We 're counting: February 2024

Sunday, 25 February 2024

Christmas 2023 - Home in Nelson 🎄

Family photo 💕 - thanks Hamish

For the first time in fifteen years, all the Family were home for Christmas. How excited was Sheryl? Nick & Em flew into New Zealand two weeks before Christmas, taking a week coming down from Auckland, catching up with cousin Paull & Marta in Tauranga and to show our lovely country off to Em.

Ophelia quite happy in the Bus

They arrived in Nelson the same day as Rocky. I met Rocky at the airport and Bill drove to Picton to pick up N&E. A very emotional day. Rocky had already shared her news that she was having a baby (big shock to her and Daniel!) with Bill & I. So when N&E shared their news that they were having another wee one in the new year we were over the moon. Can't say that was exactly Rocky's emotion at the time. I think this is why pregnancies are the length they are - to allow women time to adjust to the thought they are about to be a Mum. All going well, the births should be close to each other, July / August 2024.

Able Tasman Lookout

One night at home before heading over to Golden Bay ( Ligar Bay) to have a few nights at Rod & Anne's Bach while Rocky & Nick relived all their childhood memories of our holidays over there and show Em beautiful Golden Bay. The Bach was a perfect set up for our day tripping and lovely to take Ophelia over the road to the beach.

On our return to Nelson, Shannon and AC were already settled in, a big surprise for Rocky who gets upset when her sister arrives Christmas Eve or Christmas day! So we had a few days before Christmas to make the most of the beautiful weather and all being back in Nelson. S&A were out in her old room - the sleepout. Rocky had her old room. E&N and Ophelia had our room. Bill & I were happily out in the Bus for the period, everyone was home. Daniel turned up two days after Christmas, so I was able to get the Family photo before people started heading off in different directions.

Wharariki Beach

It was a lovely relaxed Christmas. Nick had tested positive for Covid the day before, so we didn't socialise with Bill's extended family. Sadly, poor Joan got it at the Rest Home just before Christmas too, so it was pretty quiet for her as well. And with two of the four women pregnant, and Nick on zero beer, it wasn't a boozy affair either. Shannon and AC did have one or two drinks with Bill and I. 😊

Moutere Hills Vineyard for lunch

It was a wonderful 3 weeks, being able to catch up with cousins as well. Simon, Nicki & Family joined us on a trip into the Able Tasman for the day. Paull and Marta also came down staying with us for a few nights and also with Simon & Nicki. It was a lovely family time, of course Bill and I thoroughly enjoying all our cuddles with Ophelia. She loved coming out to the Bus and pressing every button possible 😂. A wonderful way to start the new year - welcome 2024.

Bill listening to a big story

Who needs fancy toys?
GrandBill's old phones.

Australian Cows!

Tata Beach with Jana & Drew & Family

Playing on Ligar Beach

Rabbit Island with Banning's, Tyler's & Nicholas's

Em, Joan, Nick & Ophelia

Getting ready to head into the Able Tasman

Ophelia loved the choppy sea!

Time out for lunch with the Nicholas's.

Aunty sorting O's hair.

Shannon playing Aunty to Roxie

Simon, Paull and Daniel

Bill with Marta & Rocky

AC & I deciding not to have a swim

The Girls in the Bus

And the Boys😂

Spring in Nelson

Patarau Beach Northern End

Our big focus for the next couple of months is on the gardens. And small maintenance / renovation jobs, to have the house tidy and ready for Christmas.

A much needed water blasting of the deck

I was somewhat limited with my wrist & shoulder still recovering. So Bill was on the bulk of the work. Under supervision of course 😆. And I did cook as well. I managed the new water blaster, and cleaned up the deck and stucco sides, ready for painting. Bill got up onto the high jobs with his trusty Ute, and painted the worst gable end of the house.

New Library

He also got on with his small project of building a "Library" behind the door in the hallway. He liked the way Shannon had planned and got him to build her unit. So on a smaller scale, he has built his library. It's come out very good, although I am worried it is going to become a "clutter corner" 😬.

Jill, Julie, Bill, Steve & I in Havelock

Spring started with a day trip to Havelock, catching up with old friends Julie, Steve and Jill. They had flown to the South Island from Auckland to do two train rides - The Tranz Alpine and the Coastal Pacific, before crossing back over to the North Island to complete their train adventures traveling on the Northern Explorer home. It was a wet day but perfect for a catch up at the Slip Inn Havelock for a lovely meal and chat with the fire going. They were staying at Picton, so it was halfway to catch up with each other as we were getting ready to head away to the West Coast the next day.

