Auckland...for the last time : (

After a 6.30am flight from windy, wet Wellington, I found myself back in Auckland for one last time. As soon as I got on the plane I felt relieved and excited to be leaving Wellington behind me and once I landed in Auckland I felt like I’d arrived home.

As I walked around the city, I took in all the sights for one last time – those crazy diagonal crossings which used to drive me insane were now such an amazing concept and Queen Street which once horrified me was now a sight of beauty! Walking through the city, I remembered all the fun experiences and adventures in New Zealand, particularly my times spent living at Pentlands and all the people I’d met, who I’d now have to say goodbye to.

I remembered the bad times of living and working in the dreadful holiday park on the north shore and then being shown the door. At the time, it felt like the end of the world, with little money, no job and nowhere to go but within 24 hours I managed to turn my life around and discovered Pentlands, which would be my home for the next six months.

I had a fantastic time and met so many fantastic people (some “specials” obviously) and experiences I’ll keep with me for life! I remembered the times when Tom the Frenchman would walk round in next to nothing offending all the guests, when Matt set the fire extinguisher off leaving us all choking, English night and camping in Piha when Donkey stripped down to those briefs! The hardest thing about travelling is growing close to people. You think that they are going to be with you forever so saying goodbye is heart breaking!

That evening, as it was my last night and I was living in Wellington at the time, I asked Caroline and Laura to organise for everyone to go out in fancy dress. I arrived back at Caroline’s house to find a smillion people all dolled up in their costumes from Jack Sparrow to Braveheart and from a ladybird to a cheerleader! I wanted to dress up as a mermaid, so Caroline and Laura went all out and hired me a mermaid outfit. Caroline said the outfit just fitted her and thinking we were about the same size she thought it would fit me. However, I tried it on and may have been able to wear it with the zip undone and not sitting down all night or going to the toilet! It was such a beautiful costume with a long green sequinned skirt with a silver tail and erm…a teeny purple sea shell top (which would probably have only covered the boobs!)

Caroline's first outing!

Unfortunately, no amount of liquid dieting was going to reduce the size of my hips so we had to think quickly, so off we went to St Lukes to find a costume which we could adjust to be a mermaid. First stop was Glassons where I found a leprechaun green beach dress which we were going to attach a tail to if we could find some material. With the clocks against us, we raced into Kmart to the kids section where there were numerous fancy dress costumes. Laura held up a fairy costume, stretching it out and turning it upside down, “this would work as a fairy costume, upside down -but it could work.” So there I am in the middle of the kid’s aisle trying an age 5 years costume on upside down…after criticising all the specials day after day, I felt like a bit of a special myself! Then I spotted a pirate outfit, age 5-6 years, it was perfect and best thing was it was only $15! Job done, so we headed back and began the preparations for the night. With Laura as chief make up artist and Caroline on hair duty we managed to get into town and to Danny Doolans for one last time.

Me, Pat, Sandy, Laura and Matt in Danny's

The next morning, Caroline, Laura and I sat in bed looking at all the photos of the night before. We then made our way in Caroline’s little bomber plane of a car to the airport. I couldn’t believe I was really going and it really didn’t hit me until it came to saying goodbye. I cried all the way to the departure lounge and most of the way on the plane to Sydney! It was so horrible saying goodbye to people but suppose all good things have to come to an end eventually and lots to look forward to for my next adventures in Australia 

Auckland...for the last time : (

Auckland, New Zealand