Day Sixteen - Christchurch

So arrive at the airport and I could not believe it.  No securities checks at all. No liquid ban, no get MacBook out, keep MacBook in - nothing.  Not a thing.  I did not like it I cannot lie.  It's OK saying (as Jackie did love her) that we don't have the kind of thing here, but with all due respect that is where people target.  Can you remember the last time you got on a flight without any security checks? No me neither.

So arrive at the airport and I could not believe it.  No securities checks at all. No liquid ban, no get MacBook out, keep MacBook in - nothing.  Not a thing.  I did not like it I cannot lie.  It's OK saying (as Jackie did love her) that we don't have the kind of thing here, but with all due respect that is where people target.  Can you remember the last time you got on a flight without any security checks? No me neither.

The plane was very small and had open propellers (it’s a long time since I went in one of those too). Flight down was fine, just an hour.  Our Air BNB host had

met us at the airport and she was lovely and took us to the home we are renting for a few days.  It is really lovely.  All mod cons, air-conditioning, dishwasher (oh how I miss a dishwasher), wifi (of course).  I am very pleased with it.

After a quick freshener up, I was eager to get out and explore (you know what I am like).  We walked into the city centre, well I think it was that as to be totally honest, the whole city looks in a complete mess as not much has been rebuilt since the earthquake.  We saw the cathedral and it was so sad as it is in total ruins.  Tomorrow I want to go and see the cardboard one and the chairs that represent each person who lost their life in the earthquake.  We could not find anywhere to eat and everything was closing up!  Jackie went into a supermarket to buy some water and asked the girl there and she directed us to a wonderful place.

It was a multi-eatery where basically there are numerous stalls selling food from all corners of the world.  Ideal really. So I opted for Pad Thai and Jackie and Mal

had, I think it was Argentinian, not sure, anyway grilled chicken and sides.  All very nice.  After this we started to walk around by Mal cannot walk far (not sure what is going to happen tomorrow if I am honest) so Jackie and him got a cab back to the house and went off on my own.

I found a lovely bar called the Old Government Building with I am assuming this is what it once was. Also, all the waiters were very easy on my eye.  No give a girl a break!  There really are not many men here, well if there are, I certainly haven’t seen many. I had a chat with the waiter and he recommended a gin called Goldilocks, it is NZ gin and very nice it was too. I hope they sell it at the airport; I suspect they will not.

After my 57% proof (yes you did read that correctly) gin I continued my exploration. People moan about London looking like a building site, they need to come here.   I found Old Regent Street and blink and you wold have missed it.  I am not feeling the love for Christchurch.  What I have seen of it.  It is a

building site and it feels as if the soul has been sucked out of it.  I may feel different when I go out tomorrow.

Back to the house and I went straight to bed.

I will leave you with a few photos.

As always, with my love x

Day Fifteen - Wellington and beyond

Grey, coldish morning this morning.  The first one of the time I have been here. It was decided that Mal would take us out in his car today to see some other places near to Wellington.  Unfortunately, I did not have a good night's sleep as the old demons (along with some new ones) decided to catch up on the jet lag and to pay me a visit.

Rallied round (as you do) and we were off.  The first stop was to a beach

Makara beach

location called Makara which was very beautiful and very quiet.  The journey there was very picturesque beach that was so quiet, including the sea.  We were going to have something to eat at the cafe but it really did not provide anything so we decided against it.  It was very remote where we are and as pretty as it was, it was so remote and I cannot imagine what it must be like living there, especially for teenage children.  They must hate it.

We continued on our journey taking in different places, all with names I cannot pronounce or remember. We stopped at a viewing point which overlooked the whole of the bay and you could see, just as it was very cloudy, right down to Wellington City itself.  The clouds were rolling in, very fine, more like a mist but you could still manage to see the view.  We stopped before this for a delightful lunch in a cafe that was housed within an old church. The food was really good and filling and very reasonable.  It is

Where has the sun gone?

amazing really as eating out seems OK, compatible with London and at some places less; where some of the food in the shops seems really expensive and this includes the locally produced food such as butter (which has continued to increase in price apparently) and fresh vegetables that are grown here.  Welcome to Brexit me thinks.  I have seen the future of life out of the EU and do not like it!

Back home and I did not feel very well at all.  I was so tired and my eyes were aching.  I went to bed.  Now many of you will know that this is not me and for me to sleep during the day is certainly not me; I slept like a baby.  Two hours later, when the alarm went off, I still could have stayed there but obviously did not because then I would not sleep tonight - sigh!

