Off Highway One

October 22, 2023

Notwithstanding that I’ve been a bit lax on the blogging these past few days, I’m not referring here to catching up with postings, but rather to catching up with family and friends.

First of all, it was a couple nof days in Timary, refreshng our memories of places from back in the eighties when we lived there, and catching up with OFFWB, M and K — lots of chatter, memories, and laughter. M and I go back many a year to when we were young things flatting together in Christchurch. On this visit, L and I also looked afresh at Timaru. It is a super small city, much more so than back in the day — hilly but not too much so; a swimming bay (Caroline); a cliff-top walk; many attractive houses in what I’d call the arts and crafts style (probably more a nod-to, than actual arts and crafts); and many amazing front gardens in what I’d call the English garden style — think box, iris, paeonies, cottage garden perennials, rhodos, and more; and good cafes (Zest, where we had lunch, comes to mind). .   

Then the next few days catching up with sis and bro in Christchurch. Again, lots of chatter, including memories of our family life in Southbridge – ‘Remember the time when …’; ‘what about great Uncle Bill’s magpie Joey and the mischief he created’;  ‘whatever happened to D …’; ‘who did S marry, wasn’t it B from …? ‘, and so on.

We drove past the farm on the triangle corner where we used to live, and P and I had pet lambs and ponies. All that remains is the large walnut tree; no sign of the blue gum tree at the gate – apparently our house was later burned as a fire brigade exercise in fire-fighting. We saw the house in Southbridge where I spent most of my primary school years and which is now owned by my cousin. And then there was the High Street house where we also owned the local barber’s shop and billiard saloon. Talk about a walk down memory lane.

Incidentally, the gastro pub meal we had in Prebbleton was great, not only for the company but also the food – definitely a notch or two above any other pub meal I’ve had.

Then there’s the ABs getting to the RWC final and, earlier, the win by the Silver Ferns. One of the joys of motels is access to Sky.

And so, our top of the South, plus a bit of its middle, road trip comes to a close. Kaikoura tonight, Picton tomorrow, home the day after.

Postscript

I had high hopes that L would pick up the mantle and do some posts to ease the pressure of keeping the blog up to date, but I’ve given up. He’s marching to his own particular drum when it comes to travel blogs. I’ve tried some gentle advice but … well, sometimes it’s best to go with the flow and not worry whether he’s lost his marbles.

Here’s some photos