More Retired Antics

I am still keeping up with my range of fitness activities, and just bought another 12 visit card for the pools. I have been troubled by water in the ear so splashed out on a bathing cap!

I had Blood and Lymphoma Cancer support group on Wednesday and I have to say I was startled by the number who had relapsed.

Two chooks are laying now, and the lovely warm autumn days with some good showers of rain have meant that the grass on our hectare for the macas has taken.

Duncan has had a busy week with golf related activities. He played with the veterans on Monday, and on Tuesday he was on the end of a shovel as they finished off the irrigation pipe burying. Wednesday was the golf exam, and Duncan was kicking himself for changing an answer - which then went from right to wrong. Thursday was golf as usual and Friday was olive picking. There have been a number of olive trees planted around the golf course and the oil is sold as a fund raiser. I was roped in to help on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Duncan played golf on Saturday and today (Sunday) he had to play again as he is captain of the Endeavour cup team. He has bought home 1 frozen chicken, a dozen Bluff oysters  (raffle win) and a $10 voucher (which we use to buy a whole fillet of beef)

Duncan and Dave Mettrick (up the ladder)

Claudia - at 7 months

Who could resist taking heaps of photos of this little poppet. When we went up at Anzac weekend we stayed for 6 days and it was amazing how far she had progressed in 6 days! This is by way of explaining that these photos run in reverse date order. In these ones you can see how confidently just is just starting to sit.

And in this one you can see just how much she loves her Gran

Some cheeky smiles with Grandad

Now Claudia is just starting on solids and looks forward to being in her highchair having a munch on a variety of things.

This is spending quality time with grandma in bed.

Really Grandma???

Playing with her bro

Who are these people??? Claudia looks a bit surprised to see us.

Things to do when you retire

Well you can be a super hero and scoop the frail off the pavement  and take their arm and help them to the doctor.

A young woman in high heels stopped first. She was ready with her cell phone, asking "Shall I ring an ambulance?" The young Maori man turned him over and sat him up. I bowled up last - I've had a few falls with my dickey knee so know often embarrassment is the worst affect. I offered to drive him to the doctors where he had an appointment. But he said he would prefer to walk if I could just escort him. I was actually on my way to pick up Olwyn to take her to the airport and it was a block and a half away to the doctors, but I thought I could manage it - just. 

He was fine, but bleeding, when we got him on his feet. Then he told me "I told my daughter I'd be all right walking to the doctors" which is why he was so keen to walk all the way.

Nice to be acxknowledged.

After I had dropped Olwyn at the airport I dashed into town to do some other jobs and saw him walking home, hands well bandaged and clutching his medications.

Fun with our Grandson

At Anzac weekend we decided to go to Hamilton. We were looking forward to seeing how Claudia had grown and could hopefully be of use when Theo went in for his tonsils, adenoids and grommets operation on Tuesday. Unfortunately Theo had the coughs and sniffles and snoring that was making the op neccessary, so it had to be delayed and he has not had it yet.

Theo is very good with Claudia.

Smiles and cuddles for the camera

Poor little Theo would wake up tired and achy and very grumpy, but once he got going he was a pleasure  to take out.

Our first outing was to take Simon to soccer in Otorohanga. What lovely countryside on the drive out, and Te Awamutu, which I had visited many times as a child was a prosperous growing town. We found a park for Theo while they warmed up, but unfortunately there were lots of wasps there. Duncan and Theo walked all around the field then we sat and watched for a bit. 

Simon injured his thigh in the warm up but still showed good skills on the field. (He's in the red) It is quite hard for a little boy to follow the action but Theo did very well.

After the game we took Theo for a jellytip (I had a magnum) while Simon went to the post match function.

Next day our outing was to the Legoland Exhibition. Obviously some children get bitten by the lego bug and it stays with the into adulthood

This village was very ornate

London Bridge (or is it Tower Bridge?) and the red doubledecker bus.

Some of the smaller displays were less over-welming for Theo as he could relate them to his own lego experience.

One displays was of a lego film made in the time honoured way of making one frame at a time and then moving the lego characters. Theo wanted to listen to the soundtrack that goes with it. He waited so patiently for his turn - even when some others pushed in. We were so proud of him.

Aliens are always popular

Of course this display led onto and area where you could buy things, but since Theo had paid for his entrance out of the money from his money box we didn't mind. He chose something for 8+  years so help was required with assembly!

