Hi everyone, I'm back.

So the trip over. Loved Business Class - the only way to travel and Singapore Airlines are superb. The service is second to none.

So what can you say about long haul airtravel - eh? Movies, food, wine, sleep (flat beds - yeah!), numb bums...that's about it really. We arrived in Singapore @ 8pm so it was about 10pm by the time we got to the hotel. Bridge didn't sleep much on the flight and I was shagged so it was off to bed for us. We had to be up at 4.30am the next day to be able to catch our connecting flight.

The next day it was dark when we left for the airport and at that hour there was nowhere open for coffee so - we arrived in the dark and left in the dark - thanks Singapore the visit was fine!

The next leg of the flight was .... much the same as the previous one - we'd exhausted the blockbusters on the first leg (Dukes of Hazzard - nice idea but a trifle lame!) so we both ended up watching obscure movies.

Winner of 'Best InFlight Movie' goes to March of the Penguins - what a superb, feelgood movie (even though it was the french one where everyone is complaining about the voiceover) - I thought it was sweet. Thoroughly recommended to everyone!

We arrived in Heathrow to a very cold afternoon - that wind just goes straight through ya don't it?! The car rental place was closed so had to get the bus to their depot - just what you want after a 36 hour trip! Then dived into the car and were on the M4 on our way home!!!

It was dark by the time we got to Newbury so couldn't really show Bridge the place. Had to call into an appliance store to by a TV aerial and then we finally made the way to our village - Heath End!

Driving past our local pub, The Furze Bush Inn, I said to Bridge 'This is our local' - Bridge's response - wine! So Bridge saw the inside of the local pub before she saw the inside of our house! The pub is really cool - small, low ceilings, brick, english, smoky, with a black and white Amelie cat - what more could a couple of simple kiwis want!

One large wine (they have this dangerous thing of offering wine in small or large glasses in this funny country - what's a lush to say - large please! Very dangerous.....) later and we're 'on the road again' - note obscure John Denver pic - just trying to lighten it up a bit.


When we finally got home, I had the great pleasure of showing Bridge round her new home! I had one job for the last five weeks and it was to find the right house (Bridge did everything else!). We wanted a rural place in a cute village, close to Newbury, two bedrooms and a bit of outdoor living (in case this place ever heats up). I'm pleased to advise that my choice got the Bridge seal of approval - she loves it - and we're off and racing.

We were in bed not long later and it felt good to put our heads down on real pillows, in a real bed! Thanks to all those people who have put us up over the last few nights - but it is nice to have your own bed innit?!

A long hard sleep awaits...you'd think. For our sins, jetlag had us within its grip. Over the next week or so, our neighbours must have thought we were vampires. In bed (and exhausted) by 5pm and up and about by 3am...crazy! Just couldn't kick the habit for about a week.

The first week was filled with going shopping, showing Bridge around Newbury (it ain't that bad - looking very Christmassy actually. Here's a pic of me in Newbury Square at about 4.30 in the afternoon.

A bit dark but I'm in there!

Anyway, the first week. I had to go to Windsor for a team offsite on the Tuesday and basically slept through the afternoon - sorry Darren! - and Bridge was going slightly insane with only daytime TV for company during the day. The corporate affairs team dinner was on Thursday at the Furze Bush (our local just down the road), so we popped in for another (large) wine and then home to bed. 5pm is the witching hour after all.

Think I should bring this to a close so will fill you in our first trip to London in the next blog. Hope all are well

Blog back soon!

Cheers

Geoff

Okay okay okay...I know...starts out well then peeters out...like all blogs - sorry bout that. Been a bit busy.

So what's been happening. Well got the first week of work out of the way and continued the house hunting. And yes, finally found one. Promise this will be the last of the house photos!

It's a semi detached victorian house in a small village called Heath End. Went round it and knew straight away that this was the one. Four bedrooms!, study and conservatory, lounge, separate dining room and kitchen. Bridge freaked a bit that it was too large but should be okay.

Have hired some furniture and got it all moved in before my trip back down under. In fact, my last night in the apartment was the day I flew home so I would have my first night in the house the same time as Bridge.

Flew back to NZ on Friday night with just a 45 minute stopover in Dubai (no time for duty free!) - made for a long flight though. Saw a few movies, read a few mags, slept little. My god, it was good to be home though. Weather was superb the whole time and I loved being back in the real world.

Was a week filled with sadness though - goodbyes to cats, goodbyes to house, goodbyes to friends and family.

The first day back and we took the cats to their luxurious resort accommodation (paws a while) which was a traumatic experience. We phoned them last night and although they're keeping to themselves, they're eating well which shows they're doing okay.

The next day the packers were supposed to arrive but they didn't coz they got the date wrong. It meant that we could clean a bit and that night we went to Simon and Mika's (Bridge's brother) for dinner - whipped wee Georgie into an excited frenzy and then left her to her parents to try and calm down and get into bed - ahh the joys of being the aunt and uncle.

Packers arrived the next day and although they were a bit rough with our stuff, the place was empty by 2pm. The place is quite big when all our stuff is out! An afternoon cleaning and fixing all those things that we never had time to do when we lived there and the day was over - isn't it funny that you tidy up a place for tenants but you don't have time to do it for yourselves.

That night we went to our neighbours Pat and Phillip for dinner. They've been so kind to us over our time at West Tamaki Rd and it was lovely to spend the evening with them. We even stayed the night and had a great sleep after a very busy day.

The next day was another day filled with chores and errands as we count down to the big day. NZ really turns on the weather too! Brilliant day. That night we stayed with Aaron and Gill - friends from Wellington days but unfortunately were not good company as we were so shagged! Another brilliant day dawned and it was our last full day in NZ so lots more errands. Bank Manager, haircuts...you know all the important stuff. Caught with Glenda and Logan for a vino on the waterfront and had a great time, sitting in the warm sun sipping Savignon Blanc! Some things we're definitely going to miss!

Then back to Aaron and Gills were they put on a traditional kiwi barbie for our last night - superb evening. On the deck, burnt sausages and martie sauce - and more savignon blanc!

Rose the next morning a bit cloudy - the head not the weather and spent the morning packing before starting the long journey to our new home...after a fond farewell to our kind hosts, first stop was to collect Charles. Charles is our nephew - and is now the proud driver of a Steel Blue Honda Integra - one happy chappy. Couldn't stop the guy from smiling - drive careful Charles!

Charles drove us to the airport and made sure we made it safely to the plane. Went for a quick coffee before venturing through customs and found Glenda and Logan had popped out to say goodbye. Very nice of you guys!

Anyway, will let you know how the trip went in the next blog - talk to you soon.

Ciao