And finally ...

The flight from Christchurch to Sydney was all the better for us being upgraded to Business Class. They had overbooked Economy and, being a Gold Card holder, we were the first to be moved up. And this was also our wedding anniversary so all the better. We had booked into the Marriott, Sydney Harbour - certainly not the cheapest place to stay but very convenient for the sites and not a bad view!





The next morning we wandered round the Opera House, booking tickets for what turned out to be a superb performance of the ballet Don Quixote by the Australian Ballet that evening, and then strolled round the Botanical Gardens.

We then got a ferry up the Harbour to just look at the houses and buildings, including this example of particularly bad taste!

On the Thursday we hired a car and drove down to Woollongong to visit Gordon Joughim who I had worked with on a couple of occasions recently at Hong Kong Institute of education but who has now moved to the University of Woollongong.

Next day we flew to Hobart to see our friends Janet and Chris who own the Hobart Bookshop in Salamnca Square.
They joined us for the obligatory cup of 'flat white' at the local cafe.















Janet and Chris had arranged to take a couple of days off from their very busy routine and come with us to Launceston in the north of the Island.

There we visited Tamat Island Nature Reserve

... had an absolutely wonderful lunch at a local winery














... visited the Design Museum

and a local historical house, Woolmers.

Finally, we had a morning at Hobart Museum looking round an Antarctic exhibition and another coffee in Hobart harbour

Before the flight to Melbourne.

And here I am sitting in the Emirates Business Lounge waiting for the 14.5 hour flight to Dubai.

It's been a great trip, meeting friends and work collegaues and seeing some wonderful scenery.

We'll be back!