An early start

Up and off to kennels with Totty by 8.00

We had a good drive up to Auckland with coffee stop at our usual place on State Highway 2

The Langham Hotel was easy to find as it is just off the motorway. A very impressive entrance with doormen and bellboys all over the place and the car was taken for valet parking.

We checked in but the room was not quite ready so we left the cases and were sitting in reception and Jon was ringing Richard who was to come and pick him up when my mobile rang and it was the reception to say our room was ready. Quite funny really as we were sitting just round the corner!!! The room was really nice, very elegant and lots of goodies in the bathroom but no time to check it out too much as Jon was due to be picked up by Richard who dropped me at the port to catch the ferry to Devonport which is a ten minute trip.

There is quite a holiday atmosphere over there and it is like a little seaside town though so close to busy Auckland. I walked to the new Navy Museum which opened earlier this month. Not the most interesting museum I have been to but they had a nice little cafe there where I had lunch before walking back. I was wearing trainers so my feet were not sore like they were in Wellington.

I knew I was going to need a taxi to get back to the hotel and as I had no cash I had to use a cash machine!!!!! I haven't used one since 1980 when I first went back to live in England. I had never used one in Spain and so when it asked to put in the amount in units of five (I wanted £25) I put in 55555 and it came up with 'insufficient funds'. I was so embarrassed I never used one again until today. There will be no stopping me now!

Got the ferry back and caught a taxi to the hotel. I had to call to get the cases sent up and after unpacking went to have a swim at the pool on the second floor. I met Jon on his way in as I was on the way up there but as he had phone calls to make I went anyway.

The pool was lovely and only me in it, there was a bit of a chill wind blowing across it so after my swim I went and sat in the hot spa for a while. They had lovely changing rooms, showers a sauna and a steam room there all very nice.

Back in the room we had a cuppa, read my book and fell asleep - it had been a long day.

After a shower I was fit to go again and we went for dinner just across the road at the back of the hotel to an Italian place. Not bad fish but not the best though nice dip starter and nice upside down cheesecake for pudding.

When we got back the bed was turned down, slippers put out ready on a little mat, a chocolate mint on the pillow and a bottle of water all very nice. i could get used to this!


WEATHER
Clear skies and warm 18 degrees