Monday 18th July
The week starts with finding some rental properties. This lovely property has got some bookings for August onwards, so we need to find somewhere else. By the second phone call I had spoken to someone I knew. This is a small place. As it turns out Debbie’s place seems like it will suit us and it will be available for as long as we need it.
I also did some of the large amount of admin I have to complete, in order to start my teaching job and, more importantly, get paid the correct amount.
When Lisa came home from work, we went out on the bikes in the afternoon.
Tuesday 19th
Went for a run along the coast, Mapua and Ruby Bay. A cool morning with the threat of rain in the sky.
Went for a coffee at the Wharfside and got asked if I wanted to be the emergency cleaner for the next two afternoons. Sure, some easy money to earn.
In the afternoon, I went into sport tasman to get organised for a promotion event on Friday.
Wednesday20th
Went out cycling to check out some of the route for Saturdays race. Debbie, our future landlady, joined us.
In the afternoon, we went to view her rental property. It will be fine and is on a small farm, so Bonnie will have new animals to look at (pigs and ducks).
I then went a cleaned the Wharfside, before getting ready to go out to the Mapua District Business Association mid-winter dinner. We don’t have a business yet but they are very happy to include us. The dinner is a Christmas type dinner (chicken, not turkey) mulled wine etc. All very festive! Lisa missed it as she was at her course.
Thursday 21st
Cycle with the coffee group, which is now on a Thursday as some of us race on a Saturday, so don’t want to cycle on Friday. There was a cool southerly blowing this morning.
In the afternoon we went to view two possible properties to buy. One is a possibility, one is a non- starter.
I then cleaned the Wharfside.
Friday 22nd
A sunny, but breezy day. I spent half the day in Richmond mall, promoting the masters games.
When I got home we went for a drive up the coast to have a look a building sites, as it may become the answer if we can’t find a house that works for us.
Saturday 23rd
A longer than usual bike race today. The race will be 70kms long so we need a coffee before we start. The weather is a bit changeable today, so hard to know what to wear in the race. As it turns out it is overcast, but stays dry. The race has a lot of uphill sections which, also means there are nice downhill sections. As we set off along the road, a woman on a huge unicycle was nonchalantly cycling in the opposite direction. Lisa and I noticed it but no one else seemed to find it odd.Lisa and her group broke away from my group. ‘My’ group has decided we will cycle together for the race. This means we have to wait when one person has a puncture. The race for both groups came down to a sprint. Lisa went too soon and got pipped on the line, so she had to settle for second. I went too early also, but held on to finish some way back, but the first of our group.
Everyone was quite tired but happy at the end. The races always finish with a brief prize giving at a winery or pub. We couldn’t socialise too long as Lisa had to get back to get ready to go to work (with tired legs).
Sunday 24th
8.30am the race briefing for the duathlon I had entered….went ahead while I was asleep in bed. As Saturday evening progressed, it became apparent that the bike race that day had put paid to my duathlon exploits. By Sunday morning the slight twinge I felt in my left knee had turned to a painful knee that was sore when I moved even slightly.
I did some work (for school) at the cottage while Lisa was at work all day. By evening the news was warning most of the country about the bad weather sweeping up north from the Antarctic, bringing snow to lots of places that rarely get snow. It showed the maps with Nelson missing it all. This area misses most of the storms because of the mountain ranges in the distance and the sheltered coastal bay. By 7pm Roger phoned to tell us it was snowing outside !! Unheard of, he was very excited and a few minutes later he and his family where outside playing in the snow. The snow flakes were massive, I caught one and it was half the size of the palm of my hand. It snowed enough for it to make the ground look white. We looked at our photos of the December 2010 snow and shuddered with the memories of the cold. The snow continued to fall and we continued to put some more wood on the fire, without the worry of the central heating not coping with the extreme weather……because there is no central heating in this or any other kiwi house.
This week........
The Kiwi language lesson this week emphasised the extent to which they abbreviate everything. What could ‘T sauce’ be……..tomato ketchup of course !
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