castle rock - area of real interesting rock formations, bit like a natural stonehenge but on a larger scale (unfortunately picture does not do it jusctice)

lake taupo

hamiltonian greetings

Big hi to you all,

Hope you're all great and enjoying the warm weather.
This is just a quick message to say I've been thinking of you and praying for you all over the last few weeks what with the awful events in London.
I have just returned from an amazing two weeks in Australia, and am about to go on a mini 3 day retreat to a little batch in the mountains tomorrow, where I'll be staying by myself - taking some time out to pray, contemplate & read.
In Australia, I was privileged to goto the Hillsongs conference in Sydney (with nearly 30000 people) which had pulled in some great International speakers & musicians (Jack Hayford, Joyce Meyer, John Maxwell, Reinhard Bonke, Michael W Smith & Cece Winans) together with the Hillsong crew. It took me a couple of days to get into the style & scale of the conf but was also equally inspired and blessed by my time there.
Then Mieke flew-out for school hols and joined me in Sydney for a couple of days staying with her aunt & uncle, then we flew to Melbourne where we spent 5 days with her cousins. I was really taken by Melbourne - a place I'd love to spend some more time in, in the future - full of character, atmosphere ... made up of lots of buzzing suburbs with their own style (a pretty 'cool' place - bit like a massive Camden).Then we returned to Auckland on friday for Mieke's nan's 80th birthday!

Managed to get my first day on the slopes in as well just before the trip to Aussie - having a go at snow boarding


loving you all lots,
missing you heaps (going to australia reminded lots of hanging out with friends in england!)
Mat x

Mieke's Aunt, Uncle & cousin

Mieke's Nan (Kathleen)

us at nana k's 80th birthday!

melbourne at night

us on a melbourne tram

melbourne

flying banana

melbourne

mieke on tram in melbourne

mieke & i at chinese

me and the boys in melbourne

Mieke & her cousin Julia

in front of the galleries - melbourne

melbourne at dusk

mieke's aunt & uncle's gorgeous pad north sydney

james bondi beach

bondi beach

sydney

"if anyone sees a little 4-year old wandering round answering to the name Brian Goodhall, please could they take him to the information point, to be reunited with his mum, Philippa"

Sydney

Sydney approaching dusk

"Hi-ya Mat, how's it going?"

asian in sydney