Tour Guides again

After an iffy start to their holiday – thanks foggy Auckland – Anne and Mark arrived for a week long holiday. They had booked an apartment in Fortitude Valley since there were no spare beds at our place.

We collected them from the airport and dropped their luggage off before heading out to find something to eat after the long day of travel. Next morning we met and walked through the city along the river to the Botanic Gardens and then to Southbank.

The main reason for their visit was attending the Truck Show later in the week, but we played tour guide when we could as well. My job had been extended, so my plans to have been able to do things with them during the day, or to loan them our car were quashed. However they hired a car and managed to get in a couple of days exploring without getting lost or frustrated in traffic.

We met them for dinner a couple of times through the week and again on the weekend, doing some sightseeing and truck viewing along the way.

Before you could blink it was the end of the week and time for them to squash everything back into their suitcase and head for the airport to begin the journey home.

The long weekend is almost over

Well, it seems it is time for me to return to the workforce. My chopped up finger is almost recovered and looking fine too. 

I took advantage of the rainy day last week and contacted agencies and made an appointment with one to go in and register. Next morning I got a call to go along to an interview...and I start Monday. It is a temp role - technical admin - part of the rebuild and sounds interesting. The pay isn't as great as I would generally want, but it all helps. Plus it will be something slightly different to add on to my CV for the next role. This week is training, and it is a short week too with Canterbury Anniversary Day/Cup Day on Friday. Perfect to help ease back into the routine.

We've been discovering all sorts in our garden, peonies, strawberries, currants, rhubarb, silverbeet, apples, feijoas, potatoes, raspberries, lily of the valley, alstromeria - love it !!

Mum and Dad came for a visit at the end of last week and bought the things we hadn't been able to fit in the car when we left Blenheim. Now we have to decide where we are going to put it all here. While they were here we went out for lunch in Prebbleton - Thyme Cafe, go there if you are down this way.

After they set off home, we went for a drive to Akaroa, New Zealand's own little piece of France. It is a nice drive, and filled in the afternoon nicely. The pain au chocolat helped too.

So, now it is the night before I have to get up early and wear clothes that have been hiding in drawers, the bottom of my suitcase or storage for the last wee while and make a contribution to society and the tax man. Kind of mixed feelings about that, especially since the winning Lotto ticket was sold at our supermarket, and we didn't even buy one ! Missed opportunity.