+Took bus from Mt. Cook to Christchurch, stopping again in Lake Tekapo and back again at the Chruch of Good Shepherd and statue of the collie dog. +Enjoyed returning to Christchurch to do some last-minute souvenir shopping and have a wonderful Indian curry. +Took flight from Christchurch to Auckland. +Val met me at the airport and took me to the backpacker place where I had reserved a room and a shuttle to the airport for tomorrow's very early flight. +Man at backpacker reception told me he didn't have a room at the rate his wife had told me and wanted me to pay more. He then became very rude and obnoxious and although I was polite and restrained (seeing as Val was with me and I didn't want the situation to escalate), he asked me to leave and go check a hotel down the street! +I've been kicked out of far better places than his, thank you very much! +The name of his place is Skyway Lodge near Auckland Airport. Tell everyone it's bad and the man there is rude. I intend to tell everyone I know!!! +Given the above, Val took me to her place and I stayed there. Val got up at 3:15 a.m. (th e middle of the night!!!) and drove me to the airport. Val's kindness is the exact opposite of the Skyway Lodge. +Everyone was very helpful in NZ except for that one man!!! +Anyway, after the early alarm call, took over an hour for check in at the airport - sigh. +Then sat in the plane for an hour's delay before take off. +Finally arrived in Sydney and was randomly selected by customs for an explosives screening.
+Flight to LA was then coincidentally delayed by one hour.
+Watched total of five movies on my flights home: An Inconvenient Truth, The Queen, A Bunch of Amateurs, The Last King of Scotland, and The Proposal.
+Also watched two episodes of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. (My Brit friends will appreciate this.)
+Back in LA, caught the SuperShuttle home. Enjoyed walking back into my little place!
+There on the dining room table waiting for me was a copy of American on Purpose, signed by the author! "To V..., Craig Ferguson x" What a welcome home!
