Jenny Burrell

Our drive to Leeds this weekend was different. We didn’t have to pass any asinine comments about ridiculous ‘Smart Motorways’ because none seemed to be working! I’m not sure what instructions are given to people who remotely control them. They cannot possibly be aware of the bottlenecks and chaos they cause when speed limits are introduced for traffic that is flowing smoothly! Apparently there have been a number of deaths as the hard shoulder becomes a normal traffic lane. Breakdowns have nowhere to pull over and wait for assistance. Surely this must have been discussed when the powers that be made the decision to introduce this ridiculous system!

So our trip to Leeds was a pleasure! We arrived stress free and ready to take my mother in law shopping in Wetherby. I had spent an hour with my mother in the morning. She had not eaten but had taken a few sips of tea. There was no recognition when I arrived and she refused her energy drink. There was little one sided conversation before my mother closed her eyes and nodded off, ignoring my gentle coaxing.

So different to my mother in law who is still as bright as a button and very up to date with current and world affairs. She reads her newspaper every day, leads a busy social life and, despite being physically slightly frail, soldiers on with fortitude and a good sense of humour! My mother was physically fit and mobile until the last few months when dementia has taken a firm hold and she is now in the end stage of this evil, debilitating, cruel disease.

But there are a few evil, debilitating, cruel diseases that remain incurable. My husband’s cousin has just passed away, aged sixty three, from Huntington’s Disease. So desperately sad and such a waste of a brilliant mind and a genuinely lovely person. Life can be so unfair! To add to this nightmare, their daughter has a fifty percentage chance of inheriting this gene and has to live with this awful sword of Damocles hanging over her! It’s like my sister, brother and I. We have dementia in our family from both my mother and my father so there is a very good chance that one or all of us have inherited this gene! I’m not taking the test! I’d rather hope that a cure is just around the corner and try to make the most of my life while I am still fit and well. Or I can curl up in a ball and wait for something awful to happen! I’ve made my choice!

We met my husband’s cousin for dinner and I was really impressed. She was so pragmatic and grateful to be out spending time with us. We don’t meet up often so had a lot to speak about and this, I hope, took her mind off her desperately sad loss. Her husband had been in a care home for a few years so she was used to living on her own. Certainly not an ideal situation but going home to an empty house had become the norm and not something to dread. A small mercy to be grateful for!

On Sunday we drove home via my daughter and her husband’s house. They are in the throes of major renovations but progressed enough for us to have a good idea of the end result! They are making their house a home and ensuring that they have everything they want and of the best quality so that they won’t have to change or renew anything for many years to come! Sensible and encouragement to get through the chaos! There is light at the end of their tunnel!

Another week has passed. We’re into February already. The snowdrops are out and I have filled my house with daffodils! The mornings and evenings are getting lighter and I’ve heard the woodpecker! Always heralding the start of Spring! I know it’s a bit early but the signs are out there and I’m going to run with them! 👠

I completed a few writing courses when I lived in South Africa and started one when I arrived in England almost thirty years ago. My aim had always been to write novels and my working career was purely monetary. I was determined never to be old and poor so working towards a good pension started in earnest in my thirties.

To get over writer’s block all the advice was the same. Just sit down with a pen and paper and start writing – anything that came into your head! That shows how long ago I did my courses. Today it would probably advise logging onto your laptop, iPad or phone and start typing. And this is what I am doing on a dank, ‘mizzling’, grey Sunday afternoon.

Sundays have always been my days off for as long as I can remember. My ideal Sunday starts with the newspapers and breakfast in bed. A few coffee refills and marmalade toast with a good mix of reading matter keeps my husband and I busy for hours. Still sticking to my ideal Sunday, we have a light lunch and then go for a long walk. Alas, always weather permitting and during an English winter this is even less likely than the summer.

