Last few days in Christchurch

Well it's Monday afternoon and we've been back in Christchurch since Saturday lunchtime. Our last blog was from Arthur's Pass - half way between Greymouth and Christchurch. We drove for another couple of hours over the pass - there were *some* hairy bits but nothing too scary - in fact the main thing that was notable from the journey was just how much the scenery changed with every twist and turn of the road. As we were traveling from the wetter West back to the East coast, it changed from lush tropical jungle, to drier scrubby land. We have some great pictures - alot of them a blur because I was trying to snap them every time we turned a bend in the road. So many of them will have windscreen wipers and a tax disc in them - reminds me vaguely of an old Victoria Wood sketch. (I'll look up a link to that next time!!!)

On arrival back here to no 21 we spent a bit of time explaining our route and the details of the trip to the clan, and we had some gorgeous dinner again. (Note: the fabulous Thai meals we have had here will be the subject of another blog entry) then we got ready to go out to the quiz in the local community centre; it was in aid of the family play centre which is like a pre-school nursery but it's run and managed by the parents. Me, dan Leif & Rukmini were joined by their friends Dave and Lynda to make our top team 'Simple Minds'. We did OK on round 1, and rubbish on round 2 but by round 3 the wine was flowing freely! Needless to say, by round 10 we were completely loud and lairy!!! We weren't really paying that much attention to the quiz activity but after the 1st prize was given out, we were surprised to be asked for a representative of our team to go up to the front - shockingly we had come in joint 2nd place and were up for the tie-breaker! Dave (our hero) went up and answered the question "Which is the largest land-locked country?" - we were all so relieved he went up to the front as none of us would have known the answer was Mongolia. He did though, so we won the 2nd prize which included tickets to various attractions in the local area - brilliant - and we divvied them up between us! Needless to say with my super raffle luck, we also won a prize of a basket of toiletries. Leif managed to swap a bottle of lavender water for some more wine (well done that man) and so the night ended with aplomb!

Sunday was a more subdued day for all of us - some hangover cures were needed and lots of water was drunk. There was even some mid afternoon sleeping! Tut tut!
That brings us to today, Monday, we've been out in Christchurch city centre for a great Korean meal at Mama24's with Leif, Rukmini & Orissa who is off school with a kidney infection poor thing. The had to leg it home to get Cyrus from school, but we hung out in the town for another couple of hours; visiting the aquarium where they have a couple of rare North Island Kiwis. Very cute and a bit difficult to see in the dark, but worth it! They're a bit wierd looking and as big as a cat! After that we went for a stroll along the river bank (I understand the Oxford/Cambridge references now I've seen the river!!!) and we had a lovely cup of coffee in one of the bars lining the river bank.

Now we're all back home and having a chilled afternoon/evening with the kids back from school and Cyrus wanting to show off all his new books and his star for reading!

I can't believe we've had all of this time away and now tomorrow is our last full day! It's seemed like we've been away a long time but all of a sudden the end is nigh! Tomorrow we're planning a better tour of the city centre, and then Wednesday we have to be at the airport for 3pm for our flight to Sydney...Dubai...and then Manchester! Hmmm looking forward to that!!!!