Nelson
Mon 2nd Feb
The bed was very comfortable. I took my time as my bus wasn’t leaving until 1pm. Breakfast was free; I had cereals and toast with a Kenyan tea. It was so peaceful and relaxing that I forgot I needed to check out. I did so before 10:00 but I was able to hang around for as long as I liked.
After 11:00 I went to the little park area overlooking the bay and lay in the sun. After 12:00 I did a little walkabout and went to the bus stop.
We left just after 13:00. An uneventful trip through lots of vineyards and forested hills. Absolutely beautiful. The trip to Nelson was 2.5 hours and I was met by Tom and Rob.
Before going to the house we stopped at the Sprig and Fern and sat outside over a couple of beers. Then to Rob’s house just on the outskirts of Nelson. A big house a little way up the side of a hill, with a nice view of the ocean.
A mattress was laid out for me on the floor in the lounge. Dinner was pulled pork with roast potatoes. That was my reintroduction to Nelson; nearly a month since I was last here. It seems a lot longer ago than the 5th Jan since I arrived here from Franz Josef.
Tues 3rd Feb
I had a good sleep. Rob cooked us fried eggs for breakfast. The weather wasn’t great…lots of cloud. It had rained in the early hours.
A quiet morning. Tom and I went into town and had a coffee at Lambrettas. Then he took me for a spin as far as Tahunanui beach and up along the hill through the residential area overlooking the sea.
Back at the house we were joined by Colleen ( from Nelson but living in Oz), an old friend of Rob’s sister.
I persuaded them…well, it didn’t take much persuasion…to go to the Post Boy pub. They were joking about how down market it was…but the four of us had a really good time, especially as the drinks were nearly half the prices of other pubs.
Then back to the house for a lovely homemade quiche dinner. The evenings are relaxing with lots of chat and the continuation of drinking…. The weather was improving all the time, so the view of the sea and incoming/outgoing tides was getting better and better.
Wed 4th Feb
I had muesli for breakfast. Tom and I left before 11:00, firstly to fill the car with petrol then he had a haircut appointment at 11:30. I sat through the hair cutting, which didn’t start until nearly 12:00.
Then the next half hour was very amusing…we couldn’t find the car in the car park. We went around and around, feeling sure we knew where we left it. Only after talking to/asking an elderly lady, did we realise there was another similar car park and we were probably in the wrong one..!!! Well, we found the car…quite funny.
We went the short distance and parked outside New World. From there we went up to Palace Backpackers where I was able to book and pay for a private room for Friday and Saturday at about 70Nzd per day.
Over to New World for shopping and to the house to put everything away. Colleen joined Tom and I on a visit to the Free House pub; the stout was very tasty and I got carried away by having 3 pints.
Meanwhile, back at the house Rob had cooked a roast lamb dinner. I’ve been eating very well here. Tom and I were drinking the Asahi beer that I bought. That was it…and early to bed.
Thurs 5th Feb.
Rob cooked us a huge breakfast…mince on toast, fried egg, 2 sausages, black pudding. I was absolutely stuffed; I must get back to my small or non existent meals!!
Tom left a day earlier than planned to go to Christchurch. So he left at midday and Rob dropped me off at the bottom of the hill at the same time. I walked into town from there.
I crossed the river via a little bridge. I went for a chai latte on Halifax Street. I lay in the sun in Anzac Park for an hour. I reached the Free House pub after 3pm for a pint of stout. Over an hour later I got to the Sprig & Fern to hook up with Rob and a couple of his mates and Colleen. On the way there I squeezed , what turned out to be a sand fly, on my foot and I was surprised how much blood came out. Good fun at the pub.
Dinner was amazing as usual. My last evening was fun and relaxed ; and so, early to bed. Tom had arrived safely in Christchurch.
Fri 6th Feb.
I woke up a bit earlier than usual. I packed.
I kept breakfast simple…tea and toast. Mallory, Rob’s daughter, was attending a wedding and had to leave the house before 11:00. That suited me just right, and I was dropped off in the centre of Nelson.
I went for a chai latte before walking to Palace. I confirmed my booking and booked for another 2 nights…Sunday & Monday.. My room ( the Piano room ) wouldn’t be ready until about 1pm, so I went for another chai…at Halifax (they gave me a loyalty card), and back to my room.
I went to the little park and lay in the sun. After 2:30pm I called into New World and bought mince, broccoli, chilli sauce, noodles and red wine. I put the mince in the hostel fridge and kept the non perishables in a little box that I picked up at NW.
I had a shower and went over to Post Boy which is only 5 minutes away. I drank a couple of jugs. I was told that there was free food on Thurs&Fri; I helped myself to a slice of bread, stew including potatoes/carrots/mince and a couple of pastry things. Actually very tasty.
Back at Palace I chatted with Cameron a bit; it was difficult over the loud music he was playing. Then to my room.
Sat 7th Feb
I went for my free breakfast of cereals and toast. Then I saw Sara/Jeff and extended my stay by 3 days through to Thursday, as I had booked my flight for the following Friday. At least I knew I was staying in Nelson for a whole week. I’ll be in a different room from Tuesday…in the main house.
