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| Not so little Girls with their Daddy 😂 |
We had moved into Vicki & Trevor's for the last couple of days of ownership of Tosswill Road, while Bill & Trevor sorted the last bits and pieces. Vicki was away to her parents up north and Trevor was heading off to Christchurch to help Michele & Nathan in their new house with curtains, etc. It was good timing to have the use of their house with Rocky and Lenny's expected arrival.
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| Bill & Rod heading out for our dinner |
With the Bus parked up at Tahunanui Dr, actually at the bottom of the driveway, Bill had time to sort new batteries for the Bus after our house batteries had been struggling for a bit. My arm was still limiting me a bit, very hard to keep it still with moving house and packing the sleepout once again! Walking was more painful than I had expected - so I'm still needing the sling. But it's early days. Hopefully another week before Rocky arrives out with Lenny, for a bit more recovery.
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| Lake Rotoiti |
But first Bill & I had five nights over Golden Bay, which included a day out fishing for Bill & Rod (my arm preventing me this time, hopefully next time) - so it was nice fresh snapper for dinner at Rod & Annes in Ligar Bay. From here we headed over to Marfells Beach in Marlborough via a night at Lake Rotoiti. We found a new park over place at the lake, perfect for walking the trails. But it was a bit grey and gloomy, so one night was enough in the mist. We had the Bus serviced the day before we went to the lake driving through the beautiful Moutere Valley. Everything was so lush, especially all the hops.
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| Four generations of Tylers |
Marfells was pretty quiet which was lovely and allowed us to park up on our favourite elevated camp spot. We managed a walk out to Cape Campbell Lighthouse, which is easy at any tide these days since the uplift of land along the coast with the Kaikoura earthquake. Then it was back to Nelson, via Lake Rotoiti again and Pippa & Johns in Tasman for a long overdue catch up. Onto Redwood Stables to park up the Bus for three & half weeks while Rochelle is home with Lenny.
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| One of Restores Entertainment centers |
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| Vicki showing Lenny her granddaughter 💜 |
Lenny traveled well for Rochelle on her 7 hour flight from Perth to Auckland, and then the connecting 1 1/2 hr flight to Nelson. Fellow travelers and Air NZ staff were very helpful to make it a smooth trip for them both. The only issue initially was the 5-hour time difference, and wee Lenny's internal clock struggled for a few days, as we all do. We had borrowed most of the required baby gear, but Retore did well with the entertainment centers. 😂
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| Ligar Bay ready for a walk |
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| Wainui Falls |
Four nights were booked over in Ligar Bay at Rod & Anne's Bach, to give V&T a break before they headed down to Christchurch to await the arrival of their second Granddaughter. We dropped into Riwaka for a coffee on our way through for Lenny to meet her second cousins Lily & Daisy. Over the hill we caught up with Jana and her three children and did the walk up to the Wainui Falls. Rocky on our last night unfortunately woke up 5am feeling sick and unable to be sick (something her Nana Joan and Shannon share) passed out on her way to the toilet. Huge crash as she dropped to the floor, she was very lucky only to get a fat lip! That day we just took it easy but had to return to Nelson. Thankfully Lenny was quite used to us by this time as Rocky was only up to feeding and sleeping. We called into the Anitoki Salmon Farm on the way, and Bill caught his biggest Salmon ever! Just over $100 worth with the value adding hot smoke- glad it was his first fish and not a second 😂.
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| What a whopper! |
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| Cool in our shades |
I dropped Bill at airport the next morning to fly to Auckland for a PO Reunion - it was 40 odd years since Bill had caught up with some of the Guys. He was surprised how old some had got! Unfortunately, not well organised, so Mark & Bill returned to Mark's at a civilised hour. They had been lucky to make the event after some issues sorting their Bus & Ferry route.
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| 40 Years!💕 |
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| All tuckered out |
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| Lenny's first bus ride & Mum with split lip |
Joan was pleased to see Rocky, when we dropped in with Lenny a couple of times although she was surprised to see she had a baby. Bill & I also celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with Rocky & Lenny - a tasty lunch at Grape Escape. The weather was perfect, and the spring flush and scents of the flowers added to the ambiance. Lenny had her first bus ride when Rocky & I took the public bus to town. So easy to push pram on and off the new electric Bus, which bows down to you. We had a pleasant morning shopping and looking around Nelson between Lenny feeding and napping. Rocky got three swimsuits - she's now ready for summer.
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| Sarah & John, Rocky, Bill & Lenny |
Our children's God Parents and good friends John & Sarah came over to Nelson from Wellington, for the weekend to do a spiritual blessing of Lenny down on Tahunanui beach. It was a lovely weekend to catch up with them, the weather was perfect. And they enjoyed their catchup with Nelson and other friends from their time living here 15 years ago.
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| Enjoying the flowers and Nelson sunshine😎 |
Bill had another PO catch up, this time in Nelson. it was only a year since he last saw these local Guys, so there wasn't too much change in them. We also had a Tyler catchup for Bill's Family to meet Lenny and for Lenny to meet her second cousin Elliott.
The weather was very warm while R&L were over, so we were able to get out for walks most days. Lenny enjoys the front pack and was quite happy to go off to sleep. We had Lenny in the bucket of water to keep her cool and bathe her, but she's still a little bit little and kept floating. 😁GrandBill was very good showering her, special bonding time for them both. Taking Bill back to the times he showered our babies.
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| Some on milk, others having wine & cocktails |
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| Shannon got her smiles & cuddles |
Shannon flew over from Wellington for the last weekend of R&L's visit, to have time with us all - really lovely. Shannon & AC had flown to Perth for two weeks a couple of weeks prior, to meet their new nieces for the first time and see Ophelia again. Lenny had been a bit clingy to Mum while they were over, so Shannon was hoping she might get a cuddle or two this weekend. The weather played its part so we could enjoy a couple of cocktails and wines in Nelson City. I thought we'd go to the Cathedral for Christmas carols but missed the memo on ticket admissions only, and it was booked out😑. Sunday, we headed down to the Sprig & Fern for lunch before Bill /Shannon / Rocky relived their childhood with rides on the Miniature Railway. Joan, Lenny & I watched from the sideline. Well, Lenny slept actually. Shannon flew out late afternoon ending a lovely weekend together. Bill also managed to sell his Ute at the end of the weekend, (The Green Gremlin no longer required) to a savvy buyer, skilled in negotiating, and both parties believing they got a great deal 😂
Early December, the Christmas decorations are out and about in the city. We did some Christmas shopping with Rocky, and she managed to get a photo of Lenny on Santa's knee without her realising she was on a strange red man's knee! A double hair appointment for Rocky & I (I was trying to go grey, but not quite ready for the change! Perhaps in my 70's 😉) - it was too soon for Lenny to have her's done.
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| Lenny & Santa |
And then all too soon, it was time for Rochelle and Lenny to head home. Not wanting to feel too down at their departure, we emptied out of Vicki & Trevor's, packed up the Bus, and moved onto Motueka for the Bus to have its annual service the next morning. The Salvation Army finished the day beautifully with Christmas Carols in the NZMCA park. They were very switched on and knew to come after happy hour, but a very worthy cause. Time to head south for a two-week tour before Christmas.
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| Taking over the Bannings Holly & Hanna dropped in too |
