Newcastle-under-Lyme

New Zealand. Last so many others it came to my notice as the gorgeous and breathtaking backdrop in the cinematic Lord of the Rings. That was 15 years ago and then after all that time the actual decision to go and the planning seemed to happen so quickly. The itinery was planned and even then the three weeks that were planned seemed far too short. Yet here we were packed and ready to go.Now normally when going away on holiday I’m used to having to drag myself out of bed at some unspeakable time in the morning and then blearily eyed wander through the airport checks. So not flying until 16:50 was a new experience and in fact it left us having time to kill at home before leaving for the airport even though we had to drop Koshka at the cattery and take Alison’s car into the garage. In that time to kill I worried that just like some amazing film trailer which turns out to be all the best bits of the film would New Zealand be the same?Read more