Sick kids

Thank goodness we are not away this week!  First of all Charlie was sick so we looked after him then we did school pickups when the kids were at school and now today Cole is sick - same thing Charlie had I think.  It's not covid as I tested Charlie and myself a few times.  I've also had a headache for a few days and I hardly ever get a headache.  It's definitely a bit better today thank goodness. 

I know my daughter is very grateful that we've been around this week otherwise she would have had to take the week off work (her husband really can't, he's the CEO and it's way more difficult for him to be off). 

We plan to be around until Monday and then will take off somewhere for a few days - not far though this time.

There are jobs around here that have needed doing so we'll take care of those before heading off anywhere.  We have also bought a wifi plan for the motorhome so that we have higher speed internet on the road which means I can do the photo albums or watch more of my programs and Stu can do some programming work etc.  We managed before of the slower phone data but now realise it wasn't enough.

Stu is out giving F another driving lesson - lots of grandson this week for sure!

Update: My daughter brought Cole around here (she has a friend visiting from Wellington and has plans).  His dad was going to take him and Charlie away this weekend but in the meantime Cole has gone down hill fast so he's now here for the weekend (his choice). I'm sure he'll bounce back in a day or two like Charlie did and I have no idea what the virus is that he has.  Poor wee boy is sleeping - I have medicine for him but can't give him more for an hour or so.

~ Lynda

A very sick little boy :(

Another amazing trip away ends :)

We had a fantastic 9 nights away - it was meant to be a little longer but the weather kind of intervened so we just came home a little early.  We still ticked off all the places we had planned on seeing and a little more.

I'll just leave the photos to show what we've been up to.

This covers our travel from New Plymouth, through the Forgotten World Highway and then over to Turangi and Taupo and home.

The iconic Whangamomono Hotel

Whangamomono Town

Afternoon wine and beer at the hotel :)

The view out of our door at the Whangamomona Camp... there are three ponies here that 'mow' the grass :)

Dinner out at the hotel

The hotel is about 120 years old and is very elegant for country hotel in the middle of nowhere.

A view along the highway before getting to the Moki Tunnel

A massive Kenworth truck exiting the Moki tunnel on the Forgotten World Highway

And we're in...

and nearly out.

Of course there had to be a photo of us leaving the tunnel. It's one of the main reasons we wanted to travel this road.

About 10 kms of the highway is like this - it's the only State Highway in New Zealand that is not fully sealed.

Lake Taupo at the Turangi side of the lake... a gorgeous, hot day.

As the weather was better than expected we decided to go to Orakei Korako which is the most amazing geothermal area of New Zealand. It had been 50 years since I'd been there! You cross over on a ferry and it takes about an hour or so to walk around the area. It's all up and down stairs so pretty hard going for me at times.

Parked up overlooking the thermal area.

Selfie :)

That's a pool of bubbling water behind me

After spending the night at Tokoroa we stopped off at the Tamahere Country Market to say hello to Chris (Dietcokerocks).  It was lovely to catch up and to see her amazing display of crafts for sale.

On the road again...

We always seem to be off somewhere these days and that's exactly how we like it!

We are currently enjoying our fourth night at New Plymouth after staying over one night at Otorohanga on the way.  We had planned on driving the Forgotten World Highway on the way down but the weather wasn't too good so hopefully we'll travel that way on the return journey.

We are staying at a holiday park on a cliff top site with uninterrupted views over the ocean - well worth paying for a few nights to be sure!  We have walked and cycled every day and while I'm physically tired, I've loved every moment (although there was much moaning and groaning from me). 

We've seen most of the iconic tourist attractions here, walked the streets and visited the museum.  It's been wonderful and even better, today Mt Taranaki was clear of cloud which was beautiful to see.

Tomorrow we leave here and will drive around the southern part of Taranaki and hopefully stay at a freedom camp on Mt Taranaki itself. 

Yes, I/we still love motor homing :)

~ Lynda

The Pukekura Park fountain

The Fernery at Pukekura Park - five glass houses joined by hand dug earth caves.

Poet's Bridge, Pukekura Park (I'm on the bridge)

Looking over the lake at Pukekura Park - it's a beautiful place.

Bike riding

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge - Mt Taranaki in the background.

The Coastal Cycleway here is amazing.

Our camp for three nights - no complaints at all.

Quick update

We are away again - on the road to New Plymouth and who knows where else.  It's raining so we will be just hunkering down until the weather clears.  We have the bikes with us so hopefully I'll be able to get back into that. 

