South Island, NZ
Tues 2nd Dec
I was up before 07:00. At 07:45 Jennie and I were heading to the airport. There was a lot of traffic but it kept moving and it took an hour and a half to reach the domestic terminal.
I checked in easily, but then the flight was delayed by an hour and a half. By the time we left it was 14:00 instead of the scheduled 11:00. I messaged Gabriella to warn her. Only about an hour and a half to Queenstown, and I was given a free banana bread slice and coffee on the plane.
Gabriella and Hazel appeared as I was waiting for my rucksack. A funny and emotional moment…great to see my granddaughter for the first time. After a bit of shopping, when I could push the trolley with the baby seat in it, we headed towards Hawea.
We stopped at the Cardrona pub so that Hazel could be fed and for me to have a pint of light ale. Then it was straight through to the house on Gillespie St in Hawea.
That was it. I got to see the new house. Gabriella drove me to the local supermarket where I bought a bottle of red wine. We had pizza for dinner. I watched Hazel eating and crying..!!! I went to sleep in my comfortable room.
Wed 3rd Dec
A good sleep. I went on an expedition to find the supermarket and the lake. 1st time towards the lake and I came to a couple of dead ends, but it’ll be straightforward the 2nd time…no more than 30 minutes walk.
A lady walked with me in the direction of the café where I had a cappuccino…after buying my wine. The walk back was easy. The weather was good initially, but it started to drizzle in mid afternoon.
Gabriella needed some groceries so we went to New World on the outskirts of Wanaka. Wanaka is about 16kms from Hawea. From there we popped over to Alex’s work place..very close…to say Hi.
That was it in terms of galavanting. Hazel was quite well behaved. She’s only 6 weeks old, so a mix of crying / feeding / napping. Alex came home after 17:30. He cooked tasty sausages and pasta. I’ve been watching more TV than I usually do…mainly quiz shows.
Thurs 4th Dec
Another lazy day…I could get used to this.!!
I had tea and 2 slices of toast for breakfast. I prepared the cardboard for the planters. I washed my blue shirt and one pair of socks. It was sunny so they could be hung outside on the line.
We drove to the river for a nice pushchair stroll. Hazel is much better when bouncing along on rough terrain. We walked quite a long way…very pleasant. We stopped to fill a couple of bags with fallen pine cones to use/mix in the soil to be used in the planters.
I had a latte at the cafe before we drove home. It was sunny and hot and I did some sunbathing. Gabriella and Hazel had a visit from a ‘community ‘ health worker to check on Hazel’s development.
Alex was a bit later getting home. Gabriella cooked a delicious chicken/pasta/creamy sauce dinner. I watered the front garden. That was it. Alex took measurements with a view to buying some new furniture. Chat, then to my room; I was feeling surprisingly tired.
Oh, I had a very sad message from Sienna asking me not to contact her ever again as she wasn’t in a good place, and was on morphine & steroids to fight the pain caused by aggressive brain cancer. She fought off breast cancer a year ago. She had an invasive operation a couple of months ago….and now this. Basically, she was saying goodbye to me. I think I’m about to lose a good friend.
Fri 5th Dec
An earlyish start to the day as Gabriella had to leave at 08:30 for a 09:00 & 09:30 vaccinations for Hazel. I hitched a ride and was dropped off just on the edge of Wanaka.
It was fun to be back in Wanaka again. I had to walk the length of the high street to reach New World, where I bought some rib eye steak and a bottle of red wine. I went along the waterfront, noticing a few changes to shops, before reaching Relishes café. I lingered over a cafe latte before Gabriella came to pick me up.
On the way back to Hawea she dropped me off at the riverside track where I collected a bag full of pine cones before I walked home.
Gabriella and Alex were out all evening for a Works function; I ate my steak with a carrot and baked beans.
Sat 6th Dec
Another late morning wake up. I had my 2 slices of toast for breakfast. Gabriella wanted a walk around the block with Hazel. I left them at about half way and continued up Sarge’s way and down to the lake shore.
Well, it was dry and sunny but very, very windy. The wind was coming across the lake and causing huge waves. The shore/beach itself was gravelly and a bit uncomfortable to walk on. I walked quite a long way along, then turned around to accomplish my other mission.