The weather was not good so did not go for my evening constitutional to the beach as it felt cold too. So just dossed around the house, catching up on emails and stuff (as you do). The next few days are going to be a bit full on as I am flying (with Jackie and Mal) down to Christchurch.  So until then.

As always, with my love x

Day Fourteen - Wellington/Miramar

Grey today, but still warm.  The good old BBC weather have been right every day.  Lazy start to the morning checking email, writing blog, seeing what the UK has been up too overnight.  I still cannot get my head around the time difference. It really is quite strange and I don't particularly like it!

Lunchtime we went to another suburb called Miramar which is home to New

The Roxy

Zealand's film industry and has been since the 1930's and it is home to Sir Peter  Jackson's empire.  He has restored the local cinema here back to it's former glory and it is rather spectacular to say the least.  As I have mentioned before, there is a great deal of Art Deco architecture in this city and this cinema is no exception.  I was hopping to get up to Napier, another city to the east.  However, like everywhere else there is not direct train that takes you there and you have to endure a 5-6 coach journey so it would have meant an overnight stay and it just hasn't happened. Napier is famous for its Art Deco architecture. However, The Roxy did not let me down.  

We were there to see Ragnarok (again for me) but that really did not matter as I was taken back by the decor of the cinema itself. Like cinemas in London you can take your drink in with you and we also had an ice cream each with was frozen solid so it took a long time to thaw - excuse the pun! The film was

Just like the old days

brilliant as I knew it would be as I loved it first time and after the film we spent time, well I did, taking photos.  Miramar, like many other towns on the outskirts of Wellington is very small, but we did manage to find a couple of good charity shops where I purchased a new to me top $5 (£2.65) and another scarf, yes I know I have loads for $3 (£1.70). On the way home I saw a lovely necklace in a shop window with a beautiful red stone in it and treated myself to that too.

This shopping spree continued when we got into the next town where I treated myself to some more new clothes that were reasonably priced and are needed.  Well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it.  

Detail on a door handle

Beautiful lamp

Amazing Glass

Ditto

Ditto again

As you can see, I did take plenty of photos but hopefully it will give you an idea of how beautiful the building really was.  I forgot to mention that there were a couple of The Lord of the Ring things there too, obviously no surprise.

Back home and I spent some time sorting out my case and stuff then went out for a few hours. I had a lovely walk along the seafront, just me and the sea, birds and my thoughts.  It really was blowing and quite cold but rather nice.  I had and needed an early night but needless to say, I could not sleep.  Back to the old routine.

Once again, I will leave you with some photos of the day.

As always, with my love x

Gandalf

Gollum

Beautiful Art Deco 

Misty and cold night in Lyall Bay

And this is how near I am to the airport!

Day Thirteen - Wellington and a social engagement

Once again, a beautiful start to the morning.  I really should always have blue sky mornings in my life.  Surely by now I have earned it!  Blog posted, emails checked (always loads in the morning as the UK has been awake over night) and toast and coffee it was time to get out in the sunshine and soak up those rays whilst I still can.  The time is going OK to be honest and I feel that I have been here ages, which is good.

Midnight Espresso

We caught the bus (as usual) into the city and had decided to go back to the little shop we had visited the other day to see if the hats we both liked were there.  It really was quite strange as for the life of us we could not find the shop.  I thought I was having one of those moments.  Up and down Cuba Street we walked when finally, we found it.  I ask you, no hope for both of us.  However, it was shut.  We decided to go to the little cafe opposite where the had gone the other day.  It is called Midnight Espresso - I love it here.  Most of the food is vegan or vegetarian, the coffee is good and cheap and cheap even for Wellington.  The staff are interesting and mind kind of people and the whole place has such a good feel.  Definitely my kind of place.  By the time we had drunk our coffee and tea (oh and scone and muffin!), the shop across the road was open.  The woman who runs it is wonderful.  If I lived here I would call into Midnight Espresso, get my coffee and go and chat with her for ages.  She is from New Zealand but wanted to know about London. We ended up, as you do, talking about how your hair changes when you get old and how thin it gets and then starts to fall out - so great being a woman no matter where you are.  I told her about a new shampoo I was using and said that I would ask Jackie to take the remainder of it in for her when I have left so she can give it a try!  Eventually, Jackie purchased her lovely summer hat which is like a 1930's model, it is so lovely and absolutely ideal for a sunny day; mine is a plum colour taffeta (more like nylon) edition which may just be ok for a forthcoming wedding, providing I can find a dress to match.

