Wednesday

The hotel room was really cold as we had turned the heating off as it was so noisy. Glad to get up and have a hot shower.

The car was completely frozen in the car park and we had to de ice it - I am glad we don't live in Auckland!

Fortunately, we decided to have breakfast at the airport and it was just as well as we arrived at 8.30 and Heather's plane landed at 8.40 - 20 minute early. We had a quick Subway breakfast roll and a cup of coffee and Heather came through at 9.10. We thought that was pretty impressive, half an hour total to get off the plane and clear immigration and customs! I was so happy to see her and yes I had a cry!

She was very tired and had not slept but had enjoyed the journey, she watched seven films and listened to two albums. She really enjoyed the stopover in Hong Kong and says she would like to visit there properly one day as it looked amazing.

We set off from the airport and drove into quite thick fog so we were really glad we had stayed the night at the airport as it would not have been a good drive up in the dark and the fog with such and early start as we would have had to have. The fog cleared around about Thames and it was then lovely clear blue sky and sunshine for the rest of the way.

Heather had not enjoyed the food on the plane and was very hungry so we stopped at Paeroa, where they used to make the very famous Lemon and Paeroa drink. She tucked into bacon toast and hash browns while we had a coffee.

We arrived at the house and dropped off her things and she had a quick shower and then we went out for lunch to the Mount. She was very tired but we had to keep her awake so had a bit of a walk on the beach and then went off to the supermarket. We bought her some very smart flannelette pyjamas as the only ones she had brought had little strappy tops and I just knew she would be cold, we also bought her some fluffy bed socks. (This house is really cold at night)

We went over to the kennels to get Totty and Heather was quite upset that Totty did not know her and I was very surprised as I thought she would have.

Back at the house Heather was fading fast so we let her have a little sleep but then made her stay up till 9.00 or she would have been waking up in the early hours and not be able to get back to sleep.

It is so nice to have her here not that she can believe she is here at the moment as it is all so strange and she is spaced out but she will be better tomorrow.