Today could be an ideal Sunday if the weather improves, but there is a problem. My poor mother. She is battling end stage dementia and I now visit her every day. Because she has stopped eating the carers and I try to get her to take two glasses of an energy drink made into a milkshake with cream and full cream milk to replace her meals. This equates to about one thousand calories per glass which keeps her strength up and avoids the debilitating pain associated with the shutting down of her organs. I know this is short term but while Mum is still taking fluids, this is the best we can do for her.

Unfortunately yesterday was not good. My mother refused to drink anything for the two and a half hours I was there. I tried every ploy to coax her! I decant the contents of the heavy glass mug into a light plastic cup. This usually works because my mother is still able to hold it which is easier to manage. However, yesterday this routine didn’t work. I also tried a small measuring cup and went back to the days when my two children were babies. I felt so desperate that I was waving my arms around like an aeroplane and ensuring Mum that the drink was delicious! ‘Mmmmmm!’ I told her, licking my lips. ‘This juice tastes amazing! All this did was produce a rare logical comment when she told me ‘No! Put that down!’

So I gave up, feeling very despondent and useless! I decided to skip the Sunday visit because I felt so stressed and leave her in the hands of her carers. I know they will persevere, but maybe not for as long as I do! I really do need a break but I feel so guilty!

After lunch today I rang the care home. My mother hadn’t eaten anything, which was not surprising, but they were managing to get her to sip her energy drink throughout the day. She was gradually getting her calories, vitamins and minerals despite me not being there. She had finished one glass and started the second.

So I went for a walk and felt a lot better. The weather had improved to the point where pockets of blue sky peeped through the grey clouds and the drizzle had stopped. I couldn’t waste this opportunity to ‘make hay while the sun shone’. My husband and I donned our wellies and ventured through the mud and pools of lying water down Wood Lane at the bottom of our garden. There is a moderate three kilometre walk we often do before lunch so chose this in case the weather reverted back to type!

Another phone call to the care home has made me feel more comfortable as Mum was quietly nodding off in her chair, stress free and not in any pain or discomfort. Being able to enjoy this Sunday has helped me prepare myself for tomorrow and a new week. Maybe yesterday was just a ‘bad day’ for Mum. We all have them! Tomorrow will be better. I’m looking at my glass half full …….👠

I try to get up earlier than my husband every morning. Having said that, it’s not hard! My husband could sleep for two people! If I didn’t wake him up at around ‘nine-ish’ he’d probably spend the morning in bed! Oh to be so relaxed and able to turn off completely for hours on end! I’m jealous ……

However, getting up relatively early every morning allows me to have time to prepare for the coming day. This sounds as if I have a high-powered job and need to organise my time. I’m a Lady of Leisure (LOL) so there is another reason. I need to have a plan. I can’t just wake up and think, without stress or panic, that I have a whole day ahead with nothing to fill it! That was always my biggest fear as my working years sped by and I had to address the R’ word! (Retirement for those who aren’t as paranoid as me!)

So my morning quiet times are important. I start my day with a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. There’s a hint of routine there but a bit of routine isn’t a bad thing? I watch two morning television news programmes. The BBC, which I find a bit tedious at times and also biased, is a good news channel. ITV is more fun and varied but the advertisements annoy me, so I flip. I do like keeping up with the news. Some people really aren’t bothered, but I need to know what is happening in this big, sometimes bad, world outside my front door!

But I watch the news with one eye and do other things with the other! I complete a daily diary. I use it as a reminder (never my iPhone!) of events and appointments and also an actual diary completed the next day, retrospectively. I have kept one since 1985. Not updated every day like I do now, but still a good record of my life over the last thirty odd years. Because time flies I use these diaries to confirm dates and times of past events as documented proof when questioned! This does happen!

There is another important reason why I have my diary with me every morning. I plan my day. Sometimes loosely but I always have a good idea of how the day will unfold. I also check the day and the date! Important when I don’t have to work because days can morph into weeks and weekdays morph into weekends far too easily! I also try to keep weekdays as my exercise and chore days and weekends I still hold dear and try to keep for fun! At weekends I allow myself wine with my evening meals (and gin and tonics as evening treats!). Sounds a bit OCD but this discipline suits me. By having a bit of a routine and a daily ‘plan’ has helped me cope with this next daunting LOL stage!

