New Zealand - Up Date Nov 09

Hope you are all keeping well and surviving the inclement weather!   Weather here has been generally warm, although we have had a few cooler days, but still able to wear shorts and T-shirts.

Warren & Roseanna 60^th Birthday dinner  

We have been somewhat overwhelmed by the warmth and friendliness of the local people here.  We have received invites to all sorts of functions.    Last evening we attended a party given by our landlord to celebrate his 60Th birthday.  They have already invited us to spend Xmas Day with their family.

We are attending the local Anglican church here. The vicar, Neil, is quite a larger than life character, and believes in keeping services friendly and informal. He usually starts
his sermons by discussing the latest rugby scores!

Our voluntary work with the local school is also proving rewarding. We are working with a group of young people with special needs who are working towards a bronze award under the Duke of Edinburgh & Hillary Award Scheme. All of them suffer from significant learning disabilities of various degrees, and we are looking forward to getting to know then all better, both as individuals and as a group. Last week, we were teaching them how to cross a river safely by linking up as a group.

We are fortunate enough to be staying in a beautiful spot, surrounded by the sea and hills I am in my element, and we are both doing a lot of walking, exploring the beautiful countryside.   It is Spring here and the hills are covered with lovely spring flowers. Wild lupins abound here.

All in all, we are enjoying a very positive experience in this country, which we are sure will continue throughout our stay..

Again thank you to you all who have said how much you enjoyed our wedding at St James back in October.

New Zealand - Up date

 

The first view we got from our apartment when we arrived last week.   We walk down to the beach in five minutes.  The  sea is still a bit cold for a swim but warming up each day still OK for a paddle. 

We are about twenty minutes drive from Christchurch and staying in Cass Bay with the views you can see.  The small town of Lyttelton is about five minutes away with local shops, this is where we attend the local C of  E church who have made us most welcome.

Lyttelton was the landing place for the Canterbury Pilgrims in 1850, the town and local area is part of a volcano, the volcanic rock of the Port Hills at around 500m makes for good mountain biking and walking.

  

View from the Port Hills of Cass Bay 

On Friday last we went over the mountains to visit Akaroa the oldest town in Canterbury and was founded by the French settlers in 1840, and has still has many French influences with street names and a lovely water front and from the Southern Ocean looks like a Norwegian  Fiord .