Happy New Year 2021

Kohatu Cafe

Just before the end of 2020 brother Allan & partner Nicky called in and stayed for a few days on their way home to Auckland after having Christmas in Hanmer. It was lovely to see the new year in with them and enjoy a few days relaxing and away from the renovations.

Nelson's Maitai River Trail

They hired bikes and once again we did the Kohatu to Nelson section of the Great Taste Trail which was as good as the first time we did it back in October with Graeme, Claire & Wendy. It is a lovely way to see some of our countryside.

The Gib Lifter has been a great tool.

We also took Joan along with A&N into Nelson City on the high tide to walk the River Trail - very pleasant walk around our small city. 

Joan's pretty excited with her mode of
transport.

Soon after they left we headed over to Wellington taking Joan to see Shannon and AC's new home. When I made the booking for the ferry, Joan had been physically better back then and we thought it would be a good trip for her. But after a couple of falls, one breaking a hip, she had lost a lot of confidence and strength. So we decided to still go ahead with the trip but took Joan in a wheel chair to allow us to move quicker. Well did she get the VIP treatment from Bluebridge Ferries! They took us onto the Ferry first in Picton and organised a taxi to collect us off the ferry once we arrived at the Wellington terminal. Joan was a bit surprised with some of the mode of transport but we told her to enjoy it as it was at no extra cost 😂.

AC, Shannon and Bill chillaxing

We had 5 lovely days away - Wellington is great on a sunny day. We managed to get out for small walks everyday with Joan as well as had some quality time with S&A. Their new home has stunning views out over Evans Bay and of course watching the planes is great entertainment!

Back in Nelson it was back into the renovations - Bill had pulled down all the old ceiling in the lounge/dining areas and was now putting up the new gib,  I got out into the garden and finished sorting the grounds to get my grasses planted. Now I just need them to grow fast.

Around Evans Bay Waterfront

Bill celebrated another birthday near the end of January. Vicki & Trevor joined us at the Speights Ale House for a lovely meal and a drink or two. Most enjoyable.

My little garden project.
This was where the massive Toitoi was.

All planted out - they just need to grow.

Enjoying lunch with V&T

Who got the biggest!😏

 

Christmas 2020 - Tasman

 🎄December arrived before we knew it, and of course it's the best time to put the Christmas tree up. As we were having Christmas with Pippa & John & Annabelle at their home in Tasman , I joined Pippa & Annabelle out at Eyebright to help select the perfect Christmas tree. Unfortunately a hundred other people had already been out there before us and selected the other perfect trees - but we still managed to select a pretty good looking one all the same. 

Claiming our tree 

I was into my last month of relieving out at Stuart Drummond Transport, the time had gone super quick. Bill had managed to continue the renovations quite well without me. Including organising a digger in to prep the driveway and make it a bit more versatile. So after engaging a surveyor to come up and peg out the boundary, he was able to get the digger with operator to remove the corner of what divided us from our front neighbour, and open the entrance of our property. Quite surprising how much land was gained, which hopefully will make turning much easier.

At the same time, the digger was also able to clear out the far end of the section and prepare a patio area which I'll show photos of in the next Blog......

Removal of bamboo and concrete
so much easier with a little digger

With working at Stuart Drummonds up until Christmas, we made it to the Christmas Function which was a lot of fun for Drivers / Office Staff and Bill. The afternoon was spent at the Go Cart Track where quite burly Drivers showed of their competitive natures. I was a bit worried for Bill but he managed to survive. I thankfully had the task of babysitting Tamara's wee one while she jumped in a cart to join the crew. It was a lot of fun, if not a bit risky for the Boss if too many Drivers sustained injury. But luckily only one cracked some ribs. 😉

Early December festive events were alive and well 😍 :a package turned up for me at work - Rocky had warned me she had sent a package to open before Christmas. So I text her to say we would Zoom later and open it in front of her and Daniel.

Really opened up the corner of the property

We set ourselves up and just started opening the box when Rocky exclaimed something wasn't right! That wasn't her package we were about to open!! Inside were a lot of small gifts beautifully wrapped and with names we had no idea who they were. The Box had Rocky's declaration and our name & address on the front - but the sender wasn't her. The next day she contacted the sender and they discovered her gifts had come to us and Rocky's had gone to England! The Post Office had got the declarations on the wrong boxes. I forwarded the box of gifts I had received onto England to the correct receiver in time for Christmas and we left Rocky's gift to us (Christmas decorations from KMart to brighten our renovations up) in England. I just hope they appreciated all the love that had gone into Rocky's gift! 

Christmas morning with the Tristram's

We packed our Bus up for Christmas Eve and headed off to Pippa & Johns for a couple of nights. Just as well as there was a bit of construction to be done once Annabelle went to sleep - new Bunk Bed lovingly made by her Grandad and a Trampoline. Kept everyone quite busy Christmas Eve.

Sleeping outside we weren't woken too early and once the curtains were open Annabelle came out and shared some of her presents with us. 

