Today is the day that we're heading up to visit my Auntie, the one who inspired the trip, and Sue and Phil are both taking us up to Gosford area for the weekend - we thought that Phil would have to join us later but he's managed a day of 'work from home' and so we head off after breakfast, leaving at about 10 a.m. for the hour and half journey. The traffic is busy but isn't too bad and I think Sue's glad that Phil's here to drive as we hit the Freeway. The journey goes well and we arrive for a very happy and tearful reunion, and a coffee and catchup before heading off to the nearest Shopping Mall for lunch. The Australians do this so well, I don't know why we can't get this kind of development over in the UK.
There's a nice cafe situated in the middle of the Mall that Sue and my Auntie use fairly regularly because they provide for coeliacs and vegetarians as well as your average meat eaters too - so it suits us all! We all order our lunch/late breakfasts and I manage a win on the paying front and also get a money off voucher which Sue can use another time - bonus!
We have a quick wander around the Mall on the way back to the car and find one of the Pet Shops that every Mall seems to have over here, with puppies and kittens in cages in the window and stop for the obligatory 'ooohs and aaahs' - and manage to get away without buying one, but it was close!
We get back to Auntie's place and continue with the reminiscing until my Auntie is sent for a rest or she won't be able to come out to play later - that's dinner! We all play with our respective devices, and when she returns an hour or so later, the memories and questions continue about our families and it is lovely to hear her remembering things she thought she had long forgotten!
The plan is to meet up with Sue's brother Philip and his family at an Indian Restaurant just down the road from Auntie's place at about 7 p.m. as Philip has some tutoring to do first. A table is booked and we arrive shortly before the family which is when Becky and I realise that it is another one of those BYO places and we haven't Brung Our Own - but here, Phil comes to the rescue and pops over to a Bottle Store and manages to find some more of the wine from his Vineyard which will sort us out nicely - thanks Phil!
When Philip arrives with his wife and three children, chaos ensues and children and adults all intermingle and we're not quite sure who belongs to who. Introductions are made and we're told that Philip has told his children that we talk like the Queen, so that's something to try and live up to! I think the children are completely confused as we look nothing like the Queen and probably don't sound anything like her either - poor confused kids!
Becky and I are placed safely at the end of the table and have a chance to catch up with cousin Philip, who spent a year living with my Mum and Dad when he was a mere teenager and it has got to be over 30 years ago, but at that time, we got on really well, being similar ages. Catching up is really good, he hasn't changed except for the greying hair, like the rest of us, except his is only on his chin now! It's a very nice meal, dishes being swapped around amongst most of us, except for Sue and Auntie as their diets prevent them from eating ours, but we get to try theirs which seems unfair but, Oh well! The wine goes down well and we even take a little left in the bottom back with us, and it makes us feel even more like a couple of old alkies when no-one else drinks alcohol - not even the children!
After the meal, it is decided not to stay here for dessert but to call at an Ice-Cream Place in Terrigal Beach, just near to where Philip and family live and the children all seem quite perky still and raring to go, so we all pile into the respective cars and make our way to get dessert. We manage to park along the road from the Shop so it's not too far for Auntie to walk and then, meeting the family in the shop, we take about 15 minutes for everyone to decide on the flavours, cone or cup, one or two scoops, required and finally get the order placed. We sit outside the shop on the sidewalk and the little ones crawl all over Uncle Phil like a rash, at one point almost falling off his head onto the road behind him, but they're saved by Sue's quick thinking! It's warm, but raining, but we have a really good time with all the family and all too soon the ice creams are gone and the kids are failing (along with the rest of us) so it's time to head home with a promise to see everyone tomorrow.
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Catching up with friends
The next morning, we decide to try to get into Sydney to meet the sister of my good friend from back home. She is over here at present because her husband is working on a project here and they arrived about a year ago for three months and are still here for at least another three months so only overshot by a year, not bad! In fact it's her fault that Becky and I have come on this trip as when she first came over a year ago, I suggested to my friend that I pass her sister my cousin's email address just in case she needed to have a contact in Sydney. This resulted in Sue and her meeting up and getting on reasonably well, so when she came back to the UK for a visit, she came to visit her sister and wanted to thank me for the connection. When we met up, she suggested I come out to visit and I replied that I would not be doing the journey again, ever. However, she planted the seed and when I went home and thought about it, I decided I should make one last trip out to see my Auntie and family as none of us are getting any younger and it's a chance to catch up on some family history.
Before coming out, my friend and I had discussed the coincidence of being in Australia at the same time and actually thought we would be in Sydney at the same time, which didn't work out, so we're here the week before they arrive! Sue had been in touch and had arranged to meet my friend's sister and we were going to meet up yesterday, but she has her son over at the moment so they made the most of the nice weather yesterday to get a beach day in. Today, it looks like there's a small window of opportunity and it would be a shame to come all this way and not see her so, after Sue's spoken on the phone with her, we get moving so we can get a fairly early bus and meet at about 11 at Darling Harbour, the other side of the bridge to the area we were in yesterday. Becky is barely out of the shower when we give her the good news of our imminent departure and she isn't impressed. As we walk to the bus stop she drags her feet like a stubborn five year old, in fact the stubborn five year old she used to be (up until about last year!)
It isn't such a nice day and by the time we've walked down to Darling Harbour, it is decidedly grey and could even rain! We meet up with hugs all round and her husband joins us for a short while (he goes off to do some shopping and leaves us ladies to it) so we start walking around the harbour, which is quite a long walk, and get about half way when Becky's need for coffee becomes apparent as her tongue is hanging out by this stage. We have coffees and a nice catch up and her husband soon rejoins us. We're conscious that they want to get back to their son but they decide to have lunch so we join them and even Phil comes and joins us from his work, which is only about ten minutes away. It's a really nice lunch with lovely company and we even get to meet their son as well, plus, we're sat under cover and miss the quick shower whilst lunching and when it's time for us all to move on, we say our farewells and Sue, Phil, Becky and I can't resist the Lindt Chocolate Shop and accidentally make a few purchases, more gifts for our hosts and family than for ourselves, tempting as it is!
Although it's still grey and overcast, we get the bus and head back to Sue's car (as previously mentioned, don't walk if you can drive) which is parked just up the road from their house and just around the corner from the bus stop! I have some gifts to send back to the UK for my little granddaughters and we drive to the Post Office (about 200 yards), managing to park on the road outside and get the items posted off, costing more to post again than the items cost in the first place!
We pop back to the house to gather ourselves and, before long, Sue suggests a ride out to Bradley's Head for a walk. I think we both could probably have just sat with our feet up but we get going and drive through the Sydney traffic through an area called Mosman, an area on the lower North Shore, which developed originally as a Whaling Community, but doesn't look like that now, and then go quickly from very built-up to very rural and arrive at the area known as Bradley's Head. We drive right through to the end of the road and park, where there are two huge white wedding cars sat in the car park and as we emerge from the car we see a Wedding Party down on the bit of Headland having some lovely photos taken with the Sydney Harbour, Bridge and Opera House in the far distance - how lovely!
It is a really pleasant walk along the boardwalk which leads to a small and secluded beach, the weather is brightening up and as we turn to return to the car, Sue let's out a huge scream and we all jump, thinking we're going to have to run for our lives, but it turns out to be one of those Australian spiders, in a web across the path, and it was all of half a centimetre in size and probably no different to the ones we walk into when walking the dog in the morning back home - scare over!
Back at the car park, there is a memorial to the HMAS Sydney in the form of a huge Mast which in the year 2000 was re-dedicated to all Australian ships and sailors lost in conflict. Probably of more note, this area was used in some scenes for Mission Impossible II, in fact the area where they had been taking wedding photos earlier! There is a Lighthouse still in use and as I take a photo, I notice the signpost for 'Chowder Head' and that reminds me of The Simpsons and makes my day!
Heading back through the Sydney suburbs, it is surprising how busy it is but all keeps moving and we're back home again before long. Phil has beaten us home and prepared tea, oh no he hasn't, so we decide to have a Chinese take away which suits us fine! After a catchup with my Son back home, we watch the film Flight which was very enjoyable but once again, we could do without flight disasters being brought to our attention, thanks!