Stu had his birthday two days ago and today is F's 17th birthday.  We all went out for Stu's birthday to a local pub - the meal was yuk but it was great to get out as a family.  We picked the boys up from school each day this week so had lots of grandson time which we love.  I also spent all of Monday at the kid's sports day but they loved having a family member there to watch them (my daughter had to work) I don't feel so bad being away now that I've had that time with them.

I've been busy making the kids online photo albums which they LOVE to get at Christmas but it's always a chore for me at this time of year.  One down and a few more to make.  I do them online at Kroma - good price, easy to use website and great product.

I don't know how long we'll be away this time as we don't need to be back home for awhile and then it's only for a haircut for me. 

I'll update when I actually have some travel photos!

~ Lynda

My boys at sports day - how cute is this, they actually chose to have lunch with me instead of their friends :)

Stu blowing our his candles - the cake is more for the benefit of the boys... everyone knows it's not a birthday without cake!

Cole running in the relay race which his team won.

Birthdays

This week we have two birthdays happening... Stu on Wednesday and my oldest grandson F on Friday.  He will be 17!  Oh my goodness.  He is such a lovely young man and we are just so proud of him.  He got first in his class for maths and also for IT... Oh and also top football player in the school.  

We had the two younger boys over the weekend and today I am off to watch them at their school athletics day - their Mum has to work so Nana steps in of course.  I'm also having them after school today and tomorrow to help her out as she has to work later than usual.

On Wednesday we are off again!  Not sure, we just know we are heading south for an extended time.

On Saturday when my FIL left if was just so awkward.  I fussed around the house to avoid him and he sat there and told Stu that he'd pay for the rental car because it was only needed for him.  No apology, no thank you.  We don't want his money, we just wanted him to say THANK YOU.  Anyway they finally left and while he hugged Stu and Stu's sister hugged me etc, my FIL literally bolted to the car, looked my way and grunted - presumable meaning bye.  It was all too funny really and childish.  

Stu and I have talked about it and he totally realises how difficult his father is and supports me in the way I acted.  We went through all the scenarios that led up to all of this and realised that going away with him for that long was always going to end badly.  

I will end all of this here and might go back and delete some stuff I have written - only because you've all read it now and there is no need to keep it here.  I certainly saw a different side to him though and it will forever change my behaviour/attitude towards him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Saturday night we went to the Waikaraka Park Speedway for the car racing and the Guy Faulks fireworks.  We met up with my daughter and also F came along with a bunch of his friends so it was a wonderful family outing!  The racing was great, especially watching the younger boys enjoyment.  The fireworks really were spectacular as well so it was a lovely night enjoyed by all.

OK so that's me... now off to the school athletic day, what fun (not).  Oh well, I will enjoy seeing the boys at least.

~ Lynda

The boys up the tree :)

Cole decided he wanted to build something so he built a little stool with Poppa.  

And insisted on painting it too - I never got a photo of the finished stool, he's taken it home. It was a bit dark in the corner of the garage so I put that headlamp on him.

Stock cars on Saturday night

Fireworks to end a wonderful family night.

Home

We got home today but Stu's sister and father are staying the night and leaving tomorrow. I have to be honest and say that I rude to him all day.  I walked away when he talked and basically ignored him and yes, he noticed.  I simply couldn't be civil at all.  He has not thanked us for a single thing and while Stu doesn't care I think it's rude.  Yes, it's probably age but it will take me a while to forget his behaviour and attitude. 

Tonight we watched a movie and when I asked a simple question (I was asking Stu) relating to it he started in on me again.  He got all aggressive and Stu had to shut him down.  I'm so over his pig headedness. 

Other than that the holiday was wonderful - I got on well with the others and we had a lot of laughs.  We all played cards every night and generally had fun.  

Yesterday we went on a guided tour around Stewart Island and then in the afternoon we got the ferry over to Ulva Island which is a predator free bird sanctuary.  Stu's father had told us that it was the most amazing place he'd ever been to and it was the entire reason for going on the holiday! Well, talk about underwhelming and disappointing.  I'm sure at other times the birds are there and it might be a magical place but while walking through the bush for two hours we only saw one Weka, a few Tuis, a Kaka and some little robins.  There wasn't even much birdsong - we got more birdsong (and birds) at the apartment we stayed at and that's not exaggerating!  Goodness knows where they all were but basically the entire island was just a bush walk.

