I've tried it in a number of different sinks and baths and toilets, and the water does NOT go the other way round in the southern hemisphere. It goes clockwise just like it does in the northern hemisphere. I'm quite disappointed about this!

One whole week after I originally left home in the UK, I have finally arrived in New Zealand! Staying currently in Titirangi with an old friend from one of my previous jobs. With the clear skies I could finally see all the stars (there weren't that many visible in Sydney). There really are so many more in the Southern hemisphere, it's beautiful! Plus the different trees and strange birds, it really does feel like I'm on the opposite side of the world!
I opened a bank account so I'm not carrying my money around anymore, and I've just made my first bowl of porridge on my camping stove for breakfast. I've got about a week here before I go up to north Coromandel for my first Helpx session. It feels great to finally be here!

Qantas have canceled their offer of putting me up until Monday. I have just spent the night in the airport and not feeling great for it. Our group has been reduced to just two now, as everyone else seems to appear at the check in desk at the magical moment when someone else cancels and they get a flight transferred. Still hoping my flight tomorrow will actually happen, otherwise I'm

Saturday's flight was cancelled too. I'm rebooked again for Monday at 12:10pm. Qantas have agreed to pay for my accommodation until Monday, so I'm happier now! I'm going to find a supermarket and get some cheap food, then off to the beach to use their free bbqs!

Qantas cancelled my connecting flight to NZ when we arrived on Wednesday, but they put me up in a nice hotel (Crowne Plaza) in Coogee. I have two double beds to myself and both an ocean and pool view! They originally said I'd be flying out at 4pm on Wednesday, but that quickly got cancelled too. Others in our group waiting to get to Auckland had their booking updated to a flight on Thursday at varying times of day, but mine was rescheduled for Friday at 4pm. Then this morning all flights for Thursday were cancelled, most people having been rebooked for Friday. So today I spent a lovely day walking to Bondi Beach and back with another delayed passenger, Janine. Upon our return from chips and killer seagulls we found that all flights for Friday have been cancelled, and Janine has been updated with a flight for Monday!! Qantas will only pay for one more night's accomodation and they said "Well, after tomorrow your insurance company will pay for your accomodation." Yes, but only if you have the spare funds to pay for the room yourself first! My flight hadn't even updated yet and was still showing as 4pm Friday, despite the canellation. So I called them and pleaded my case and the lady said she could squeeze me on a flight on Saturday at 12:10pm, so hopefully I'll be on a flight before my free accomodation here runs out (which it does at 2pm on Saturday). Ash cloud willing.

I''ve made it the first leg to Singapore! I've just had sushi and green tea in a bomby 32 degrees C in their cactus and butterfly garden and thanks to their free airport internet, am making my first comment of the journey outside England!

I fly two weeks today! I picked up my NZ dollars, very funky money with an indestructible feel. Why can't our money be as good as theirs?!
Counting the days! Woohoo!