A long time back

It'd been a long time. It's not that I haven't had things to talk about; I have. But I have not felt that motivated. too many things going through my head. I had just been away down south for a week. I hoped it would clear my head, but I have returned with more thoughts than ever buzzing round in my head.

Still it was nice to get away apart from picking up some mild food poisoning at a dodgy Thai restraurant on the first day, making me feel sick as a dog for a couple of days. I almost didn't make due to a small coming car incident, but the panel beater was able to repair the ding in time. I stopped off for a couple of days in hanmer before heading down to Chritchurch. The central part of Hanmer has become like a mini Rotorua with motels congregating around the theremal pools. Due to the food poisoning I didn't do much though i did soak in the hot pools for an hour.

The weather was variable; going from t-shirt weather on the first day to sleet, hail and snow when I was in Christchurch. I took my mother out for her birthday to a quaint restraurant which played live music. The food was not very adventurous, but very nicely cooked. And the staff were very friendly making us feel at home. My mother enjoyed it.

I spent a day knocking around Picton before heading back to Wellington. Again another close shave with food; the restaurant I had dinner at was absolutely appalling. It should be a crime to cook food so badly (but at least no food poisoning this time). I caught the last Bluebridge ferry over. Picton had been fine, and still with no wind; a nice quiet day to chill out. Sailing through the sounds in the dark is surreal; apart from the odd light on the shore or a passing boat all was totally dark, and disorientating. Yet it was a clear night and due to the lack of town lights the night sky was amazing.

But when we hit the strait, there was a real roll on, and by mid strait the wind had become a howling gail. Everytime the ferry hit a wave the whole ship shook and shuddered. To pass the time I watched "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". It was a remake of an earlier film. The original was much better, but at least it passed the time. We entered Wellington harbour one hour late. Then home to find all was as I left it. The next day I heard that all the ferrys had been cancelled due to the weather.