Anyway I shut my mouth about that but it didn't stop him having digs at me.  I'm so glad he goes home tomorrow.  I hate that I've caused friction and I hate that it puts Stu in an awkward position.  He said he's angry at his father but will leave it there.  Fair enough - there really is nothing more to do but I know my relationship with his father has forever changed.

I'll finish with some photos.

~ Lynda

The little car we hired gunning it up the hill to our accommodation.  It was actually very steep with loose gravel and Stu's father would not have been able to walk up or down that driveway.  He has become very frail on his feet and had great difficulty most of the time.  

Walking the tracks on Ulva Island - Stu's Dad didn't do the walk but waited where the boat comes in.

Taking a well earned rest after track walking.  We walked up the equivalent of 48 flights of stairs that day according to my iPhone data!

A sea lion on the beach at Ulva Island

All the family on the bus tour around Stewart Island

View from our Island bus tour

The other side of the "chain" (remember the silver chain photo I put up from Invercargill)

The blue boat was our ferry to Ulva Island... my goodness it was a rough trip over once we were out of the shelter of the bay!

And home... flying over the Southern Alps.

Family holiday down south...

How's it going?  Well everywhere we have been has been AMAZING and we've had so much fun and laughter.  We have been to transport museums, parks, beaches, lighthouses, waterfalls etc etc.  So much to see and it's all been fantastic.  Stu, his sister and I took a separate trip around part of The Catlins and it was such a perfect day.  

I've eaten too much and had a wee bit too much to drink but that's holidays for you!

On the down side Stu's father has been a total shit.  Yes, he's 86 and this is his 'bucket list' holiday but he has been seriously awful. For a start he knows everything and if you don't agree or suggest something else you are clearly in the wrong. He has a LONG story about everything and will butt in at the first pause in conversation.  He is pig headed and downright rude a lot of the time.  Everything he says is sarcastic and while you can put up with that for a day or two, believe me it wears thin over a long trip!

He has been prodding me and having a go at me throughout the entire holiday.  Everyone has noticed and I've tried to walk away or not say anything.  Yesterday was simply too much and I finally talked back to him. The backstory is that he had told us all that his friend on Stewart Island had a car we could loan while here.  We arrived yesterday and went to organise the car pickup and no, there was no car for us.  His attitude was so bloody minded... he just said "well why didn't you organise a plan B?" and "chill".  All well and good except that we now had no way to get him up to our accommodation! (he can't walk far or up hill on gravel).

Stu and I frantically went off to try to organise a rental car and there is like basically only one or two on the island!  Thankfully a man opened up his business for us to get the only car available and we have it for two days at a cost of $288 which we have paid for.  We ONLY needed the bloody car for HIM to get around.  When we went back to the pub where he was waiting he didn't say one word of thank you, just more sarcasm.

That left us all so angry at him.  Then last night when I was looking at weather forecasts for today (we need to travel on a boat to Ulva Island and there are strong winds forecast) he had a go at me.  "Why are you looking at that... what will be will be... blah blah... on and on in a really awful jab at me. I exploded and said "because I'm trying to organise our fucking day tomorrow".  Yep, the F word came out, I'm not proud of it but my God that man made me so insanely angry.  

He left and went to bed... he'd had too much to drink anyway.  The rest of the family supported me and all agreed that he had been really rude all week and especially aimed at me.  Today is another day... let's see if I can keep my mouth shut and he can be nice.  Stu and I talked about it at length after and he is so upset at his father's behaviour but what can you do?  He's 86 and it's his holiday?  

So there you are.  Hopefully peace and tranquility will reign for the rest of this otherwise amazing holiday.

~ Lynda

Queenstown - first stop on our holiday

Kingston for lunch

Leaving Kingston in our hire car.

At the Bill Richardson Transport Museum... it was amazing, even if you don't like cars the themed toilets were worth the ticket price alone!

At E Hayes Hardware riding the replica of "The Fastest Indian" bike used in the movie.

At Motorbike Mecca having a laugh.  We were allowed on the bike :) 

Waipapa Point Lighthouse in the Catlins

Curio Bay, The Catlins

The most southern point of the South Island, Slope Point.

Bluff

Afternoon drinks at our lovely motel in Invercargill.

Bill Richardson Transport Museum

Photo Op.. three men in matching "Fastest Indian" tee shirts in front of the Burt Munro statue in Invercargill 

On the flight over to Stewart Island

I sat behind the pilot :)

Arriving at Stewart Island

Oban, Stewart Island

A Kaka on our balcony... they are everywhere here, masses of them!