Our first posting from Hong Kong!

Well we finally got packed and ready to leave around midnight on
Friday. Keith finished spray painting the bags and it made him
extremely happy!
The phone didn't stop ringing and visitors coming. I suppose that is
what happens when you leave to China the day after Keith's Birthday!
Oh well those whose messages we didn't get to we are sorry but gosh
this last week has just flown by!
We were up at 6 am on Saturday for the adults to shower and sort out
the children. Emily was so not ready to be awake! Well that theme
has carried on all day!
We were spurred on by several friends saying the weather was to turn
to crap! As we picked up Emma to drive our car back from the airport
her house had lost electricity so she had got dressed and ate
breakfast in the dark what a real trooper!
So we arrived at the airport with plenty of time to catch our plane
and check the luggage all the way through to Hong Kong! YEAH! We
had a great coffee and started to feel excited! The first time not
because we have an issue but because up until then it has been all
go!
The drive out to the airport was interesting as the hills were
covered in a sprinkling of light snow on the tops! So was really
glad we weren¡¦t leaving a day or two later as we could have had some
issues!
The kids had a great flight and they were even asked to hand out the
lollies on the plane! I remember doing that at 4!
Then we arrived in Auckland no hitches! Just one hungry teenager!
Well one kiwi burger, Danish and copious amounts of fizzy we were
finally on the plane and the meals were severed very quickly for some
of us, thanks Jenny!
We had a relatively smooth flight with Emily sleeping a good three
hours! Keith developed DVD player envy as he watched a man using
his! He also spent a lot of time laughing out really loud and having
many various people looking at him strangely!
Now the plane wasn't that full so loads of people have space to
stretch out!
Well we were all feeling very tired and sore due to the lack of space
we thought on the way back should be better!
We also thought we love Singapore Air more than Cathay Pacific but
also then we worked out that we could get noodles on the flight when
ever Emily was hungry! YEAH! That was such a find! Must remember for
the way home!
Well we arrived at Hong Kong just before 9 pm their time but due to a
storm we had to wait at the airport for another 90 minutes which when
you have had no sleep on the flight it was just a bit too much! We
had extremely rude and officious immigration official who made a very
bad first impression! Once we collected our luggage and found where
our shuttle was and we knew that there had been major flooding and
traffic was very slow with major delays! Well on the way to the
hotel we were so glad we were delayed as we arrived as opposed to all
the people on Airport buses stuck in gridlock traffic for miles! At
least 10 minutes of fast driving down our lanes we were saying OMG!
We also loved the lights of Hong Kong not very environmentally
friendly! But oh well it was pretty!
Well then we got to our room just before 1 am Hong Kong time you knew
you had been through the mill! It was amazing though Emily and Aiden
on the whole were such troopers and I had the eye roll a few times
from the teenager when I was trying to tell him something! Well at
6:30 HK time Emily woke I was lying on the bed with a major migraine
not unexpected and was just trying to organize the drugs! Now today
has been a full on day with a slow start and a walking tour of the
habour and one shopping mall with the only Money being spent was on
Keith's Chanel deodorant!
So yeah we now have a years supply of it! YEAH!
We also booked and paid for our first class tickets to Guangzhou and
have to leave the hotel by 8:15 am on the 11th!
Now we have seen heaps of Olympic photos and images and loads of
stares have been directed our way. It is interesting always being
the centre of attention due to our family mix! Hopefully we all will
have an early night with a day of Disney tomorrow and a viewing of
the night lights of Hong Kong tonight!
Well the kids are watching cartoon Network and Emily has a nasty eye
infection so we have medicated it and patched it so she is resting
the sore eye!
And Keith has run across the road for some supplies water water
water! Did I mention that it is 29 C here with humidity of almost
90% it is very hot! So Keith did well carrying and having Emily
having shoulder rides! She is so tired!
Well day 2 is almost finished here! We are very tired! And day 3 will
be full on!
Hugs Ruth , Keith, Aiden and Emily!
PS This time next week we will have Alice!
PSS I wrote this at 7:30 pm HK time Emily was asleep and Aiden and
Keith had gone for Male bonding time by the time they were back at
8:30 I was out to it! We all slept well until 5:30 am and have been
up since then! we are off to have a swim and then re assess Emily's
Eye!
Take care and I'll post more soon!
Hugs Ruth