Update...

Gosh it's been a few days since the last update - where to start? Well we have some new friends here in New Plymouth (the ones that Will met in the barbers) some lovely people from Bristol who have moved over here and are being visited by their relations. The great thing is, not only are they smashing (love that word) types but they also have a 14 year old who gets on brilliantly with Sam.

The days have been spent here surfing, schooling and fishing (the usual). But we have been going to the festival of lights on an evening - this is brilliant because it's in the local park and the trees get lit up on an evening, you sit on the grass and have a picnic and watch live bands and best of all it's all free. A couple of nights ago we watched a maori choir which was really moving...once the choir had finished a group of Maori kids (late teens) stood up in the crowd and performed a kind of haka to the singers who stood respectfully on the stage. Apparently it's a mark of respect and was really powerful and moving and brought a tear to mine (and Will's) eye, not Sam's though as he thought they were being aggresive and didn't really get what was going on. It's not the first time that seeing the Maori culture has made me emotional. In Mahia I bought will a bone carving pendant, it had been carved by a big maori man who was selling them and it had a beautiful meaning about sharing ones journey together etc. So I bought it and the Maori man performed a blessing, holding the pendent with me as he said the words, I was stood with Leonie, who is also over emotional and we both stood there fighting back the tears. I got back and presented the gift to Will who said...'I'm not wearing a bloody necklace!!' Ho Hum.

We have had a couple of BBQ's. A couple of nights ago at Liz and Al's house (a NZ couple) who are friends of Nic and Mark (the Bristol couple) invited us to their house and we had amazing food and Sam spent the evening in the jacuzzi with the other kids!! Yesterday we were due to borrow some bikes from Nic and Mark and turned up at 10am, had a cup of tea, then another cup, then a BBQ and didn't get anywhere on the bikes, we ended up leaving about 3:30 and then in the eve we went back to the festival of lights for reggae music, a picnic and a bottle of wine.

Today Sam has gone with Ben (his friend) and his family to a museum, that was at 10am and we haven't seen him since. Me and will walked into town and bought his some birthday pressies for Sam and will go pick him up in an hour or so (5:00). Tomorrow we are planning on doing something a bit more touristy and may go up mount Taranaki (where they filmed 'The last Samuri' i think!)

Hope all is well with you all x Sorry no pic as wouldn't upload!!