Where have you travelled from today?
Ruth: We've come from London, from Bishop's Stortford near Cambridge, to see Carolyn, who we haven't seen for 10 years.
Wow. So what's your relationship?
Carolyn: God! 25 years ago, I met them in London when I was living in London.
So you're old friends?
Carolyn: Yeah. I used to live in Australia, and now I live here [in Auckland].
Stephen: She lodged with us for a while, and looked after our children when they were very young.
Ruth: And then she came back to Australia, she decided to get married. So I said, 'please can I come to the wedding?' She said yes, so I came over and left my three children with my husband for two weeks, and it was lovely, it was nice. So it's very special [to be seeing her again in New Zealand].
Carolyn: And I've moved countries and they've found me here as well.
You can't get rid of them!
Stephen: And I've got relatives here as well. We're visiting relatives. My uncle emigrated here in the 60s, so I've got an aunt and cousins, and some of my cousins I haven't seen for 30 years, and we're meeting up with them between Christmas and New Year.Lovely.
Where are they based?
Stephen: Wellington, but they're in Tauranga at the moment, so we're going there as well.
So this will be your first summer Christmas?
Ruth: It's our first Christmas away from home, we've left two daughters at home. One daughter lives in China, and she's actually in Australia, in Sydney today, and she arrives tonight ... It's really lovely, it's very special for us, very special.
Stephen: And in addition, I'm achieving a lifetime's dream because I'm flying in a Spitfire out of Ardmore Airfield.
It's what I've always wanted to do, and when we knew we were coming and I knew there was a two-seater Spitfire to fly in, I booked it, but I had to lose 15kg otherwise I'm too heavy. So, we've got a lot going on.
Well, that sounds fun.
Ruth: Yeah, we're looking forward to it actually.
Stephen: It's our first time in New Zealand.
Ruth: It looks amazing.
OPINION: When I share my horrific experience, many tell me of theirs.