Nelson -Tosswill Road Rental Renovations and Covid 19 - Level 4 -Weeks 3 to 5

High tides and very calm days, looking across to the Western Ranges

Bill having fun lifting carpet full of staples

 Easter this year was a bit different with the Corona 19 Virus Level 4 Lockdown – pretty quiet. The weather is certainly starting to cool down, but with no wind and the autumn tints in the trees, Nelson looks stunning. We have certainly noticed the lack of traffic noise while we’ve been in lockdown which has been a wonderful plus.

Looks fun! Removing walls to make a cupboard.

Piles of wood and green waste around the back.

 We thought we’d do a bike ride out to Joan’s (Bill’s Mum) and catch up with her – from the safety of 2 meters outside her door of course. She is enjoying her walks around her neighbourhood but getting sick of her daily routine – misses even getting out to the supermarket!  Every day is feeling like a Sunday to her!

Nelson's Air New Zealand Fleet parked up 😟

Interesting projects people have taken on to do in lockdown.

 With the lack of traffic on the streets, it was a very pleasant ride. Passing Nelson Airport was a bit sad seeing all the planes parked up. I think Nelson currently has only three flights a day and less at the weekends. So quiet considering we were the 4^th busiest airport around the country – I think it will be a long time before we return to those days.

A neighbour keeps busy knitting - Easter Bunny has arrived 

We had our first Zoom Meeting experience over Easter with our three children and even their partners. It was a great catch up, such an easy App to use and see everyone. I can see why so many people  have taken to it so quickly. We are so fortunate to be living in these times technology wise.

Stairwell giving challenges

 We have continued clearing the section, now having several huge piles of green waste to get rid of as soon as we are allowed. Bill’s been cutting up firewood from the many branches we have been trimming and much of it will be suitable for the fire that may be needed soon.  We had our first coating of snow on the surrounding mountains – beautiful days followed. Although evenings are cooling especially with Bill ripping down some walls. But we are keeping the kitchen/dining room enclosed for now as it doesn’t take much heating and suits us for cooking and using the computers.
 The bathroom is a bit chilly with holes in the ceiling, missing walls and no door! Roll on level three so Bill will be able to order some materials.

Bill dealing to the Cacti

Quince are actually quite an attractive fruit
(to look at not to eat!)

Beautiful Quince Jelly 😍

Bit more snow today - Rabbit Island with no one on it 😟

Trimming the Toitoi

We have managed to order most of the bathroom items for the two bathrooms from Trade Depot online, who we have used before when we did our Christchurch rental renovations  5 years ago. But when they will actually turn up, who knows!

Nick celebrated his 30^th on the 17^th April – a pretty quiet affair with lockdown over in Western Australia too. But they do have Takeaway’s still operating and Em knowing him well – planned a couple of visits over the day to some of Nick’s favourites. Plus her parents spoiled him – it was only his NZ family that let him down.😕 Nick your Easter package still hasn’t arrived – how could a birthday package get through any quicker?? Anyway, you were the one that decided to celebrate next year – so you will always be a year younger from now on.👍

Bill’s lifted the carpet in two of the three bedrooms and stripped the painted wallpaper walls. Now I need to strip the remaining paper off them. We’ve worked on the stairwell which wasn't the easiest of rooms with its height - I stripped from the ground up to just above my head and left the rest for Bill who used his tallest ladder! I couldn’t watch. Thankfully heights don’t bother him.😵

Continuing in the garden, we now have more huge loads of green waste, plus one load on the Ute ready to go once lockdown level 4 drops to level 3. Along with most of Nelson. So many gardens have been trimmed back. The traffic noise may have dropped dramatically but there have been plenty of chainsaws operating. The cluster of cacti are down. And it didn’t take long for two of our neighbours to get in touch saying they would like some of them. They can have the lot!! And the Toitoi has had a bit of a trim to see if the hedge trimmer is going to be the best way to reduce it before getting into it with the chainsaw. It worked. But we will have to wait now till we can get rid of the waste.

One of those neighbours gave us some Quinces even though I told her I had no idea what to do with them. But you can’t use that as an excuse these days with Google. And I’m pleased she made me make it as it turned out beautiful – an amazing colour. Bill is enjoying it on his toast in the mornings.

Anzac Day was a bit different for New Zealand and Australia with the ban of gatherings due to Covid 19, but many adapted to the change and we heard some lovely stories from around the country. And Aussie - well done Rocky & Daniel.

Monday was the public holiday for Anzac Day, and being our last day at Level 4 (hopefully 🙏) we decided to do a bike ride into Nelson City where we haven’t been since January, so it was good to have a look around a very quiet city. It looked slightly shabby with the parks and road verges not having been mowed but I’m sure it won’t take long to bring it all back to its former beauty.

Roll on Level 3 where hopefully Bill can get some building materials, get rid of our green waste and rubbish and for me to buy some trees.