The holiday that nearly wasn't

 We knew even before we left for Wellington on Wednesday, 29th June 2022, that Heather's flight from Nelson had been cancelled due to fog, and because of a backlog caused by mechanical problems she was unlikely to join us before Friday! However we set off in the afternoon, and got a shuttle to the Mercure Apartments. Then we walked down to Avida for dinner. This is a Tapas restaurant that we have visited before and loved. We made our selection while we enjoyed a glass of Cava (sparkling). We followed this up with two different Rioja wines to swap and try (we loved the Rioja District in Spain)

Pick of the tapas...albondigas (venison meatballs with beetroot jam and feta fondue) paired with Sierra Cantabria seleccion tempranillo from Rioja.

But we did have a poor dish - the yams were a bit stoggy, however we were interested in the dukkah on top. The little ricotta beignets glazed in honey were lovely.

Next morning we went an bought some buttons to match a coat that I had, and buy some tea at T2 which I really enjoy. Then it was off to Te Papa to see three exhibitions. The first one was a Matariki exhibit, and of course there was a class of children being taken through this. Having set myself the task of learning all the star names, I was a bit annoyed to see they had used Tipu a Nuku not Tupu a nuku, but I have found that this is the East Coast dialect, so maybe I'd better use that!!!

The second exhibition was called Passports and it highlighted the huge range of immigrants, often refugees, that have come to New Zealand over the last century or so.

After lunch at the Te Papa cafe we went to the third exhibition of Robin White.

Her mother helped ensure that she was able to continue with her painting career after she had children.

She also spent time with Sam Hunt. This picture has a crackled cliff face. I got talking to a young arty-looking couple - we all wanted to touch it.

Another work shows exquisite shadow work which really makes the figure pop out.

Later in life Robin became a Bahai follower and went to work in several of the Pacific Islands. At first her works are just a recording of the things she saw and the interpretation of the cultural beliefs, but later on she gets fully immersed in tapa cloth work. Don't you just love the way that see has put one of her own paintings on the wall of the tapa painting?

There was also a video clip of her working in a group with other pacific ladies on tapa.

Outside the wind was blowing coldly fluttering the flags.

By the time we had walked back to the hotel we were ready for a rest before heading out again to the restaurant that Heather had chosen - Highwater Eatery. It was a very noisy atmosphere, with the tables all quite close in a row, so perhaps not our preferred dining environment. The waitress bought us menus and Duncan a wine list. I asked if I could have a wine list too, and was taken aback when she replied, "Alright, but if we get busy I'll have to take it off you" We wanted to do some wine/food pairing, but anyway, who's to say the man gets the wine list????? The pushy waitress talked us into having more dishes than we really wanted also.

In fact the wines were mainly from overseas, and we suspect not from very good regions, AND overpriced. 

Duncan really enjoyed his first course of Longline Trevally Crudo (raw fish),  mussel escabeche (marinated mussels), smoked garlic aoli and chives.

The chicken liver pate was served on a radicchio crisp leaf (similar to kale chips) with a ginger crumb. Very Masterchef. I enjoyed this dish, and also the Deer's Blood Boudin Noir (or venison black sausage )

mainly because there was a lovely crisp apple and celery slaw with it.

But as you may know. Duncan always wants his greens - which lead us to the most peculiar dish of the night. Charcoal roast cabbage with a salted pear puree and pistachio puree stripes.

It was a very interesting night's dining, but very overpriced too.

Friday comes, and we wonder if Heather will come. We walk down town and get the cable car up to the top where it joins up to the Botanical gardens and we walked down through rather damp surroundings, accompanied by the chortles of the Kaka in the trees. The sun was starting to peer out when we got to the other side. I was heading to Boxhill where Gwyndls works on a friday. I had been following their website, and knew I wanted a bright pink sweat shirt to go with my bright pink shoes, but I also bought a pair of ginger coloured trou and a wine coloured jacket. I manage to negotiate the bus back to the hotel.

At home I find the ginger trou match 2 scarves, some beads, and a stripe in a linen shirt I already have.

Duncan examines the grounds of Parliament, recently restored from the protests, and the catches a bus out to Island Bay where he spent his infant years.

This is 1 Clyde Street, Island Bay front and back...

And Duncan manages to capture some of the brief sunshine of the day at Island Bay.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment I am  a bit anxious that Heather's plane has not arrived. However it has been a tyre change on the plane before leaving, that has caused the delay, and she has left for her work meeting. She joins us in time for Subway wraps before we head out to The Opera House for the Edith Piaf Concert performed by Yulia.

The Opera House has been lovingly restored - look at the roof panels above,

and the boxes below.

An elderly man with a crutch is on stage, moving some of the stands around. He takes off his shabby jacket and reveals a blue and white jersey and a kerchief. Then all is revealed as he unpacks his piano accordion. It seems it is all part of the show!! 

There is a screen showing photos and films of Edith Piaf, a grand, a double bass, drums and the accordion, then a small orchestra of strings and a few wind instruments. Yulia is Russian by birth, but speaks fluent French and sings in a style very like Edith Piaf. She tells the stories (sometimes raunchy)

and also has a "few friends" from the singing world to join her on stage to make for a very varied program.

At one stage during the very popular "La Vie en Rose" the piano accordionist starts to sing along,  and the conductor leans over to him to sush him! It is certainly a very interesting concept, sitting somewhere between a concert and a show. And  good value for money, even though it was expensive. A very belated Birthday present for Heather, but so pleased she could make it. We said our goodbyes that night as we had an early plane out - very pleased that the airport bus is now running.

We fly back up the middle of the island and the hills are so very sculptured. I imagine how Robin White would have painted them.