Barbara's travels continue 2018

My very good friends Bruce and Alison picked me up from Waikawa and we drove the very winding, but breathtakingly beautiful route following Queen Charlotte Sounds, more of the stunning scenery I had enjoyed on my walks previously, but seen from a different angle. We soon arrived in at their fabulous property at the end of Pukeko Lane, with its panoramic views over the estuary, and , right next to my room, the sheep with their lambs, 13 of them as I write, but a couple more due any moment now. I could imagine that if I lived here, I would waste hours watching the wee lambs frolicking around or , when the ewes are lying down, standing on their  mum's back to try to get them to stand up so they can feed. Late afternoon, as we enjoyed a daily spa and glass of NZ white, the lambs would come alive, have a little get together and then tear around the paddock. You can already pick out the leaders and trouble makers! Super entertaining! It will be hard to eat lamb when I next visit. The sp

With drains being repaired at home and my lovely front garden being wrecked to achieve this, and with building next door too, it was definitely the right moment to have a trip away and to fall in love with New Zealand once again. It certainly did not take long to do this! Just two hours from Christchurch you get the first dramatic views up the coastline towards Kaikoura. It is pure magic. Rocky beaches which have been changed dramatically by the 2016 earthquake, but with large numbers of fur seals basking on the rocks in the sunshine or frolicking in the gentle waves amongst the kelp. It is an idyllic sight. Kaikoura is patiently awaiting the massive tourist influx once the season gets underway. We could thoroughly enjoy the long , empty beaches with expansive views out to sea and over towards the mountains around Mount Fyfe. They looked breathtakingly beautiful with their snowy peaks, Two years on, the road north is open 24/7 and is an engineering masterpiece considering the number o

What a fabulous, happy, relaxed occasion, surrounded by Mark, David, Emma and her family and their friends. Perfect organisation and even the weather decided to change from the bitterly cold days prior to the wedding, to a very acceptable temperature, dry and pleasant. Certainly better than the torrential rain, thunder and lightning Jim and I had when we married, also in August, but in the northern hemisphere when August weather ahould be okay! It was such a fun, relaxed affair, even the ceremony itself. david did well with the reading and Mark and Emma looked as if they enjoyed giving their vows. They both looked stunning! Their entrance for the reception was magnificent and the feast we ate afterwards was delicious. I was very pleased with my mother- of- the-bride dress which my friend Pam had made for me. It was so comfortable and great for dancing in. David looked fantastic in his suit, as did all of Mark's fabulous school mates, who had spent so much time at our home at Ryelan