I can’t really compare to the previous blog – it was definitely one of a kind and I feel I need to make something up to beat it….. 
After I got over the complete shock and excitement of Ryan proposing to me, it finally sank in that we were engaged! Ahhhhhh!!!!
  

I always thought I would know when he was going to do it, thought he would be really nervous and that I would just know! I was however completely surprised, hence my ‘are you being serious’ response! I mean really, what was he going to say ‘no I’m joking’ !!!!!

We were on cloud 9 for days and I am still daydreaming about it now – so much so that I seem to have got quite behind on the blog, oops! 

We ventured back to Samoa the following day, basically in the cockpit of our miniature plane and flying at 1500ft to steer clear of the weather, it was amazing and a little scary (a lot) 

  

We landed a day ahead, which was rather confusing! 

Back in Lalomanu for one last night and the weather was gorgeous when we woke in the morning – of course it would be the first day of sunshine and we were leaving! Ah well, nothing could wipe the smile off my face!! 

  

We put on our swimmers and headed to the ‘sliding rocks’ – three large rock pools with rocks/waterfalls that you could slide down! The weather had washed off a lot of the slippery algae so they were a bit bumpy but it was great fun and very refreshing! The locals running down the rocks and back flipping in to the water – I went for the casual down on the bum!

   
    
    
   
    
 

We had a wander around Apia and had a lovely dinner at Sails by the sea, enjoyed some yummy food and a beer with a kitten who became our bezzie mate! 

    
 

Dessert was the traditional Cacoa Samoa but made as a tart – very yummy freshly grated cacao which didn’t last long between the two of us! 

 

We flew to New Zealand on Monday night and it didn’t really seem like a big deal because it was only a 4 hour trip! Rather than the 24 + from the UK. Whilst queuing we got talking to a flight attendant and told her that we got engaged in Samoa – she was lovely and gave us wine after wine during the flight, which resulted in me being rather drunk and chilled out! The fact that we were sitting next to a pilot that flew the plane the day before, was also a big help and he was telling us all sorts! Very nice man! 

  

Next stop was Auckland and we were going to stay with Maria and Paul (whom we had never met before) friends of Sue in America. It was 2:30am by the time we got to their house and they kindly left signs showing us the way!! 

   

After an amazing sleep in a comfy bed with a DUVET! I was so excited to see a duvet!! We met them and their two very cute kittens – Oscar and Ruby! 

  
   
 

Maria and Paul were keen campers so they gave us lots of tips about places to go and things to see! They gave us a tour around the bays and we parked up in Devonport and walked to the top of a hill to get a view of the city!  

   
 

Maria was going for a swim in the sea with her son Nick so Ryan went along and I made hummus (OK it wasn’t as good as yours Ryan) and they came back after their seaweed experience and we ventured out to Browns Bay for dinner. Nick and his girlfriend Kylie were also fans of craft beer so Ryan got on with them very well!  

They were also fans of Star Wars, which Ryan was dying to see so we decided to all go to the IMAX the following day to watch it before any spoilers ruined it for Ryan! I have never watched Star Wars but Maria enticed me in with the promise of the best Ice cream from Giappos before or after the film or even before and after – so I was in!!!

Before hand we had a wander around Auckland and as Mum and Dad had bought us tickets to go up the sky tower as an engagement pressie (thanks mum and dad!) we headed up! It was bloomin high and it messed with my mind for quite a while but it was awesome !!! We watched people jumping off the side (attached to a wire – not suicide) and walked along the glass floors – oooo it gives me shivers just thinking about it! 
   
   

Looking out over Auckland, where we were staying and where we had been, we admired the amazing views.

   
 

In need of wine, we celebrated with a glass of Sav Blanc (NZ of course), and watched the world go by, before heading down to meet everyone at the cinema (followed by ice cream)

I mean, Star Wars was great and all but I would advise that you see at least one before watching the latest film. I seem to be a bit out of the loop! Ryan was a happy bunny though and the ice cream was totally worth it!! Amy, they even had avocado flavour – put that on your bagel! 

   
   
   
 
Our last full day was pretty chilled and after breakfast in the sun…

  
   
  

We headed in to town to do our camping food shop and stock up on supplies (mainly wine obvs – oh and cookies) we had a sushi stop off at an amazing place that Maria recommended and all stuffed our faces – well I did anyway! 
  

It was homemade pizza for dinner (we were very spoilt) and it was so scrummy! Great preparation for our drinks out in Auckland with Nick, Kylie and their friends! Showing us the bright lights and me drinking too much wine (oops) 

  
  

The next day it was time for us to move on, so we went to pick up our Nissan Note called Norman. Packed up, said goodbye to Maria, Paul and the cats (thanks for having us!) and headed off on our trip up to The Bay of Islands, stopping at Trounson Kauri park to set up for night #1 of camping. Ryan knocked up a yummy dinner of tuna pasta and we sat in the car whilst it rained and ate our first camping dish…. 

 

Hoping for better weather on camping day #2 and looking forward to exploring!!!!!

Note: I do realise that the majority of blogs (written by me) are focused on food and booze, so for those of you don’t know me, I’m not an obese alcoholic…. Well not yet anyway. 

I thought I was doing well in the Fiji heat but my shorts seem to be getting tighter in New Zealand..!!