The lion sleeps tonight...

So let's see, what have I been doing since we last spoke?

Firstly, I encountered some stalkers. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen (although I'm sure you'd be horrified, mum). I was in Paihia which is a coastal town with a long sandy beach and, like all such places, it has a road with pavements along the top of the beach. The beach itself slopes down to the sea leaving the road about twenty feet higher than the water so as the wind comes off the sea, it rises over the land. Also, like all these places, Paihia has a lot of seagulls. There are two main species there: a smallish herring gull (similar to those found in the UK) and a larger brown speckled one - don't ask me for any more details, you know I'm hopeless when it comes to birds.

Ok, enough of the back story. I was walking back to the hostel along the beach road when I noticed two seagulls hovering, riding the wind, about ten foot above the pavement. They were using all their skills to remain in the same place, turning on the air currents and wheeling away and returning to the same spot if necessary. As I drew closer, I saw a woman standing on the beach, reading one of the notice boards. As I walked past, I looked more closely and realised that she was eating a bag of chips (hot, salty and yummy smelling). She was completely oblivious to the seagulls who'd positioned themselves behind her with a view to raiding/picking up any dropped chips. I stood and watched for a few minutes (the seagulls control was amazing) until she turned and saw me, at which point I brought her attention to the stalkers. Not being sure they were stalking her, the woman started walking along the road - and the seagulls followed her. I almost wet myself as I watched (and was thankful I was eating ice-cream).

Now, I know what you're thinking - nasty, evil, greedy birds (should be shot etc. etc.). What I'd like to point out is that they are smart, adaptable and lovely to watch (although I'll concede their cry leaves a lot to be desired). How many other animals do you know that can plan and execute such a manouvre?

Then I went to Auckland for two nights and met up with a friend for pizza (yummy). I stayed in a lovely hostel, marred only by the slug who hogged the tv. A local man who'd moved out of his accommodation into the hostel for a 'holiday' and spent almost all of his time asleep on one of the sofas with the remote control clutched in his hand, near to his crotch. As you can imagine, no-one was willing to try and get it off him. However, the woman in charge had no such inhibitions and made it clear that, when other people were in the room, he had to relinquish control of the control.

Finally, last night I went to bed early(ish) because I had to get up at 2:45am in order to be ready for the shuttle bus taking me to the airport. I had a 6:15am flight, which means being at the airport at 4:15am which means... now do you understand? The flight was smooth and arrived on time, and I had no problems getting to the hostel - I've even got a bottom bunk.

Today I'm doing admin stuff - laundry, shopping, collecting the stuff that J&D's friend has been looking after for me, unpacking, repacking and deciding what I need to send via freight and what I need to throw away. And all this while feeling pretty exhausted. Still I'll sleep well tonight.