The Easter in Christchurch

 Hi,

We had Easter and Mike and I added two extra days either side to have a week of holiday.  Yay!  We were up at 1.30am on Thursday morning to head to the ferry.  But a delay with a truck tug stuck on the arriving voyage meant it wasn't until 5.15am that we drove on.  And the ferry didn't leave Wellington until 5.45am.  So - about 3 hours behind schedule.

We were late onto the ferry and only got a seat and table in the cafe.  Mike got me brekkie and an iced Americano in a can.  Rating:  yuck - totally not that desperate.

Sleepy Angela

Close up not much better

The late time into Blenheim meant Iona was already at work - but we did get to have brekkie at Catalyst with Col.  Yay.

Road trip!

Caught up with this one

She prefers her pics like this

Snow on the seeward Kaikouras

Had the best drive down SH1 with Mike.  My first time on this road since the 2016 earthquakes.  I had a good look around.  Huge engineering on some of the roads.  There were still a few stop/go areas to negotiate too.  But Nins Bins is still there.  And Irongate where we walked up to relax in a natural rock pool under a wee waterfall many years ago - but a lot of re-engineering has gone on around that area.

Continued through to Chc and found our room.  Mike went to collect Toby and Tessa after their last lectures for the day.  Dinner at Poms  with Steph and Sam before retiring for the night.

Pretty nice room - thanks!

Friday we went to see Toby's flat at uni - and met the other Toby.  He has a very nice set up.  The lounge is well set up - fride/freezer and cooktop etc.  TV.  Couches.  Dining table.  Toby keeps his bike in there.  His room is also good - he is on the ground floor and his window opens out to the main road.  But he is now sleeping when the buses rumble by and pull into the bus stop outside his window.

We gathered up his dirty washing pile - including his sheets.  And took them back to our B&B to wash them.  With the wonderful weather they dried by the evening in Steph/Sam/Tessa's flat.

Toby's flat

Brekkie

Art

Mmmmm

You can choose your playlist at PacknSave

Cat cafe

Saturday saw us visit the cat cafe.  Wow! What a lovely idea.

Hello there

Gremlin cats

Smooch with me

Toby and Tessa comply

No - not allergic!

We had an hour slot from 11 - 12pm.  After thinking we had a 10am slot.  Hahah.  But we took that gap as a chance to buy a few things from elsewhere.  

My son is happy

What's that scrabbling noise?

Angelic

Tessa and kitten

Another day, another iced latte

Chicken schnitzel dinner

Mike and I cooked tea for Toby and Tessa on Saturday night.  Chicken schnitzels and brandysnaps.  Mmmm.  Success.

With brandysnaps for dessert

More art

Happy to caffeinate up again

Sunday was leisurely.  Mike and I went for a walk along the Avon.  Then we cooked brekkie for Toby and Tessa and then walked to Margaret Mahy park to roll our eggs down the hill.

Walk with Mike

Avon and geese

Easter Sunday

Mike decided to drop kick his egg down the hill.  Smashed it!  :-p

Mike kicks his egg

Funnily enough it is all smashed at the bottom of the hill

Years of honing egg rolling technique at play here

C1 iced latte experience

Curly fries delivered

Happy Easter

Shorts weather

Not ergo dynamic

Monday saw us cook brekkie for Toby and Tessa before we headed to the Avon to kayak there.  We parked on Hereford St and walked to the gardens.  Hired 4 single kayaks and enjoyed the sun and the kayaking.  We went up to the 4th bridge and then drifted back.

Brekkie

Kayaking on the Avon

Selfie

Hey bro!

Selfie #2

Clash of the kayakers

Lounging around

Looking chill

Flirty kayaker

From the Avon we headed up to the port hills and had a late lunch at Sign of the Kiwi - right at the top.

Sign of the kiwi cafe

Photo bombed

Vanilla milkshake

Much needed cold drinks on a warm day

Yum!

Drove back into Lyttleton on our way back - and drove through the tunnel back to Chc.  Cool!

Awesome view down into Lyttleton harbour

Tourist

Tourist #2

Tourist #3

Tuesday morning we were up early.  Packed the car and I dropped Mike at the airport at 7.15am.  Headed to Blenheim and entered the southern reaches of Blenheim at 11am.  Not bad for the trip.

Faking a coffee at Little Cafe in Blenheim with Col and Sue

Caught up with Sue and Col and went to The Little Cafe.  Missed Iona - again!  Left at 12.37pm and was in the queue for Bluebridge at 12:57pm.

Easy voyage home - left on time and arrived on time.  I sat in the quiet lounge and read.

Drove off at 5.45pm.  In the supermarket by 6pm and away from there by 6.20pm.  Home to feed the cats and pick up a few things for the Indian cooking class.

Grabbed Andrew on the way to the class from his work (he was in hectic mode).

Spices

Cooking up a storm

Yum!

Cooked up coconut based food.  Good way to use cauliflower.  :-) 

Dropped Andrew home afterwards and then home to eat a bit of the fresh curry.

Hello from Smudge

Hello from Moxley

Cats happy to see me.  Thank you to Ange and Sally for looking after them. I am WFH on Wednesday.  Phew.  Busy times this week at work.

Take care.

Love,

Angela