We said our goodbyes, Jackie in her hat, and made our way down to Te Papa which is the national museum.  It is such a lovely building and down by the

water front.  We had a look around the ground floor first of all but there was a preserved giant squid there, then I started to get my fears about stingrays so we decided to leave.  I then went to see a display about earthquakes.  I have to say, I am still disappointed that I have not experienced one yet!  At the museum you can go into a house (well it is like a shed but then a lot of the houses here look like sheds) and they show you a film of previous earthquakes and then give the hands on experience of what it feels like as the house starts to shake. It was OK however it takes away what must be the terrifying, what is going to really happen fear that you must experience when there is an earthquake. But a good experience.

We then went into the Gallipoli exhibition which was absolutely amazing.  It has been created with Weta Workshops who did The Lord of the Rings stuff and it

was so moving. It takes you through the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War One through the eyes and words of New Zealanders who found themselves in that awful situation.  It was so moving and the huge figures of the real people where so good.  Both Jackie and I felt quite moved by it as it really portrayed how awful the whole thing must have been.  Just a terrible waste of life.

I really do hope that this award winning exhibition eventually finds its way to the IWM (Imperial War Museum) as I would like to see it again, even though I found it very moving.

We really could have done with a drink by the end of this, but went for a coffee instead and sat by some interesting urban art.  I cannot tell you how lovely it is to be sitting outside, in November, drinking coffee in the sunshine.  Talk about lift your spirits.

We started to make our way back to the bus as tonight we were out.  Jackie's partner works for the Papua New Guinea High Commission and tonight was their Christmas Party.  It was held at one of Wellington's Hotels and I had such a

Urban Art at the Museum 

lovely evening. I did have to smile as the High Commission, his wife and deputy turned up an hour late and I did think to myself this is just like working with people from Africa who seem to have a completely different time than the rest of us.  I was so hungry by then and so was Jackie.  But all that aside, the company and food was so lovely.  It was a buffet style meal which was ideal as some of the staff had brought their children along with them. I had a lovely starter of sushi, seafood and salad followed by cooked at the time, pasta then a little bit of Christmas log and a pavlova.  I was talking to the Deputy Ambassador and his colleague about cricket as the Ashes were on the TV and telling them how I have to attend meetings held at the Oval and I have no idea who these cricketers are.  I had them in fits of laughter (as I tend to do). It was a great evening and I thanked them all for inviting me along and also invited them all over to London next Christmas. So funny.

Back home and I was full, tired and needed my bed; a bit like the children who had come along for the meal.  It has been yet another lovely day.

As always, with my love x

Day Twelve - Wellington (again)

Wow what a beautiful start to the morning. Beautiful blue skies and you just knew it was going to be a good day.  We caught the bus into the city again and decided to change our plans and try to stay outside as much as we could 

because of the weather.  We caught the cable car (which is in fact a vehicular railway but who's arguing) from the city centre and it took us up to Kelburn.  

The Cable car 

The views, as you can imagine, were spectacular.  We then decided to go for a walk down through the paths to Botanic Gardens.  This was a great idea as it took us in the shade and then back into he sunshine.

The plants and trees are so beautiful and it was lovely to hear different birds singing in the trees.  There is not much wildlife in New Zealand but mainly flora and birds and today we saw a lot of it.  We walked down through he herb garden and then to the rose garden.  It was strange to see so many roses in the rose garden, especially in November!  We decided then to go to the little tea room there and have lunch (it is hard work I have you know all this walking and talking).  We had a

Lunch

lovely lunch which consisted of smoked salmon, avocado, tomatoes and a like a potato cake thing and some wasabi mayo (which was gorgeous).  All the little birds were flying down and pinching stuff off the plates (the ones that people had finished with) and they were so tame.

We then walked in the hot houses and I then found a place to buy a postcard and stamp to send to my Auntie (brownie points there for me). We then walked back into town via a cemetery and then a little chapel which had all the details of the original settlers of Wellington and who they were and where they were buried.  No Guiles, which I was surprised as there are plenty of us in Australia and I did wonder if any of them had sailed over her!

We wandered around the town and I found some fabulous Prada sunglasses which were amazing and really suited me; but far too expensive.  The woman who worked there was so lovely and there really was no pressure to buy. It

View fro the top

really is so laid back here.  We caught the bus and I topped up their version of the Oyster card in the local shop which is called the dairy and we had an ice cream and headed off home.

