I also popped in to see Greg and Jeanette on the way home as haven't seen them in ages. They came to see us last month and we had gone out for a walk so missed them. They are off to Cambodia and Vietnam on Friday so just hope they have the best time. They are going on a river cruise for part of it and have to go via Sydney and Thailand with stopovers in both countries so can't be bad.
Last week was glorious and it was so nice heading down to Invercargill on Tuesday. We had a nice hire car too, just a little Mazda. We stayed in the Ascot hotel which is slightly out of town but a lovely place. We had a suite of rooms which was even nicer (the training company pay so that is even nicer again) so lounge/kitchen/diner with separate bedroom and spa bathroom which was pure luxury.
The next day was so hot and sunny (hard to believe that today!). Derek and Andrew were working until just after lunch so that gave me around five hours to look around Invercargill so Derek dropped me off at Queens Park gardens in the middle of the town and what a nice place that is. It is on about 80 acres with the golf course and hockey pitches next to it so lots of open space.
And then we were off to Dunedin, about a two hour drive through the lovely rolling countryside.
Dunedin was lovely in the sunshine once again and although our Millennium hotel was a little on the 'tired' side we had a great and comfy room on the top floor.
Thursday was another glorious day so off the boys went to do their thing and I wandered around the town sightseeing.
We dropped Andrew off at the Dunedin airport at around 3pm and headed back the way we came but over the top of Invercargill on to our B&B in Riverton.
We were so looking forward to it and the house we stayed in was lovely, our hostess Judy very nice too and gave us the most brill breakfast the next morning but the weather was already closing in and it rained just as we got on the beach. We have been to Riverton before and loved it hence the trek back over there but the weather was not on our side.
The room was lovely and the bed to die for, so deep and soft and you almost had to jump to get on to it it was so high. We also had another spa bath (must use ours more often!!) and a lovely outside area which we didn't get to use which was such a shame. The view from here was stunning of the bay and estuary but the rain didn't stop the whole time we were there. |
We had a nice leisurely drive back to Queenstown on Friday dropping off the car at the airport and collecting ours and followed the snow all the way which had begun overnight nicely dusting the mountains. We didn't get to Te Anau this time but will make another trip before winter sets in so stopped at Five Rivers for lunch as it is on the way. It was a lovely few days, I could get used to this traveling lark!
So Saturday was actually lovely in Cromwell and I spent the day in the garden turning my compost heaps of all things and watering the garden. I had purloined a few seeds while in the park and along the beach front in Bluff so will now have to sort them out and plant them up in the Spring.
The cosmos daisies also planted themselves from the neighbouring garden bed last year and look beautiful along with the gaura which have been flowering for three months. I will definitely get more of them next year.
So another week has gone by and a new season is upon us. Going to wrap up warm in a blanket now and watch tv!
TTFN everyone, love and take care of each other. xxxxx