I check my emails, sometimes look at Facebook (just nosey and rarely comment, never post) then go through the News app just in case the BBC or ITV have missed anything! Then I think about my blog and start to plan the next one.

So, my quiet times serve a very useful” purpose. I enjoy the solitude and even, can you believe, enjoy spending time in my own company! I didn’t think this would ever happen! These two hours (more or less) have become almost a ritual and missed when life doesn’t go according to plan. Coping mechanisms come in all shapes and sizes. My husband carries on sleeping until he gets woken up with breakfast in bed (this is best not shared!) and the newspaper so he has his ‘me time’ as well. It’s a win win! 👠

On Monday I woke up with an uncomfortable sensation in my throat. I ignored it and carried on as usual, going to circuit training and then on to a talk about chutney. This doesn’t sound very interesting but the woman giving the demonstration was hilarious! She had us in fits of laughter and didn’t even need to show us how to make plum chutney in the hour it took her to chop up onions, garlic and mountains of fruit!

Tuesday morning I awoke feeling as if my throat had been slashed! I had apparently snored through the night! Not likely! I don’t snore! My husband does! I went downstairs and had a coffee before sucking on a lozenge. I was going to yoga come what may so needed to just get on with it! The weather looked awful! It was pouring with rain which showed no sign of abating! The wood at the bottom of our garden was barely visible. A few black leafless trees stood guard at the perimeter as dense fog crept ever closer. Within seconds the trees had vanished and our garden had also became engulfed. A shiver crept up my spine. My head had begun to throb and I felt claustrophobic, caught in a bubble with no means of escape!

Rather melodramatic, but, feeling pathetic and very sorry for myself, my imagination had taken wings! I went into the television room and turned on the news. I’m not sure why as it’s not something anyone would do to feel uplifted! So I wallowed in self pity, staring outside at nothing! Just a grey swirling mass of absolutely nothing! The throbbing in my head had intensified and I had begun to cough, a croaking, rasping sound. I closed my eyes. I didn’t know when last I had felt so ill! A thought flashed through my mind. I’d had the flu jab so it couldn’t be flu! But what if, heaven forbid, I had Man Flu!

That was my epiphany! No way was I going to continue in this vein! I turned off the television and stood up, too quickly because the floor shot up to meet me! But I soldiered on! I cleaned the bathrooms and washed the kitchen floor! This was probably the martyr in me but it gave me a strange sense of achievement before I once more collapsed into a miserable, shaking pile of jelly!

Alas, I didn’t make it to the yoga class. Carrying my heavy bag up the hill in the pouring rain and fighting my way through the dense fog was not going to happen! I cannot lie. I succumbed to the dreaded ‘lurgi’. I curled up in front of the television and watched a John Wayne cowboy movie, a warm blanket wrapped around my aching body! There are many strains of flu. The strains of flu in this year’s batch of flu jabs must have missed this one! And, just to be clear, it certainly wasn’t Man Flu ……… trust me👠

Holidays long gone! Christmas and New Year over and we’re into January! The weather is not good and neither am I! And I can’t understand what is causing this malaise!

I woke up on Monday morning, opened the curtains and looked out at a dark grey sky. My mood plummeted and I turned to go back to bed. The alarm clock showed 8:00 am. I really couldn’t justify that! My husband always wakes up after me so he was quietly snoring and oblivious to my dilemma. I closed the curtains and felt my way downstairs, counting thirteen steps so that I didn’t break my neck falling down them!

I needed to shake off this depression! Life could be a lot worse! A close relative had been really ill this time last year and he was doing well! Be grateful! I didn’t have to get up early every morning and fight traffic to get to work! Be grateful for that! My husband was fit and well and I was doing okay for a woman of my ‘advanced’ age! That was a bonus too!

