Retirement Trip - Finally that week in Auckland

 Can you believe its been 6 months since we were in New Zealand trying to get home?  I had planned on getting our trip written up sooner but somehow just couldn't get to finishing it. Anyway here we are.  

When last I left it we were on 24 March having found the British Consulate locked and no one home. 

With full lockdown starting on 25 March we weren't really sure what to expect.  The rules were that you could go out and walk for an hour per day, but to be honest we didn't stick to that and were passed by police patrols on a number of occasions and no one was interested in us.  I guess as long as you were keeping your distance from the few people on the streets it wasn't a problem.  We walked and walked and walked.  Considering that we had only planned to be in Auckland for one day, it was a bit of a bonus to have what turned out to be a full week there.  We certainly did it justice, walking approximately 30 miles over our time there.  Visiting all the green spaces and parks, the water front, the different areas, looking at all the amazing restaurants we might have had to choose from.  Chatting to stranded holidaymakers at a social distance, its funny how you could tell who they were and people were desperate to strike up a conversation to find out how you were doing, did you have a flight home etc etc

Fortunately, we found a fish market open, though we could only get smoked cooked fish as we didn't have facilities to deal with some of the amazing stuff on sale.  Queues for the supermarkets were long and very frustrating but as we all know it was something we would all get used to.

On the evening of 26 March we received the news that we were booked onto a flight via LA for the 31st March - the day we were actually due to leaving New Zealand.  Anything of course could have gone wrong in those 5 days but it was a light at the end of the tunnel and the closer we got to that day the more nervous we got.  We didn't tell the hotel until the afternoon before we were due to leave as we didn't want to loose the room just in case it all went wrong.  

The trip to the airport was surreal, empty motorways, empty everything.  Once at the airport there were only the people that were going on our flight, so weird.  Nothing open, so fortunately we had taken drinks and snacks to tide us over.  The flight was uneventful - I slept all the way - once we were actually sat on the plane I finally believed we were going home.

Arrival at LA was a shock.  Pandemic!! You would never have known it apart from the closed shops and restaurants. No social distancing, everyone crushed together in the arrivals and immigration.  Thankfully we were wearing masks.  Once we got to the terminal for our London flight we found one burger place open and enjoyed a couple of beers and a huge burger.  We decided it was easiest to book a car to drive ourselves home from the airport rather than use public transport, so managed to arrange that online whilst we waited.

Again an uneventful flight, not full which was great though we did end up keeping our masks on just in case.  Heathrow was as deserted as Auckland and we raced through immigration etc in no time, collected the car and headed home.  Our trip completed, a brief visit to the USA - 7 hours in the airport rather than three weeks travelling and meeting with friends.  Ahh well maybe when the world gets back to rights we can sort that trip.  In the meantime, Auckland was lovely, New Zealand was wonderful, but too far away, not sure that I would ever make that trip again, but never say never.

This is a small selection of Auckland - enjoy

Its 'Q'time again

 Yes folks, back from France, hence another two weeks quarantine.  I can tell you, this is starting to wear me down.  I'm happy to stay home and not see anyone but I see no rhyme or reason why we need to stay shut in the house when we would be happy to go for a walk with a mask on if necessary, not that we are very likely to encounter anyone on our walks around here.  There are people in parts of the country not allowed to mix with their family in house or garden, but can go to the pub!  Tell me where is the logic in that.  This whole Covid situation is so confusing and contrary.  In France you have to wear your mask fullstop!  Indoors in shops etc or outdoors walking in the street, fine by me, even if it is a bit warm at times. I don't have an answer, at times I think we should just get on with it and take our chances as I think more people are going to suffer long term mental health issues than die from Covid.  

Right off my soapbox.  What did we do in France?

Drove through a beautiful misty sunrise

Made towns with cardboard, stones and shells, did splat painting, walked.  Just look at the size of that Dahlia, one of many in the Chateau borders and cutting garden

Dinner in Le Mans - three of my handsome boys

Before watching the last night of the summer lights in the town 

Brocanting in Durtal and testing the level of the lake

River fun at Saint Leonard des Bois

The highlight of our trip - an invite to join in the grape harvest at Chateau du Petit Thouars - it was such a great day and one that we will remember for a long time - such fun

Kittens joining in for a walk, they just wont be left behind

Tackling a tree that decided to fall!!  It was due to come down this autumn - huge beetle/grub infestation - but took matters into its own hands.  Luckily no one was hurt or any damage done.

Lovely zinnias

Clouds of Japanese anemones

White Cosmos

Making beds, weeding, picking produce and general garden tidy for me.  Gite work for Peter, its coming along slowly due to the Chateau still receiving a small trickle of guests, which takes up time but for which they are grateful.  

The Chateau shop is now restocked so if you fancy a bit of Chateau style then pop and take a look, maybe start your Christmas shopping too.

I think that just about summarizes our stay.  So its back to sit around, catch up on my knitting, keep on top of our tiny garden and wish the 8 October to come around quickly.  

Take care and wear that mask xx

September crept up

September, where did you come from?  Just like that its all change.  There is a decided nip in the early morning and evening air, enough to make me grab my dressing gown when getting up. Plants in the garden are starting to go over and I'm doing more than dead heading.  We tried growing veg in pots this year, can't say it was that successful.  The tomatoes were ok, but not so the courgettes, plenty of leaves and blackfly but not much in the way of anything edible.  The runner beans I think peaked whilst we were away, so our daughter got those.  Producing now just a few for a tiny taster, I should just pull them out.

My thoughts turn to more cosy knitting projects.  Hats for the grandkids.  Cosy cardigan for me.  An extension to a ten stitch blanket I completed in 2011 - so easy to do this, just unpick those 10 cast off stitches and away you go.  I've enough yarn in my stash to make this blanket fit a king size bed. And I covered an old bean bag making a great footstool - 3 strands of super chunky yarn in moss stitch, my fingers were very sore when I'd finished but a super quick project

On Monday we walked around the Old Gravel Pits in Hemingford Grey - its a permit holders only walk for villagers and we finally got round to getting a permit - only taken us nearly 3 years

It was certainly worth the walk and we will go back again as it is literally right on our door step.

Tuesday we had a quick trip to Costco in Stevenage - it was very quiet which made for a pleasant visit, not that we stayed long - just shop and go

Wednesday found us in Southwold - we got up early and were sitting enjoying a bacon roll and coffee by 9am.  We spent the morning on the beach, then went for a pint and some fish and chips.  Going into the town wasn't a pleasant experience, too many people, one way systems, queuing to go into shops, just really uncomfortable, so we headed up to the common for a walk and a sit to admire the view.  I suppose at some point life will go back to normal and I'm guessing for now we will just stay home rather than be disappointed. Though it was lovely to see the sea again, especially very first thing when it was quiet.

Thursday I met with a friend at the local garden centre for a cup of tea and a catch up.  The café has been refurbished and the tables were nicely spaced out allowing you to safely social distance.  We had a good natter.

Friday, today - washing, ironing, Peter fitted new taps on the bath and I framed some posters we picked up on our travels

This one actually was bought for us years ago and I never got round to framing it, but it felt right to do so as this was one part of our trip we never got to.  They are now up in the lounge and I'm really happy with how they look.  We still need to get round to putting up pictures, we still have lots but not so many walls these days

No plans as yet for the weekend other than to visit the Farmers Market tomorrow, I'm sure knitting will feature in the weekend somewhere.

Before I go, the boys in France went back to school on Tuesday and Gus finished pre-school yesterday, he will start school next week.  Where has the time gone?

Bye for now, stay safe and wear your mask xx