Before coming out, my friend and I had discussed the coincidence of being in Australia at the same time and actually thought we would be in Sydney at the same time, which didn't work out, so we're here the week before they arrive! Sue had been in touch and had arranged to meet my friend's sister and we were going to meet up yesterday, but she has her son over at the moment so they made the most of the nice weather yesterday to get a beach day in. Today, it looks like there's a small window of opportunity and it would be a shame to come all this way and not see her so, after Sue's spoken on the phone with her, we get moving so we can get a fairly early bus and meet at about 11 at Darling Harbour, the other side of the bridge to the area we were in yesterday. Becky is barely out of the shower when we give her the good news of our imminent departure and she isn't impressed. As we walk to the bus stop she drags her feet like a stubborn five year old, in fact the stubborn five year old she used to be (up until about last year!)
It isn't such a nice day and by the time we've walked down to Darling Harbour, it is decidedly grey and could even rain! We meet up with hugs all round and her husband joins us for a short while (he goes off to do some shopping and leaves us ladies to it) so we start walking around the harbour, which is quite a long walk, and get about half way when Becky's need for coffee becomes apparent as her tongue is hanging out by this stage. We have coffees and a nice catch up and her husband soon rejoins us. We're conscious that they want to get back to their son but they decide to have lunch so we join them and even Phil comes and joins us from his work, which is only about ten minutes away. It's a really nice lunch with lovely company and we even get to meet their son as well, plus, we're sat under cover and miss the quick shower whilst lunching and when it's time for us all to move on, we say our farewells and Sue, Phil, Becky and I can't resist the Lindt Chocolate Shop and accidentally make a few purchases, more gifts for our hosts and family than for ourselves, tempting as it is!
Although it's still grey and overcast, we get the bus and head back to Sue's car (as previously mentioned, don't walk if you can drive) which is parked just up the road from their house and just around the corner from the bus stop! I have some gifts to send back to the UK for my little granddaughters and we drive to the Post Office (about 200 yards), managing to park on the road outside and get the items posted off, costing more to post again than the items cost in the first place!
We pop back to the house to gather ourselves and, before long, Sue suggests a ride out to Bradley's Head for a walk. I think we both could probably have just sat with our feet up but we get going and drive through the Sydney traffic through an area called Mosman, an area on the lower North Shore, which developed originally as a Whaling Community, but doesn't look like that now, and then go quickly from very built-up to very rural and arrive at the area known as Bradley's Head. We drive right through to the end of the road and park, where there are two huge white wedding cars sat in the car park and as we emerge from the car we see a Wedding Party down on the bit of Headland having some lovely photos taken with the Sydney Harbour, Bridge and Opera House in the far distance - how lovely!
It is a really pleasant walk along the boardwalk which leads to a small and secluded beach, the weather is brightening up and as we turn to return to the car, Sue let's out a huge scream and we all jump, thinking we're going to have to run for our lives, but it turns out to be one of those Australian spiders, in a web across the path, and it was all of half a centimetre in size and probably no different to the ones we walk into when walking the dog in the morning back home - scare over!
Back at the car park, there is a memorial to the HMAS Sydney in the form of a huge Mast which in the year 2000 was re-dedicated to all Australian ships and sailors lost in conflict. Probably of more note, this area was used in some scenes for Mission Impossible II, in fact the area where they had been taking wedding photos earlier! There is a Lighthouse still in use and as I take a photo, I notice the signpost for 'Chowder Head' and that reminds me of The Simpsons and makes my day!
Heading back through the Sydney suburbs, it is surprising how busy it is but all keeps moving and we're back home again before long. Phil has beaten us home and prepared tea, oh no he hasn't, so we decide to have a Chinese take away which suits us fine! After a catchup with my Son back home, we watch the film Flight which was very enjoyable but once again, we could do without flight disasters being brought to our attention, thanks!
Crossing the Great Divide (Sydney Harbour Bridge)
We had decided to spend some time in Sydney so we get up in our own time, which is unfortunately still tuned in to a mix between Brisbane and New Zealand time, so I'm awake about 6 and because we've got our own rooms, I haven't a clue whether Becky's awake or not. As we're with family and my cousin's husband is a computer whizz, the wifi is accessible all over the house and doesn't cost anything, unlike the wifi in the motel in New Zealand which admittedly only cost $5 but lasted 5 minutes and was long enough for us both to get on Facebook but not to reply to any messages and certainly not to do any blogging! So I think I'll see if anyone's around at home and FaceTime the family for a catchup, which is amazing, instant chatting and being able to see them as well - and I take the IPad down to Becky to see if she's awake so she can catch up too. My daughter back in England is bringing us up to date when her baby wakes and starts to cry and she takes us with her, up the stairs and into her room, where we join her as she plugs the dummy back in and the baby settles back to sleep. This new technology is amazing and I'm sorry but I just can't get over the fact that we're on the other side of the world and are walking around a house back in England. My parents would never believe it if they were alive today! I can barely believe it, when I was a child, blah blah blah ...
During the night, Becky was woken by her phone receiving an email and found that she has an interview when she gets back to England for the next stage in her life so she's very excited and let's me and her sister know whilst catching up. Then we try to Skype John to let him know the good news and we manage a chat where he can see us, but we can't see him - probably just as well, we have only just woken up!
When my cousin gets up, not realising we were up because we were being so quiet, we decide that we'll go out for breakfast so leisurely get up, showered and dressed and by the time we're ready to go, it's well after ten so we drive to a place in one of the many inlets around the Sydney harbour and Sue takes us to a tucked away place called 'Echo On The Marina' where they serve breakfast 'til 11 and we just make it in time!
The photo below is from the top of the area looking down to where the restaurant sits right on the water. After a beautiful breakfast, and a bit of a walk around the headland (we drive from one side to the other, probably less than half a mile) and view it from the other side, where we took the photo, then we head back home to pick up our bits and head off to catch a bus into Sydney.
The bus turns up and Sue pays our fares using a system whereby you buy a card from a newsagents and it has a set number of journeys on so you just 'dip' the card in the machine - no talking to the bus driver! She dips three times for us, telling the driver at which he grunts his 'ok' and the journey then takes about half an hour and we're in The Rocks area near the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge but unfortunately the famous market is only on at weekends but its nice to have a look around and it brings back memories of our other visits. We make our way to Circular Quay and take a few pictures of the Opera House, again - it hasn't changed from last time! Then we decide to have an ice cream as we're not hungry after our late breakfast. It's very pleasant sitting in the sun on the Quay eating our ice creams and listening to what sounds very like an English busker doing his version of Mumford's hits and some others which I can't remember!
Then we head for the Harbour Bridge and find that we have a couple hundred steps to climb to get up to street level on the bridge. When we came out to Australia in 2000, we all did the Bridge Climb (except John, for the same reason as he hasn't come on this trip, i.e. fear of heights) and thoroughly enjoyed it - you get an amazing view of the city from the top of the bridge. I discussed it with Becky before we left home and we decided we didn't need to do it again, plus it is very expensive to do the official Bridge Climb. Sue and Phil had suggested walking over as there is a dedicated pedestrian path so that's where we're heading and it doesn't disappoint. The views are just as amazing, albeit only in one direction, but it's the right direction as we can see the Opera House and Circular Quay and the ferries that criss cross the harbour all day long.
When we get to the other side, we go to catch a bus home and have a while to wait until it turns up so while we're waiting Becky spots a likely looking traffic sign and we leave Sue to go for a photo opportunity for Becky's Pole group and manage a nice shot (if i do say so myself) with the Harbour Bridge in the background. Eventually, the bus comes and when we arrive back, before going to the car, we stop at the local supermarket for a few bits which I win and pay for! I still find it strange that you can't buy alcohol in a supermarket here, having walked around looking, but Sue takes us to a Bottle Shop where we find a nice bottle of red wine with a lovely label and a beautiful whale on it, I just wish I could remember what it was called to look out for it again! We walk to the car, parked just around the corner and drive two minutes down the road to the house and soon we're home again and ready to put our feet up.
