Hi all,

This week I have company! Dad’s flown over to see me (it’s my birthday on the second) and so I met him in Australia last weekend (along with a whole new branch of my family). And since they were having a Marvel exhibition in Melbourne it would have been rude not to go, so I got to pose on Black Widow’s motorbike! 😀

It’s kind of awesome meeting distant family on the other side of the world because it can feel a little bit isolated sometimes and you miss having that familiarity and easy-going companionship that comes with your family. But then last weekend we had a whale of a time going for meals and bird watching at the local park, visiting beaches etc. but I think the real highlight was playing pool in the garage with two of my new cousins and uncle (well … sort of, he’s my nannys sisters granddaughters husband, that counts as an uncle right?) then lounging on the sofa together watching Jessica Jones. It’s the whole eating meals together and watching TV as a family atmosphere that I love and I don’t think I ever really appreciate how important it is to me until I go where I can’t get it every now and then! Plus it totally helps that all the Australian branch of my family are really nice people 😉

Plus (and I’m sure you’ll all know how important this was for me), I got to see a real wild possum! And a beach just full of starfish! And wild cockatoos! And wild parrots! I’m so totally going to go back … just as soon as I save up enough money again 😉

With dad here this week I decided to take him to my figure drawing session and I’m sure if you ask him nicely he’ll show you the picture he did of the nude lady 😉 He also came to the pub with my friends after work Friday so I feel I can safely say that I am introducing him to true Auckland life.

Today we had a hire car and just drove up the beach for as long as we were interested and got to see a lot of cool kite surfers and even a wild penguin! (YES, a WILD penguin!!!) Unfortunately it was dead on the beach but it is still my first wild penguin that I’ve seen so I’m going to count it.

Tomorrow we’re going on a half-price boat cruise (which totally was NOT chosen just because it was half price *looks shiftily*) to yet another one of the islands, hopefully to do some swimming and exploring of the forests!

Next week, what with the long weekend, we’ve decided to go on our own little road trip and we’re going to go to Rotorua with the thermal hotsprings and awesome volcanic park and geysers and tree walk in the redwood forest, followed by Taupo (think the lake surrounding Erebor) – crystal clear waters ringed with mountains, then Waitomo to trek through the glow worm caves followed by (last but NOT least) the one, the only, HOBBITON!!!!! I absolutely can NOT wait so expect a slightly later posting next week but one full of pictures!

I hope I’ve given you guys enough incentive to come visit me! What more could you want? Dead penguins and Lord of the Rings!

Speak to you all next week,

Annabelle