Sculptures along the Kawateri Trail

Tauranga Bay - West Coast

Don McGlashan was touring New Zealand, his Spring Tour, playing mostly in smaller towns. We looked online at Golden Bay, but unfortunately all sold out! Central Otago - all sold out! West Coast mostly sold out, but wonderfully a few tickets left in Karamea. So we caught up with fellow motorhomer's Denise & John, and made a plan to do a bit of a West Coast Tour first and then go to the concert, unfortunately Denise had a health issue so they couldn't come, so we got in touch with West Coasters Sarah & Shane to see if they wanted to join us. Happily they did.

Time to put up the sail

Bill & I headed down there and caught up with Sarah & Shane at their home in Charleston, where they were full on with some accommodation developments, so couldn't get away as early as us. Thus we made a plan to meet up in Karamea in time for the concert. Bill and I headed off to Kohaihai, one of our favourite DOC camps and where Bill can usually have a fire on the beach. A favourite activity.

Bill's happy place

The concert was held at the new Karamea Area School's Pulse Energy Centre Hall - ideal venue for this concert. Don played with Anita Clark aka Motte from Lyttleton, who held her own with her violin. A great night after dining at the local hotel.

Then it was back to the Hotel in the morning for breakfast to watch rugby - NZ vs Italy, before heading back to Westport for the night. Then on home to Nelson the next day. A bit of a wet trip, but enough sunshine for a few walks and bikes rides. It was a good break from gardens.

WOW - an amazing night once again.

We weren't home for long before we flew over to Wellington for a week, to attend WOW with Shannon, a girls night out. The night we arrived in Wellington, Shannon & AC took us to Wellington's Space Place Planetarium, where Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was playing, celebrating it's 50th year, while we sat in the planetarium and watched the night sky getting immersed with the surround sound and visual affects. Bill and I enjoyed it so much, we returned a couple of days later to watch Capcom Go - The Apollo Story - 50 years since 11 astronauts landed on the moon. Will keep an eye out on future events there.

Poppies in the Wairarapa

With our Gold Cards, we were able to get easily around Wellington and the Miramar Peninsula, combining travel and walking to look around. We also did the walking tour around Wellington's Waterfront - a great way to learn the history of the waterfront. Shannon managed some time off to take us over the Rimutaka Hill and into the Waiarapa to Poppies Vineyard for a lovely lunch and wine, travelling in S&A's new hybrid car. The interactive car screen kept Bill entertained most of the trip. 😉

Caught up with Nephews & Families at Brewtown, and John out at Ohau (Sarah in Australia). Also lunch with cousin Sandra, before returning to Wellington using our Gold Cards on the train. A relaxing way to travel.

Relaxing with Rod after a big day fishing.

Returning to Nelson, we decided to extend the tenancy up at Tosswill Road as the property market was still pretty quiet. We have a lovely American couple in there, who were keen to stay on till the end of January 2024. Perfect. Less of a worry till then.

We had another trip over to Ligar Bay with Rod this time, in his Moon Boot, but quite mobile and had a perfect day out on the water, catching 12 snapper and watching dolphins in the bay up close. They are such graceful creatures.

Spring at Paddy's Knob

Our 39th wedding anniversary passed quietly while working around the property cleaning / trimming trees and painting. Will have to make an effort next year! 🤞. But the following week, we did get over to Totaranui with Vicki & Trevor for a few beautiful days camping and then over to Bill's & my favourite beach, Patarau River Mouth. Tides and weather were perfect for walking along the beach. Well, almost perfect, it was a bit windy one day. But still warm and sunny. Only one other motorhome, not a busy time yet. Bill caught a Kahawai off the beach, a good sized one too. With no internet, we had to guess how to process the raw fish in coconut milk and lemon juice. Bill did well, it was pretty delicious. It was nice to share with our neighbours who were Farmers from Methven.

Been a while since the gazebo's been cleaned.

Heading home to Nelson, we stopped and had a night in Riwaka at Simon & Nicki's. I had real lawn envy with Simon's beautiful lush green lawns. Hopefully mine will look like that next year. And hopefully theirs will be too, after the new family member arrives - Roxie, their cute wee puppy. Nice catching up with their Girls who are getting taller & taller, while their great aunt gets shorter 😕.

Kahawai at Patarau River Mouth

Carrying on home to continue preparing for everyone coming home for Christmas- Shannon & AC, Rocky (Daniel will arrive after Christmas), Nick and Em, and of course our gorgeous wee granddaughter Ophelia.💕. The first time at the Family home in 15 years.🎉🎄

Bill improvised scaffolding!

Looking across Cape Foulwind.

Winter back in Nelson & a few breakages

Shannon joining us in Hanmer

After returning to Nelson from Central Otago and the autumn colours, we were ready to settle in for the winter. Our Tenants had left us with quite a bit of firewood, along with what we had already cut up, plus firewood from Vicky & Trevor. We should have plenty to get through the winter.