Luckily for Becky, as previously mentioned, Phil is a computer whizz and there's at least four laptops in use around the dining room, not counting the others in all the other rooms, so Becky has been set up with a Laptop to use and soon settles herself down to getting her blogs up to date. We have a nice relaxed dinner and a quiet evening, all sat playing/using our respective devices - whatever happened to the old fashioned art of conversation?
During the night, Becky was woken by her phone receiving an email and found that she has an interview when she gets back to England for the next stage in her life so she's very excited and let's me and her sister know whilst catching up. Then we try to Skype John to let him know the good news and we manage a chat where he can see us, but we can't see him - probably just as well, we have only just woken up!
When my cousin gets up, not realising we were up because we were being so quiet, we decide that we'll go out for breakfast so leisurely get up, showered and dressed and by the time we're ready to go, it's well after ten so we drive to a place in one of the many inlets around the Sydney harbour and Sue takes us to a tucked away place called 'Echo On The Marina' where they serve breakfast 'til 11 and we just make it in time!
The photo below is from the top of the area looking down to where the restaurant sits right on the water. After a beautiful breakfast, and a bit of a walk around the headland (we drive from one side to the other, probably less than half a mile) and view it from the other side, where we took the photo, then we head back home to pick up our bits and head off to catch a bus into Sydney.
The bus turns up and Sue pays our fares using a system whereby you buy a card from a newsagents and it has a set number of journeys on so you just 'dip' the card in the machine - no talking to the bus driver! She dips three times for us, telling the driver at which he grunts his 'ok' and the journey then takes about half an hour and we're in The Rocks area near the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge but unfortunately the famous market is only on at weekends but its nice to have a look around and it brings back memories of our other visits. We make our way to Circular Quay and take a few pictures of the Opera House, again - it hasn't changed from last time! Then we decide to have an ice cream as we're not hungry after our late breakfast. It's very pleasant sitting in the sun on the Quay eating our ice creams and listening to what sounds very like an English busker doing his version of Mumford's hits and some others which I can't remember!
Then we head for the Harbour Bridge and find that we have a couple hundred steps to climb to get up to street level on the bridge. When we came out to Australia in 2000, we all did the Bridge Climb (except John, for the same reason as he hasn't come on this trip, i.e. fear of heights) and thoroughly enjoyed it - you get an amazing view of the city from the top of the bridge. I discussed it with Becky before we left home and we decided we didn't need to do it again, plus it is very expensive to do the official Bridge Climb. Sue and Phil had suggested walking over as there is a dedicated pedestrian path so that's where we're heading and it doesn't disappoint. The views are just as amazing, albeit only in one direction, but it's the right direction as we can see the Opera House and Circular Quay and the ferries that criss cross the harbour all day long.
When we get to the other side, we go to catch a bus home and have a while to wait until it turns up so while we're waiting Becky spots a likely looking traffic sign and we leave Sue to go for a photo opportunity for Becky's Pole group and manage a nice shot (if i do say so myself) with the Harbour Bridge in the background. Eventually, the bus comes and when we arrive back, before going to the car, we stop at the local supermarket for a few bits which I win and pay for! I still find it strange that you can't buy alcohol in a supermarket here, having walked around looking, but Sue takes us to a Bottle Shop where we find a nice bottle of red wine with a lovely label and a beautiful whale on it, I just wish I could remember what it was called to look out for it again! We walk to the car, parked just around the corner and drive two minutes down the road to the house and soon we're home again and ready to put our feet up.
Luckily for Becky, as previously mentioned, Phil is a computer whizz and there's at least four laptops in use around the dining room, not counting the others in all the other rooms, so Becky has been set up with a Laptop to use and soon settles herself down to getting her blogs up to date. We have a nice relaxed dinner and a quiet evening, all sat playing/using our respective devices - whatever happened to the old fashioned art of conversation?
Thursday, 21 March 2013
The Land Down Under Part Deux
Once again, the time has flown by and although it was only a couple of days here with Mike, it has gone really quicky but we are both really glad that we made the effort to stop in and see him, and surprisingly i think he is too. This morning, we are leaving the Motel and Mike is very kindly taking us to the airport but wants to stop and show as Rakaia Gorge on the way. I'm just hoping that we get to the airport in time and that we don't get a puncture/have an accident/get caught in a traffic jam. any of those wouldnt surprise me, the luck weve had so far!
It's not long before we get to the Gorge and even though, once again, the weather is dull and cloudy and we still didn't get to see Mike's Mountain, it really is a gorgeous Gorge with a lovely blue river winding through and under a rickety old bridge that I'm surprised is still standing and hasn't been replaced by something twice the size and much newer and shinier.
After this, as we're driving along one of those long straight roads, we see a car stopped on the side of the road with a man stood next to it and a traffic cone in the road, at which point we all think 'strange' but Mike carries on and then we realise why, as we are suddenly confronted with a road full of sheep!
We realise soon after that we haven't had breakfast and stop in a nice little town called Darfield and find a good coffee shop for breakfast and pastries. Before we know it, we're back in Christchurch and arrive at the airport where Mike leaves us to get on with our journey, just a short flight to Sydney. It's a very good airport, modern, clean and we get to use our 'smart' passports - we're very impressed. I guess this will be how we'll all be travelling soon! No one to speak to, just look in the eye of the camera and run your passport through a scanner and your history is known to all! Still, it was all very quick and painless and we had a free trial of some liquor on the way through duty free and a look round the shops for last minute souvenirs which decide not to bother with, and a bit of free wifi before boarding for a very pleasant flight.
We were met at Sydney airport by cousin Sue who hasn't changed much since I last saw her in 2006 when I came out with my other daughter to visit my son while he was backpacking around Australia. Abbie came with me to see Adam as it was his birthday while he was away but we had a two week trip, three days of which were spent in Hong Kong and a week with Adam in Coffs Harbour having a proper holiday! We came back to Sydney for the remaining few days and stayed in a city centre hotel, and spent a day with the family but it was a difficult time as my mother had just passed away and she was the sister to my Australian auntie who we came to visit. At that time, my uncle was also quite ill, having recently undergone surgery and unfortunately died later that year. All in all, it wasn't a good year! While Adam had been travelling, he had stayed with Sue and Phil. Now, we're driving back to Sue and Phil's place after going through the weepy reunion and whilst catching up, Becky remarks about how it's her turn to come with me this time as Abbie came last time. Sue seems a little blank and we find out later that she thought 'how rude, coming to Australia and not coming to say hello!' It seems her memory is worse than mine, and I thought mine was bad!
Back to the journey back to their house and Sue wants to stop at the local supermarket to do a quick shop. She works full time and has taken three days off to look after us so we're extremely grateful and offer to pay for the small amount of shopping (I've never done a shop that small, I don't think, even when I've just gone out for milk!), so we argue about who's to pay and Sue wins this time, but I will win and get my purse out before we go! It brings back memories from our previous visits, going to the Australian supermarket. They're so much nicer than ours in England!
Its nice to be back in Sue and Phils home, they have a lovely place (but i think the driveway would put me off as you have to take a run at it with the car - it has a very steep slope at the bottom!). Anyway, we get to settle in and have a bedroom each which we've got used to from the last stop and then Phil gets home from work, and after a quick catch up with him, he takes us out for half an hour to show us the sights arounds the area in which they live and Sue stays to cook dinner.
When we return, we have a nice home cooked meal of fish and vegetables and can relax afterwards, Phil even manages to find a bottle of red wine for Becky and I, which apparently comes from a vineyard that he owns a share of, and fortunately for us, neither Sue or Phil drink so, although he has a small taste, it's all down to us!
It's not long before we get to the Gorge and even though, once again, the weather is dull and cloudy and we still didn't get to see Mike's Mountain, it really is a gorgeous Gorge with a lovely blue river winding through and under a rickety old bridge that I'm surprised is still standing and hasn't been replaced by something twice the size and much newer and shinier.
After this, as we're driving along one of those long straight roads, we see a car stopped on the side of the road with a man stood next to it and a traffic cone in the road, at which point we all think 'strange' but Mike carries on and then we realise why, as we are suddenly confronted with a road full of sheep!
