Barbara's travels continue 2018

Autumn colours had almost finished but that certainly did not stop Wanaka being as beautiful as ever. The lighting on the water both morning and evening was stunning. This was the view we had from our appartment, I feel very priviledged. From a different angle at a different time of day,  that tree and the trees along the shore were transformed. It was incredible how quickly the lighting could change. The pastel colours one morning were breathtaking. I am sure this would make a phenomenal painting. And just a little later there was a lovely silvery glow. Along some parts of the shore the last of the spectacular autumn gold leaves provided a stark contrast to the almost cloudless blue skies. No words can do justice to such splendour. No visit to Wanaka is complete without the walk from Glendhu Bay with David. Today was somewhat overcast, but still gorgeous thanks to the silvery light on the calm waters of Lake Wanaka.  David headed home and friends, Janice and Gary joined me. It was fa

We could not have hoped for more perfect weather during these challenging times. I grew to love those beautiful teddy bears looking out of the windows. and the lovely little quirky things I noticed on my local wanderings The ingenuity of the families creating magical places to visit in local woods was just marvellous. Bottlelake Forest, a favourite mountain biking venue was transformed into a children's( and adults')paradise.  The local park of Mona Vale with its stunning autumnal colours and tranquil beauty will always remain as a fond memory We moved smoothly down a level to Level 2 and suddenly we could meet up with friends again, at a safe distance apart. It has been great to catch up gradually with those we have not seen for some weeks and to keep the walking up. I was thrilled to be introduced to an area of Christchurch I had not been to before, North Shore, not far from some of my other favourite haunts in South Shore! Wow, it was absolutely gorgeous, with part of the w

What a time we are living in. I feel so happy to be in New Zealand with such an extraordinary leader, Jacinda Ardern, who  has remained calm, clear and compassionate throughout these difficult times. She appears on Facebook quite regularly to have informal chats with us, answering people's questions as she speaks to her 'team of 5 million'. It is that feeling of being part of a team which makes most people act responsibly, I feel. It is a time, which, if we are lucky to have homes, jobs, family and friends, is a chance to take stock of all these things and to appreciate them all the more. It is a time to be kind to others, to neighbours, strangers who pass, at a distance of course, and to ourselves! For me, it was a chance to discover new things, like sign language  and Polish, and to get involved in exercise programmes, such as walking exercise courses on You Tube and stretching classes. I have really enjoyed Netflix movies and also access to many foreign films we can watc