After a delicious breakfast it was off to Rabbit Island for lunch and to meet up with friends that had just moved up to Nelson from Christchurch with their two wee girls. Kim's Mum Marg, an old friend from when our children were babies, also came up from Christchurch to join everyone. It was a lovely relaxed day. Bill's younger brother Neil brought Joan out to join us too. It was a lovely day. Finished off back at the Tristram's with lovely pizza's in the pizza oven. Perfect John 😋

Bill enjoying the Fairy

Rabbit Island Christmas Day
With Marg and Family & the Tristrams.

Joan enjoying a nice wine from her 
Grandchildren

Ending 2020 - What a year it has been!

Lovely sunset over Tasman Bay

I'm surprised to read the last Post I wrote was back in September! The year had got away on us. With working back at Stuart Drummond's 5 days a week and Bill continuing on the renovations by himself (with the occasional hand from Trevor 😉), the days certainly speed by. And of course with daylight saving, it was wonderful having the long evenings. Before we knew it Christmas was here.

Third bedroom almost
completed 👍

We've had visitors to entertain as well, giving us a break too from our daily grind. Brother Graeme & Claire and friend Wendy were our first guests to test out the bathrooms and basic bedrooms, We moved back into the Bus for their stay. We managed a couple of days out riding the great Taste Trail, which apart from the wind, was a great way to show off Nelson.

Bedroom with old window in place

 

Elder brother Wayne & Kate had a flying visit staying down the road at the same time, so it was great to catch up for a couple of meals.

Trevor & Bill now have ranchslider in 👏

Lovely and sunny bedroom

 

Old kitchen doors about to come out.

Old school friend Julie & Steve came down from Auckland for a couple of weeks to do the Able Tasman while we have limited International visitors in the country and then a look around the Marlborough Sounds. We managed to spend some time at the weekends with them, dropping them off at the beginning of the Able Tasman Park on their only fine day of their 5 day walk sadly. But hey, they're Aucklanders so they are use to the wet! Or were before Auckland started having it's water shortages! We joined them once they came out of the Park and had an enjoyable weekend in Golden Bay.

Claire, Bill, Graeme, Me & Wendy
Kohatu Cafe

Crossing the Brightwater Bridge

And as life works out it's either famine or feast with catching up with friends. All these visitors arrived one after the other. Our next Guests who didn't stay with us as J&S were still with us and the section wasn't flat enough for their motorhome, Margaret & Alan (Shannon's In-Laws - AC's parents) had a couple of days in Nelson before continuing their brief South Island Travels. We met up with them the following weekend at Hanmer, then Kaikoura and Marfell's Beach.  It was lovely to be away in our Motorhome even if it was only for 3 nights. Look forward to next year hopefully getting back on the road at some point.🤞 

Julie & Steve at the start of the Able Tasman Park

Great catch Steve
(So did Julie but this was the better photo 😆

Beautiful Kaikoura Bay

Marfells Beach with Alan & Margaret

Old ceiling down in the lounge

Covid 19 August - 6 Years on the Road: Work and Renovations Continue

 

Fine dining at our Rental😆

I can't believe another month has flown by once again. Hard to keep up with! And unreal that it was 6 years ago we packed up and left Nelson (27th August 2014). Although we are currently back in Nelson at our rental property, living on a construction site and back working 5 days a week - I'm looking forward to returning to our travels again in the new year - hopefully our Bus is keen too.

 Think Bill is too 🤞🤞

Doors going nowhere but nicely painted!

And then ......... there was Bill 😄

The main bathroom has been Bills main focus for the past month and it's looking great. Just waiting on a window and power. He's also had quite a few other jobs on the go at the same time so he doesn't run out of work to do. He's been getting the old joinery ready to pull out which is a bit of a mission as the bricks were put up after the previous joinery was put in - not as simple as initially thought! But after many nights of thinking about the problem, he thinks he has a method. Hope so as the joinery is due to arrive early September.

A start on the ensuite

The weather has certainly got milder - although still having the odd snow showers come through on the mountains, overall it is warming up and love the days are getting longer - roll on day light savings 👏.There is plenty of signs that Spring is here with all the blossom and daffodils around. Even in our own garden.⚘⚘

Checking out a local Brewery with Shannon

We managed a weekend away to Wellington during the month - visiting Shannon and AC the week before they moved up to their new home on the 5th floor - did manage to sneak a viewing which was wonderful. They currently have pretty good views out over Evans Bay but from their new home the views are even more impressive. I wasn't too happy standing in the corner of the lounge though, with it's floor to ceiling windows - just a bit too close to edge! It will be lovely though. So Bill was given the job of dismantling Shannon & Bills bookshelf creation they built two years earlier as Shannon wasn't moving without taking it with her. Even with the promise of a new build! Another trip for Bill in a couple of weeks to reinstall it. Good bonding times Guys. AC & I are happy to just watch 😍😍 

Bill begins to dismantle Bookcase 

It was nice to have some time with S&A as it had been back in January when we last caught up - Covid is upsetting many family reunions I'm sure. Goodness knows when we will catch up with our Perth children 😢. So we enjoyed our stay in the Capital less than half an hours flight away. S&A took us out for dinner to Rita's on our first night. Even that was  affected by Covid with the country returning to Level 2 after the freedom of Level 1 (Auckland in Level 3) - which meant we couldn't have a drink elsewhere first as the numbers were so restricted. Thankfully Shannon had booked us for our meal a few weeks earlier. An enjoyable dining experience - quite different to anything we had been to before and very delicious. thank you S&A.

