My so-called 'luck', if so it can be called

I must always try to retain perspective. Hopefully you don't think that I complained too much when I had a spate of small incidents. I was indeed annoyed, of course, but I had such an extraordinarily good run of fortune that anything against that was quite the change and I may have disproportionately represented it.

The horrors of transport in China this week have reminded me that even my perceived bad luck, was in fact good. It meant that I didn't take any risks, that I took myself out of Guiyang (the capital of Guizhou province) and that I am back and safe now. It should be mentioned that this is not a 'China' issue, it is a reminder that big changes cannot be fully prepared for: freak weather is freakish. Poverty exacerbates it for sure, but if Wellington had 6 inches of snow, I don't believe we'd cope especially well in terms of infrastructure.

I can only sympathise with those people affected.

And if anyone wants a drink, they are welcome to buy me one :-). Jodes...?

Did you think it was over?

I am back in Wellington. As is known, I have enjoyed writing this drivel enormously. Let's face it, I've probably enjoyed it more than you lot, but hard cheese.

So I am not stopping quite yet. There are little "settling back in" tales to tell, no doubt, and hopefully I can put some decent piccies of Welly on here too, to entertain the folk who aren't here to enjoy it.

Back in NZ

The flights were smooth and pretty uneventful. I got on well with the Northern English couples on their way to New Zealand for a whistle-stop tour (although one day for Wellington including a trip to the Beehive suggests they might not want to return here). Watched several films including the rather fun Balls of Fury (about ping pong) the good but unpleasant War, the funny and violent Shoot 'Em Up and the slightly disappointing but often excellent Death at Funeral. Rush Hour 3 I started to watch, but it was too terrible for words (especially after having just been to China). The Dark is Rising is supposedly based on one of my favourites book sets as a kid, but it didn't appear to have much in common. Confusing and not much cop.

So I guess you'll all be wanting pictures of Carterton then?