On Monday we headed for the zoo which is beautifully laid out with plenty of room for the animals.

This animal is Theoarososaurus.

To start with we couldn't see the tigers so we used the model - but eventually we found them in the shady part of their large enclosure.

The giraffes were very popular - their skins were very glossy

The rhinoceros were also very impressive. There was quite a large herd of them (and the giraffes). Its quite a long walk and some parents had grizzly children, but not us. Theo made it to the end and then had a session in the playground.

Tuesday  - and the weather had taken a turn for the worse, so we didn't head off to Raglan as we had planned. We took a picnic to a small beach on the banks of the Waikato river, and then attempted some kite flying at Steele Park. Theo likes to run with it behind him rather than hold it when it is safely in the air. We were so close to Duck Island (icecream parlour) Theo and I went off for icecreams while the others went to Grey Street Gardens for coffee

Blueberry and mint! Grandma had Feta and Fig!

Starting to lose interest in eating the icecream now and playing with it.

Next day Duncan went and played golf with Barry and I lunched with Liz. So we're looking forward to more fun with grandson when we come up for field-days, and lets hope Theo is well enough for them to do the op soon.

Home again, Home again, Jiggedy Jig. Days 41 - 43

Cloudy but warm start to the day and we enjoy the extra hour in bed as daylight savings ends (or starts?). We have decided to go home via Rotorua - it is about the same distance as going via Napier but the road is much easier for the caravan. We alert Lyn that we  will be there for lunch and by the time we get to Rotorua we are just driving up to her place when she is walking home from church. She gives us pumpkin soup jazzed up by her secret ingredient a dollop of peanut butter mixed in and egg club sandwiches. I have used the pumpkin soup recipe twice since, except using left over satay sauce. Her temporary accommodation is very nice while her own place is being rebuilt after the fire.

We decide that no caravanning holiday is complete without some days at Ohiwa and it strikes me that this is the only camping ground that we can get a decent view from the caravan.

After a couple of walks along the beach we decide we should give the surf a go. Remember, this is now April! But the water is fine and after being reluctant I enjoy myself. But from the water I can see huge black storm clouds gathering.

We are only just showered and changed when the deluge starts.

We are so pleased we don't have leaking issues with the caravan now.

This picture and the next are almost identical, although this one was focussing on the window - the next one I opened the window!

Quite a bit of surface flooding

Next morning we had to put the wet mat in the car, but got everything else dried off before headed off.
And we made it home safely, and with no real issues with the caravan! We have travelled 4889 Km. Our budget was $8,400 but we spent $7347.36, so thanks to those who helped out with food and accommodation.
Already planning the trip for next year.... We both just loved it!

Over the Strait and up the middle Days 39 and 40

Up early and away to queue for the ferry. Despite a few showers in Picton the ferry crossing is very calm. We get the near last call to board the ferry which means we are close to the stairwell to get up to the deck, but also one of the last off. Still it is before 2 when we get off and we hope to get as far up the island as we can. The camping grounds seem to run out as we head to the middle of the island, but we finally settle in Bulls. Not in the NZMCA handbook, but on the AA maps and one of the best value for money ($30) and very pretty. 

Its quite late by the time we set up and I make a frittata for dinner and we have a bottle of Quartz Reef to celebrate our arrival back in the North Island. We are glad we are not near a railway track for once - then we hear the planes landing at Ohakea! But of course the main disturbance of the night was Bulls - well it could have been cows - in the paddock next to us. Mooing in the middle of the night!

A very picturesque ablution block

There has been quite a bit of rain overnight, but it doesn't take us long to pack up and get going. We are heading up the centre of the island which is gently but consistently uphill.

We have a cuppa in Taihape. It becomes very misty as we head through the Desert Road. I see a brief glimpse of snow on Ruapehu, then the mist descends again. It is raining too hard when we get to Turangi so we decide to plow on to Taupo. By then the rain has stopped so we set up in the Top Ten camping ground. $52!! but then we find the showers are free as well as access to their swimming pool/spa/bar/movie area. After topping up with diesel Duncan goes for a run while I wallow in the cool then hot pools.

The weather is now much warmer in the evenings and we enjoy a quiet night.

