Hi,
What a great weekend - spent it in Blenheim with Iona and Col. And now I am working from home until Wednesday at their place. Packed a lot into the weekend too.
Mike was kind enough to wake at 4.30am with me on Saturday morning and drive me to the airport. Thank you so much. I was at the gate at 5.32am for my 6am flight with Soundsair. Checked in and sat and waited.
Only 5 of us were on the flight. In the dark. Lovely view of Wellington lit up as we left - so I took a photo and blinded the entire plane when my flash went off. No one complained. :-o
Iona was at the airport 25 mins later to collect me. We did a tour of the supermarkets of Blenheim - but let me just tell all the readers right now... Blenheim supermarkets all open at 7am. The tour wasn't terribly involved - drive into the car park, check the hours, drive out. Did it to all supermarket brands. PacknSave, Countdown.
By the time we got to the supermarket the furthest away from the airport (New World), it was going to open in 10 minutes. So we sat in the car in the car park, probably looking very suspicious. We critiqued the McDonalds resupply process that was unfolding in front of our eyes.
Bought some groceries - the staff were extremely chirpy for 7am on a Saturday. They greeted us like long lost friends. Made me want to go back at 2pm and see if they were still as happy as that.
Home via a cafe stop. Big iced coffee - bit sweet - but not too sweet despite the ice cream added in.
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| Streetwise iced coffee |
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| The land of plenty |
Once Col was up (she works late shifts) we got ready for a wee walk in behind Canvastown (past Havelock). Doom Creek loop. Wow - what a gorgeous place.
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| Doom Creek walk |
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| Pretty |
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| Lovely streams |
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| Shoes off to cross a wee stream |
We ate lunch about a third way around the loop. Col was suggesting we skinny dip while at lunch. Too cold for that. Lunch was great - egg sandwiches on sourdough. Mmmm.
But by the time we crossed the creek a wee way after lunch and took our shoes off, Col's suggestion (or is that Col's challenge?) was accepted. Col and I walked up the stream a bit to a huge rock beside a pool. Stripped off and went for a swim. No - scratch that. We went for a polar plunge.
It was a bit freezing. But it could have been way worse. The numbness wasn't too shocking. And once we hauled clothes back on and kept walking, our bodies were tingling and it felt good.
Bucket list item ticked off.
I still can't quite believe it.
Continued the walk - it looped back to the main track and then a big bridge spanned the river. The water was a stunning clear green.
Changed and ordered Thai takeaways, collected it and headed to Helen and Mandy's place. Except Helen was on locum at Palmerston North - so just Mandy was there. And we had the takeaways and watched the Super Rugby Aotearoa final. Crusaders v Chiefs.
Not sure how the Crusaders pulled that one off. Experience, I reckon. Awesome game. Thank you for your hospitality Mandy.
Back home to fall into bed.
Up for brekkie - oaty pancakes. Mmmm.
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| Iced latte tastings |
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| Nom, nom. Oaty pancakes |
Then up to Mt Vernon - except we tackled this other hill instead. Great day for it - no rain. But we could see rain off in the distance. Sue said afterwards it rained where she was the entire morning.
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| Top of the hill |
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| Iona holds her hat |
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| I hold my hat |
Back to Mitre10 for lunch - yummy food and an awesome iced latte. Rated that one highly.
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| Iced latte @ Mitre10 |
Went to a recycler and checked out the stuff there. Col got jars for her feijoa chutney. I helped Iona clear gutters when we got home. Kinda (I just held the ladder).
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| Grapes at Iona and Col's place |
Took the netting off their grapes and ate my way through a lot of them. They are not quite ripe enough for most people. But I found them yummy.
Had dinner here - roasted veges. Yum! And watched some TV and then went to bed. Up at 5am for Spin with Iona. Wow - it was hard work.
Back home to have brekkie and work from home. Woot!
Hope your week is mighty fine. Time for my shower now.
Love,
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