Bill the Arborist 😄

As we still hadn't sold the rental, we didn't have the funds to start any renovations at Tahunanui Drive. So we stayed focused on the gardens recovering our view after 9 years of little trimming out the front. Bill was in his happy place, sorting through his container and shed. Well. Half a shed, as we used the other half to enlarge the sleepout for storage before we headed away. I sorted through the gear/clothes we had stored in the sleepout before bringing it back into the house.

Plenty of trimming is required

We had decluttered before leaving in 2014. Now it was time to be more ruthless.

Across the road, where once was our local social club, The Suburban Club which unfortunately got into financial difficulty, is now a fantastic Restore Store run by Habitat for Humanity. That's great for dropping off stuff and finding stuff. Its like having a haberdashery / DIY / furniture store on our doorstep. As we were unloading our extras, we picked up a bed and freezer, which we needed to host visitors. My bargain for winter was a lovely red woollen coat -$30!

Margaret & Alan & Bill at Anatori Salmon Farm

Joan home to us for lunch

Visitors over winter were cousin Kevin's Deb from Napier, and then Margaret and Alan, down from Auckland with their motorhome. We joined them for a few relaxing days over Golden Bay. Plenty of lunches with Joan once again, now we have a home we can bring her back to. A change from the Rest Home.

Late May Bill's mate Rod fell off his Bach's balcony and broke one leg and damaged the other one. Eight weeks in a boot, living in a central Nelson motel courtesy of ACC as he was unable to return home, we played a few card games / Qwerkle and took a few meals over to break the boredom and help Anne.

Charmaine's Studio - a Family package 😂

Then, at the beginning of July I stepped backwards down some steps in the carport, breaking my wrist. After a week of thinking it was sprained, I went to the Doctor. It was x-rayed! Five weeks in plaster! Bill's life changed. All housework/ my hair (he got very good at ponytails)/cooking / lawns plus all his own jobs. We had a family outing with Bill's Mum to my hairdresser. As I normally cut Bill's hair, poor Charmaine had to do mine, Joan's and Bill's. Great service Charmaine.

Mid July, we did a trip to Christchurch. Catching up with Helen and Ralph and doing a bit of shopping before picking Shannon and AC up at the airport. They flew down for Matariki and the following week, to work from home in Nelson. After lunch in Lyttleton and a bit of reminiscing Shannon's 21st and Uni days, we headed to Hanmer for the weekend. Staying in "Luxury Accommodation" that Shannon had organised, it was lovely and relaxing.

Lucky, I can still hold
a wine glass 🍷

Returning to Nelson, AC headed to Auckland after hearing of his Grandmother's passing and planned funeral. Shannon being able to work out of the Nelson Office, was able to stay on and enjoy the change of scenery from Wellington. We were able to indulge in our first born in the evenings.

Early August, it was Trevor's turn to break a limb - throwing himself over his bank (well not exactly but sounds more exciting than just falling down his bank) and ended up in two moon boots. So Bill's services were very much in demand helping three of us.

Dining room chairs needed to be reupholstered.
Small renovation job we could complete.

Winter passed quickly with gardening/walks/ bikes rides (before breaking my wrist)/ Nelson's new EBus's (fantastic and free with our Gold Cards). We had a couple of days away over Golden Bay - Ligar Bay at Rod and Anne's Bach. Checking camera batteries and mouse traps. A nice change of scenery for us. Bill also had a bit of maintenance to do on the Bus (rust in the door) and his Ute after it failed its WOF with a bit of panel/rust work too.

Evenings he got on and scanned his Family's childhood slides. Then started on our many photo albums. Lots of memories. Plenty to keep him out of trouble over the winter. I found plenty of books down at Restore to keep me entertained.

Our beautiful view recovered and cool to look at ⛄

Late August my wrist was recovering well but my arm was painfully aching, particularly in bed. I even started sleeping sitting up. My lovely physio Suze (our neighbour at Tosswill Rd) sent a referral to the hospital after a scan showed a tear in the rotator cuff of my shoulder. I had a cortisone injection from my Doctor to stop the pain - how wonderful that was. Long may it last. And as a result of seeing the Surgeon, I now have an operation approved by ACC sometime I feel the need in the next 10 years! Wow! Hopefully the cortisone and exercises to build up other muscles, keep the pain away as the operation can take up to 12 months to recover!

Ophelia's 1st birthday 💕

Our Granddaughter turned one early September and had just started walking a few weeks earlier. A party at her home was organised with other Family & Friends. Technology has been fantastic to allow us to keep up with all Ophelia's changes, and do a weekly chat with her (well her parents really). Can't wait to see her at Christmas.