Post-road trip days relaxing in New Zealand

Thursday 08 February

Went to the same Fiddlesticks cafe again for breakfast then walked a good distance to the retail shopping centre and food court. Did some shopping, had hair cuts at a drop in hairdressers, and then walked back to the motel before our feet fell off! Chilled out at the motel for a while then headed out for a drink to the Rockpool bar and its sister pub next door Mickey Finns. Both very old fashioned and pretty much pool halls, beer was ok for Dan but rosé was awful (sickly sweet) so we moved on to try a place called Trenches which we had seen earlier as it is pretty much adjacent to our motel.

Turns out it is an RSA club, similar to the ones that Dan’s brother Jim spent many years over here drinking in, and akin to a version of our British Legion clubs in the UK. Cracking place and most importantly, copious supplies of Ned rosé. Good to see you again mate! Had a delish supper of chilli beef nachos and lamb koftas to share. Definitely be coming back here!

Friday 09 February

Made our breakfast in our motel apartment and had delicious local sausages in brown bread rolls with wholegrain mustard. Nice change

from going to a café. After breakfast we headed out to see the Cardboard Cathedral as the locals call it which is a transitional set up prior to the restoration of the original building which was destroyed by the earthquake. We then headed into the City Mall and did some more shopping. Presents this time though!

Back to the motel to drop off our wares, rest our feet and chill out before heading back to Trenches around 4pm for drinks. We were asked to participate in the weekly ritual of remembrance every Friday at 6pm by reading the ode following the playing of the Last Post, which I did very proudly. Then had a supper of spicy chicken and fish before heading back to the motel and amazingly completing the crossword in 32 minutes, a new record!

Saturday 10 February

Made our breakfast again at the motel, same as yesterday, then Dan did all the ironing and packing ahead of our short flight to Auckland tomorrow lunchtime. Walked into Christchurch to the ATM and had a coffee stop before heading back to the motel to have showers and get ready to go out. Also made a point of contacting our brothers back in the UK, as they both have a birthday today co-incidentally! Happy birthday Ian and John!

We went back to Trenches for the last evening and enjoyed beers and eats before heading back to sleep ahead of another travel day tomorrow. It is getting very near to the end now and we are feeling really quite sad at having to leave this gorgeous country soon.

Sunday 11 February

Up early, checked out with Reception and headed for breakfast at the RSA before getting a taxi to the airport. They produced an amazingly good English breakfast for this part of the world! Got through the airport processes ok and flew to Auckland in just over an hour. Collected our cases and boarded the ‘yellow bus’ to the Holiday Inn on the airport perimeter.

Checked in to our large, airy room opening up on to the pool and unpacked a few bits. Tired after our long day so went to the bar, happily to find 'Mac' and 'Ned' there waiting to be drunk (!), and stayed there with drinks and bar snacks for a while before hitting the hay. As usual with our travel days, not too much to report.

Monday 12 February

Up earlyish after a good night and went to breakfast which was great, lots of choices and good quality. Chilled in the room after breakfast then got ready to meet Robbie who was picking us up around 2pm. He duly arrived and we went back to their place for a bit to see the gorgeous Baxter and to wait for Ethan to get home from school and get ready for his football practice.

Robbie then dropped us off at the local Cossie club and we had a few drinks there with Sylvia before the others all came back later after work for eats and drinks. Lovely meal there. They once again dropped us back at the hotel later, and it was a bit emotional for us all. Suspect we were all wondering when on earth we will see each other again. Time for bed after all those drinks, no chance cryptic tonight!

Tuesday 13 February

Last day before we begin the long haul flights home. Wanted to swim but just for a change it is cool and pouring with rain. Stayed in the room reading for a while then went to the bar for our last date with Ned and Mac. Sorry to part company with them! Had a very average meal there in the bar then hit the sack in anticipation of a long two days travelling ahead! Nothing more to report, we are in denial that it is all over and very much wanting it not to be!!