I walked passed the cafe and hotel , down the hill and across the bridge. The wind was somehow catching my flip-flops and I had to walk barefoot. After all that, I was too late for Mo’s as it closes at 2pm. So, back up the hill to the cafeteria, only to find that they serve their last coffee at 3:30pm
I bought a bottle of wine and returned to the house. I decided to start on my garden task of transferring soil into the planters. I spread the pine cones then collected 4 barrow loads of soil and dumped it in the planters. After about an hour and a half my back was getting sore and enough was enough.
Gabriella prepared veal sausages and pasta for dinner…very delicious. I was exhausted after my backtracking gardening duties and I went to bed earlier than usual.
Sun 7th Dec.
An earlyish start as we left by 09:45 for Wanaka and Waters Edge at the lakeside for a scones and tea/coffee morning with Tom and Richard from Stone St days. Very pleasant location but we sat outside and it was very windy.
We left after a couple of hours and went shopping. I bought replacement flip-flops for my Malaysian ones which were about to split in half. Food shopping next where I bought 2 bottles of red wine and a carton of Speight lager.
I went a bit crazy and collected 7 barrows of soil for the planters. A bit of a sore back, but am making myself useful. A sunny day to sit outside to recover. !!
Alex prepared a superb brazed lamb with mash potato and corn. The evening was spent chatting and watching TV. I went to bed relatively early…again.
Mon 8th Dec
After my tea and toast, and having got up around 09:30, and having said good morning to Gabriella and Hazel…I walked over to Mo’s. It took about 45 minutes. I drank my chai latte in their little garden.
On the way back there’s a bit of land with a small hill just off the bridge. There’s a monument to about a dozen people who died in the 1st WW; I relaxed and lay in the sun for a while. I bought a Red from the supermarket and went back home.
The good weather was continuing and I shifted 3 barrows of soil. That was followed by a shower and a chilled rest of the afternoon. We can’t do much as Gabriella spends much of the day sitting/feeding/cuddling Hazel.
Alex came back from work after 5pm. Gabriella cooked up a tasty mince with pasta dish. That was it for the day. Some chat and dome TV and I went to my room. I spoke to Mercy, she sent some copy documents for me to forward to the Pension company.
Tues 9th Dec
Am enjoying my sleep ins. Simple day. I only managed 2 barrows of soil begire I needed a rest. Had a chai latte at the cafeteria. I bought a bottle of red.
Back at the house I moved 2 barrows of soil. I went for a walk around the block with Gabriella and Hazel. We stopped at a friend’s house who were not too long in NZ but had moved from Oz, having lived there for 12 years after leaving the UK. We had some tea.
Alex returned from work. He cooked a chicked on the bar-b-q. Gabriella cooked roast potatoes and a mushroom sauce…all very delicious. That was it for the day. More garden watering at the front then I went to my room.
Wed 10th Dec
I seem to be getting up later and later…well, there’s nothing for me to do. Actually, I moved a few more barrows of soil. Then I went for my daily walk to the stores/café. They had only just finished fixing the till, so I was able to get my chai latte and pay for it.
On the way back I walked down to Scott’s Beach. There is an area for bbqs and one can do water activities, but no overnight camping is allowed. They are quite strict in NZ as to what areas are available for camping and what facilities are on offer. The number of facilities determine the daily charge.
The wind was still blowing strongly, but I went back from the beach and lay in the sun. Beautiful spot, of course. Then back home in mid afternoon.
We had tortillas for dinner. Mince, cheese, avocado, lettuce, chilli sauces…all lovely. G&A really do have an amazing variety of food/meals…delicious. That was it for the day…and so to bed.
Thurs 11th Dec
The days are getting slower and slower. At midday Gabriella drove us to Wanaka for grocery shopping. I bought sausages for dinner. Popped in on Alex just around the corner.
Then to Relishes near the waterfront for chai latte and a coke. And back to Hawea for a lazy afternoon. Alex came back from work. For dinner we had sausages and an interesting chick peas roasted in the oven, plus other vegs. That was it for the day.
Fri 12th Dec.
