Our last few days in NZ!!!  Time spent with our family here.  Bittersweet!

Walks in the neighbourhood 

Another weird flower on our walk

 Great fun at an awesome playground!!!

So much fun

Stopping for gelati on a morning drive around the countryside 

Bird of paradise

Feeding the eels!!!

Hanging out at home

An extended family Kiwi Christmas Dinner!!!!!!!

They even provided 'snow' for our after dinner walk!!!

Cheese making lesson!!!

Bed time stories - one of my favorites!

LOTS of sad last minute snuggles

Amen!!!

Monday, Dec 1, was the first day of summer here.  I sure hope it warms a bit for their summer.  It's apparently been the 4th driest November on record.  And a few oldies have commented that it's been the coldest spring in their recollections!!! This week some of the nearby communities have started with water rationing! Odd or even days of outside water use, and only between the hours of 5 - 9 PM. Andrew and Bella are still able to water their garden.

This last week we've hung around home and done regular family things!!!

repair jobs for Andrew and Bella

sewing up a hoody towel for Frieda - her fav colour - ORANGE!!!

puddle jumping after a brief, short rain

One of Andrew's fav meals - ribs, but look at the size of ribs here!

Sunday we attended the Santa Claus Parade, amidst alternating sunshine and misting rain. Felt weird not to be freezing my toes, while waiting.

our waiting spot

Santa has arrived

Andrew took the day off on Monday, and we were able to help set up the Christmas tree with Frieda and Evie!!!

Very special day!

Andrew had to clean out and demite the chooks and their coop and yard.  Egg laying production has been down to one egg per day in the last two weeks! So, we watched!  Not a job I really wanted to help with!!!

Meet Henny Penny, Dallas and Not Dallas

Wednesday, we borrowed our kid's car, and drove up to Anakiwa on the Queen Charlotte Track in the the Marlborough Sounds.  We did a 14 km round trip tramp.  Spectacular!!! On the way home we stopped in Havelock for some green lipped (shelled) mussels.  Delicious!!!

a small portion of the Marlborough Sounds

Weka - a NZ flightless bird 

Stunning!

A platter to share

Our grandchildren have changed so much since we've arrived here.  Evie is smiling and cooing, and wants to be held upright and front facing ... so she doesn't miss a thing. She loves her tongue and playing the 'tongue game' with us.  Frieda has mastered riding on her balance bike, and is much more comfortable coming to snuggle with us.  We have become a part of their life, and they a part of ours, and now it is soon time to leave. Bittersweet!

Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote.  Bella's Granny, aged 96, passed away last Friday morning.  She will be missed by the family.  We've gotten to know her a little over the years that we've been here, and the Queen comes to mind when I think of her.  A very kind, proper English lady. Tuesday, we attended her memorial. It was held near to where she lived most of her years in New Zealand. Right beside the sea, with a high tide.

And behind us is the driveway to where Granny spent most of her life in NZ

Andrew belongs to an inline hockey club here in Nelson.  This weekend a bunch of guys from around NZ came up to Nelson for a tournament.  The last hockey before summer.  Too hot to play during December to February.  We were the cheering section for some of his games.  And we got to explain 'real' hockey to some first time spectators there.

The home team.  Andrew's wearing the singlet!  They ran out of jerseys!!

They even had a ref!!!

Bella and I have had some evenings of sewing together

Christmas is coming, but it does not feel Christmasy to me yet. There are a few reminders around!!!

Andrew's neighbour has decorated her clothes line.  

Gelato at a Christmas market!!!

Pohutakawa tree is just starting to bloom.  It's the NZ Christmas tree

After 5 days, Jer is finally feeling better.  And it's warm enough to have brekkie on the patio outside

Frieda took us on a bus ride into Richmond one morning, where we visited a playground, then went for lunch and a fluffy!!!

Fares for one bus ride, one way, per adult $3.50!  Pricey!!!!

We went for a 32 km bike ride out into the country one day.  Most of the time we followed the 'Great Taste Trail', which follows roads, sidewalks and sometimes an old train track.

even the railroad tracks are used for a small vineyard - 3 rows here 

NZ is known for it's sauvignon blanc

found this old tree root bench on our bike trip, to take our photo on

Yesterday we biked downtown to my chiro appt, then walked up to the center of NZ. Quite a hot and sunny day.

Love the walk along the Maitai in downtown Nelson

At the top of the center of  New Zealand, with Waimea Inlet behind us

And as Frieda asks us when we are reading a book to her, 'What's your favorite page (part)'? My favorite part of this holiday? Time spent with our grand kids and kids!!!

Bapa and Frieda playing!

Well, today Jer is flat in bed with the flu bug!!  It's been doing the rounds here, and now it's even gotten the foreigner!!!  Hopefully, I won't be next.  So, I'm enjoying the sunshine and Angela's sunny warm yard, while he's sleeping it off upstairs!

Nelson airport from the walking loop. feel rather close to the planes when they land.

This morning I walked the airport loop.  Nelson airport is 3 km from Monaco, which is the peninsula that Angela lives on. The airport loop is 6 km, so in total I walked 12 km.  Great!!! Tide was coming in when I started, and receding on my way back.

white faced heron enjoying high tide

Monaco can be seen across the Waimea Inlet from the Nelson airport walking loop

Enjoying the Nelson trains last Sunday

New Zealand flax beginning to bloom 

OlieBollen at Saturday's market.  Like our portzelky, but with CHOCOLATE

Hiked the Grampians (mountain range behind Nelson) Tuesday morning.  From Angela's we biked up to the bottom of the hill, and then walked up to the top where you see the TV transmitter. My legs are not used to biking and hiking hills!  

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Kahikatea tree. 300 - 500 years old 

pukatea tree.  HUGE!!!

banana passion flower vine in bloom

At the top, the view is spectacular. 

Overlooking Nelson. Dark green spot is Rabbit Island across the Waimea Inlet 

Overlooking Nelson and Harbour. across Waimea Inlet and ocean beyond.

Tuesday evenings.  A high light of Andrew's week.  We went to watch, and saw him score a goal!!! Felt a little like the days of old, except the arena was not cold.  Quite hot, actually.  They stop playing in December, and start again in February.  Too hot!

Hockey!!!!!

Yesterday, Jer went golfing again.  

Waahi Taakaro Golf course