss had suggested a long train ride so Edinburgh seemed far far away and Scotland full of mystery, I thought I might find something from my family clan MacLean!

Arrival in Edinburgh Waverly train station was like arriving on another planet. the kids looking for a wizard so finding my distant relative was priority. I remembered taxis! Holly, Lily and Harry had their first black cab ride ever (first taxi ride even!) . Arrival at our destination, our host was waiting with delicious kedgeree in a very elegant dining room. This was a great prep for our evening at the castle watching the Military Tattoo.

WOW what an amazing experience to watch this amazing performance live. Thousands of people huddled together in the icy rain bursts watching bands from all over the world. The commentator asked the audience where we were from.. when he called out New Zealand we stood up and cheered, causing quite a bit of interest around us, I think we were the only ones in 2000+. The Kiwi performers featured a lot, with some talented Highland Dancing and The New Zealand Army, described as 'one of the World's most exciting military bands.' We were very proud.

We ended our evening in Pizza Express at 11pm!

Lunch in Binbrook

Today we went for lunch with family in Binbrook. They had lots of pets, 2 dogs (1 puppy), a chinchilla, a parrot and fish and enormous televisions! The birthday cake was yum! Mummy went for along walk later in Swinderby and we packed our bags for Edinburgh.

Another rain Strategy

Shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Newark and Lincoln. Amazing op shops here! But Holly and Lily liked Debenhams. The cobbled streets were full of history and Lincoln Cathedral majestic.

Visiting the favourite haunts of Family through the Ages

We got a few surprises seeing old schools and houses belonging to our family, Mummy remembered leaning on farm gate watching the cows with her Grandad. Holly remembers her Great Grandma shortly after she arrived in N.Z and was interested to see where she used to live in rural England. Lily was fascinated by the tiny school her Grandma used to go to and Harry thought the Conker Tree was great.

Across England to the rural North East

Today we drove to a small village, Swinderby in Lincolnshire. We were able to get another fix of M & S on the way. They now have food outlets of this yummy food in all motorway service stations and their sandwiches are worth driving for!!
Arriving at my Aunties was lovely, she has remembered all the things I like! But within an hour we were down The Plough for a pint....trouble is I can't remember how to drink from such large glasses.

Srategies to cope Never Ending Rain

Spend the time with fantastic friends.

Today we enjoyed some time around The Guy Fawkes House, our friends home whilst it rained and rained.

And caught up on emails with the connection made to the house again. When the sun appeared at 3pm we went on a trip to visit Barrington house one of my friends accommodation houses and then to Ledbury and saw black and white house on stilts. Then we had fun in the wind on The Malvern Hills, which is the oldest rocks in Britain.

An outdoor Pool in England!

Yep we were in it playing volley ball. It was hot in the water at 30'. We visited a friends beautiful estate and lost the dog but there was green curry and wine on tap. Even the flat tyre was dealt with quickly and calmly. Another delightful evening in The Guy Fawkes kitchen.

Woods, chickens and bats

Enjoyed a walk through the blackberries today, watched chickens hatch and bats flying and lots more socializing. Have just about caught up on the huge amount of wet smelly washing from Wales! Even more cars around and lots of noise. But lots of fun here with fabulous friends.