Friday, Saturday, Friday, Saturday.

A busy day took Tot to kennels which took longer than I thought as it is much further than I thought!

Went to see Carol on the way back to take the truffles and saw her grandson, cute little boy.

Then to buy some reef shoes for Jon and I.

Home and a coffee. Hung out the washing.

Went to see David and Edwina to say we were going away and ask them to take our mail in and look after my poinsettia.

Finally got into the packing and had it all sorted in an hour impressive even for me!

Jon came home I sent a few emails then cleared the fridge.

Finally left at 3.00 but had to go and change the reef shoes for Jon as they were too small.

Off to Auckland and the traffic was very quiet for the start of the holiday.

Check in at Jet Park and I needed a cuppa.

Went for dinner, two starters for me and fish for Jon.

Early night for our early start.

Weather
Sunny with some cloud 23 degrees.

Saturday
Up and shower and shuttle to the airport. I have never seen AKL so busy but then I have never travelled at Christmas!

Went to the Koru Lounge for breakfast and waited for our flight to be called.

Good flight not a bad meal. I watched We Are The Millers and thought it was very funny. I then watched Beyond The Edge about Sir Edmund Hilary climbing Everest which was good.

Friday again
Landed in Rarotonga, very hot 29 degrees. Man singing in arrivals to welcome everyone. Had to declare my lemons and could not take them in. Just as well I knew where they were in the case and the customs man said it was a very tidy case and well packed!

Met by a lady who told us to go to do domestic departures and check in for our flight to Aitutaki. All very easy.

We had a coffee while we waited, very hot in the airport which was all open so no AC.

Small plane, 34 seats, great flight. Lovely landing coming in over the lagoon. Everyone was so excited to see it.

Met by Elaine and given lovely frangipani lei and then taken to our hotel in five minutes!

Beautiful spot, check in over a lovely fruit cocktail. Booked a lagoon tour for tomorrow.

The accommodation is basic and being renovated but that does not matter as the location is to die for.

Very hot.

Unpacked and then went to sit on the beach for an hour. We went for a walk along the beach all so lovely.

Back to room shower and dinner. Jon had fresh tuna and I had a delicious chicken curry.

Back to room and had one hour of very slow Internet which would not do much.

Early bedtime, so relaxed and sleepy.

Saturday again this is very confusing!

As we only have a sheet on the bed and the AC on it was a bit chilly in the early hours but we both slept till 8.00.

We were told last night that breakfast would be served outside as workmen were coming in to put a new floor in the bar/restaurant area. It really was no hardship to sit outside for breakfast. I cannot explain just how beautiful this place is. The water is the most beautiful turquoise and the sand so white. I think stale bread would have tasted good sitting looking at this view. We had fruit and toast.

Our boat drew up on the beach as we were having breakfast but we still had 40 minutes before it left so went back to collect our things. No rushing here.

We set off on our trip and the crew were a Kiwi Maori, John,  and his partner came along as it was her day off and Timmy a Cook Islander. We picked up one other lady from another resort who was from Bavaria but lives in Holland. So that was it a boat just for us.

We sailed to the first little island and got off and had a swim and the water was soooo warm and clear. A few people on the island enjoying the sun and some children playing in the water. You can walk a long way out and it is not deep and so calm.

We then continued round to where the coral is and we snorkelled for ages and saw so many fish, many more than on the Great Barrier Reef. It helps that the water was warmer and much calmer than the reef.

We then went to another island One Foot Island and had a swim and the water here was hot!
The crew cooked a BBQ lunch fresh tuna and sausages with some delicious salads followed by fruit.
We had our passports stamped with the special stamp like a footprint. We also sent some postcards to the girls with the special One Foot stamp. Not sure when they will get to UK!

We walked around the island which was like a Robinson Crusoe Island. I could cry it is all so beautiful and I never thought I would visit such a paradise. What lucky people to live in a place like this.

Then over to another area to feed the big fish and boy were they big. We got in the water and the crew held the fish and these huge trevally came and took it. To be in the water with them was amazing. The biggest one, George, had huge lips like he had had Botox! He also chased the others away.

We then got our snorkelling kit on again and off we went. One of the crew brought a huge clam up for Gisella and I to hold. He left me holding it and it was very heavy, and he went off to get some bread to feed the smaller fish. Standing holding a giant clam and wearing flippers is not to be recommended and I was relieved when he came and took it but he passed me a handful of bread at the same time and so I was suddenly surrounded by hundreds of little black and white stripped fish, zebra fish, and butterfly fish all wanting the bread and let me tell you the give a bit of a nip! It was great fun. Such a shame Jon can't swim but he did have a good day and could see so much from the boat as the water is shallow and clear.

We snorkelled around and saw another huge clam and the big trevally, which must have been at least three foot long and that is no fisher mans tale, were swimming with us.

Back on the boat we headed for the hotel but Timmy spotted one of the three turtles that live in the lagoon and we followed it and they swim very fast.

We then went back to the hotel after one of the best days ever.

We had an hours rest in the sun before going for a shower and change. The tops of my legs are very red at the back with so long spent in the water. I should have used more cream.

The men were still working on the new floor so dinner was outside. The owner, Tommy, keeps apologising but we told him it really is lovely to sit outside to have our meals and we think he should always do it. He is not convinced.

Dinner was very good again. The staff are so friendly and know everyone by first name.

They haven't had any decent rain here for four months so they are getting worried about it. From a selfish point of view we would like it to stay away till we leave on Monday!

Back in our room and I can't get Internet tonight.

I don't think I will ever live through two Fridays and two Saturdays again unless I come back here and that would be such a treat!