Yes, I have been very busy in house and garden. I am thrilled at the results and hope now to relax a bit more over Christmas. I am so pleased I am not still working and trying to do things only in evenings and weekends. Am delighted to have the spa for my aching limbs!
This is as Christmasy as it gets. At least we have a real tree with that wonderful scent.
Christian , an ex student of mine, and his wife, are here for a few days. I worked hard to create a lovely room (in photo below) for them and was very happy with how it looked. I have moved downstairs to less luxurious but still very adequate quarters.
Of course, having guests is a great excuse to travel, so off we went to one of my favourite places Akaroa, only 90 minutes from home. How spectacular it is as you go over a small pass and get your first glimpse of the bays leading to Akaroa. I am hoping to pick up some tour guiding work in 2017 so will be visiting this wonderful place frequently.
We had some delicious fish and chips/burgers sitting overlooking this gorgeous view. The gulls were very keen spectators as we ate but pretty well behaved until we scattered the final crumbs for them.
The Norfolk Pines, 'upside down Christmas trees' as Christian called them , look super with the magnificent backdrop of Akaroa bay and the near cloudless sky.
We took a two-hour cruise out to the Pacific and along the rugged coastline . We were lucky to strike a really calm day after some very blustery ones, so could get out to sea. The cliffs are really breathtakingly beautiful with such vivid colours from the volcanic rock. The blowhole was working very well as it was high tide.
Buster, the boat dog, appeared very disinterested in this part of the trip, but went absolutely beserk whenever we spotted the very rare Hectors dolphins, the world's smallest dolphin. We saw quite a lot of them, as they enjoyed swimming alongside the boat, with Buster racing up and down the boat trying to keep up with them.
Apparently he has fallen in once - hence the life jacket with a loop so he can easily be hoisted back on board!
We all thoroughly enjoyed this tour, not only for the scenery, but for the wildlife which also included penguins and seals. In fact, the day was fantastic from start to finish - brilliant barbeque when we got back home.
Next day was spent around Christchurch, with first stop being Lyttleton. I adore the market there! It is so colourful and so relaxed.
There were a number of buskers, but this little girl was a real crowd pleaser. Her voice was not great but she was unbelievably self-assured and cute. She must have made a fortune!
Then we headed through the tunnel to Brighton pier, where we were almost blown off by one of the fiercest winds I have experienced for a long time . Still great, though, with fanulous views along the coast.
The street art around Lyttleton and Christchurch is still exceptional. I loved this one at the market
And this one in New Regent Street in the centre of Christchurch
It is a really picturesque street lined with lovely cafes. Hard to believe that only a street away there are still empty blocks of land. For some unknown reason, this street survived the 2011 quakes almost unscathed.
Christchurch is an exciting place to be. History in the making. It is very interesting to see the artists' impression of buildings and the steel structures as building commences.
The Avon River projects have virtually been completed and my guess is that this is going to be a stunningly beautiful city when everything is finished.
Christchurch life is pretty laid back and there is humour everywhere - even in the supermarket at the end of the wine aisle!
It is really good wine too.
Today I tackled my Christmas cake making. A bit later than usual, bur this mass of dried fruit has turned out very well!
Here the finished version after five hours of baking, still to be iced!
So Christmas is around the corner and at last at 9.30 p.m. we can turn on the lights😀
Happy Christmas to everyone wherever you are.
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