Just hangin' out in Christchurch

After the Nelson and Kaikoura trip we spent about 6 days in Christchurch, mainly visiting New Brighton, Sumner, the library and the Richmond club.

2 nights Kaikoura.

On arriving at Kaikoura Allison headed home after being substituted with Shanty. A nice 2 days.

A surprise visit to a vineyard.

After leaving Nelson we headed for Kaikoura stopping at Havelock for coffee. I was travelling with Allison and as we were driving through Marlborough she suggested we stopped off at her two University friends vineyard. Great idea I thought despite receiving 4 faults for the initial, diplomatic refusal. Lovely wine and managed to try 3-4. Unlike me I also bought a couple of bottles.

Campers at Nelson toast marshmallow.

Nelson photos.

Christchurch to Nelson

After 3 days in Christchurch we, along with Tim,.Elliot, Flossy and Shantys mum Allison headed off to Nelson for 5 nights staying on the campaite just outside. Tim and the kids slept in their new tent whilst me and Barb had our own chalet. Allison also had her own chalet. These were a great few days. We went into Nelson, had a meal in the park in the Stoke area and i swam in the sea on 3 occasions. We liked the bar on the main road along the beach area called Beach Road and if we ever returned we think we'd go for an appartment on that road. The picures below are of the beach, the park tractor ride, the cathedral and cinema at Nelson and the food festival in the park at Stoke.

New Zealand 15/01/24

We left Jonesy with the house/dog sitter Jan and Ged dropped us off at mcr airport. The night before as well as the prolonged shingles pain i encountered the worst of toothaches which persisted throughout the journey. The first leg to ABu Dhabi was a poor flight tv screen dirty and very few drinks. Hotel in Abu Dhabi was good ...Hotel corniche. We had a drink in the hotel bar , went to bed and then the horrendous toothache returned and i spent the majority of the night on the hotel floor. emailed ahead to a Sydney dentist near the airport to see if they could fit me in. On arriving at Sydney we booked into the day room hotel . Barbara slept and i spent 2 hours in the dentists chair having root canal filling. Then another 2 hours trying to find my way back to hotel.Sydney to Christchurch flight was probably the best flight we've been on , only about 30 people on a 200 seater plane. Loads of drinks and they even gave me whiskey IPA chasers for the toothache, great hostess's. Arrived at Tony and Moniques digs about 1am and slept untill about 11pm , toothache ok.