Quiet Contemplation

I left Christchurch early yesterday morning (thanks to Brent and Chris, not just for dropping me off at the train station but for everything they’ve done for me – I am sincerely grateful) and embarked on a combined 12 hour rail-and-sail journey up the east coast and across Cook Straight back to Wellington.

I left with a heavy heart knowing soon I’ll be back in my IOM routine of cutting grass and hedges. I tried to occupy my mind with reading but the train carriage was too unsteady and noisy so I was glad for a five minute break at whale-watching-Mecca, Kaikoura where I could find some peace.

The ferry was much better – a nice calm sailing which made for better reading and relaxing. Wellington greeted me with a lovely calm day but felt cramped and a little claustrophobic compared to the wider avenues of Christchurch. Still I was welcomed warmly by Walter and Muriel and before I could unpack was whisked away for a pot-luck buffet style dinner with the Manx Society of NZ – a rather more sedate affair than it sounds!

-AC

The Five-Grand Total

Five thousand, one hundred and fifty-seven point six kilometres.

In New Zealand, that’s how far I’ve come.

-AC

The Giants Garden

In Akaroa I was delighted to be shown around local artist and horticulturalist Josie Martin’s “The Giant’s Garden”. It is an astonishing wooden colonial home and garden filled with huge wonderfully colourful and vivid ceramic mosaic sculptures that reflect Josie’s wild imagination. The planting is eclectic and colourful also, with natives and exotics that compliment and enhance the artworks on a tiered site with lots of levels that beg to be explored. I would recommend it highly to anyone who finds themselves in Akaroa: you should not miss it!

-AC

The last tour…

On Sunday afternoon I waved goodbye to my adopted family at Avon City Backpackers (L to R: Lenny, Me, Annett, Mattias and Mike; missing is Irinka and a hundred others that made my stay there brilliant) and headed south on Ali for one last tour. Having done over 20km in the morning cycling to Riccarton market it was another 84km to Brent & Chris’ Bach in Takamatua so I took it steady.

The weather was incredible; I thought 10 days ago that winter had set in, but with warm sunny days being the norm over the past week or so I have been proved wrong. My route took me onto Banks Peninsula over the Port Hills where I enjoyed panoramic views of Diamond Harbour to the east and the City and the fertile Canterbury Plains to the west.

4 hours and some fairly hard climbs later, I arrived in Takamatua in near-darkness, with sweat on my brow and fire in my belly – I made sure my last ride with Ali was memorable. I only stopped to take photos including this one on the way into Akaroa Harbour.

-AC

European Flavours

Last Friday I was treated to a lovely Austrian speciality called Kaiserschmarn which was very lecker (tasty). It was cooked by my new Deutsche-speaking friends and was essentially scrambled pancakes infused with sultanas and chopped apples served with plum compote to make it suss (sweet). Pictured here at Mattias, Annett and Mattias! Also there were Bastion, Andrea and Robert. They have inspired me to go to Deutschland to learn German, though it may have to wait a while so I can save some cash!

-AC

Irrigation…

…is big business in NZ.

-AC

The Birch Manor Team

Here are some of my work mates at Birch Manor nursery. Back row, Left to right: Chris (Boss A), Nelda, Dale, Irene (Gemma’s Mum), Brent (Boss 1), and of course Andy (stupid hat and grin). Front row: Gemma and Mondo the Ayreshire Terrier.

I will miss them all, along with the others not working that day: Fiona, Jacob, Tom and Sharon.

Look after yourselves folks, I’ll see you again someday!

-AC