A lovely day in Evans Bay

We managed to get some local walks in as the weather played it's part and Shannon working from home a bit these days manged to join us for lunch one of the days. But it was busy for everyone but me with getting ready for their move. I did do some meals though, so it wasn't all relaxing for me 😏.

Back in Nelson in Queens Garden with Joan

Back in Nelson we have continued our walks when we can. Took Joan into Queens Gardens one Saturday - with Covid there is no Market at the weekends at present which is very sad for Nelson. It certainly is strange times. 

New joinery in 👍

Almost there!

At least the renovation is still progressing without too much delay in getting materials. Great the new joinery is scheduled at this stage to be on time early September. The plumber returned and helped Bill with prepping for the ensuite now the bathroom is useable. This was the expensive part with a new water cylinder - mains pressure. What a difference it makes. It's wonderful! Even if Bill is scheming how to reduce the water flow so it's not so expensive 😂. 

Spring is in the air at the neighbours 💕

So even though Covid 19 is making these challenging times, we are able to get on with life here in our little part of Paradise. We have some bookings for October already with some North Islanders wanting to bring their money South - very happy to entertain them too so long as they don't bring any undesirable pandemics with them! And roll on daylight saving 👏

It's a dirty job but someone has to do it!

Covid 19 Level 1 Continues and a Return to Work

 

Sunset on Tahunanui Beach

Well what a fast month July was with returning to my old job at Stuart Drummond Transport covering maternity leave for the person who was doing the work. I can see Christmas zooming up fast! It was nearly 6 years ago when I vacated the seat as we headed off into the sunset at the end of August 2014. Didn't know I would be back in the same seat six years later. 

There are still a few familiar faces 😀 but a lot more trucks and new Drivers.

Few more trucks than when I left
( this is only a few)

Time for a catch up with Fran after 
celebrating her 70th birthday.

Bill has continued getting on with the renovations as well as hanging out washing and a few other household chores.

The bathroom is almost finished - just waiting on a window / a door and the electrics to be connected. Plumbing all finished and working. Looks great. Can't wait to use it.                         

Getting the lines right!

Now the ceiling can be painted 👍

The nearly finished job
And looking great 😍

We've managed to celebrate a couple of birthdays over the month too - a surprise 70th for Fran organised by her daughters in early July - Fran's actual birthday was back in April just after we went into into lockdown so she thought it was forgotten till next year! Yeah right!! Shannon had celebrated hers near the end of June. Rocky celebrated her's in Perth mid July and I tried to let mine slide past. 

Birthday shout

BUT! The Kids (Rocky??) thought everyone should know it was my birthday at work and enjoy a sticky bun ( I use to love sticky buns in my younger days - if we went on holiday I always got stuck in the Bakery's trying to decide on what sticky buns to get 👅which Rochelle remembered). So we had a big morning tea that day at work where I had to explain why 😂

We are still doing our daily walks most days, as I really need it after a day of sitting at a desk! Poor Bill's probably knackered but generously keeps me company. We also got out for a bike ride to the Great Escape in Richmond to meet up with some friends for lunch whom we had been trying to catch up for the past 18 months when we would pass through Nelson. Finally got there Trish.

Keeping warm 🔥

To stop Bill getting bored of just doing house renovations, he's also had to sort his "Mighty Ute" after it failed it's WOF. Lights and brakes were an issue - so it was dropped off at the Garage but after a quote of $900 Bill decided to put his overalls back on and get under the vehicle himself! And for under $100 and a bit of hard work and You Tubing he achieved his WOF. Well done Bill 👍 

The days are starting to lengthen but are still pretty cool - can't complain really as we haven't had that many frosts this year. After a promising start to the ski field, it hasn't really built up with snow sadly for the local ski club.
Might get on my bike by the end of next month when it will be light enough to head off early without any frosty paths on the way - then Bill will be under less pressure to join me on my walks.

I think he knows what he's doing 😲

With the next project coming up (completing the ensuite), the plumber has been booked back in. The electrician isn't far away either. But haven't heard anything from the Engineer so will have to follow him up if we want to get on with altering the garage / driveway access to the house before Christmas! And get the new "outdoor area constructed" before summer so we can enjoy it as summer starts to roll along. With all the Covid restrictions - Nelson is looking great for Christmas. 

Will update again at the end of next month.

Joan shouting the Family lunch.
Ian, Alan, Joan, Bill and Neil (Trudy, Eare and I hidden) 

Refreshing ride to Richmond with a bit of 
snow on the mountains in the background.

Bill trying to win at Cribb.