Up late. Getting used to the watering the lawn and flower bed routine. Put one barrow load on the planters. Went for a walk over to the store/café.
Back to the house in mid afternoon . A calmer day on the lake; the wind has calmed down dramatically. I sat in the sun, but am taking care to put sun tan lotion all the time on my head.
We had burgers and chips for dinner. Watched TV. That was it for the day.
Sat 13th Dec
Alex made fried egg and bacon and cheese baps for breakfast. I helped him in the garden to dig narrow trenches to fit pipes that were intended to irrigate the grass and vegetable patch. It was hard work as the ground was quite dry.
A couple of hours of hard work using a combination of claw hammer and shovel, but I was glad to make myself useful. The main activity was a short drive to the lakeside just before the bridge at 3pm. We set up for a bbq with Ryan&Maga & their son Aiden.
It was a lovely afternoon with hot sun, hot dogs and nice chat. Gabriella/Hazel had a umbrella/shade as protection from the sun. Alex and Ryan tried some fishing…without success.
Then back home and a bottle of beer. I had taken four bottles to the lake with me, so no wine on that day.
Sun 14th Dec.
Another slow day. I got up late and Alex had already started work on digging another trench in the back garden. I did my daily duty of watering the flowers in the front.
G & A & H went to a father xmas wonderland at the community centre in the afternoon. I walked slowly to the supermarket and café, and before I’d finished my chai latte I was joined by the others. Alex ordered a slice of carrot cake which I tasted and it was really delicious.
And then back to the house. Gabriella cooked a lovely chicken curry for dinner. I did a bit of vegetable peeling and chopping as my contribution. That was it for the day.
Mon 15th Dec
I managed to get some trench filling done in the morning before the rain came down. And it rained heavily for the rest of the day. Gabriella drove us to Wanaka later in the afternoon for some shopping. She and Alex bought a Christmas tree .
Dinner was delicious as usual. A quiet day.
Tues 16th Dec
The morning consisted of the usual plant watering and soil spreading. I held Hazel for ages while Gabriella put up the Xmas tree lights and other tree decorations, plus a number of gnomes around the room.
We had a walk around the block.
I walked up to the café for my chai latte. I came back and talked to Phil for ages. Gabriella cooked another tasty, spicy chicken and rice dish. An easy day.
Wed 17th Dec
This was a front garden flower bed weeding day; it didn’t take long. A small amount of soil spreading at the back. Some time spent looking at my phone.
I sat outside as the weather was nice. That was it for the day. Alex came home from work. Gabriella prepared a lovely honey/pork dish in the slow cooker. I talked about moving into Wanaka for a few days to give G&A a bit of time to themselves. Then I went to my room quite early.
Thurs 18th Dec
We left after 09:00 for Wanaka. Gabriella had a work xmas occasion and a community nurse visit to attend. I was dropped off not far from Alex’s workplace so I called in to say hello, before walking into town.
It was about 10:30 and Gabriella was due to pick me up around 3pm. Because I had time to myself I could wander around New World looking for sun and body lotions and a closer look at the wines.
Across the road is the Brownston hostel where I checked prices of a dorm and twin room with shared bathroom. I thought about moving to Wanaka for a few days but the accommodation was too expensive. I had a chai latte at the Kai Whakapai restaurant.
I ate some crisps and salami at the lake front in the freezing cold wind. I walked further round just to see more of the town. I spent more time looking at the shops/restaurants along the front. I had a coffee latte at the Water Bar to warm up.
I was near the LaLaland bar & carpark when Gabriella passed by to pick me up to go home. That was it for the day…apart from a nice dinner of pasta and prawns in a tasty sauce. Again, I went to my room relatively early.
Fri 19th Dec.
I did some cleaning around the house…vacuuming and a deep clean of my bathroom. That was the morning. I had a long chat with Phil. I hadn’t realised how unprepared he is regarding a new domain/web site and therefore not ready to promote himself re the new ICANN opportunities. I’m even more worried about him now.
In the early afternoon I walked to the café, reaching there at 3pm. The wind was blowing in totally the opposite direction…from the south and towards the lake. A strong wind and it was absolutely freezing…but I was wearing my jacket. It started to rain, but I reached the house before it was too heavy.