We realise soon after that we haven't had breakfast and stop in a nice little town called Darfield and find a good coffee shop for breakfast and pastries. Before we know it, we're back in Christchurch and arrive at the airport where Mike leaves us to get on with our journey, just a short flight to Sydney. It's a very good airport, modern, clean and we get to use our 'smart' passports - we're very impressed. I guess this will be how we'll all be travelling soon! No one to speak to, just look in the eye of the camera and run your passport through a scanner and your history is known to all! Still, it was all very quick and painless and we had a free trial of some liquor on the way through duty free and a look round the shops for last minute souvenirs which decide not to bother with, and a bit of free wifi before boarding for a very pleasant flight.
We were met at Sydney airport by cousin Sue who hasn't changed much since I last saw her in 2006 when I came out with my other daughter to visit my son while he was backpacking around Australia. Abbie came with me to see Adam as it was his birthday while he was away but we had a two week trip, three days of which were spent in Hong Kong and a week with Adam in Coffs Harbour having a proper holiday! We came back to Sydney for the remaining few days and stayed in a city centre hotel, and spent a day with the family but it was a difficult time as my mother had just passed away and she was the sister to my Australian auntie who we came to visit. At that time, my uncle was also quite ill, having recently undergone surgery and unfortunately died later that year. All in all, it wasn't a good year! While Adam had been travelling, he had stayed with Sue and Phil. Now, we're driving back to Sue and Phil's place after going through the weepy reunion and whilst catching up, Becky remarks about how it's her turn to come with me this time as Abbie came last time. Sue seems a little blank and we find out later that she thought 'how rude, coming to Australia and not coming to say hello!' It seems her memory is worse than mine, and I thought mine was bad!
Back to the journey back to their house and Sue wants to stop at the local supermarket to do a quick shop. She works full time and has taken three days off to look after us so we're extremely grateful and offer to pay for the small amount of shopping (I've never done a shop that small, I don't think, even when I've just gone out for milk!), so we argue about who's to pay and Sue wins this time, but I will win and get my purse out before we go! It brings back memories from our previous visits, going to the Australian supermarket. They're so much nicer than ours in England!
Its nice to be back in Sue and Phils home, they have a lovely place (but i think the driveway would put me off as you have to take a run at it with the car - it has a very steep slope at the bottom!). Anyway, we get to settle in and have a bedroom each which we've got used to from the last stop and then Phil gets home from work, and after a quick catch up with him, he takes us out for half an hour to show us the sights arounds the area in which they live and Sue stays to cook dinner.
When we return, we have a nice home cooked meal of fish and vegetables and can relax afterwards, Phil even manages to find a bottle of red wine for Becky and I, which apparently comes from a vineyard that he owns a share of, and fortunately for us, neither Sue or Phil drink so, although he has a small taste, it's all down to us!
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
All in a days work
This is pretty much the only day here with Mike in Methven and he is determined to show us his favourite sights on this beautiful island as we just haven't got the time to do it all. He has shown Becky and other friends on Facebook the pictures of the mountains that surround him and presumably make this the skiing resort that it is, but there is absolutely no sign of any mountains and we think he's just been putting pictures from books on for all to see - hmmm!
So when he picks us up for a day trip to see views, we don't hold out much hope of seeing much as its just like a day at home only not quite as cold as it is at present, more like a cold cloudy summers day! We pick up some breakfast on the way and, being a truck driver, Mike knows all the places to stop for the best food and his local supermarket is apparently one and doesn't disappoint, greasy and cheesy as it is -yummmm. This is also how he knows which views to take us to see so we are completely in his hands! As we drive along, I am amazed at the long straight roads, they are like the roads home in England, if you got someone on each end of the road and pulled and pulled until its straight and seemingly three times longer! The roads go on and on and on and then you come to a junction and turn left or right and then they go on and on again! Why didn't we build our roads like that a couple of hundred years ago when then were just dirt tracks? The weather is still grey and it starts to drizzle, even more like home and its not looking good as we approach some mountains where the roads actually have a few bends in them - flat = straight and hilly = bends - all quite straightforward really!
After driving for a while up and down, and through drizzle/rain, we suddenly emerge into blue sky and a beautiful sunny day, barely a cloud in the sky and Mike says "get ready, just around this bend" and as we go around, the most beautiful view of the bluest lake you've ever seen appears like a mirage and it is truly stunning. We head down towards Lake Tekapo and turn off on a track to stop and just admire the view.
Then we head towards the small town and stop to admire a statue of a Collie Dog. Now, we love dogs, but a statue? But apparently this is Mackenzie's dog who Mike tells us used to go off at night and round up the neighbours sheep and bring them back - now that's a clever dog! Whether that's true or not I don't know, but the plaque is to commemorate the collie dog's importance to the huge farms of the area and it seems a fitting tribute, so Becky decides to clamber up to have a photo taken with the dog.
Climbing down from the dog, we walk onto the beach here, on the edge of the lake, and notice many piles of rocks - the rocks that make up the beach in fact! These piles, upon further investigation, turn out to be called Cairns and I have seen them before when I've been away with John - France I think but could be anywhere. Some of the piles are really impressive and so - of course - we make our own which probably won't stand the test of time, or even a bit of a gust of wind, but still, we have a go and it's still standing when we leave which in itself is quite impressive. We do tell Mike that when he's next out this way truck driving, he needs to check that it's still here, but I doubt he'd recognise it again!
Our pile of stones:
There is a small church near the statue so we go inside for a moment of religious reflection, or actually to admire the view from the window which overlooks the lake, and it is the most beautiful place to put a church. God gets all the prime spots of land!
After this, Mike wants to show us Mount Cook which I don't know about so think 'oh well, if you must' but after another half hours drive we arrive at another beautifully blue lake and we stop to admire the view which, at the end of Lake Pukaki, is Mount Cook. It's worth the journey and we are more than happy to have been shown these lakes and the views. Thanks Mike, good job you're a trucker and drive all over the island, just so you can show us the best views in town, but I guess it's all in a days work for you!
We head back to the town and stop for a look around for post cards and gifts, and find somewhere for lunch before heading back. We are very warm, layers have been removed whilst looking at the views and its hard to imagine that it'll change, but amazingly it does as we cross those mountains once again and before we know it, we're heading back to Methven and its drizzling again and very grey and those layers start going back on again. Becky and i find ourselves nodding just a little and the eyes close, even though we try to stay awake to be company for Mike who tells Becky she'll get whiplash if she keeps waking herself up like that!
We get back to the Motel with an hour or so to freshen up before going out on the town!!! It really isn't much of a town to go out on, but about the most impressive thing is the Brown Pub on one side of the road and the Blue Pub on the other side, like they stand there daring each other to just try it, go on, just try it! We visit the Brown Pub for a quick drink before dinner at the only restaurant in town (I think) which happens to be a Pizza Restaurant - tough luck Becky, just can't get away from your Pizza!
So when he picks us up for a day trip to see views, we don't hold out much hope of seeing much as its just like a day at home only not quite as cold as it is at present, more like a cold cloudy summers day! We pick up some breakfast on the way and, being a truck driver, Mike knows all the places to stop for the best food and his local supermarket is apparently one and doesn't disappoint, greasy and cheesy as it is -yummmm. This is also how he knows which views to take us to see so we are completely in his hands! As we drive along, I am amazed at the long straight roads, they are like the roads home in England, if you got someone on each end of the road and pulled and pulled until its straight and seemingly three times longer! The roads go on and on and on and then you come to a junction and turn left or right and then they go on and on again! Why didn't we build our roads like that a couple of hundred years ago when then were just dirt tracks? The weather is still grey and it starts to drizzle, even more like home and its not looking good as we approach some mountains where the roads actually have a few bends in them - flat = straight and hilly = bends - all quite straightforward really!
After driving for a while up and down, and through drizzle/rain, we suddenly emerge into blue sky and a beautiful sunny day, barely a cloud in the sky and Mike says "get ready, just around this bend" and as we go around, the most beautiful view of the bluest lake you've ever seen appears like a mirage and it is truly stunning. We head down towards Lake Tekapo and turn off on a track to stop and just admire the view.