We had a couple of hours to relax as tonight we were going out to The Botanist for some dinner.  I love this restaurant. It is a five minute walk from Jackie's home and it is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, my kind of place and like I said before, it is lovely to have the choice of everything off the menu.

Take a look at their website at:  

http://thebotanistlyallbay.co.nz

I would be here every week if I lived here.  In fact, I said to Jackie that I could see myself working from there most days.  It is right by the sea and the food is absolutely wonderful, well in my opinion.  We left the restaurant and walked along the sea front listening to the waves and looking at the stars.  Unfortunately, because of the light pollution we could not see them all (unlike my time in Australia but let's face it, I was in the middle of the Outback at the time) but they looked wonderful.  I promised them back in 2013 that I would come back and see them again one day and tonight I promised them again, that one day I will be back to see them in all their glory.

Back home and I was exhausted so off I trotted to my room.  Unfortunately, not the best night's sleep (again) but that is nothing new as I never sleep well these days normally.  All in all, a wonderful, memory day.

Once again, I shall leave you with some photos of the day.

As always, with my love x

Just in case you are forgetting what I look like!

Beautiful blue skies

The Botanic Gardens - Wellington

Jackie and my date for the night

View from the top!

Day Eleven - Rimutaku and beyond

Up, breakfast and hair wash (no hair brush disasters today thank goodness) as we were being taken out for the day by Jackie's friend Jo and her partner Ivan.  It was a really blue sky morning and I have spent the whole day wearing shades and a no sleeve summer top.  Bliss.

We had such a lovely day going over the Rimutaku hills and the views were

absolutely stunning.  We stopped off at a look out point and the views were breathtakingly beautiful.  As I have said before if I had to sum New Zealand up in one word it would be beautiful.  We then went on to a town called Featherstone which was so cute.  We had to purchase some cheese in the lovely cheese shop and I treated myself to some blue cheese.  I then went to the shop next door which was called Mr Feather's Den, it was fabulous full of wonderful

curious.  I treated myself to some fabulous sunglasses which my friend Hannah would be envious of.  The woman in the shop was wonderful too, and I just love my funky new glasses.

We then went to Greytown which was yet another beautiful little town. We had a look around the museum which showed how the town was in the 1800's.  To be honest, apart from not having any horses tied up outside, it had not changed much.  I particularly liked the school room, it amused me.  We then went to have something to eat at an artisan bakery at Clearville.  It was very lovely, not too much choice for me (as a

vegetarian) but I had some vegetable frittata and some salad.  We then went to Stonehenge Aotearon which was sold to me as New Zealand's Stonehenge. Needless to say I was intrigued.  I had to stop myself from having a fit of the giggles as both Jackie and I thought it would be old.  It was not.  It was constructed in concrete around 13 years ago. Now don't get me wrong, it was interesting but not what we expected but then the country is a new country so I guess if I had thought about it, but it was interesting none the less.
However, it was a funny moment.  We then got back in the car.  By now it was lovely and warm and I could not believe

(again) that it was November and there was me in my sandals and top. Bliss, just bliss.  I am going to put in a business plan when I get back to work to suggest I work three - six months a year in the southern

hemisphere.  I could do this as I work from home, I could Skype in for meetings, do my work via my laptop like I do anyway from my flat. I can't see it being a problem.  I will mention it in my annual appraisal which is coming up!

We then went to Martinborough another beautiful town with some rather upmarket shops.  There was plenty to spend my money on but chose not too.  I am quite happy with my funky glasses.  We had a good look around and then went to a store selling the local wine.  I went to the gin and could not believe the price of some of it.  OK I was in an upmarket shop in an upmarket town but even so, really expensive.  We had a quick drink and then made our way back to Wellington.  It had been a really lovely day and so good to see yet another part of this beautiful country.

I thanked Jo and Ivan for their kindness and time and promised to reply them the favour if they ever come to London, albeit via an Oyster card and not a lovely car.  We had a lovely day.  Once again, I shall leave you with some more photos of the day. Enjoy!

As always, with my love x

Far too expensive!

My kind of gin!

Modern day Stonehenge!

