Nelson in Autumn

Lunchtime on Rabbit Island with the Nelson Kayak Club

We returned to our Apartment (Sleepout) at the beginning of April for what we thought would be a month’s stopover to get our home (now a Rental) and Rochelle’s rental up to standard to meet the Insulation regulations required by 1^st July 2019. Our ceilings didn’t meet the new standards and we had no underfloor insulation at all. So it has been a full on 4 weeks for Bill completing both properties (amazing how he could fit his svelte body into some of those cavities!) It's been great for his inner core but not for his back!

Circumnavigating Rabbit Island

Bill's new home??

Bit of trimming required out the back 😉

But it’s not been all work – we have been able to socialise at the weekends leaving our Tenants in peace while they are home. Our first weekend home, we got out with the Nelson Kayak Club and circumnavigated Rabbit Island in perfect conditions. There was a good turnout of 11 kayaks (2x doubles) - it was a great to catch up with fellow paddlers, new and old members. It was also the first sign Winter was on its way with a light coating of snow on the Mountains in the Western Ranges.

Bill emerging from under the house. Again!!

We have been getting out on our bikes, which are great now that they have been converted to E bikes – particularly coming up our driveway. Once we are down our driveway it is flat out to Richmond or around the Port and into Nelson. And Nelson’s Great Taste Cycle Trail is wonderful to get around on and avoid the noise and congestion of busy roads.

Lovely sunset at our usual spot Queen's Reserve
(Vicki & Trevor with her Aunt Sandy & Brian)

It has been 12 months since we were last home so the gardens needed their annual trim. Around the house the Tenants look after the property pretty well. And with us getting the Leaf Company (Johnny) in to help keep the driveway trimmed back, plus when we are home, comes up and works with us to recover our views and keep everything under control. The grounds are in a pretty good state considering we have been on the road 4 ½ years now.

Bit of a close call!
Got my timing wrong with my pies 😩

Lovely walk out on the Spit at Tahunanui Beach

Spot the Elves! In the mist on Takaka Hill

Bill supervising the Power Contractor

We had an issue with our power supply cable coming into the house just before we headed away on the road, with the cable arcing in damp conditions – the Serviceman at the time told us we needed to replace the cable – but thankfully we have got away till now before it was required. With our Tenants away for 4 nights in the school holidays their timing was perfect to come and remove the old cable, replacing it with a thicker more insulated one. Will certainly see us out! Bill had to sign an unpriced contract form – so fingers crossed it doesn’t come back and break the bank!!

This activity drew Bill’s attention to the spouting around the back of the house and realised he has learnt a lot in 25 years and young Bill wasn’t quite up to older Bill’s standards today. It was off with the spouting, barge boards painted and spouting restored back up a few days later, positioned much better. Just another job that wasn’t on the list this time around.

Easter we moved around to friends Vicki & Trevor’s home as they headed off to a family event in Christchurch (happy 60^th Tony) – this left our Tenants in peace for the long weekend.

A little job grown into a big job 😏

Another sunset at Queens Reserve
Shannon and AC and Joan

Joan (Bill’s Mum) joined us for a couple of the nights to feel like she had a little holiday too. The Autumnal weather has been lovely and dry, so the colours in our deciduous trees are looking stunning around Nelson. With the blue skies and sea, it certainly is a beautiful part of the country to live in and when we feel we are ready to settle once again, we will be more than happy to return to Nelson.

We had a 50^th wedding anniversary to attend on Easter Sunday ( I know! Who makes 50 years!!) – working on the figures we realised Anne and Rod must have been really young when they married – but not really – they just look fabulous for their ages J

But before we headed off to that we had a lovely day out with nephew Simon, Nicki and their girls from Riwaka. Although it was a wet misty day, it was perfect for a walk on the top of the Takaka Hill in country that looks like it is straight out of a Fairy and Elf landscape, and the mist just added to that scene. After a 2 hour hike around the hills we returned to S&N’s for a lovely late but warm lunch. As they now own their home, it is exciting times as they make many alterations to turn it into a lovely family home in an area they settled into 6 years ago after leaving Auckland. Great move Guys

Had lunch at Mapua - time to head home

Beautiful views of Tasman from just off the cycle way

Beautiful Autumn colours at
Myatzu Gardens

We also caught up with my brother Allan & Nicky and Friends (all from Auckland) who were visiting and enjoying what Nelson had to offer over the Easter break. Hope you Guys enjoyed our wonderful region – you certainly crammed a lot into your few days in town.

It’s been a good time to catch up with local family too – a lovely dinner with Bill’s brother Ian and Trudy at their place and then with Shannon and AC as they passed through Nelson on their way back to Wellington after a week in Golden Bay where Shannon had been showing AC places she enjoyed from our many camping holidays over there. Lovely to see it is still a special place for her.

We celebrated Johnny’s birthday with a bike ride on the Great Taste Cycle Trail from their home in Tasman to Mapua – it’s an excellent trail and great most of it is off road or if it isn’t, it’s very quiet back roads. We passed a lot of properties in Ruby Bay still being repaired after the storm damage from February 2018. Not many avoided those damaging seas. It was good to see Mapua very busy with cyclists travelling to and from Rabbit Island on the Ferry – lots of families. Pippa and John met up with family and a few friends we haven’t seen for a while.

Interesting! What is hiding in here?

As I said earlier, the list of jobs seem to keep growing particularly with a major one being a crack that appeared down our driveway which we noticed last year when we were home. Better to sort it now before we lose that part of the driveway to the neighbours on the downhill side. With the help of a Digger (and Operator) and mate Trevor for a day, he has got it ready for the concrete truck tomorrow. Thankfully the weather has played it’s part and kept everything dry.

Good catching up Pippa as always

So the four weeks has grown into seven by the time we move on later this month to Christchurch. We (mainly Bill) will need some R&R after all the activity that has been keeping him busy while in Nelson.