Finally into Australia

Sunset in Perth

Rocky & Nick happy to see Dad 

 As the time drew closer for our trip to  Aussie, I was becoming more anxious that it wasn't going to happen. What with Covid cases increasing in NZ (dreading another lock down) and weather conditions delaying flights (Fog)! But thankfully none of the above happened. We had a lovely week isolating on our way to Christchurch at Marfell's Beach and then into Christchurch to store the Bus & Car for the next three months.

First celebration with Rocky at N&E's🍷

Rugby watching with Nick

Bill in his happy place at Nicks 💕
And no Graeme - the Aussies aren't using him as
a bike rack 😆

Kindly Helen & Ralph put us up for the night before flying out to Auckland to catch our connecting flight to Perth - with only an hour between flights, I was a bit concerned about any delay but it all flowed well and we flew out just after mid day with a fly time of over 7 hours then an hour to transit the border controls we were as the Aussies often say "tuckered" when Rocky & Nick met us on arrival. Having driven up the 3 hours from Dunsborough - our home base for the next three months. It was soooo wonderful to see them after two and a half years. They drove us back after we stretched our legs from our 7 hour confinement and had a bite to eat. And a little nap in the back of the car during the trip back down the coast . Nick dropped us off at Rocky & Daniels and headed to his home. It had been a long day with us up at 5:30 am in Christchurch and though 4 hours earlier in Perth it was after 2am NZT when we finally got to bed .

Pizza time with Em & Daniel& Rocky

R&D are currently renting but have bought a new home which they move into next month. Exciting👏 And Nick & Em have already moved into their new home, so it was lovely to have dinner there the next day/night. Also sadly to watch the All Blacks loose to Ireland. But great pizza's Nick 🍕. Nick has generously offered us a loan of his Toyota FJ a brutish 4wd concept vehicle for us to get around in while over here. Hopefully we can afford the fuel (being only marginally less expensive in AU)- may have to swap with you Rocky 😉. At least with Rocky working at a Winery (Swings & Roundabouts) and Nick at a Brewery (The Beer Farm) we can at least afford the drinks!

Two Dinosaurs & Rocky on her birthday

Our first week has been low key, just getting familiar with the area once again - Dunsborough is at the base of a peninsular with a population of only 11,000 residence but lots of holiday homes so trebling the population over summer - lots of beautiful beaches and walks (which we are hoping to do over the coming weeks). Met Daniel's sister Carla & friend Sally who popped down from Perth for a couple of nights. Celebrated Rocky's 34th birthday one day and out for dinner the next just to ensure we celebrated plenty - definitely a dinosaur theme going on (Rocky just doesn't seem to be getting any older ). We gave her & Daniel a breadmaker,  Rocky being celiac buys very expensive and not great tasting bread. Also we thought we'd benefit from making our own bread while here just like home.

Weather has been cool/sunny and showery

With N&E living only around the corner, it's very handy to be able to catch up and see each other, particularly with Baby only 6 weeks away now. Em goes on maternity leave at the end of this week and her parents arrive from Perth for a couple of weeks too as there are a few celebrations to celebrate. More on this in the next Blog.

House building is quite different to NZ
(Toilets are the same 😂)

Early morning walk with N&E

Climbing into the Brute