Q's x 3 visit Auckland, New Zealand

With Lyndon away in Townsville for work for one month and still 3 weeks of school holidays left, I decided it was required for the metal health and safety of all concerned to have a little break before the madness of 2011 set in. Recreational leave is supposed to refresh the batteries and give one a chance to participate in activities not found at your posting location (in our case Tonga), so we made the most of it. The 6 P's google research (prior preparation prevents piss poor performance - a lovely naval term my husband uses often), made sure I had an exhaustive list of places to visit and people to see. Who knew Auckland was such a vibrant and cosmopolitan city (the Melbourne of NZ, so I've been told).

Our plane was delayed by one hour so that wasn't an ideal start but then, the entertainment arrived. Lovely to see the Royal Band come out and march around and perform a few numbers to keep the waiting crowd (or so I thought) entertained.

The Royal Band in formation, but alas it was not for our benefit afterall, The Princess Regent, HRH Princess Pilolevu (the King's sister) had just arrived on the incoming flight and they were actually there to greet her.

HRH in green, with her Offical Greeting Party

Emily and Dylan at the arrivals hall at Auckland Intl Airport, they are definately becoming seasoned travellers. Each had a cabin bag full of goodies which they didn't end up using because they had a movie and meal on the plane.

We stayed at Skycity Hotel Casino for 5 nights, stayed with a friend from Tonga, Nada and her kids in St Hilliers for 6 nights then off to Lyndon's Aunty Elwyn for the last 4 nights. Maybe a little too much activity was had in the 2 weeks we were away, because, it was actually great to get back home to have a little rest before the kids went back to school.

We arrived home a day late thanks to Cyclone Wilma, although no drama here in Tongatapu, there was damage up in the Ha'aapi Island Group. Thanks for Mark and Linda who waited an extra hour to collect us because our plane was delayed in Auckland. The kids were excited as they could hear Mark and Linda yelling out to them from the viewing platform and were happy to be home.

Home sweet home