So, so far today I have had breakfast – fascinating, done some laundry – riveting, bought new trousers as yet another elderly garment died on me – mind boggling and managed bus travel around Auckland. Bet you can’t wait for the next episode.

Anyway, after all that I went to the art gallery and looked at works by NZ artists and a random collection of older stuff left to them by the great and the good. The pictures show a couple of the local artists and, for Sonya, a Lord Leighton and a Millais.

Auckland so far is not terribly inspiring. Lots of tall concrete buildings and students. Lots of Japanese type shops as well. Our hotel has a fabulous view of the container port. We are going on a bus tour tomorrow morning so I may be more impressed then. I did see this sign on a building, presumably dating from Empire days and joining Scotland as North Britain.

Off to meet the group later. I’ll let you know how I get on.