Beautiful views

Day Ten - Plimmerton (North of Wellington)

This morning, after some internet connection issues, I managed to Skype into my tutorial at University.  It was a 6.30am start for a 7.00am tutorial (6.00pm in London) and there I was.  Well not literally as still in PJs but you get what I am saying.  It wasn't ideal as the tutor (who sounded lovely) was from New York an had an accent, but was also doing that lecturer thing of moving around the

room, which meant I could not always hear her.  That aside, it was well worth making the effort to get up and listen as it will help me with my studies.  It also makes you realise how small the world really is.  However, I did find it difficult as I signed off at 9.00am here (8.00pm in London) and then my day started, where normally, my lectures are in the evening and then it is bed.  So it did feel really strange.

So it was then a quick shower, dressed, coffee and breakfast and we were out to catch a bus into town as today we were women on a mission.  The bus come along and Jackie did not realise it was not the right bus (don't you just love that, an adventure) and we ended up somewhere else at a place called Tinakori which was utterly beautiful and I took plenty of 

photos.  It is hard to believe at times that a. you are literally the other side of the world and b. you are in a capital city as it is very laid back and quiet.

We found the station and got the tickets and had time for a sneaky coffee and a cheese scones.  Apart from pies, they are very fond at scones here; mainly cheese ones, and they are huge!  However, this one was a bit doughy but it was OK. We caught the train and there was a conductor on it, who come round and had a bit of banter and checked our tickets.  I did not think he sounded like a Kiwi but more like an Australian.  Obviously, the accent is very similar but the Australian, in my opinion, is more nasal.  We were going on the train to Plimmerton.  Jackie had never been on a train out here before so it was a new experience for her too.

I was warned beforehand that there was not much at Pimmerton and it was

right.  There was not much.  Firstly we had to get out of the station which was an experience.  We walked through the door to the ticket office and then out the other door which only took us to the next platform.  We laughed. We could not find our way off the platform as there were no signs, nothing. We eventually walked along the platform and found an underpass and that was it, the exit! The station was so small and Jackie said that most people who live here commute into Wellington each day.  It was nothing like the Charing Cross to Gravesend Line but I did have to smile when I saw in the train station car park that people had parked anywhere they could because the car park was not big enough.  Somethings don't change, no matter wherever you are.

Plimmerton is a seaside town.  It had about 8-10 shops which consisted off eateries, florist and a brilliant charity shop.  In fact, they had better clothes in there than they do in the Pat Butcher dress shops.  Jackie picked up two new

tops and I had a lovely, vintage type scarf which is very lovely.  Not that I need any new scarves as I have loads, but I was just drawn to this one.  We walked along the seafront and the weather was lovely.  I had the SPF 50 on my face but you could still feel it getting hot.  We sat on some steps and listened to the waves and I found it very hard to get my head around the fact that it is November.  I guess it is because I have had 29 (think about it) Novembers that consist of the cold and rain.  Jackie found an gorgeous abalone shell which is going to be ideal to put my earrings in back home.  See making new memories.

Pimmerton was lovely and it was good to get out of the city; albeit to the suburbs.  It is hard to describe how beautiful it is here. It is breathtakingly

stunning and like I said, hard to comprehend you are in a city.  We caught the train back to Wellington and called into the supermarket at the station.  I love this as it gives me a chance to have a look.  I had that fejoia ice-cream again.  I did call it fajita ice-cream and today it become vagina ice-cream.  I shall leave that there.  Needless to say we had a good giggle about it.

Wellington Train Station

Tinakori

My demons in art form

Back home and Mal was already home but went over the bowling club (which is just across the road for a drink).  Jackie and I looked at our new purchases and she put some washing on. We had a lovely buffet the of cheeses, biscuits and nachos - all the things I shouldn't be eating.  I then went for a walk to give her and Mal some time on their own.  Also, I just love 8;00pm as the light is so lovely at this time. I also feel that as I have a beach so near I really should

Local beach at sunset

make the most of it.  So me and Sam Smith (on my headphones just like when I was in Bangkok, but his new album), went for a stroll along the sea front to see the sun set.  I still cannot get my head around the time difference and find 3-4 in the afternoon the most difficult time as it is 2-3 in London and everyone is asleep.  

Listened to the news tonight, so funny.  So there has been a shooting in Wellington, just the one and the guy looked ok just a flesh wound, I know that is not good but to hear it all you would have think it was a mass shooting.  Also, I have just heard that they have found a body of a woman in Christchurch (assuming she is dead) and also the bus stops in a town have been vandalised lol.  When I relate this to my life in London it is hysterical.

I will leave you with some photos of the day.  

As always, with my love x

Plimmerton

Feet out in November!

My view from the feet shot

Sunset Lyall Bay

Sunset Lyall Bay