Back home, and some photos, even one of me!

Above - Peter having a go with the horse that is in training

We're back! The few days away just flew past. We are both really pleased we made the effort to go and spend time with Peter's brother. I know he appreciated us being there. Also loved catching up with our son, but it was all too short. As I thought they would the few days seemed to revolve around food, eating out and drinking, so lots of food, cappuccinos, wine! But it all went well. I will fill in as I go how I coped with the eating out side of the trip.

I was quite happy about our flight down when I saw the size of the plane - but oh no that was the plane to Auckland! Ours was the small one behind it! The alarm bells should have rung when we were given our seats for the flights to Nelson. I was 6A, Peter was 6F, I thought we weren't seated together but in fact the only thing between us was the aisle! The plane was a small 18 seater. It creaked and shook it's way on the 40 minute flight. I was pleased to get off I can tell you!

We caught a taxi into Nelson city and had a coffee with our son before picking up his car for the drive over the hill. The trip over took close to two hours. Once there we were to meet Peter's brother at a restaurant close to his house. This was out in the country but we found it fine. It was really good to see him, although quite hard. We had a lovely meal there along with some of his friends and then back to his house. We sat around until after midnight talking. I feel so much for him, he seemed fine on the surface but we could tell he really was still really in shock. Off to bed. Oh yep - food choice that night was pan fried gurnard along with a huge salad. It was an alternative style restaurant and they didn't serve chips - ok by me. Had a little laugh when I headed of to the toilet at the restaurant, one of the woman we were with commented that it was a compost one?! Had never heard of that so wondered what to expect. It was a long drop, where if you needed you threw in some sawdust after you had been. The nearest little town is quite hippyish - so I guess this is all part of green living!

The next day we went driving to see where Peter's brother is going to build a new house. A beautiful spot, looking out to sea, not a soul in sight. While there he took his horse that he is training for a ride along the beach, Peter had a go as well. Photo above. We then drove to visit our nephew's farm and catch up. We saw their children as well so that was great as it's not very often we get to see them. They run a dairy farm and our nephew's wife also grows hydrangeas for export. So a very busy young couple. Night time we went off to the local. The brother had planned to have scallops at home but once out he didn't seem to want to go home - so...... out for dinner again! The meal was disappointing, in fact that's being polite. On the menu they had grilled and fried seafood, so I asked what they grilled. Nothing - it was all deep fried and battered, so the menu was a bit of a puzzle. In the end I chose roast chicken and vegetables. Wrong choice for me. It arrived - two huge quarters of chicken - not roasted but deep fried and greasy, really, really greasy! The potatoes were also deep fried and overcooked, the veges were cabbage, silverbeet smothered in white sauce, carrots and peas. It was late so I think it had been cooked for a while and was really over done. I'm getting fussy!! Peter's brother commented how great the food was so as not to appear I didn't like it I ate a little and kept rearranging the food on my plate to make it look like I had got through a lot. Then the next day I found my body doesn't cope well with grease now (TMI) the food went straight through me (several times!) I felt better afterwards!! Another late night as well.

We got up bright and early the next morning and headed back to Nelson. As our son flats in quite a small house with a couple of others we just asked him to book us into a motel close to town. He totally surprised us with his choice of motel when we met up with him. David (son) took us to a little street just around the corner from the restaurant he works at. The whole street is full of tiny restored cottages, some are for rent. So we had this beautiful little cottage, with a private courtyard, lovely old furniture, gorgeous linen, bowls of fresh fruit, flowers - just beautiful. Even bread (in the freezer) eggs in the fridge for breakfast, home made jam! Just perfect. Further surprise it was paid for!! But then David owed me some money, and we gave him some back for his car instead of renting one - so I think we ended up even!

The cottage - it was quaint:

Then more food - we went out to a little cafe for lunch, not where our son works, we saved that for night time. I had pan fried blue nose (fish) with a cab sauv vinaigrette. Very tasty, entree size meal. David had to go back to work mid afternoon so we drove around, took in the sights, then back to the little cottage and got ready to go out for dinner. Yea - more food! We booked in for eight so really had been a while since lunch. We wandered down to the cafe and had a drink out on the footpath at another little bar on the way.

Me - ready for dinner. See I do exist!

I enjoyed every mouthful of dinner - not very often we get this son of ours to cook for us! I had natural oysters in balsamic vinegar, then lamp rump, with bok choy on a bed of risotto. Delicious - thanks David! Peter had seafood chowder, then a spaghetti dish with clams and sea food.

Back to the cottage, we had an early night as the flight out this morning was an early one. We had a bigger plane - phew! But had to change at Wellington and then back onto one of those little shaky ones..... Huge sigh of relief getting feet back firmly on the ground!

I feel I did ok with my choices when eating out (apart from the greasy chicken). Even though I had the odd wine, I was also drinking a fair bit of water.

We have bought home frozen scallops which we thought we would have for dinner tonight, we also planned an early night - but then the phone went and our friends are doing from the Bay of Islands catching up with their daughter and want to meet up for drinks. These are friends we made in the UK years ago and they moved over to NZ. Looking forward to seeing them - but also sort of pleased tomorrow is Monday! Not very often I think that. It's all go!

Catch you later:)