My first bad day

All that tension from my last days in Italy spilt over when we ran into technical difficulties.  Several problems crept up on me at once.

 

Lovely views - but no internet

My mobile didn't pick up what little reception there was in Warkworth with the new Sim card that Ross had got me.  My old tank of a laptop died, cutting us off from the internet.  My final earnings - and therefore our entire worldly monies - didn't quite make it over with me.  I'd been so stressed when I'd done the transfer in the moments before leaving that I'd entered the information wrongly.  I needed another code from Ross's bank in NZ, but it was a bank holiday, then the weekend, then I had to wait for it to be Monday morning in Europe, then the internet cafes were shut so I couldn't call the currency transfer company, hence another twelve hours'wait before the transfer could even begin...

 

Great spot for birdwatching, but not a great spot to be penniless

We needed food and other supplies but had no money.  I couldn't call anyone.  We weren't within walking distance of any amenities - apart from fabulous views that is.  I couldn't drive, so I was reliant on Ross's patience if I wanted to go to town.  I felt trapped and miserable.  Furious with Ross - even though it wasn't his fault - for not making it all work.

*   *   *

Things sorted themselves out slowly.   My mobile works in Auckland.  The money arrived and we bought a new computer (though even then the first one we bought was faulty and we had another 3-hour round trip to Auckland the next day to replace it.  The shop refunded the petrol though, so that was okay).

The city of sails: Auckland from the Harbour Bridge

To treat ourselves we had a yummy (veggie)burger from BurgerFuel (highly recommended - nine out of ten) and went to see Avatar at the Imax (very nice - eight out of ten).  I started to see some of the good sides to living in New Zealand.