Picton Days 37 and 38

A seal waves it flipper as we leave Goose Bay and head to Picton. We have morning tea in Ward and have only just booked into the camping ground when we see that the railway overbridge spans the camping ground. Grrrrrr!

We walk into town to book our ferry back and book for dinner at Escape to Picton (when really we are planning our escape from Picton!!) After a nap and a run (Duncan) and a catch up on my blogs (me) we walk back into town for a lovely meal - one of the few treats we have allowed ourselves.

He looks serious but he's probably playing patience,

We begin the 31st March with a game of golf at the Picton Golf course. I am still struggling after my golf lesson and we are hurried off the course by the men's Thursday competition. It is an interesting course with 9 holes played twice from different tees to make 18.

We pack our  lunch and head out on Queen Charlotte Drive to Momorangi which is a lovely bay after a very windy road - glad we were not towing the caravan. It is an idyllic setting for our lunch. After a walk up the beach we head off to the marina for leisure craft and the green-lipped mussel industry. We have a cuppa there. Duncan is salivating for a feed of mussels  but apart from having a second lunch at a restaurant we cannot find any to buy. We come across the first busload of passengers off the cruise ship.

Cruise ship at a wharf further up the harbour from the ferry berth.

As we are going home via Renwick we are very pleased that some busloads have preceded us because when we arrive at cellar doors they have lots of nice wines open for us to try. We go to Alan Scott where the wines are luscious and Hunters where they are a bit ordinary.

We go into Picton on our return to fill up with diesel and to buy a new teapot.

A quiet night in the caravan.

Heading up the East Coast of the South Island .27th - 30th March 2016

Lots of travelling to do today  so we are on the road by 10 to 9. It is reasonably easy travelling because, being Easter Sunday, there is very little heavy traffic on the road except for milk tankers. It is still a grey day.

We had stops for diesel and gas for the caravan and then we had a late morning tea "Nosh" which has lovely food. It was just south of Waimate. At Ashburton we made ourselves a sandwich in the caravan. We wove our way through the chaos of  Christchurch roads. The day is now gloriously sunny.

Finally we set up at Woodend Beach. Just a slight hitch to our usual slick set-up as our hose won't reach the tap and we have to reattach the caravan to the car and move it back a couple of metres. Very hot sitting down with our cuppa after set-up.

After reading the paper we go for a walk on the beach in the last of the sunshine. Night is coming much earlier as we move north, and with the clear night sky it starts to get chilly.

A very apt name for our block.

Who knew that little Woodend Beach is in the flight path of jets leaving and landing at Christchurch airport throughout the night???

We have decided to play 9 holes at Kaiapoi as I am likely to be all over the place with my golf after my lesson altered my grip and backswing - and this indeed proves to be the case on the interesting, undulating course. We also go for a drive through the extensive new subdivision there. It seems to be just houses - I can't see a school or supermarket anywhere. However when we go into "old" Kaiapoi we find a supermarket. We also check out the growing village of  Woodend before heading back to the camping ground for a late lunch.

The camping ground has lots of semi-permanent caravans - lots of people seem to come up for the weekend to get away from Christchurch. Our site is huge and I love the fence post people that dot the camp. Duncan is on cooking tonight and I win the Scrabble!

The day dawned fine but misty and quite damp and dewy. This delayed us in setting off but since we are only going to Goose Bay (South of Kaikoura) we aren't too concerned. We have morning tea and fill up with diesel at Cheviot. We are now back on roads that we have already travelled - the hills look a bit greener and the trees look more golden.

We settle in at Goose bay. The sites are generous, the showers free and the laundry $2 (not $4 like other places). Duncan gets his fishing gear ready while I do the laundry then we head to the beach.

Mother and offspring Black Back gulls

 I take a walk along the narrow road edge watching the seabirds, the waves crashing, the occasional seal to the bay where is there is a collection of cairns - little rock piles. I find later that people are not encouraged to build these structures in National Parks as they are not natural structures. I think they are quite endearing.

The fish are biting, but not being caught and we  head back to the camp ground for left-overs on pizza while we plan our exit strategy from the South Island

I wonder how long these will stay here??

Some of them have been very carefully crafted.

A red billed gull is hoping for some bait bits.

A sleepy seal.

We are close to trains and the main road again. Given that the kitchen is set up like a bar, with a huge BBQ, large TV and honkytonk piano it looks like in summer most of the guests make sure they don't hear a thing when they go to bed!