Tuesday 4th November. Melbourne Cup day when half Australia stops work for the day. Wendy is a member and has managed to get tickets for us as we are overseas visitors so we are all dressed up in our finest and set off for Flemington. There are ten races on the card and the first one starts at 10.20 - before we can get to the track as we first have to drop off Jessie and Maddie who will be looked after by Ernie's sister for the day. Ernie has been given a tip for a runner in the first race so we all have a bet on it as we drive to the racecourse and listen to the commentary on the radio. It comes in at 15/2 so at least we start the day on a high with some bookies money to spend. At the racecourse Ernie shows his tainer's badge so we are able to park the car in the park reserved for the horse trailers. Very handy and felt very important. Millions of dollars have recently been spent on the place and it shows. Roses everywhere. Even an avenue of climbing roses trained over archs a coupleof hundred yards long. See photo. A new members stand has been built which is all glassed in. Not sure if I like it as I prefer to be more in touch with the crowd rather than being shut away from the punters. The crowd is over 110,ooo. There is a constant stream of people ariving by helicopters and even by boat as the river runs alongside the racecourse. There is a wonderful air of excitement and determination to have a good fun day made all the better by the wondeful sunshine with a cooling breeze. All the young women in fancy hats and short skirts looking gorgeous. Even 'er in doors did justice to the expenditure on the hat. Sadly not another winner all day but did have a good run for our money in the big race as I was on the second horse that lost but the shortest of nostrils. The winning trainer trained his first winner of the Cup 50 years ago and this was his 12th cup winner.,. He's now 80. Marilyn fancied the winner but changed her mind at the last minute. She should have followed Ernie's daughters who each backed the winner to win over $200 each. A wonderful day to remember and a real high on which to finish our visit to OZ.

Wednesday 5th November. And so we say farewell to the fair city of Melbourne and fly to Auckland NZ. Have to be at the airport by 6.15am to catch the 8.15 flight so M not very communicative. The first thing that strikes us as we fly into NZ is the green after the scorched brown of OZ. Collect hire car (Nissan) and drive straight up to Richard and Marcia at Sand Spit near Warkworth. (2 hours) The directions that we have been given by Richard are very clear and we arrive without a cross word - maybe a record I suspect. My powers of description are not up to giving you a fair picture of the countryside that does justice to the breathtaking views around every corner. I can now see where the garden designers get their ideas for the use of the NZ tree ferns. They grow in such profusion here amongst the thick - sometimes impenitrable bush. R & M's house stands in nearly 2 acres of hillside 260 feet above the foreshore. It is densely covered with wild bush that is protected so it cannotbe built on. Pathways have been cut through the bush to provided walkways down to the beach. See photo attached of the view that greeted us as we drove over the crest of the hill leading down to Richard's house which is the one nearest to the camera with the curved top window. The house has three levels with a verandah/balcony at the first floor level. It faces south with viws out over Kawau Bay. It is a timber frame building clad with shiplap boards with large windows and lots of foldaway doors that lead out onto the balcony. Originally the ground floor was a double garage but Richard has turned it into a very large self contained suite for the children/grandchildren. First floor is open plan with a kitchen area leading into the dining area and the lounge area with a small seperate study and an ensuite guests bedroom. The top floor has the master bedroom suite. It is beautifully fitted out and the icing on the cake is the swimming pol at the back of the first floor terrace. We are made to feel very welcome and the G & T hits all the right spots for M