Sorry I didn't get to see anyone whilst I was dahn andah, family, time and travel constraints meant we couldn't make any side trips longer than 8 hours.

However, we did get to see some of the environs of Auckland - including the city, SkyTower, zoo, undersea world (where if it isn't under the harbour it's pretty close - the tide comes in right up to the cafe windows, judging by their thickness and the seaweed on the windowsill); the peninsulars either side of the South Auckland area, black sandy beach, white sandy beach, shelly beach and all manner of green fields, glacial plains and tectonicly enhanced mountain ranges in between. In fact, I saw more of the country in this 2 weeks than I did in the previous 2 months I spent there. We didn't exactly get a tan each but Limpit has a couple of freckles that weren't there before and I'm noticing that today is a bit chilly!

Plus I got my wish of seeing lots more native wildlife and acquiring my own Maori carvings (a lovely bone hair pin which survived Customs and the journey intact and a pendant with paua shell inset amongst others. The bone is certified beef bone). Limpit bought me a little wooden Maori Guardian who is presently on the fridge but will soon be moved into the dining room where I hope he'll be at home with the green men.

Thanks to everyone for the support, goodwill messages and help with everything, without which I would have probably gone possum (sat in the middle of the road and looked blank.. or dead.. which is the only way we saw possum there... squished and sort of startled looking).

Mother continues to improve, but is still weak. She's starting to put weight on again, and looks a lot less fragile than when we saw her on the 15th. Should the worst happen, we have had our visit and have our memories. She has a couple of more 'up to date' pictures of us and has met the teenage Limpit. She remembers her as a bouncy toddler who would not keep still... ah, how they change! I'm happy with her care, with the arrangements she has and her quality of life, which, although altered, is still fairly good. Thank you.

LTS