But then I thought about my mother fighting end stage dementia and this was probably the underlying cause. I always knew that this time would come but, when I was shown a report from her doctor on Christmas Eve, it came as a shock! I visit her every day and try to encourage her to drink a glass of complan as she is not eating. Initially I was told that Mum had at most a couple of weeks to live, but she has plateaued and this stage could last indefinitely. No matter how hard I try it is very upsetting to see my mother sitting immobile in a chair, nodding off occasionally, with little or no interest in her surroundings. She hasn’t recognised me for a while. So sad. But Mum is not in any pain or discomfort. I must be grateful for this!

I’m not sure how long the carers spend trying to coax her to take fluids so feel that my daily visits are important. Seeing a loved one in a care home can be stressful even if they are doing well under the circumstances. It’s looking around at the other residents in varying stages of the disease that I find the most disconcerting. Seeing the downhill spiral and wondering if or when your parent or spouse will eventually reach that next stage is not great!

But there is nothing I can do to change this situation and need to just crack on with it! My mother was always a ‘glass half full’ person. When I was worried about something (often!) she’d tell me that, if I could change or fix it, then change or fix it! If I couldn’t, accept it and find a workaround! Sometimes a lot easier said than done! So Mum, I am in a situation that I can’t change or fix! I’m struggling to find a workaround! The best I can hope for is to somehow ring-fence my time with you and carry on living my life as normally as possible! Easier said than done! 👠

Before dropping my sister and brother in law off at the airport to fly back to Brisbane, we visited Nelson Bay’s Lighthouse for coffee. Driving up the North Coast we had lunch at a very basic fish restaurant hidden down a country lane known only to the locals and my brother in law! The meal was delicious but I can’t remember the name of the restaurant or where it was!

My husband and I had decided to drive up from Sydney to Brisbane! We had achieved a staggering 7,000 kilometres in New Zealand but weren’t satisfied! An opportunity to follow the coast up to Brisbane was too good to miss! So, later that afternoon, we drove from the airport to an apartment we’d booked in Shoals Bay. Unfortunately the evening was a washout so we bought a pizza and had a quiet meal looking out onto a car park or, the other choice, staring at the television!

The next day was long, wet and not very exciting! We drove through many forests and saw lots of trees on our way to Sapphire Bay. We didn’t seem to be following the coast because there was no sea view! My husband blamed the sat nav and decided to use a map the next day. When we arrived at our apartment a workman was in our room fixing the patio table! Not ideal but he was very amicable and told me that dolphins had been sighted earlier. We had a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean but unfortunately the dolphins must has moved on. We never did see them!

The next day we headed for Byron Bay but stopped at Coffs Harbour for a very substantial brunch! After the meal we walked to Muttonbird Island nature reserve past a marina. The wind was so strong that the noise blowing through the rigging of the boats was deafening! By the time we reached the point I was frozen and found no enjoyment looking out across the mighty Pacific Ocean! I just wanted to get back into the car and thaw out! The promise of abundant bird life was unfounded, probably because the birds had all blown away!

Byron Bay was a lovely, picturesque town although our ‘stroll’ along the beach to get to the fish restaurant for our evening meal was a real challenge! The gale force wind mercilessly buffeted us as we struggled to walk along the beautiful coastline. Sand stung our bare legs and my hair blowing around my face made visibility almost impossible! I dared not open my mouth for fear of swallowing hair mixed with a healthy dose of sea sand! Just managing to keep upright I battled through the howling gale, eyes down, barely open to prevent the stinging sand from blinding me. The three miles to the restaurant felt like ten! Or twenty …..

At lunchtime on day three we arrived at my sister’s house. She had arranged for her family, with the two new little additions, to meet in the evening for dinner. I couldn’t wait! And the wait was worthwhile! Meeting up with the family was a real joy! My niece and nephews and their partners have grown into lovely, caring adults and my great niece and nephew, absolutely adorable! I wouldn’t have missed this reunion for the world! So sad that we can’t meet up regularly but WhatsApp, videos and photographs are the next best thing. That’s life!

