So now we find ourselves in New Zealand!

I can look out of the window from Jacqui and Bill's lovely house and I can see mountains (the Southern Alps) and lush, thick pine forests.. Already I have started weaving magical spells of unicorns and wizards in preparation for visiting The hobbit village (on North Island). 

We have bought ourselves a little car so we can now explore to our hearts content and the children are back on their scooters after it being too dusty on the unsealed roads on French Island.  

The weather is much cooler - which is a bonus as some days it was too hot to go outside in Australia. So the kids are back to normal - and yesterday got buried alive (again!) 

And they are thoroughly enjoying all of Jacqui and Bill's musical instruments and we are enjoying lots of impromptu concerts.. Certain instruments have had to be confiscated already.. (Penny whistles etc - branded too noisy!)

But we're all having a lot of fun and its great to see old friends..

And Rowan's finally passed his driving test..