Then we head towards the small town and stop to admire a statue of a Collie Dog. Now, we love dogs, but a statue? But apparently this is Mackenzie's dog who Mike tells us used to go off at night and round up the neighbours sheep and bring them back - now that's a clever dog! Whether that's true or not I don't know, but the plaque is to commemorate the collie dog's importance to the huge farms of the area and it seems a fitting tribute, so Becky decides to clamber up to have a photo taken with the dog.
Climbing down from the dog, we walk onto the beach here, on the edge of the lake, and notice many piles of rocks - the rocks that make up the beach in fact! These piles, upon further investigation, turn out to be called Cairns and I have seen them before when I've been away with John - France I think but could be anywhere. Some of the piles are really impressive and so - of course - we make our own which probably won't stand the test of time, or even a bit of a gust of wind, but still, we have a go and it's still standing when we leave which in itself is quite impressive. We do tell Mike that when he's next out this way truck driving, he needs to check that it's still here, but I doubt he'd recognise it again!
Our pile of stones:
There is a small church near the statue so we go inside for a moment of religious reflection, or actually to admire the view from the window which overlooks the lake, and it is the most beautiful place to put a church. God gets all the prime spots of land!
After this, Mike wants to show us Mount Cook which I don't know about so think 'oh well, if you must' but after another half hours drive we arrive at another beautifully blue lake and we stop to admire the view which, at the end of Lake Pukaki, is Mount Cook. It's worth the journey and we are more than happy to have been shown these lakes and the views. Thanks Mike, good job you're a trucker and drive all over the island, just so you can show us the best views in town, but I guess it's all in a days work for you!
We head back to the town and stop for a look around for post cards and gifts, and find somewhere for lunch before heading back. We are very warm, layers have been removed whilst looking at the views and its hard to imagine that it'll change, but amazingly it does as we cross those mountains once again and before we know it, we're heading back to Methven and its drizzling again and very grey and those layers start going back on again. Becky and i find ourselves nodding just a little and the eyes close, even though we try to stay awake to be company for Mike who tells Becky she'll get whiplash if she keeps waking herself up like that!
We get back to the Motel with an hour or so to freshen up before going out on the town!!! It really isn't much of a town to go out on, but about the most impressive thing is the Brown Pub on one side of the road and the Blue Pub on the other side, like they stand there daring each other to just try it, go on, just try it! We visit the Brown Pub for a quick drink before dinner at the only restaurant in town (I think) which happens to be a Pizza Restaurant - tough luck Becky, just can't get away from your Pizza!
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Ferry, cross the ... Cook Straight
The wine works again, and before I know it, the alarm goes off and it's time to get up and start another day of travelling, and today it's a Ferry from Wellington to Picton in the South Island which, when we booked it, we were told that it was one of the prettiest ferry routes in the world. We had originally booked ourselves on the 2.15 afternoon sailing thinking this would give us a morning to look around Wellington and maybe go up the Cable Car to Mount Victoria.
Whilst in Auckland, and after Becky had been in touch with our South Island contact, we found that there were no connections from Picton to Christchurch at that time of day and that we would be stuck in Picton, which I pictured as a small one horse type of town, for a night with nowhere to go and nothing to do until the next morning when it connected with the outside world again. So, from our hotel in Auckland we were able to change our booking and get ourselves onto the early Ferry which then connected at Picton with the 1.00 Scenic Railway train to Christchurch. Surely, we couldn't be so unlucky that the Ferry would be cancelled and we would have to go by submarine or some other mode of transport where we would not be able to see this beautiful scenery that had been foretold! Or unlucky enough that the train would blow up and we would have to go by bus again!
The taxi arrived and took us to the Ferry Port and we were able to check in and deposit our luggage which would go straight through to Christchurch as we were booked on the train - ideal, no bags to lug from the boat to the train, things are looking up! The Ferry looks big enough for me to be able to manage three hours as long as the weather holds and there's no rough water, not quite the Plymouth to Roscoff Ferry, but it'll do! We board and find a nice spot to sit while the vehicles are still loading and it's still quiet, but by the time we sail and go upstairs and out on deck, everyone else is there and we can barely see land to say farewell to Wellington. I suppose as we hadn't seen much of it already, there was hardly any point in seeing it now!
The sea is so calm, it's not really sea, it's just flatter than any flat sea I've ever seen before and the sun is shining so it really is a beautiful crossing. As we stood on deck leaving Wellington and I looked at the map of our journey, I worked out that there were pretty much three parts to it - part one, the first hour, was going around the headland of Wellington and finally reaching the relatively small piece of open water between the two islands; part b, the second hour, was the open bit of sea called Cook Straight where if I was going to be feeling ill, it would be that bit; and part iii, the final hour, where we pass through the channel between the many islands to get to Picton - should be fun, and I wasn't disappointed.
As we sailed through the amazing scenery with the crystal clear blue waters and the lush green islands, a few small sailing boats meandered their way through and it really did look like Paradise, if only we hadn't been on a big tug surrounded by irritating people, quite a few of whom were smoking and, because we were standing at the rear, the smoke from the funnel was just annoying us because we were outside! Still you needed to be outside to see these views and it really was stunning. At one point, four rich boys with the jet skis came up behind the Ferry to take advantage of the small waves being made, and gave a show as they raced back and forth past the boat. Before long, the last hour was gone and we were coming into very scenic Picton on a lovely sunny day - in fact one of the best days we've had so far! After docking, we emerge onto dry land, not having to worry about our luggage, and we follow signs to the Railway.
When we get there, we join what seems to be a queue until some loud American comes up behind us and asks if this is the queue and goes through the office and announces from the other side that it is not the queue, the queue is over there and promptly joins it and leaves us to bring up the rear! Still, we check in and the good news is there's no alternative, the train is a train and we can go and get some lunch and be back for the train at 12.45 to board! We wander off and Picton really doesn't look like quite the one horse town I imagined it would be but more an upmarket Marina with lots of yachts in and a couple of hotels so maybe we could've stayed! Becky spies a pole that looks like her Pole Dancing Poles and wants to give it a go for a 'photo opportunity' for her group back home but unfortunately it's connected to a children's play area and specifically a pirate ship play area. She removes additional items: bag, sunglasses etc, and goes in for the pose after some random children have moved out of the way. I'm ready with the camera (trying not to snigger too loudly) and start taking photos. On the first jump, there's a clonk and an 'ow' as she jumps and misses, and I ask if she's ok to which she says "yes, I think so" and she tries again and successfully strikes a pose. It's only as we walk away that I notice she's limping slightly and I ask if she's ok again, to which she replies "I think so, I just banged my toe on the pirate ship!" Sounds good! " I hope it's not broken"!
We go for some lunch from Subway and share 12 inches which sounds a lot worse than it is - I've not had Subway before and it's just a foot long bread stick filled with whatever you want and today's special is Morrocan Lamb which we opt for with all the salad bits - it's very yummy with the minty yoghurt dressing and we debate whether to go back for another before departure, but decide that's not the best idea and so get ready to board the train as everyone queues to get on. I notice the luggage going into the rear of the train and feel the need to go check ours is there and the nice man, after talking to us about Coronation Steeet for a short while, allows us in to check which I do and can see three out of four and decide that's pretty good odds!
By the time we've chatted to this man for a while and can finally get away, the train is loaded, queues gone and we can get straight on and head for our seats which are the only vacant ones - it seems the train is full! We sit down and engage in conversation with the nice couple opposite who are on holiday from south Australia and ask us about our trip so we give them all the details along with the story of the trip down on the trus the day before and they seem happy and amused by the tale. As the train gets going, there is very little to see, the scenic bit hasn't started yet apparently! Passing by the salt beds, it is amazing to see that they're red and our commentary tells us its because it contains the same algae as in the red sea! Very pretty though!
It's not long and the views start to improve and then before long we're heading along the coast where, on a good day, you might be lucky enough to see all sorts of wildlife out to sea, especially whales, - but not today. However, the coastline is amazing and we get a few photos, then I decide to go outside on the viewing platform to get a couple of pictures and find its so windy that every individual hair on my head is tied up in knots with its nearest neighbours and some not so near - I can barely get my fingers through my hair when I get back inside!
