We had a busy few days catching up with friends and contacts in Wellington before grabaseat (Air New Zealand’s budget offers) took us up to Auckland. There we stayed with Merton friend Helen, her partner Tim and their splendid cat, Audrey Hepburn. Ms H is a rescue cat, who has survived the trip here from London and taken up residence post quarantine with great aplomb. She rules the household with a paw of iron and claws of steel, and delayed our departure for some time on Tuesday by honouring Pip’s lap with her presence.