One goes mad on Stewart Island, two go adventuring in car

Hurray! Katie and I have been reunited. It may have been a short seperation, but it was tough. So much so that we're both suffering from upset tummies (though mine might have to do with some dodgy mussels I got at the Stewart Island fisherman's co-op). My last couple of days on the Island were very eventful. After not speaking to anyone for days, I was befriended by a huge group of fifty-something Kiwi fishermen that were taking their holidays on Stewart. There were about twenty of them, all hulking, friendly, southern comfort drinking men. First they tried to insist that I was from Scunthorpe, then Birmingham?! When I told them I came from Halifax, they all nodded their heads vigourously. "Good League country! Good League country!" they said. I can only assume they were speaking about something to do with rugby, and thus I was accepted and they immediately gave me whiskey to drink and cod to eat. The cod, freshly caught, was absolutely amazing, unlike any fish I've ever tasted. It was like Plato's ideal cod, with all other cod I've ever eaten a poor imitation. The whiskey wasn't so good, but there was no way I was drinking southern comfort. It appears they took me to their hearts, as every time someone new came into the living room they shouted, 'Have you met Sally from Halifax!", and they kept asking me if I was travelling with my mum... I don't think their intentions would have been entirely honorable towards you Granny Fi! I slept late the next day and took a boat to Ulva Island which is a bird sanctury, completely predator free, so the birds were wonderfully friendly, and the forest absolutely beautiful. On the way back I went on a little cruise around Stewart Island, so was able to see the old whaling stations, and the wreak of the Othello, a pleasingly Shakespearean whaling ship. Then this morning I was up at the crack of dawn to get my ferry back to the South Island, and back to my gorgeous Katie. And what plans we have! Queenstown is absolutely chokablock over the weekend so we've rented a car for the weekend and are going to drive down to Lake Te Anau, and hopefully see Milford Sound. Wayhey, road trip!!!!! L'vie est belle! xx