By halfway, we decide on a coffee which I go and get and just about manage to do it without falling over, and sit back down to eat some cookies which we'd bought for yesterday's train journey that didn't happen. Then we see some seals on the rocks along the coastline, which is lovely but we're going too fast to get photos and also were drinking coffee and eating cookies and we only see them because the man doing the commentary informs us they're there!
There's plenty more scenery but we just want to get there by now, and when we eventually arrive, and get off to get our luggage, it is so nice to see a familiar face in the waiting room where Mike is sat waiting for us. We finally get our bags and they're all there, it's all looking good, and Mike takes us out to his car telling us how excited he is to see us - things must be bad in New Zealand! The station is temporary as the main one was damaged in the earthquake, but as we leave Christchurch, we don't really see much evidence so the damage as we're on the outskirts and leaving town to where Mike lives, about an hour away in a small skiing resort called Methven. It's about an hour away but we soon get there and the roads are so long and straight and find Mike has booked us into a Motel just up the road from his place, to give us a bit of space, what a lovely man.
We arrange to have a freshen up, which for Becky involves coffee, and fortunately there's a kitchen and coffee so that's sorted. There's two bedrooms so Becky's pleased to get a bit of peace and so am I. We arrange to walk just down the road to Mike's as he's prepared dinner for us and got wine in, ideal. As we walk down a very wide, quiet road wondering if we've missed his place, we see him in the distance reversing out of his drive and think 'ahh, he's coming to meet us,' but no, he stops and shouts out the window that he's just going to the shop and to let ourselves in - its not locked! We're not in the UK now!
He soon returns, having suddenly thought we might like 'starters' he had rushed to the local store and got some melon for us! So we catch up, have a lovely home cooked meal and a nice drop of wine and before we know it, it's bedtime as we both feel very tired after all the travelling and Mike kindly gives us a lift up the road, even though its not far, it seems you don't walk anywhere here if you can drive!
Whilst in Auckland, and after Becky had been in touch with our South Island contact, we found that there were no connections from Picton to Christchurch at that time of day and that we would be stuck in Picton, which I pictured as a small one horse type of town, for a night with nowhere to go and nothing to do until the next morning when it connected with the outside world again. So, from our hotel in Auckland we were able to change our booking and get ourselves onto the early Ferry which then connected at Picton with the 1.00 Scenic Railway train to Christchurch. Surely, we couldn't be so unlucky that the Ferry would be cancelled and we would have to go by submarine or some other mode of transport where we would not be able to see this beautiful scenery that had been foretold! Or unlucky enough that the train would blow up and we would have to go by bus again!
The taxi arrived and took us to the Ferry Port and we were able to check in and deposit our luggage which would go straight through to Christchurch as we were booked on the train - ideal, no bags to lug from the boat to the train, things are looking up! The Ferry looks big enough for me to be able to manage three hours as long as the weather holds and there's no rough water, not quite the Plymouth to Roscoff Ferry, but it'll do! We board and find a nice spot to sit while the vehicles are still loading and it's still quiet, but by the time we sail and go upstairs and out on deck, everyone else is there and we can barely see land to say farewell to Wellington. I suppose as we hadn't seen much of it already, there was hardly any point in seeing it now!
The sea is so calm, it's not really sea, it's just flatter than any flat sea I've ever seen before and the sun is shining so it really is a beautiful crossing. As we stood on deck leaving Wellington and I looked at the map of our journey, I worked out that there were pretty much three parts to it - part one, the first hour, was going around the headland of Wellington and finally reaching the relatively small piece of open water between the two islands; part b, the second hour, was the open bit of sea called Cook Straight where if I was going to be feeling ill, it would be that bit; and part iii, the final hour, where we pass through the channel between the many islands to get to Picton - should be fun, and I wasn't disappointed.
As we sailed through the amazing scenery with the crystal clear blue waters and the lush green islands, a few small sailing boats meandered their way through and it really did look like Paradise, if only we hadn't been on a big tug surrounded by irritating people, quite a few of whom were smoking and, because we were standing at the rear, the smoke from the funnel was just annoying us because we were outside! Still you needed to be outside to see these views and it really was stunning. At one point, four rich boys with the jet skis came up behind the Ferry to take advantage of the small waves being made, and gave a show as they raced back and forth past the boat. Before long, the last hour was gone and we were coming into very scenic Picton on a lovely sunny day - in fact one of the best days we've had so far! After docking, we emerge onto dry land, not having to worry about our luggage, and we follow signs to the Railway.
When we get there, we join what seems to be a queue until some loud American comes up behind us and asks if this is the queue and goes through the office and announces from the other side that it is not the queue, the queue is over there and promptly joins it and leaves us to bring up the rear! Still, we check in and the good news is there's no alternative, the train is a train and we can go and get some lunch and be back for the train at 12.45 to board! We wander off and Picton really doesn't look like quite the one horse town I imagined it would be but more an upmarket Marina with lots of yachts in and a couple of hotels so maybe we could've stayed! Becky spies a pole that looks like her Pole Dancing Poles and wants to give it a go for a 'photo opportunity' for her group back home but unfortunately it's connected to a children's play area and specifically a pirate ship play area. She removes additional items: bag, sunglasses etc, and goes in for the pose after some random children have moved out of the way. I'm ready with the camera (trying not to snigger too loudly) and start taking photos. On the first jump, there's a clonk and an 'ow' as she jumps and misses, and I ask if she's ok to which she says "yes, I think so" and she tries again and successfully strikes a pose. It's only as we walk away that I notice she's limping slightly and I ask if she's ok again, to which she replies "I think so, I just banged my toe on the pirate ship!" Sounds good! " I hope it's not broken"!
We go for some lunch from Subway and share 12 inches which sounds a lot worse than it is - I've not had Subway before and it's just a foot long bread stick filled with whatever you want and today's special is Morrocan Lamb which we opt for with all the salad bits - it's very yummy with the minty yoghurt dressing and we debate whether to go back for another before departure, but decide that's not the best idea and so get ready to board the train as everyone queues to get on. I notice the luggage going into the rear of the train and feel the need to go check ours is there and the nice man, after talking to us about Coronation Steeet for a short while, allows us in to check which I do and can see three out of four and decide that's pretty good odds!
By the time we've chatted to this man for a while and can finally get away, the train is loaded, queues gone and we can get straight on and head for our seats which are the only vacant ones - it seems the train is full! We sit down and engage in conversation with the nice couple opposite who are on holiday from south Australia and ask us about our trip so we give them all the details along with the story of the trip down on the trus the day before and they seem happy and amused by the tale. As the train gets going, there is very little to see, the scenic bit hasn't started yet apparently! Passing by the salt beds, it is amazing to see that they're red and our commentary tells us its because it contains the same algae as in the red sea! Very pretty though!
It's not long and the views start to improve and then before long we're heading along the coast where, on a good day, you might be lucky enough to see all sorts of wildlife out to sea, especially whales, - but not today. However, the coastline is amazing and we get a few photos, then I decide to go outside on the viewing platform to get a couple of pictures and find its so windy that every individual hair on my head is tied up in knots with its nearest neighbours and some not so near - I can barely get my fingers through my hair when I get back inside!
By halfway, we decide on a coffee which I go and get and just about manage to do it without falling over, and sit back down to eat some cookies which we'd bought for yesterday's train journey that didn't happen. Then we see some seals on the rocks along the coastline, which is lovely but we're going too fast to get photos and also were drinking coffee and eating cookies and we only see them because the man doing the commentary informs us they're there!
There's plenty more scenery but we just want to get there by now, and when we eventually arrive, and get off to get our luggage, it is so nice to see a familiar face in the waiting room where Mike is sat waiting for us. We finally get our bags and they're all there, it's all looking good, and Mike takes us out to his car telling us how excited he is to see us - things must be bad in New Zealand! The station is temporary as the main one was damaged in the earthquake, but as we leave Christchurch, we don't really see much evidence so the damage as we're on the outskirts and leaving town to where Mike lives, about an hour away in a small skiing resort called Methven. It's about an hour away but we soon get there and the roads are so long and straight and find Mike has booked us into a Motel just up the road from his place, to give us a bit of space, what a lovely man.
