2021 - Aotearoa - The Pandemic Adventure!

Happy 4th of July! So, some of the pillars of kiwi life look like this: food, footy (rugby), frost (winter!) and whānau. Opportunities for catching up with whānau is definitely the main focus for being home, so a random visit from my cousin and his family, who live about 3 hours away is not out of the realms of normal... Today's classic afternoon tea - complete with the Nana cup! Not quite the mug of tea I'm used but at least there is a pot so I could keep refilling. Winter garden looking pretty healthy! Whānau (family) means everything in kiwi life - close family, extended family, even non-blood family all comes under the whānau umbrella. So, when my cousin said he was bringing his whānau for the weekend, it sounded like a great idea!   We spent a lot of time sitting around drinking cups of tea and yakking - 2 days in a row!  My mum and his mum...what a special time having us all in one place. Frozen lawn syndrome - very chilly...

  Day 14 - 1 July Temp: 44° Walk time - NO walk time cos today is THE day! Departure time 1:30 - up at 7am!  Ok..so now everything's done and it's....10:07am! So...what to do...listen to a little Gladys Knight (no Pips)...a little Johnny Cash....some Frankie Valli...obviously my Apple music still works fine here...maybe put all the stuff on the bed into the actual bag!  Don't want to rush around too much. It is a beautiful day in Christchurch - and certainly a GREAT day to fly!  Reflecting on my MIQ stay, I have to say it hasn't been difficult.  Surely any issue is a true first world problem...occasional blip with the wifi (at least 2 mins one time!)...I think lunch was 10 minutes late one time...see what I mean, first world problem!  The only real setback was shortening my time out in the world to spend with Mum and whānau and friends, but hey it's more time than I had last year (thanks so much COVID!).  In a few hours I'll be out in the (...

Day 13 - June 30th Temp 47° this morning! Walk time - 9:00a.m. Last full day in lock up! The 9 o'clock walk was perfect - considering yesterday was some sort of polar express.  Took the full 45 minutes, just cos I could.  Flights etc are finally worked out and in place for tomorrow - 3pm flight to Auckland, followed by a 5:50 flight to Hastings, and I will finally get to Mum's about 7:30 tomorrow night.  What a trip it's been - and I haven't even been anywhere yet!   Maori New Year! Food continues to be awesome!  We have not had the same lunch or dinner twice since we have been here, and what a great variety there has been!