Dinner was a bit different…I treated us to fish and chips which we pre ordered and picked up from the Store and Kitchen (café). Very tasty it was too. And that was it for the day.
Sat 20th Dec.
A lie in. A coffee. We went out mid morning. First to Wastebusters (a second hand place) to donate some baby clothes, and where I bought a blueish shirt for 12nzd (£5+) to replace the shirt I bought in Kuah..Langkawi..which I’m getting bored with.
We then went for a latte & dirty chai near New World. Followed by grocery shopping in NW, where I bought all the ingredients to cook a Thai beef curry on Monday. Then to a huge hardware store for Alex to buy a couple of bits of garden equipment.
Then home. I gave Alex some moral support on putting some paving slabs down the side of the house. I picked out pebbles and stones from the back lawn. That was it until a nice dinner of chicken burger and salad. Then to my room around 9pm.
Sun 21st Dec
Hazel was 2 months old. The day centred around the 3 or 4 hours spent at Tom & Brooke’s house for a lunch with mutual friends. Everyone contributed something…from bbq good to salads. The weather was great; the food was fantastic; the company was brilliant. A wonderful afternoon.
On our return to the house I sat outside for a while to let my stomach recover. Certainly no more food was required.
Mon 22nd Dec
A quiet day. A walk to the café. I bought toms/aubergine from the supermarket. I walked as far as the L Hawea htl to take a pic to send to Paul F.
At 3pm I started cooking the beef Thai curry. The preparation etc didn’t take me very long, but was nervous about finding my way around the kitchen. It all worked out in the end.
Actually, I was very pleased with the outcome. Served with rice and a salad. I helped Alex a little bit in the back garden with the installation of a sprinkler system.
That was the day…
Tues 23rd Dec
A slow morning. A walk to the café. Can’t remember what dinner was. The occasional holding Hazel to enable Gabriella to do xmassy tasks.
Wed 24th Dec.
Am still getting up around 08:30 or 09:00. We left for Wanaka by midday. I’m glad I had my jacket as the wind was very cold.
I did lots of wandering/exploring around town. I checked out wines in N W. I found a shop selling Xmas cards …. I had a chai latte and a lager at Water bar and used their wifi. I had a short wander at the waterfront but it was too cold to stay long. I ended up at Relishes for a chai latte and to await a message from Gabriella.
I offered to walk up to Ground Up to be very near where Gabriella & Alex were celebrating an Alex xmas office party. It was less than 30 minutes walk and I had time to enjoy 2 Coconut Porters before being picked up. Being a dark beer the porter was really good…not too bubbly/fizzy or too cold.
I had just finished drinking when G&A came by to pick me up. That was that for the day…home and dinner.
Thurs 25th Dec
A rainy start to Christmas day. Xmas music was being played. Around midday we started opening presents. I got a new cap..blue I’m glad it wasn’t bright yellow or red. And I also got a Bluff (S Island) bottle of gin. So I was happy. And I gave G&A 1,200Nzd (about 500Gbp)towards buying some new furniture…dining table/chairs, sideboard.
That was followed by ham/pots/vegs for xmas lunch. Very yummy. TJ and his fiancé popped by later in the afternoon. I had an xmas gin and tonic with Alex. We had cheese and crackers for dinner then watched a film…Christmas Chronicles. Very rare for me to watch a film, so I really enjoyed it.
Then to my room a bit later than usual.
Fri 26th Dec
Boxing Day. I got a message from John Mruttu which reminded me that on the 26th last year I was invited to a big celebration at his familie’s place outside Taveta.
The weather brightened up in the afternoon and I walked to the Hawea hotel. I lay in the sun on a grassy bank looking out over the lake. I thought of a possible drink at the Hotel, but it was closed. I walked an initial different route to get back to the hill and down to the house.
Alex and I had a glass of Bluff G&T.
We had leftover ham for dinner. That was the day…
Sat 27th Dec
I was glad there was no bread for toast for breakfast, because mid morning we went to a coffee place where I had a chai latte and cheese scone. The scone was quite filling.