We arrange to have a freshen up, which for Becky involves coffee, and fortunately there's a kitchen and coffee so that's sorted. There's two bedrooms so Becky's pleased to get a bit of peace and so am I. We arrange to walk just down the road to Mike's as he's prepared dinner for us and got wine in, ideal. As we walk down a very wide, quiet road wondering if we've missed his place, we see him in the distance reversing out of his drive and think 'ahh, he's coming to meet us,' but no, he stops and shouts out the window that he's just going to the shop and to let ourselves in - its not locked! We're not in the UK now!
He soon returns, having suddenly thought we might like 'starters' he had rushed to the local store and got some melon for us! So we catch up, have a lovely home cooked meal and a nice drop of wine and before we know it, it's bedtime as we both feel very tired after all the travelling and Mike kindly gives us a lift up the road, even though its not far, it seems you don't walk anywhere here if you can drive!
Thursday, 14 March 2013
The train bus
Time to move on again and we get up for an early start, check out of the hotel which we're reluctant to leave, and get a taxi to the station to catch the Northern Explorer Train from Auckland to Wellington, and we've been looking forward to this since we booked it a couple of months ago!
We arrive at the station with plenty of time and a sign says 'down to trains' so I say to Becky "shall we go down in the lift as we've got our ticket"! It's still a bit early in the morning for her and she just looks at me so I think I should have more of a look. "Oh, maybe we should just check over here", so I ask someone who looks like he might be working for the railway and he tells us we need to join the queue to get our boarding passes. "But we've got tickets". "You still need to get your boarding passes". "Oh, ok then". The sign says it opens for check in at 7.10 and its 7 so not long. As we're waiting the queue grows with mostly elderly couples and I'm feeling very young, Becky must be feeling like a schoolgirl!
She goes for a coffee while we wait and while she's gone, a gentleman/official calls for our attention and announces that there's a problem with the train and we will have to go by bus and he spologies for the last minute change. Many thoughts go through my head at this point, the main one being 'sorry, it's probably our fault, we've jinxed it with our 'bad luck charm' that follows us around!' I feel guilty for spoiling everyone else's trip as well as ours, we'd been looking forward to this train trip for some time! Becky comes back with her coffee and when I tell her, she says what we always say - "you're joking"! "No I'm not" I say, and the little old man in front chips in with his hard luck story about having a birthday and blah, blah, blah. Well, I'm of the opinion that they wouldn't be doing this for fun or to endear themselves to us and that there really is a problem - they're not just doing it to annoy everyone. However, most of the old 'uns seem to think its deliberate and get very irate and talk about refunds and other ways of travelling. Even Becky talks about writing a strongly worded letter when we get back complaining and asking for a refund, I on the other hand am thinking I should write and apologise for our bad luck jinx affecting them!
I get on the bus while Becky goes for some breakfast as the facilities that would have been on the train are obviously not on a bus! When we get going, most people have given in and got on board as they won't be getting a refund any time soon! Apparently the problem with the train is the generator, which has started spouting oil everywhere and as this, we're told, provides the power for pretty much everything on the train, we realise that it probably wasn't going anywhere fast!
It is somewhat frustrating and taunting that we keep crossing the railway so we can see where we would have been but at least it sticks to pretty much the same route so we do get to see all the beautiful scenery! We stop pretty much hourly for 15 minute toilet stops, I guess because its all old people. We stop at some random place for a lunch break and have half an hour to shove as much in our faces as quickly as we can in order not to be left here having to find somewhere to stay or another way to Wellington!
Going through National Park, I can't help but wonder on the lack of a 'the', which would make it seem right, but its the actual name of the area and you wouldn't say 'the Saltash' I suppose, so it must be right, but it just sounds like there's something missing! The area is very up and down with lots of bends but some stunning scenery. There are a lot of chalk looking cliffs along the roadside, and for some very strange reason, they make me think of the Kaolin and Morphine medicine we used to have when I was little if I was sick and I'm pretty sure we had for my children too! The feelings these white powdery cliffs brought back was horrible and I don't even know why I thought of it but I feel quite sick now!
We go through some lovely looking towns, one of which was called Shannon, and it had a lovely old fashioned Post and Telegraph Office which caught my attention, then I saw a clothes shop called "For Frocks Sake" and i thought I could live in a place like this - this is my sense of humour! Then I saw "Owlcatraz" open daily - seemingly a refuge for Owls! As we were leaving the town there was a "Drag Racing" sign which in view of all the other signs, conjures up a picture of men dressed as ladies running around a track, probably not but I like the thought.
According to our trus (train and bus) manager, we'll arrive in Wellington about 7, a little later than planned but it could've been worse, the other bus is 1 hour 20 minutes behind (he he), we probably should've been on that one!
When we booked the hotel for tonight back home before leaving, it looked fairly close to the station and I had contemplated walking, but when we got out of the station after the journey we'd had we went for a taxi and just hoped it wouldn't be like LA again. I was starting to wonder if the taxi driver was taking us the very long way round as we went up a very residential looking street and I think we both thought 'here we go again' but then he pulled into the front of the hotel, phew!
Checked in and ready for something to eat after the very long trus journey and very early start, we try to decide whether to stay in the hotel and be lazy or walk down into Wellington. We decide it'll probably be the only bit of Wellington we'll see so give it a go and walk down to Cuba Street, out the back entrance of the hotel which took us out five levels down and closer to the town than the taxi had led us to believe - gotta love a short cut! The nice man on reception had given us a map and directions to where we would find some places to eat and we walk along the busy road, probably in the wrong direction again, and decide some of the cheap and nasty ones look too cheap and nasty. We come to a couple, one on each side of the street, that look quite nice, a little more expensive but clean and think we'd stay this side of the street and try the closer one. Probable wrong decision again but we go in, there's three tables occupied so not too busy and we get placed at a table for two and get the menus. It's Asian/Indian type food from what we can make out so we ask for water and two glasses of house red wine then settle to make our food choices. Becky orders a spicy shrimp Malaysian dish and I go for a lamb dish that has coconut and yoghurt and sounds like a korma. When we order the waiter asks if we want it mild, medium or hot and we both state 'MILD' please and some garlic naan between us, can we have our wine some time soon?
We get the wine before too long and then make conversation about the trus journey and the holiday and the places we've been and the people we've seen and just about everything we can think to talk about, when we start to realise that the three tables that were there before us are only just getting their food and then the three or four tables that came in after us are starting to get their food and still we're waiting. We've been waiting over an hour and the fact that everyone else seems to be getting their food before us is starting to really annoy us both. Becky goes to the counter to find out what happening after I say that we should just get up and walk out. The waiter pleads with her to stay and that the food is just coming and that he'll give us 50% off, and he's very sorry and his boss is in and don't go, boo hoo! She tells him she's in the same industry at home and it is just not good enough, but if the food comes out now, then ok, we'll stay.
After another five minutes, as we are about to get up and go, the food comes out and we tuck in. We try the first mouthfuls and as i eat mine, I find my mouth is actually on fire and, o-oh so's my throat. Becky says hers is really nice, so tries mine thinking I'm just being a wimp, in fact I thought I must be a wimp, but she agreed that it is really hot so when the waiter comes over to see if everything is ok, I say that it's a bit hot and I'd asked for it to be 'MILD'. He goes off to the kitchen and comes back with a pot of yoghurt which I smother on each lump of lamb and it makes it slightly easier to eat. Then the chef comes out and says its a hot dish because of the crushed chilli base, which I don't remember being in the description, and says he'll do me something else. "No, it's fine I say, I just want to eat this and go, we've waited long enough". "No, I go cook you something else" he says and again I say "No" as he scuttles back to the kitchen. Within three minutes, he's back with another dish of lamb something which he insists I eat and it is a lot less spicy and more fruity and so edible, but how did he manage to get this cooked in three minutes when it took over an hour to do the first dish? Beats me!
