Appallingly slow free wi-fi yesterday prevented a PPS about Auckland. It’s a pretty place. Well, the bits I saw. We caught a ferry to a quaint suburb called Devonport for lunch (mmmm fish pie) and generally delighted in being on emerald-green dry land. The Sprogs and their cousin played roly-poly down an extinct volcano and thought it was bulk-as fun. Second most exciting moment of the day: the purchase of a cap that said “ginga ninja” for Sprog 1 (its purchase crowning me as “best mummy in the world”, apparently.) Today we are heading to a place called Waiheke Island for a spot of natural beauty and wine tasting. Then I will brave the Irish pub again – hopefully – to upload the blog with agonizing slowness but also – hopefully – with alcohol to sustain me this time round, since archaic drinking laws surrounding Easter Sunday will no longer apply. Drinking laws aside, I’m a little dazzled by how expensive the food is around here. The first bar we tried to avail ourselves of free wi-fi wanted to charge $32 for half a dozen oysters. Fark. The weather, on the other hand, is nothing to swear about. It’s gorgeous. Not a cloud in the sky, crisp and sunny. Not exactly swimming weather, but better than you’d get in Soggy Sydney most days. Sadly, we ship out of Auckland tonight for five days at sea before we hit Tahiti. I am freaking out just a teensy bit, despite having plenty of crippling sessions of Pilates and boot camp to sustain/immobilize me along the way. I’ve also vowed to ease up on the buffet bingeing so I don’t have to buy my clothes a size larger in Hawaii. I had the best intentions this morning, just some smoked salmon and poached eggs … Then somehow half a bagel and hollandaise sauce snuck on my plate. PS please keep those blog comments coming, I’m having trouble (ie can’t afford) replying but I love reading them all. Thanks to everyone who has decided to stick with me during the cruise. I love youse all!PPS don’t forget to vote for me in the 50 Top Bloggers thingie, voting button on the top right-hand corner of the home page.
Day five: island hopping
housegoeshome 
$32 for six! Good grief. We bought four dozen locally farmed Pacific oysters from a fish market here on Friday, and shucked them ourselves (no casualties). Paid $9 a dozen!
Five days at sea. Wow! Have you got some good books with you? Love the ginga ninja hat! My girls are indulging in serious screen time today while I become best friends with a dozen tubes of no more gaps. I think I’d rather be cruising the high seas.
i thought the aussie dollar was stronger than the kiwi…. maybe u get charged double for your aussie accent??? lol