So the final days had come and with them lots of time with very special friends, who I will miss a lot, but with technology's help, it will be fine. Strangely enough, I discovered some wonderful new places in Zurich thanks to a walk along the Limmat river with Marco. It was so peaceful, hard to imagine we were in such a busy city.
After a wonderful final week and with the knowledge that my bags were packed and room cleared, , it was time to enjoy a final glass of New Zealand wine in Trudi's beautiful conservatory with its spectacular views over the mountains and green hills of Zurich Oberland. How grateful I am that I can stay there.
An early start at the airport, but waiting made easy thanks to the company of Marco and Dennis. It is true ' Parting is such sweet sorrow'. However, as I said farewell , there was also the knowledge that I would soon be home seeing Mark and David again. I had been away a long time!
Brilliant flights. The stopover with hotel for six hours, two hours at the pool and then the Butterfly garden was fantastic as always!
And before I knew it, I was leaving the customs clearance area, with its xray machines and cute little sniffer dogs, and exiting into Christchurch to see Mark again. Fantastic. He looks great! Can't wait to see David too next week.
It was marvelous to get home and out into the garden with the last signs of spring n the very centre of it.
What a great first evening having dinner with Matk and seeing Emma and my grand kitten, Stormy, again. He has grown a lot and is now a very striking teenager!
Emma looked great too, but stupidly I did not take any photos of her and Mark! Next time.
It was a busy week moving back in to my home. Lots to do in the garden, but I have already done heaps. I did get woken up on the second day by a a short, sharp, shallow earthquake( Mark didn't notice it), just reminding me that the earth is still moving below us. All good, though. The house now looks like home again since I brought back my stuff from the garage, and the weather has been perfect. Next week I will start to catch up with friends again.
Today, I had a brilliant day in Christchurch. After a working morning in the garden, I headed to one of my favourite Saturday morning spots, Riccarton House Farmers' Market. It is such a restful place despite having so many visitors. The food and all products they sell there are local and of a high quality, but what makes it so special are the surroundings, a park full of hundred- year- old English trees, and tucked in behind them, the last Christchurch remnant of native forest with its beautiful walkway. Add to this, music on the lawn, with the musician in the shade of a magnificent tree surrounded by bluebells, whilst the audience relax, savour the market produce and even dance with complete strangers. Simply wonderful!
I was on my way to the Pink Star Walk, a walk to raise money for breast cancer research, in another of my favourite places, Hagley Park.
I decided to walk through the park to the Botanical Gardens. It was stunning. The fresh green spring growth was so intense and the bird song almost deafening.
The Botanical Gardens were a treat. I am so lucky to have enjoyed two springs and two autumns in the last year! Some rhododendrums were past their best, but the azaleas were still magnificent and very fragrant.
I headed towards the Arts Centre to see what progress had been made. The museum has a fabulous new mural - a moa ( sadly extinct) and a kiwi.
They are making good, yet slow progress with the Arts Centre. Each time I go home, a new part has reopened. However, the clocks cannot be relied upon to provide accurate information. It was actually 14.20! I sat beneath the clocks at my favourite cafe, The Bunsen, and watched the people walking past. Everyone seemed so contented, relaxed and not a cigarette or a cellphone was in sight . Really great to see!
Time to go and help out with registration for the walks, 5 and 21 km. It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons imagineable. Next year I hope I can do the registration and then join the 5 km walk at 18.30. The atmosphere was amazing. There were babies, toddlers in pushchairs or on bikes, teenagers wearing pink and with wigs and wings ( even young boys!) , oldies in wheelchairs and others of all ages, all shapes and sizes. The one thing they all had in common was that they were there to support breast cancer research and to have a wonderful time with friend and families, walking around this gorgeous park in the centre of the city in mild evening temperatures.
I didn't mention the dozens of dogs, big and small, most of which also wore pink. In fact, there were some incredible human and dog outfits. There was a carnival atmosphere as they headed to the start line.
A marvelous day nd great first week.
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