A visit to the Glasshouse Mountains the next day, in temperatures of 40 degrees plus, resulted in a sad Fitbit who finally gave up begging me to feed it and went to sleep! The air conditioning in the car was set to maximum and the only stops we made were for comfort breaks and cold drinks. That evening we caught a ferry to the Wharf and enjoyed the wonderful ambience of a thriving city filled with joggers, sightseers and inhabitants all out on the town and having fun! The atmosphere was electric! The meal was delicious!

Two days later we landed back in Manchester. It was -3 degrees and felt bitterly cold. Our taxi was waiting as prearranged. As we walked into an ice cold house I made a beeline for the heating switch! Six wonderful weeks after leaving England we were back, rejuvenated and with a multitude of wonderful experiences to mull over and share!

So, let’s see what the New Year brings …..👠

After a cold, wet three weeks in New Zealand we landed in Sydney. It was warm and the sun was shining! What bliss! The taxi dropped us off at the apartment we were sharing with my sister and brother in law, the latter waiting outside with the access code to let us in. My sister had prepared an evening meal. What a pleasure to unpack our bags and not have to go out looking for a salubrious restaurant and one offering a gluten free option!

The next morning I awoke to the delicious smell of bacon and eggs! My sister is the early bird. I’m the night owl. She had been up for a couple of hours so was beginning to get impatient to start our sight seeing! We walked to Circular Quay and caught the ferry to Manley. Sailing towards the Sydney Opera House was spectacular. It glistened in the bright morning sunlight, a feat of architectural beauty, the pride and joy of all Australians. And who could blame them?

Disembarking in Manley we walked along the esplanade and saw school children having surfing lessons! Some other classes were being held on the beach which I thought such a good idea. Getting outside in the fresh air and soaking up much needed vitamin D! I wondered if those children realised how lucky they were! No pasty white faces to be seen, all were tanned and healthy! We had a drink at the New Brighton Hotel before heading back to the water and catching another ferry to Watson Bay. I’m not a particularly good sailor but the ferry rides were great. I could see land on either side so this also made a difference!

The thing that I remember the most about Watson Bay was the enormous sole I had for lunch! I have never seen one so big and was convinced that I would never finish it! But I did and it was absolutely delicious! We weren’t in any rush so we lingered over our meal before heading back to Sydney and another quiet evening. A pleasure as my sister and I had a lot of catching up to do! She had proudly become a grandmother for the first time, not once but twice! Both sons wives had given birth within a few months of each other. An adorable little boy made his entrance first, followed by a petite, beautiful little girl! I couldn’t wait to meet them!

We visited the Opera House, climbing the stairs to the top. The usual tourists taking selfies or in groups was the only downside to another glorious sunny day. From the Opera House we walked to the Botanical Gardens and saw our first kookaburra of this trip. He was perched on a tree stump staring across at the cameras pointed at him, flashing continuously. He ignored them, slowly shifted his position, without a care in the world, then flew off out of sight!

We caught a taxi to ‘The Rock’ where we had a light lunch before my sister and I went shopping for clothes for her two new grandchildren. We were spoilt for choice! As the new ‘Great Aunt’ (ouch!) I wanted to see them bearing gifts! Shopping completed we headed back to our apartment to get ready for our evening meal. It was fun going out into the throngs lining the wharf. The atmosphere was electric! For a small town girl I really enjoyed the buzz and bright lights of a big city! A rare treat and not to be missed!

The following morning we caught a taxi to Bondi Beach which was another unforgettable experience. There was a 1.5 kilometre ‘Sculptures by the Sea’ walk which was so different and very enjoyable. The sculptures were in glass, resin, wood, metal and a whole lot more materials. The imagination of some of the artists was astounding! There was a vintage truck made from palm fronds and seed pods! All along the walk there was something for everyone. Stunning bronze statues glistened in the sunlight, glass shards tinkled and sparkled as the sea breeze gently wafted around the exhibits.

