Not new - just some observations!

Most confusing being here in July and there's frost on the ground and we have to scrape the car windows. We actually went to a mid-Winter Christmas party the other weekend. In a strange way, it actually made sense. Christmas should be cold and snow and all the requisite stuff. But the real Christmas (by date) come in the middle of the summer in New Zealand thus a mid-Winter Christmas party so one can quasi-celebrate Christmas in the right season. The hosts did have Christmas lights in the garage but we didn't have turkey and dressing or Christmas cookies. And worse yet - no Christmas gifts! Oh well!

Speaking of cold and frost, the forecast for last Wednesday was possible snow and/or black ice. When we went to bed, I was hoping for snow (what can I say, I'm a sucker for snow). Unfortunately, no snow in the valley but there was snow on the mountains. Blenheim is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It was really cool to see! By noon, the sun had come out and the snow was melted. Everyone here says this has been one of the warmest winters on record. I'm holding on to the thought that winter is not over yet and I may get to see some snow before it is. Oh, that reminds me, we will be going to Hanmer Springs in 2 weeks. Hanmer Springs is a small town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. The town lies on a minor road 9 kilometres north of State Highway 7, the northern route between Christchurch and the West Coast via Lewis Pass. According to the 2006 census, the resident population is 729. The town is built around a popular hot spring which was discovered in the late 19th century. The hot springs were produced by the fractured rock bed along the Hanmer fault. Hanmer Springs is a popular tourist destination due to the thermal pools and the fact that there are two skifields in the Hanmer Springs area: the Hanmer Springs Ski Area and Mount Lyford. So I will see snow then!!!!

Still on he theme of cold, I am amazed at New Zealanders. They are a particularly hardy bunch of folks. They keep their homes pretty cold and it is not uncommon to see folks walking about in shorts and t-shirts (or even tank tops) when it is about 50 - 58 degrees outside. And I mean a lot of folks! I'm in jeans, long sleeved shirt and jackets and they are walking around like it's the middle of summer.

Oh, for those of you who have been following this blog, our goods have finally arrived in New Zealand!!!!! Yeah! Only 1 1/2 months late. We still have not received them at the house since they have to go through customs and quarantine. Basically, they will be pulling out our hiking boots and fumigating them. They will also be checking the dry goods we sent to make certain they are allowed in their country. We hope to have everything at the house next week. Finally, warm sock and winter clothes. Yes we took some winter clothes in our luggage but we shipped the majority of them. We've been learning a lot of lessons since we got here.

We did survive another 2 days of re-labeling (more working for wine). We're getting pretty good at this. Oh the other thing we've learned is that we could make a pretty good life out of house sitting. Currently we are house/dog sitting for the owners of Forrest Wines (the company that Trevor works for). When folks at Joelle's winery heard that we are open to house sitting, they invitations started pouring in. I think we could probably start taking bids for our services. You know, what type of food will you have available, what kind of wines, what are the amenities at your home (hot tubs and definitely a plus). That sort of thing! Seriously, it's a nice break for Joelle and Trevor. While staying with Joelle & Trevor is great and we are all learning how to live with each other again and move around each other, we all know what it's like having company. Even the best of company gets old after a while and I think the change has been good for them.

Well, that's all of my musings for now. I need to get ready for company tonight. It's our last evening in the house with a not tub from hell (6 ft. x 12 ft.) and we've invited Joelle, Trevor, Jasmin, her friend and another friend of Joelle's for dinner and hot tubbing. There is a great 'outside' room here (fully enclosed) with an enormous fireplace and outdoor kitchen. Ernie will be starting a fire this afternoon and we will do the pork steaks on the fireplace. So think about us tonight - good com[any, good food, great wine, kick-ass hot tub and an amazing evening sky - including the Southern Cross!

Y'all have a great day!