We finish as quickly as we can as its getting pretty late by now and we've had a long day, so when we finish we go to the till to pay and the chef puts all our costs onto the till and comes up with a total of $52+ at which point Becky tells him she's not paying for mine as we should have been told it was hot when we asked for 'MILD' and will only pay for half of hers as we were kept waiting and the drinks should be free. He says "You pay for this and that" and Becky goes back with "Is your Manager here" and he's not, but in the end we agree to pay $17 and then try to get back to the hotel, which surprisingly we find quite easily, even though it is the secret back way in. Luckily, even though the meal took a lot longer than planned, we do get back just before 11 when the secret short cut door gets locked and decide after the additional trauma, we should stop in the bar for another glass of wine before bed, thanks very much!
We arrive at the station with plenty of time and a sign says 'down to trains' so I say to Becky "shall we go down in the lift as we've got our ticket"! It's still a bit early in the morning for her and she just looks at me so I think I should have more of a look. "Oh, maybe we should just check over here", so I ask someone who looks like he might be working for the railway and he tells us we need to join the queue to get our boarding passes. "But we've got tickets". "You still need to get your boarding passes". "Oh, ok then". The sign says it opens for check in at 7.10 and its 7 so not long. As we're waiting the queue grows with mostly elderly couples and I'm feeling very young, Becky must be feeling like a schoolgirl!
She goes for a coffee while we wait and while she's gone, a gentleman/official calls for our attention and announces that there's a problem with the train and we will have to go by bus and he spologies for the last minute change. Many thoughts go through my head at this point, the main one being 'sorry, it's probably our fault, we've jinxed it with our 'bad luck charm' that follows us around!' I feel guilty for spoiling everyone else's trip as well as ours, we'd been looking forward to this train trip for some time! Becky comes back with her coffee and when I tell her, she says what we always say - "you're joking"! "No I'm not" I say, and the little old man in front chips in with his hard luck story about having a birthday and blah, blah, blah. Well, I'm of the opinion that they wouldn't be doing this for fun or to endear themselves to us and that there really is a problem - they're not just doing it to annoy everyone. However, most of the old 'uns seem to think its deliberate and get very irate and talk about refunds and other ways of travelling. Even Becky talks about writing a strongly worded letter when we get back complaining and asking for a refund, I on the other hand am thinking I should write and apologise for our bad luck jinx affecting them!
I get on the bus while Becky goes for some breakfast as the facilities that would have been on the train are obviously not on a bus! When we get going, most people have given in and got on board as they won't be getting a refund any time soon! Apparently the problem with the train is the generator, which has started spouting oil everywhere and as this, we're told, provides the power for pretty much everything on the train, we realise that it probably wasn't going anywhere fast!
It is somewhat frustrating and taunting that we keep crossing the railway so we can see where we would have been but at least it sticks to pretty much the same route so we do get to see all the beautiful scenery! We stop pretty much hourly for 15 minute toilet stops, I guess because its all old people. We stop at some random place for a lunch break and have half an hour to shove as much in our faces as quickly as we can in order not to be left here having to find somewhere to stay or another way to Wellington!
Going through National Park, I can't help but wonder on the lack of a 'the', which would make it seem right, but its the actual name of the area and you wouldn't say 'the Saltash' I suppose, so it must be right, but it just sounds like there's something missing! The area is very up and down with lots of bends but some stunning scenery. There are a lot of chalk looking cliffs along the roadside, and for some very strange reason, they make me think of the Kaolin and Morphine medicine we used to have when I was little if I was sick and I'm pretty sure we had for my children too! The feelings these white powdery cliffs brought back was horrible and I don't even know why I thought of it but I feel quite sick now!
We go through some lovely looking towns, one of which was called Shannon, and it had a lovely old fashioned Post and Telegraph Office which caught my attention, then I saw a clothes shop called "For Frocks Sake" and i thought I could live in a place like this - this is my sense of humour! Then I saw "Owlcatraz" open daily - seemingly a refuge for Owls! As we were leaving the town there was a "Drag Racing" sign which in view of all the other signs, conjures up a picture of men dressed as ladies running around a track, probably not but I like the thought.
According to our trus (train and bus) manager, we'll arrive in Wellington about 7, a little later than planned but it could've been worse, the other bus is 1 hour 20 minutes behind (he he), we probably should've been on that one!
When we booked the hotel for tonight back home before leaving, it looked fairly close to the station and I had contemplated walking, but when we got out of the station after the journey we'd had we went for a taxi and just hoped it wouldn't be like LA again. I was starting to wonder if the taxi driver was taking us the very long way round as we went up a very residential looking street and I think we both thought 'here we go again' but then he pulled into the front of the hotel, phew!
Checked in and ready for something to eat after the very long trus journey and very early start, we try to decide whether to stay in the hotel and be lazy or walk down into Wellington. We decide it'll probably be the only bit of Wellington we'll see so give it a go and walk down to Cuba Street, out the back entrance of the hotel which took us out five levels down and closer to the town than the taxi had led us to believe - gotta love a short cut! The nice man on reception had given us a map and directions to where we would find some places to eat and we walk along the busy road, probably in the wrong direction again, and decide some of the cheap and nasty ones look too cheap and nasty. We come to a couple, one on each side of the street, that look quite nice, a little more expensive but clean and think we'd stay this side of the street and try the closer one. Probable wrong decision again but we go in, there's three tables occupied so not too busy and we get placed at a table for two and get the menus. It's Asian/Indian type food from what we can make out so we ask for water and two glasses of house red wine then settle to make our food choices. Becky orders a spicy shrimp Malaysian dish and I go for a lamb dish that has coconut and yoghurt and sounds like a korma. When we order the waiter asks if we want it mild, medium or hot and we both state 'MILD' please and some garlic naan between us, can we have our wine some time soon?
We get the wine before too long and then make conversation about the trus journey and the holiday and the places we've been and the people we've seen and just about everything we can think to talk about, when we start to realise that the three tables that were there before us are only just getting their food and then the three or four tables that came in after us are starting to get their food and still we're waiting. We've been waiting over an hour and the fact that everyone else seems to be getting their food before us is starting to really annoy us both. Becky goes to the counter to find out what happening after I say that we should just get up and walk out. The waiter pleads with her to stay and that the food is just coming and that he'll give us 50% off, and he's very sorry and his boss is in and don't go, boo hoo! She tells him she's in the same industry at home and it is just not good enough, but if the food comes out now, then ok, we'll stay.
After another five minutes, as we are about to get up and go, the food comes out and we tuck in. We try the first mouthfuls and as i eat mine, I find my mouth is actually on fire and, o-oh so's my throat. Becky says hers is really nice, so tries mine thinking I'm just being a wimp, in fact I thought I must be a wimp, but she agreed that it is really hot so when the waiter comes over to see if everything is ok, I say that it's a bit hot and I'd asked for it to be 'MILD'. He goes off to the kitchen and comes back with a pot of yoghurt which I smother on each lump of lamb and it makes it slightly easier to eat. Then the chef comes out and says its a hot dish because of the crushed chilli base, which I don't remember being in the description, and says he'll do me something else. "No, it's fine I say, I just want to eat this and go, we've waited long enough". "No, I go cook you something else" he says and again I say "No" as he scuttles back to the kitchen. Within three minutes, he's back with another dish of lamb something which he insists I eat and it is a lot less spicy and more fruity and so edible, but how did he manage to get this cooked in three minutes when it took over an hour to do the first dish? Beats me!
We finish as quickly as we can as its getting pretty late by now and we've had a long day, so when we finish we go to the till to pay and the chef puts all our costs onto the till and comes up with a total of $52+ at which point Becky tells him she's not paying for mine as we should have been told it was hot when we asked for 'MILD' and will only pay for half of hers as we were kept waiting and the drinks should be free. He says "You pay for this and that" and Becky goes back with "Is your Manager here" and he's not, but in the end we agree to pay $17 and then try to get back to the hotel, which surprisingly we find quite easily, even though it is the secret back way in. Luckily, even though the meal took a lot longer than planned, we do get back just before 11 when the secret short cut door gets locked and decide after the additional trauma, we should stop in the bar for another glass of wine before bed, thanks very much!
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