Our first visit in our hired car was to the Blue Mountains. We booked a ride on the Blue Mountain Scenic Railway. This is the steepest passenger railway in the world with a 52 degree drop into an ancient rainforest on the Jamison Valley floor. My brother in law knew about the steep drop. The rest of us didn’t! The experience literally took our breaths away! Spectacular didn’t come close!

Wild fires had started burning in a number of areas outside Sydney so we had been warned that some roads would be closed. A haze hung over our apartment when we returned home that evening and we could smell the acrid smoke. Little did any of us know that these fires would still be burning weeks later and swathes of this beautiful country would be destroyed! Devastating!

Our last night in Sydney was wonderful. We joined the masses of residents and visitors sitting in bars opposite the beautiful Sydney Opera House. Soaking in the atmosphere as I sipped my gin and tonic I recalled the last five weeks. We had experienced so much, met so many wonderful people, eaten delicious meals and seen so many cultures living happily together. Hong Kong was different! Not somewhere I’d like to rush back to until the country resolves it’s political issues and I’d feel safe!

We headed for Brisbane after spending a night in Newcastle with my brother in law’s sister. She was generous to a fault and welcomed us into her beautiful home my brother in law had built for his mother many years ago! We had one last week left to enjoy the warmth of Australia before flying home to an English winter and Christmas. I was going to meet my great niece and nephew! I couldn’t wait! 👠

From cold Queenstown we headed to Franz Josef Glacier. This was going to be the coldest place we would visit and I had come prepared. I had packed one pair of thermal gloves, one pair of thick socks, a scarf and my puffer jacket. All items of clothing had been worn many times and were beginning to look the worse for wear! I had no choice. I packed them at the top of my suitcase.

Back on the Highway we headed up the west coast to our penultimate destination. Our accommodation was described as staying true to the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style of architecture. Different. The colonial homestead had been lovingly restored and the beautiful rimu timbers whispered the history of this 1926 family home. Sounded interesting! Every one of our accommodations had been so different, all first class and highly recommended! We would be staying for two nights so could spread out and hang up some clothes which looked as if they had been buried at the bottom of the ironing basket!

The house was beautiful. The owners were so helpful. We were made to feel at home in their immaculate en-suite bedroom. The balcony overlooked an old barn with a backdrop of stunning views of the hills. That evening we walked through a little wood to the town centre and had a superb meal.

We had been told to take a torch if we wanted to walk back through the wood. The other route was via the motorway, empty at that time of night, but boring! It was as we were preparing to leave that my husband realised he had forgotten to bring his pride and joy, his torch with the brightness of a million candles! Or so the manufacturers had claimed!

‘Don’t worry’, I told him nonchalantly, ‘glow worms will be our guides! They’re even better than your fancy torch and far more fun!’ So we left the restaurant with street lights illuminating the way to the wood at the end of the road. Actually, if you didn’t know there was a wood at the end of the road, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a huge black hole and something to be avoided at all cost!

We reached the opening of the black hole and it was pitch black! The bravado of earlier had disappeared and I was feeling very vulnerable. Anyone (or anything) could be lurking in that dark pit! But then, as I was about to suggest the motorway route home, I spotted a tiny, flashing light. I moved towards it and then looked further out. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Masses of tiny flickering lights lined both sides of the path, not giving off much light but keeping us on the straight and narrow! A magical walk home under a starry sky and accompanied by what we believed to have been tiny fairy lanterns when we were little, living in South Africa!

The next day was dry but cold, perfect for exercise which we got in abundance! We walked as far as we could to the Franz Josef glacier, marvelling at the size of this huge frozen lake which must be seen to be believed! We were even warm enough to take off our jackets and feel the illusive sun on our backs! A novel experience which we thoroughly enjoyed! We saw some beautiful coloured rocks and stones on our walk to the glacier and I would have loved to have taken some home for my rockery! We finished the day with an old mine trail walk from Okarito, to Three Mile Lagoon. Because the tide had come in we had to retrace our steps and follow the same route back! I did 37,030 steps that day! Fitbit was ecstatic! I was exhausted!

