26 Sep – 6 Oct, New Zealand – Brisbane – Sydney - Hong Kong, A Tribe Called Quest, The Anthology
Well, a year on the road was bearing down on me like a mac truck snorting and menacing with glimmering bull bars, there was no avoiding it. Time had finally come, from whence I had to return and face the real world.
It had been a good innings, I was supposed to have been in New Zealand six months earlier, but with the beauty of my round the world ticket, I was easily able to extend my time in South America.
There were so many things I had intended to accomplish upon booking this trip a measly year ago, have an adventure, see the family, visit friends, make some new ones and check out work prospects here, there and in Hong Kong. I never thought I’d actually get back to the UK.
And so with my departure from South America imminent I was all smiles. Arriving in my hometown is always a special feeling, I couldn’t wait to grab that flat white in Auckland airport.
Auckland – New Zealand
Auckland was looking stunning and it was rugby world cup time, I sadly only had 3 days to catch up with the family, definitely not long enough.
 Arriving at 6am into Auckland Airport was super nice, the carvings in the airport were a sweet reminder of childhood stories about how Maui fished up the North Island. |  Here is sister and her fiancés lovely little house in Lynfield, just down the road from where I started in this life. I was to bed down here for a few nights. Life back home was looking amazing |
 First nights plan is to catch up with the family and spend some time near the giant rugby ball, down at the Auckand waterfront |  Those crazeee Stillwells. Jim, Sara, Emma and me, the old man is even sporting skinny jeans, very impressive! |
 The next day it was out to the farm to catch up with Mum and her lovely dogs who all dress in the same colour. |  In the afternoon I managed some time to head down to Muriwai, our local beach for some fish and chips |
 And then off to Helensville, for a long awaited steak and cheese pie. |  All the family was doing real ace, and I got to meet my new nephew Zac, a true charmer! Here Natalie and him are sporting dulce sueños alpaca hats. |
 Auckland was looking pretty nice too, the whole place was polished for the Rugby World Cup, they even cleaned the harbour |  More crazeee Stillwells, Neo, Geo and Sara pose with super duper hats |
 But nothing really compares to midnight beers in the garage with heavy machinery. Here Rodney and Jas are keeping it cool after being told off by Emma for starting up the car head grinder. |  And early the next morning what could be better than the inaugural sailing of Jas’s new boat! We caught heaps of fish (truth). |
Australia
After fishing I had to get out to the airport for my next flight which took me to Brissy, Brisso, Brisbane, home of the awful Bunderburg rum. I was to catch up with my great mates Damo and Derek, and also help Laura move into Brisbane. Last time we caught up was in Mexico, where I got Dengue Fever.
Damo and Derek arrived at the airport in a small limo, we were headed straight out to Surfers Paradise, it was going to be a crazy weekend just like in The Hangover
 And we’re off, Derek drives and Damo and I proceed to do what we do best. |  and it turns out Jimbo came along with us too |
 some nice bouncers actually let us in to a bar. |  And after a huge night in which nothing at all bad happened, we hit the beach to sooth our hangovers |
 and try out Damo’s new skimboard, hehehe |  The gold coast is a beautiful place |
 We also managed to catch up with Dale, Alba and their new child. |  Back in Brisbane two days later, and just one cheeky pisco sour before Damo had to go to work and I took a flight to Sydney. |
 Where I caught up with my old housemate Mike and his new family, |  and got to take his greyhounds for a walk on the homestead |
Hong Kong – China
After a few nights in Sydney I was to stopover in Hong Kong before smashing into UK. I arranged to catch up with my old workmate Ben, who last seen outside the Grasshopper bar in Amserdam one year ago. We ate some food and drank some beers, and generally had a merry old time.
 I though Hong Kong was a very busy place with lots of people that work as hard as the doozers from Fraggle Rock. |  Ben and I are instant celebrities in HK, all the locals wanted photos of us. |
And so after a big night in Hong Kong, it was off the the wonderful London, former home of the Beautiful Princess Di (how I miss her).
laters.x.brad
