First months of 2018

I have not had a lot of spare time since my last blog. It has been a busy but most enjoyable time, despite a dreadful heatwave where we sought  out the shade during the day and endeavoured to cool rooms off so we could sleep at night. Luckily, there are plenty of trees both at home, and in the Gardens and parks to find shade in the day. Of course, for tourists it was perfect - no rain and clear skies. For the Lazy Sunday concerts it has also been marvelous. With the concerts on the Archery Lawn of the Botanical Gardens, there was no shortage of trees and shade. The music each week has been different, but all absolutely fantastic. What a glorious way to spend a summer afternoon with a short walk through an avenue of trees 

And then to sit amongst thousands of like- minded people listening, dancing and staying hydrated. 

before walking back to the car with the deafening sound of the cicadas ( only the males apparently, the females are silent- rare thing I think!)

There were so many of the skins they had shed. They looked as if they had been having some sort of race up the tree!

These skins are So magnificent when viewed close up.

At home I was rarely alone. It was fabulous to have David there till mid January and Simon, my homestay student, arrived on 7th, so we enjoyed some frisbee golf together. 

The garden which I had only planted in November flourished and we have been eating lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and herbs from it since Christmas. I have some supposedly sweet, mild yellow chillies, but either they were wrongly labelled or they are not ripe yet. They just about blow your head off!

So lovely to sit under the umbrella and admire the garden.

Just before David left, we had more visitors, this time an ex- student Robert from Germany and his delightful family. Really a full house with every room full, including the games room. We had great fun together and David's German really improved over the 3 days. The kids spoke to him constantly, so he was forced into it. Perfect! Bruno and Anna loved the garden and the local rugby team,Crusader, flags, which they are presumably waving all around New Zealand as they travel!

We really enjoyed the day in Christchurch with a mix of sightseeing - the picturesque art deco New Regent Street -

And for the kids, time at the fabulous Margaret Mahy playground. What an incredible place it is.

We even had time to dance on the Dance- O- Mat, where you hitch up your Ipod to an old washing machine, put in two dollars and then enjoy 30 minutes of music. Brilliant idea.

I had a photo from this spot about this time last year. Now, the library building, which last year had just been started, is nearing completion. It is really going to be a sensational building.

Here it is below, seen from the other side which I gather is going to be all windows. Christchurch is taking shape. Still many years to go, but we will get there.

Unfortunately, there are still areas of the city which remain more or less deserted and as they were after the quakes and the removal of the red zone housing. It is really sad walking through this wasteland, actually the area where I first worked in a hotel reception when I was 26. No sign of the hotel, just cracked roads and empty sites.

But, the river looks as beautiful as ever. It is sadly somewhat polluted in places due to the liquefaction, but if you did not read the signs, you would never know.

At the end of January my German guiding started and I have had three superb tours from Akaroa to Christchurch, with very pleasant and appreciative groups. The first tour I stayed the evening begore with friends Liz and Brian with this breathtaking view from outside my room in the evening. Imagine this sight in the cooler evening air with the sound of bellbirds singing all around. Simply paradise.

Two of the groups had farm tours. I really love these. The first one, pictured below, was funny because the sheep dog, which was actualy not always obedient, was called Jim, my ex- husband's name, and the sheep the farmer sheared was called Barbars 😀 I am glad that I don't get this treatment at the hairdresser's!  I am sure Barbara the sheep was delighted to get rid of her woolly coat on a day when temperatures were in the mid thirties.

Akaroa looked amazing with all its Pohutakawa trees, our Christmas tree, in full bloom. 

How I love this place with its ever- changing clouds and skies which transform this stunningly beautiful harbour each time they change.

Back home my courgettes just kept growing! If I missed them, I had marrows. Annie, my neighbour's dog, who was often here on the really hot days, was unimpressed y the marrow - one thing she will not eat!

I so enjoyed making Stuffed Marrow - a huge hit with everyone. It fed my huge household of guests.

Another two tours - this time with Ian, a super careful driver, who was also very interesting to chat to when we had no tourists on board. He was also willing to stop a lot for photos, so the tour groups loved him.

Banks Peninsula is always spectacular.

The sky was so blue and the thin wispy clouds contrasted so wonderfully, all making even the driest hills look stunning.

Riccarton Bush became my favourite place to go for exercise during the hot days. Outside the forest temperatures were in the thirties, but in the dtepths of the dense native forest, five minutes from the city centre, it was a wonderfully cool 20 degrees. Heaven. Here even the mosses , lichens and toadstools survived!

Mona Vale was also fabulous with so much shade, the river flowing through the park and the massive lush plants casting beautiful shadows and providing shade.

In the shade, the huge monarch butterflies rested on the pretty hydrangea blooms.

More concerts and more fun. These guys, Cam Scott and his band, were so good, we had to dance. Young and old alike just danced the hour away.

Last weekend we had some oldies there, a guy from a very famous NZ band, the Waratahs. It was jazz, pop and country. Fantastic foot- tapping music. Not so many of us danced, but I find it hard to just sit and listen.

With Mark and Emma away in Wellington, I was thrilled to be doing a bit of cat sitting. My grandkitten Stormy is certainly getting to know me now so it is a joy to be there.

Looking at his soulful expression, I think he missed his owners though!