The next day we headed up to Greymouth to board the Tranz Alpine train back to Christchurch. The scenery changed from thick rainforest and native bush to high country grasses. We passed through river valleys, deep gorges and towering viaducts which gave way to vast rivers fed by the many snowfields along the way. We continued west, passing through the foothills of the Southern Alps, over the Canterbury Plains to descend into Christchurch. Once more they had an open viewing carriage which was where my husband spent almost the entire four and a half hours! He only briefly returned to his seat for a drink and a sandwich before rushing back in case he missed any of the stunning scenery!

The next day we boarded our plane to Auckland, then on to Sydney and a week’s stay with my sister and brother in law in the centre of this beautiful city. My brother in law had prepared an eye-watering itinerary! He had been born and brought up here so every day would be filled with more visual delights!

But I’ll never forget our three weeks in New Zealand. Despite the rain, cold, wind and snow we had met some unforgettable people, stayed in first class accommodation, had amazing meals and feasted our eyes on spectacular scenery! We’re definitely going back, sooner rather than later! 👠

When we arrived at our accommodation the night before, unbeknown to us, the key had been left under the mat. The place was in darkness and only after frantic knocking was the door flung open by a rude middle aged man who berated us for disturbing him! Apologies from the management staff and blame heaped on everyone from the travel agent in the U.K. to the gormless taxi driver was the outcome of my exhausted tirade the following morning! After breakfast we collected our new hired car, loaded the suitcases and, with permission from the landlady, parked in her driveway. We walked into Christchurch on a warm, sunny Sunday morning.

Slowly I began to relax, soaking up the ambiance of a city lovingly restored after the devastating earthquakes of 2011. We eventually found our way to the entrance of the botanical gardens. Majestic old trees, which had stood the test of time, towered high above beautifully manicured lawns and stunning flower beds! Families punted on the river Avon or relaxed on benches or blankets dotted around the extensive gardens. It was all very tranquil and I would have defied even the most stressed person (usually me!) not to automatically begin to unwind!

Our next stop was Lake Tekapo. Our accommodation near its shores had spectacular views of the Southern Alps! We headed down Highway 8, very ‘chilled’ and looking forward to our next adventure. The journey was uneventful and we arrived late afternoon, still no rain but bitterly cold. The view from our balcony of the turquoise-blue lake nestling in the valley was stunning. The mountain range covered in snow with luminous shades of blues, greys and brilliant sparkling white etched against a cloudless sky and formed a magical backdrop. We donned warm clothes, (my well-worn puffer jacket and jeans), and headed for its shores.

We found a restaurant and had a delicious meal washed down with a couple of glasses of delicious wine. The light was fading as we headed back outside where were met by a howling gale before the heavens opened! I hadn’t brought a handbag or umbrella so the mile back to our accommodation was horrendous! The biting cold and battering rain made walking very difficult and I clung onto my husband’s hand as we fought our way through the storm, visibility almost non existent!

The next morning we climbed a hill to see the view of the lake from above and the surrounding landscape. As we reached the top the wind was so strong and so freezing cold that I had to sit down and huddle into a ball to avoid being blown away! Once more my husband had to take on the role of super hero and help me down the exposed path, the biting cold numbing my hands and feet, making movement even more laborious! I didn’t go quietly! I have never been accused of being a martyr! It was one of the most unpleasant walks I have ever undertaken and also one of the coldest! The car soon warmed up but it took a long time for me to thaw out!

Back on Highway 8 and feeling human again we headed down to Queenstown. Once more our accommodation was of a high standard and we arranged for our breakfast to be left outside our room at 5:30 am the next morning. We had to meet the coach at 6:30 am on an arranged trip to Milford Sound.

