Southern Adventure - Part Five - Home from Tuatapere

So, the Monday saw us wearily but happily getting back into the van, bidding farewell to Callan and Stacey, and getting on the road again. Driving from Tuatapere to Dunedin is surprisingly direct; you're more or less heading due east as far as Clinton when you pick up SH1 the rest of the way. It includes SH93, better known as the Gore bypass road between Mataura and Clinton. I remember this road well from shuttling between Dunedin and Invercargill in my teens and 20s. It used to be narrow, gravel, windy and hard work, now it's sealed, wide and just like any other highway.  

Mostly East. Very little North.

As the miles drifted by we listened to an audiobook Merv had recommended to us - "An Officer Not A Gentleman" by Mandy Hickson. A great 'read', it had us on the edges of our seats as we drove.

We were in Dunedin just at dinner time. It was great to see my mum. She's doing well in her wee house and her garden is spectacular again. The neighbour with the rat "problem" is keeping her entertained. The problem seems to be with the neighbour, not the rats. 

Roslyn Mills building. Angela's mum worked there!

View from my mum's window

The next morning, as is becoming tradition, we headed to No7 Balmac for brunch before getting back on the road. Next stop Christchurch.

Iced coffee#1 at No7 Balmac

Experimenting with Angles

A few hours of nice easy drive later we were in Riccarton Macpac, taking back our two failed water bladders. "Oh yes, those ones are problematic, we've changed suppliers now." Great. "We'll happily replace them for you." I asked for a refund instead of another two problematic water bladders that would almost certainly fail in the same way.

Then we checked into our fav little motel, Ashford Motor Lodge. We had a anti vaxxer in the room next door who we could hear alternating between watching down-the-rabbit-hole youtube videos and talking to other down-the-rabbit-hole people. Until two in the morning. It's a shame for her. Imagine having your whole identity defined by something like that.

After getting our key and dropping our bags we were off to see Toby and Tessa, and Steph and Sam. And David (Tessa and Steph's Dad)! He was convalescing at their place. 

We headed to Pomeroy Inn for dinner. Yum.

Next morning - Little Poms cafe for breakfast of course.

Same Angle different city

Hi Toby! Hi Tessa! Look at those iced chocolates.

Ducks (and ducklings) on the Avon

We got a few jobs done - Briscoes for Tessa's christmas present and to filch some old boxes, packing Toby's stuff into aforementioned boxes and loading them into the van, visiting the pet shop that Tessa is working at (they didn't have the right sort of kibble but they did have toys and a special eating mat). All this meant we were off just a little late, at 12pm.  Our road trip luck ran out this afternoon and it was a really slow drive behind trucks and slow cars, meaning we didn't make Picton and the ferry queue until 5:15pm. It was great though, having Toby in the van with us. We chatted away and listened to various podcasts and stuff. Fun.

A strange set of events took place in the ferry queue. Some lanes of cars were boarded but ours wasn't. We waited. Then a policeman wandered over to a car in the next lane. He talked to the driver for what seemed like ages, it appeared to be a fairly jovial chat. That is until he opened her car door, took her keys, and took her away with him! Only then we boarded, about 30 min late. I wonder what all that was about.

What an great holiday! It felt like we packed so much into our time off. So many different adventures. Road tripping. Stewart Island. Invercargill. Tuatapere. Humpridge. Christchurch with Toby and Tessa. Great scenery and great company. Thanks so much to Callan and Stacey for organising most of it, and Andrew for squeezing some time out of his insane schedule to come join us. 

Moxley likes the sleeping blanket we put out for her

The time I went to the Sunshine Coast

Hi,

Ok - it is so hard writing this after 3.5 hours sleep.  I hope to get through my unread emails without too much effort and wrestle my workload back under control without a heck of a lot of cerebral power.

The trip to Queensland was such fun - and when I think at this time yesterday I was paddling in the sea at Surfers Paradise in my t-shirt and shorts, it is rather difficult to get my head around.

Anyway, I got an Uber to the airport for my 5am check-in without any bother.  Sat and waited for my flight.  The weather was stunning as we left Wellington, and I saw Ruapehu and Taranaki like huge lumps in the landscape. Watched a movie on the Virgin app and dosed a bit.  Landed, hurtled through customs (don't queue for the first machines - walk through to the main customs hall - plenty of machines there) and tried to ring for a pick up for Apex but the phone kept hanging up.  Anyway, a van came.  I jumped on.

Turns out I was super early.  It's much easier going through customs with no checked luggage or a child.  Or any duty free purchases (well, I did get some cream for Mum!).

Mt Ruapehu from my flight to Brisbane

Picked up a Holden Astra from Apex on Nudgee Road and jumped onto the motorway north.  I plugged the phone in and sang non-stop.  Ummm.  I stupidly took the Caloundra exit again (I have done this before) and added about 20 mins to my journey as I searched for the Sunshine Motorway again.

Note:  never take the Caloundra exit.  Even if the signs suddenly no longer show the Sunshine Coast as an option.  It really is an option.  Just a little further up the motorway.