I had a very chilled day. I had my chai at Halifax café. I visited the market in one of the car parks; it was all clothes, foods and knik knacks. I lay in the sun in the park. I looked for charity shops because the collar on my Kenyan green is totally ripped and needs replacing. In one ‘op’ shop I was given spring onion and chard..!!!
By about 4pm I was at Post Boy and had 2 jugs of beer. Back at Palace I cooked the mince and vegetables. I was taking the remains of my wine to the main house, when I was called over by Martin who does odd jobs for the hostel and stays there for free. He’s in his mid 60s and interesting to talk to, but he kept pouring me glasses of white wine and I got rather drunk. Apparently I had to be helped to my accommodation…I don’t remember anything..!!
Sun 8th Feb
I think I went to the toilet once in the night; I woke at 09:30..!!! At the main house I ate my cereals but didn’t realise they put everything away at around 10:00, so I missed out on toast.
I went walkabout, but felt very lethargic and a bit queasy in the stomach. I had my chai latte. I went to the park. Being a Sunday, the streets were very quiet. I returned to Palace for a lie down in my room.
I checked out Fresh Choice supermarket but there was nothing appealing to buy. I bought mince again from NW and cooked that with the last of the broccoli. But first I went to Post Boy where I only drank one jug.
A very quiet day.
Mon 9th Feb
After my shower I went for the breakfast of cereals and toast. I needed to charge my phone, but whilst in my room, firstly someone tried to open the door then some minutes later they knocked. It was the cleaner Karen, but she had the wrong room. Then Sarah appeared and asked if I wouldn’t mind changing rooms a day early.
I packed and literally moved across the corridor to the same room that I had in early January. A much nicer room…larger, lots of sunshine, and a view.
Chai latte. A sit in the park. A walkabout around town. A quick visit to the charity shops…of which there are three. A quiet day. From a ‘pop up’ supermarket I bought a packet of chick thighs and a large cauliflower.
Finally I called in at the Post Boy. There was the usual banter with Cooky and a guy called Jeff who was on a winning streak with raffle and slot machines. After 2 jugs I went back to Palace.
I added some noodles to my 2 chicken thighs and broccoli and cauliflower. A short time spent in the lounge area then to my room.
Tues 10th Feb
I had quite a good sleep. Breakfast was followed by chai latte. My mission was to organise/arrange a trip to the Oceanic islands of Cook or Tonga or Samoa. My research concluded that Samoa, Cook flights returned to Auckland at around midnight….very inconvenient. On consultation with a lady in Flight Centre, my only real option was Fiji. Decision made…Fiji it had to be.
I went back to my room; I booked a return Fiji flight. I thought it time to do a FB post, and as my post was nearing completion, Tom phoned me. He was back from Christchurch and we arranged to meet at Post Boy before 4pm. We had a great time with all the different characters there.
When I’d had enough I went back to Palace to cook up some chicken thighs and vegetables. That was about it. I chatted a little with Cameron then retired to my room.
Wed 11th Feb
My days are getting lazier and lazier. After a shower it was time for breakfast. I had a long chat with Phil. Then chai. I checked on the bus stand, which seems to be fully renovated/updated.
I sat in the park for less than hour. I looked in town for a bus top for direct buses to the beach but couldn’t find it. I called into the Op shops to narrow down my choice of shirt/shirts to buy.
I got to Post Boy around 3pm. Of the 2 cans of tuna Cooky was given by a friend, he gave me one. I think he’ll miss my company when I leave, because he topped up my mug with beer from his jug when I went to the toilet !!!
Back at Palace I cooked up the last of my foods. One chicken thigh, some broccoli, a lot of cauliflower, and half a packet of noodles. On my up to the main house, Martin invited me to sit down for a chat. Also there were a Dutch mother and daughter, so the conversation was a lot of fun. The daughter went out to buy some pizzas…I say some, there were 4 of them. Very kind of her…and I had 4 slices; absolutely delicious.
I had a little bit of wine left over which I finished before going to bed.
Thurs 12th Feb
Standard breakfast followed by a walk to Halifax to claim my final and free chai. I checked bus times to the airport. I sat in the park for a very short time, only about 15 minutes.
I went to the charity shops and bought one long sleeve greenish shirt and a short sleeve more interesting patterned white and blue one. Total cost 16Nzd, or 7Gbp.
I stopped at a nearby church in case the Kenyan guy’s Dad was the minister there; although he did exist, he wasn’t around at that time.
As it approached 3pm and my phone was fully charged, I was debating where to go. But, Tom called and he was in town and he suggested meeting at Post Boy. I was more than happy with that idea and we met there 5 minutes later.
There was the usual good chat before Tom had to leave after 4pm. I stayed on after 5pm and had two helpings of the free food on offer. Pork, bread, vegetables, mash potato and gravy…very delicious.
I gave Cooky my 2 raffle tickets from buying a jug of beer, then went back to my room.