The driver / guide was great. There were only eleven of us on the coach so each had a double seat to spread out and relax. We passed by the magnificent mountain range called the ‘Remarkables’, drove through lush farmland and on to the Fjordland National Park. We past the beautiful Mirror Lakes and it was then that I noticed the change in the weather. The sky was becoming very heavy. The few snowflakes, which had gracefully floated outside the window, had begun to thicken and form a menacing blanket blocking our view. We headed for the Homer Tunnel and our guide was confident that the snow would soon abate and we’d reach Milford Sound.

But, alas, we never did see the series of uniquely shaped rocks and potholes formed by the Cleddau River rushing into a dark abyss! We didn’t board a small boutique boat and view the stunning snow-tipped mountains or cruise past rugged cliffs covered in the magnificent native rainforest. We never saw seals, dolphins or penguins in the fjord fed by powerful waterfalls that tumbled hundreds of metres down into the valley below!

We had to turn around and drive back to Queenstown! Too much snow and too little time to clear it! The once jolly guide concentrated on the drive back and we were left to stare forlornly out of the window in a hushed silence. As we approached the city the snow gradually turned to rain. But our luck hadn’t changed! After the first few passengers were dropped off the door of the coach jammed and we had to walk about two miles back to our room! Once more cold, wet and also very hungry!

But our last day in Queenstown was dry and slightly warmer. We drove around the coast, walked along the lake, had a super meal and awoke bright and early the next morning to start the last leg of our journey. Franz Josef Glacier here we come!👠

Up bright and early we had breakfast, did our final packing and went downstairs to wait for our prearranged taxi taking us to the ferry terminal. Peering out of the window I noticed that the sea and sky had merged into a grey ominous mass, but the wind, strong and cold, posed more of a threat. Security was less onerous than the airports so we walked on to the ferry, carrying our hand luggage and made our way to a seat at the window, facing forward.

The outside viewing decks were shut due to the weather so my husband’s photo opportunities were limited! Alas, this was really bothering him and he went on a walkabout to see how he could get around it! Mid week and not in the holiday season, yet the place was heaving! I had to put my bag on the seat next to me so that the nomad would have somewhere to sit when he finally returned!

In our itinerary we were told that this trip from North to South Island was one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourist experiences! The most spectacular cruise in the world! Alas, the weather put paid to any confirmation and only cleared up as we approached Picton!

We walked slowly towards the station, taking in the pretty village delights! We were going to Christchurch from Picton on the Coastal Pacific train. I love train journeys so was really looking forward to this! The rain and fog had finally moved on (or headed back to North Island!) so the promise of a scenic feast was realistic! We passed through Marlborough country, mile after mile of grape vines proudly displaying their new green foliage!

As we neared the coast the Kaikoura mountain range rose magnificently to my left and the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean stretched to the right. The open viewing compartment was next to ours so my husband was in his element! He should have worn my Fitbit as I watched him darting from one side to the other, lost for scenic choice!

We chugged into Christchurch at 8:30 pm, collected our luggage and followed the crowd to the row of taxis parked outside. We had to queue so waited our turn. Having to repeat the address a number of times and being asked if we were going home so could we advise a route, should have been a warning! Forty minutes later and after many stops to check his Sat Nav, we finally pulled up outside our bed and breakfast! I had tried to ring them for help and to explain the delay but had no reply!

I almost fell out of the taxi and made my way to the front door. All was in darkness! Not a good omen! I rang the doorbell once more as panic began to mount to high blood pressure levels! A light came on in the hallway! A middle aged man flung open the door and told me that the key was under the mat! I had been informed! He was very busy so explained where to find the room and vanished!

After trundling upstairs with all our luggage I put the kettle on, made a pot of tea, showered and went to bed, really annoyed and forty five dollars poorer! Tomorrow morning heads would roll! Tonight I needed to sleep! Easier said than done! It was a long night!👠