The weekend away in Chc

 Hi,

Thank you to Ange for looking after the cats while we were away for our road trip and Toby delivery service to Christchurch.

We were up early on Saturday 6am - for a 7.15am check in at Bluebridge.  A jam packed ferry crossing in brilliant weather saw us leave on time and get into Picton nice and fast.

Iona and Col were busy with the impromptu jazz festival so we didn't see them as we shot through.  We did pull into Maccas in Blenheim only for me to discover to my horror that McDonalds have stopped the all day brekkie.  OMG.  The only thing I liked to eat.  Waaaah.  The boys got food and we kept going south.

Mike and Toby in the front of the van for our road trip

Just north of Kaikoura

Great art on the back of the truck ahead.  Termin-tater

Made quite good time with little stops.  Did grab some food at Cheviot.  I like Cheviot.  The Eden Hauliers truck caught up with us while we were there.  With a Mr Potato Head look-alike and a take off of Terminator with "tater" references.  We loved it!

Got into Chc and checked into The Coachman motel on Riccarton Road.  It is super close (like 100m) from Toby and Tessa's new flat.  But they are not moving in until Feb 3rd.  So...  oh well.  

The Coachman was tiny but clean and functional.  And cheap.  $110 a night for that wee room.  

Went to pick up Tessa  for dinner at Poms.  Enjoyed that immensely but I was falling asleep and ended up dropping people home so we could go collapse into bed at the Coachman.

Slept in and woke to a drizzly rain.  We wandered over to the local mall which is behind Toby's new flat.  Very nice places.

Bush Inn shopping mall

Met everyone at Little Poms for brekkie.  Had another superb breakfast there.  11am was the presser announcement from the PM that we would move to red traffic light setting at midnight that night as omicron has been circulating in the community for a wee bit of time.  Big news.

Little Poms for brekkie

Sunday saw us chilling at home with Sam and everyone - watching Gordon Ramsay and some chap building a log cabin in the northern wilderness.  Canada we think.

Sam cooked a superb BBQ inside as the weather had continued to close in.  So we still haven't tried their enormous new BBQ.

Home to sleep early and up the next morning to check out and collect Toby and Tessa.  We visited Little Merchants Cafe.  Wow - we all loved that place.  Can recommend.

Toby and Tessa enjoy Little Merchants

Little Merchants  -  I will come back here

Manic iced latte

Toby did a close up of the mania

Then scootered to Riverside market before we went to Strawberry Fare for lunch.  Mmmm.  Good food.

Mike at Riverside market

Back to Steph and Sam's house and a relaxing Gordon Ramsay episode before an Uner to the airport.

At the departure gate for our flight home - under red setting for covid

Uneventful flight home and Ange collected us.  Thank you.  Dropped us home and then we had tea.  I tidied downstairs and we fell into bed.

Home - gorgeous evening

Tuesday morning back at Machete.

Up for gym this morning.  1 hour with Quentin.  Mike went to Machete - then when he was with Quentin, I headed there.

Said hello to Paul and Cesar.  Enjoyed the best iced latte and scrambled eggs.  Ange joined me for the same.  Then Mike collected us and we headed home for our day of WFH.

Hope your day is a good one.

Love,

Angela