So here I am again, sitting sipping French champagne in an airline lounge in Auckland before a ghastly (well maybe not) 26 odd hour flight to Milan.

From there I use a mix of train and two local buses to Mont St Michael tucked in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

I have managed to get a ticket to The Girl from the West, a Puccini opera? at La Scala on Tuesday night so that will be exciting.
Then up bright and early to catch the local bone shakers. Biggest worry is the heat.  I am starting out a month later than I wanted due to a wee tussle with bladder cancer..
However Mrs Cancer gets left behind at Auckland airport and maybe it will stay in the left luggage there.

Weather still great in NZ.

I arrive in Rome on June 26.

More wine they may not have any in Italy!

Help me raise money for The Cancer Society of New Zealand by donating at walk-for-life