Virtually next door was NW for some grocery shopping. Then we drove a few hundred metres to a DIY shop for ‘stuff’ for the house..primarily the garden. And then home. I communicated with Chrissie with a view to meeting up with an ex WFP colleague who was retired and living in Wanaka.
TJ had given some already cooked venison in a dark sauce to G&A, and we had that with couscous and salad for dinner. Alex and I had a glass each of G & T, and while I was sipping that, I booked my bus ticket from Wanaka to Franz Josef on Jan 3rd. That was that.
Sun 28th Dec
A lazy Sunday. The weather was nice. The activity for the day was to drive the short distance overv the bridge/dam to the fancy campsite just the other side. Another gorgeous view of the lake from that side.
The facilities were excellent, including the ‘caravan’ selling food and some beers. We were meeting up with Kirsten and Jack. It was only when they talked about living in Germany that I mentioned Tor, and then it transpired that Tor knew Kirsten from working at a Wanaka Holiday Park during Stef’s time.
I think we had leftover venison for dinner. The Bluff gin also went down very well.
Mon 29th Dec
I had arranged to meet Alastair Cook at Rhyme&Reason at 3pm. But around 1pm I went into Wanaka with Gabriella. We managed to park the cark, but the waterfront road restaurants were very busy. There was a nice restaurant down a side street called Crumb Bakehouse. My chai latte was a bit insipid.
After sitting at the beach for a bit…as it was lovely and hot…I popped into NW and bought a six pack of lager. Then I walked up to R&R to meet Alastair. I had my ‘Dad’ kikoi over my shoulder…which I said I would…but Alastair didn’t know what a kikoi was !! Anyway, we had a few beers and a great conversation about all sorts of topics.
Alex came by to take me home. So, dinner about 7pm; it was tasty crepes.
Tues 30th Dec
The morning went by, and after midday I walked over to the café. It took a while to be served my chai latte but I had lots of time to kill. The idea was to meet Gabriella at the Hawea hotel.
I sat outside the café for a while then went to the hotel to wait for Gabriella. She came over at about 4pm; I had a couple of beers while she had one. It was quite busy and a guy was playing guitar outside.
We had leftover crepes for dinner.
Wed 31st Dec 2025
A fun New Years Eve. At about 1pm we drove in the direction of Luggate to meet up at Maori Point winery with G&A friends and their family visiting from the US. We enjoyed a wine tasting and I bought a bottle of white and a red for the house.
From there we went back in the direction of Wanaka, but to Albert Town and another friend, Megan, for a bbq lunch. Great fun…good company…some nice cocktails. The sun came out strongly in the afternoon and I was way too hot in my jeans; the morning had been pretty cold.
It was early evening when we got home. No dinner was required. Then to my room; I think Alex commented that it was very early..!
Thurs 1st Jan 2026..
Actually I think I went to bed relatively late but I certainly couldn’t be bothered to catch any New Year’s fireworks. It was the usual relaxed/lazy morning.
After 1pm we headed over towards Luggate again. This time to a small music festival called Woodystock held on a person’s private garden/plot/section. The weather was hot and I wore my shorts and flip flops this time.
There were a variety of music acts…about 10 altogether. There was funk, rock, rap, folk…an interesting mix. We were there 3-4 hours. A very pleasant afternoon.
We had leftover venison for dinner; and it rained the rest of the evening. We did well to just miss the rain when at the music festival.
Fri 2nd Jan 2026
A not particularly doing much day. If the weather had been better we would’ve gone to the beach. But we did go out…to the Store&Kitchen for one last coffee/chai/milk shake. Then we went next door to the supermarket where I bought steaks and salmon plus a few bits for my last dinner.
Alex bought my Nelson to Akl air ticket on Air NZ so he could use a 50nz$ voucher. I repaid him the 307Nzd (£134) via Monzo.
The steak with oven baked cheese sauce sliced potatoes and green beans was delicious.
I tried different ways of packing my backpack to possibly avoid the ‘hold’ airline charge. But whatever I do I’m over the total 7kgs weight limit…oh well. After some discussion around being around when Tor & Josi visit, I went to my room. But, I will see G&A&H again in March.