Got to my parents place around 11am and chilled with my Mum for a while.  I may have fallen asleep on the floor a bit.  Hahahah.  Dad got home from work and we had tea out at a Thai place in Peregian Beach (or maybe it was Coolum) before I finally collapsed into bed.

Up early (5am) and away in the car by 6am for my drive into Brisbane.  I couldn't get the GPS on my phone to call out the directions, so I winged it, getting to within 500m of the Transit Centre carpark before I had to pull over and check the map.  Oosshh!  Parked in the carpark there, and walked over the pedestrian bridge to Southbank.  Had such a lovely walk to Nonna's Deli Espresso where I met Susan for breakfast.

Brisbane

Nepalese temple

Iced coffee with Susan @ Southbank - Nonnas Deli Espresso

 I was so happy to catch up with Susan.  It quite possibly might have been 2010 the last time we actually caught up.  When she lived in New Farm (or somewhere there - and Mike got blisters from walking on hot pavements with his barefeet before he ducked into a chemist and bought emergency jandals).

Susan is now a high school teacher, and I reckon her students must be some of the luckiest students in the country.  We chatted about our family and work and general life stuff for a few hours.  The food and iced coffee was so good too.  Great choice, Susan!

Susan then walked back with me to the city.  We said goodbye and I hope we see each other much more regularly.  I got back to the Transit Centre 10 mins before Jo was due on the Greyhound bus from Sydney.  16 hours on a bus!  Overnight.  OMG.  I feel a bit sick just thinking about it again.  Her bus got in at 11am (delayed due to traffic) and it was so good to see her step through the doors from the parking bay.

Selfie with Susan!

My feet arrive in Peregian Springs

Jo and I retraced my steps (so to speak) in the car back to Peregian Springs - although this time I didn't get lost on the motorway.  Phew!  We went for a swim in the pool in the late afternoon.  Nice.  I did miss Toby (and Tyler and Abby) at this point.

We went to Coolum for dinner with Jo.  Some family pub place.  It was ok - I had some baked avocado stuffed with blue cheese.  But the cheese was too strong for the avo flavour.  Sadly.  Vanilla ice cream for dessert though.  Mmmm.

And my feet get wet in the pool

Next morning we wandered down to Noosa marina (in Tewantin) and ate brunch there before jumping on the ferry to Noosa and Hastings St.  Mum and Dad checked out the surf club while Jo and I chilled on the beach.

Iced coffee at the Noosa Marina cafe

Jo - bored.

My feet @ Noosa's beach

Jo checks out the beach scene

Ma and Dad on the Noosa ferry

Jo wasn't feeling very well, so we didn't do a lot.  While we chilled at the beach, I went to find a pharmacy to get some medicine to help with her nausea.  But it didn't really help an awful lot.  It meant eating wasn't a lot of fun, and then Jo had no energy because she wasn't eating.  Poor Jo.

Dad and I got caught in a massive thunderstorm when we got back and decided we needed some groceries for tea.  When we came out of the supermarket, it was hosing down.  I ran to the car and got soaked.  Dad was soaked just trying to get into the car when I pulled up to the under cover section.  A small taste of the mad weather they have had recently.

I married a male model!  Yes - this is a random photo.  Mum has it on her sideboard.

We watched a movie at home in the evening.  Darkest Hour.  About Churchill.  Excellent movie.  Next day we had a lazy start and then drove up into the hinterland behind Sunshine Coast to visit Montville.  Very nice part of the world.  Tried a cafe.  Cute wee shops.  Hilly, even.

Iced coffee in Montville

My mother was checking out my hair - so she took a pic!

After making my mother traipse around hills, she decided against joining us in Surfers Paradise.  Too much strain on her joints.  I was sad.  She was sad.  But, actually, it was totally for the best.  She has a holiday soon, and needs to be as well as she can be to enjoy that.

In the end, Jo and I left Peregian Springs at around 8.45am and drove down through Brisbane to Wet n Wild and spent the day there.  What a hoot!  We loved it.  I loved the wave pool.  And the funnel ride.  And the other rides were great too.  Not much of a queue.  The weather was nice and hot.  Not a lot of drinking fountains.  We hired a locker for our gear and had to pad around the place in barefeet a lot.  I have blisters now from the hot, rough footpaths.  Should have worn jandals.  Should have taken jandals to Queensland.

Had fun here!

Ibis - for Toby.  And some rubbish.  And my rental car.  

Left Wet n Wild at about 4.30pm and headed into Surfers.  Navigated mostly to our hotel.  Watermark.  Or, depending on where you are at night when you read the sign:  WAT MARK.  Or: WATE ARK.   Or:  WATER RK.  Turns out at night they light up the sign, but there is a massive part of the building obscuring the sign.   Weird.

We parked and walked back to find the hotel, checked in, and then drove back.  Deposited our bags in the room and went to find something to eat near Cavill Ave.  Checked out the moon above the sea on the beach.  Ate an awesome "Viking salad".  All salads should be fit for Vikings!

Jo checks out another beach.  Surfers Paradise this time.

I cannot do a proper selfie.

Lazy start to Wednesday morning.  Found brekkie at Coffee Paradox - which paradoxically was next to the Transit centre where we actually needed to take Jo and her luggage.  So, after a lovely smashed avo on toast, we wandered back to the hotel and drove back to drop Jo off.  Said goodbye to my lovely friend.  Not sure when we'll see each other again, but I am convinced she is positioning herself for the next exciting chapter in her life. 

Iced coffee @ Coffee Paradox in Surfers

I want to go for a swim!

I drove back to Brisbane airport (GPS said 1 hour 6mins - and it wasn't far off it).  Found a small petrol station on Nudgee Road about 3kms from Apex.  Perfect!  As I pulled into Apex, the shuttle bus came.

It was smooth sailing through to my gate.  Waited around, reading.  Then boarded.  Easy flight back and a surprise collection by Mike from the airport.  I thought I had to Uber.  My plane touched down at 12.20am and I was hugging Mike at 12.36am.  How fast was that?  Benefit of no luggage and nothing to declare.

Woot!  Awesome time away.  So good to see Ma and Dad.  Good to see Jo on her travels before she leaves the southern hemisphere.  Lovely weather.  Not enough sea swimming - but hopefully next time won't be just after mad weather that churned up the sea!

Thank you.  I loved it.  Thank you to Mike and Toby for letting me run away (briefly).

Love,
Angela

The weekend with Jess and Mum

Hi,

What a whirlwind weekend in our house!  And I just wrote the date down at work and realised it is Michelle's birthday.  Happy birthday Missyshell.

Cold weather but not cold enough to miss out on an iced latte

I finally caught up with Mary on Friday and enjoyed an iced latte with her at that cafe that starts with "M".

Friday night saw Mike and I at the airport waiting for Jess's flight to arrive.  It was delayed 45 mins so by the time we got home at 11.15 or so I was ready for bed!

Saturday was madness.  Up late for brekkie in Petone and packed cafes saw us at Go Bang where we discovered it was a vegetarian cafe.  No bacon for Toby.  It was all good though.

Ran some messages and then back to our place and before we knew it, it was time to head away to Sreejith's house for dinner.

Toby and Jess stayed home to eat pizza and watch movies - although they ended up playing games as far as I know.

We enjoyed everyone's company and Mike "watched" the rugby on the Stuff feed - calling out the scores as the game progressed.

We dropped Ebby and his wife home on The Terrace before heading to the airport to try out sleeping in the back before my mother's flight got in.  We got to a quiet part of the carpark around 10.30pm and fell asleep.  Well, I read.  Mike slept though.

Mum hadn't ticked the box saying she had prescription drugs with her and that caused some delay for her while exiting customs.  But soon we were greeting her and getting the car for our trip home.  Asleep by 2am!

Lamb stir fry

He stole my phone and took heaps of selfies

1am and Mum arrives - Toby is sleeping in the lounge

Sunday saw Mike heading away to Brekkie for a Meetup group and I cooked mushrooms, pancakes and bacon for Toby and Jess.

Jess and Toby went to see Baywatch at the Reading cinemas and by all accounts (well, Toby's) it was good fun.  Jess then met her friends for some event at Vic uni and Mike collected her late.

Mum and I cooked tea - lamb stir fry.  And then it was time for bed.

Up early to watch the Assen MotoGP.  Go Rossi - he won!

Tonight is the big event - An evening with Dr Jane Goodall.  At Michael Fowler.  Can't wait!

Have a great week!

Love,
Angela

The Tuesday with lunch with Aidan and my mother arriving - technically Wednesday morning

Hi,

We're having a bit of warm to hot weather.  Yay!  It is summer after all.

I caught up with Aidan for lunch, which was good fun.  We chatted away to each other around being starving and gobbling down our respective lunches.  Lucky we both eat breakfast so early that we're both equally starving by the time 11.30am rolls around.

We sat in the sunshine on a park bench and I was melting.  In the end, Aidan had to go back to work or suffer from sunstroke.

But the good weather meant a warm office.  Ok.  A hot office.  But Celia had a brainwave to make iced coffees at work.  She had a can of cream in the fridge.  Mmmmmm.  Good.

Home made iced coffee - at work

And the good weather also meant the dragon boat training was a pleasure.  We were out on the harbour for an hour, trying to get our timing sorted.  We seem to be improving.

From there, Mike collected me and took me home and Toby had cooked tea.  So we ate butter chicken and it was very good.  He is going to cook one meal a week for us now.  He wants to practise mac cheese as he believes this is what he'll eat when he's flatting for university.

I went to bed at 9pm and fell asleep immediately and woke at 11pm.  Got dressed and found Toby scampering around the house, fully dressed.  So he came with me to the airport and we collected Mum.

Airport feet

Airport feet photo bomb - from Toby's giant foot

She must have got out of the customs area around 12.40am I guess.  We were home just before 1am and I was in bed in about 5 minutes time.  Hahah.

Up this morning after not enough sleep and today might be a bit tough.  It is going to be the hottest work day of the summer today.  All our other hot days have fallen on the weekend or holiday time.  The fans will be running hot today!

Have a great day!

Love,
Angela