ANother weekend

It was a long weekend this weekend... it being Nelson Anniversary today.

 

I took a shuttle out to Blenheim (population ~20,000) a 90 minute drive to the east of Nelson.  It's a hotter part of the country- and is famous for it's wines growing in the area.  It doesn't have the sea so it lacks a bit of the charm Nelson has on that front, but there are some nice walking trails and a river running through the town.  I explored it quite a lot on foot... Again, like Nelson many of the shops are closed on the weekends.  Town was rather dead on the weekend.

 

I also had the opportunity to visit Picton, where the ferries come in.  It's much smaller than Blenheim, but I absolutely LOVED it... (Also busier- with tourists and open shops.)  Sitting at the water reminded me so much of the peaceful relaxation that I had on the last day of my holiday on horseback in beautiful Waterton Alberta... Like beautiful Tahuna beach, a place I could visit every day and never tire of.

 

Today was half marathon training day.  Like the website recommended this weekend was the big distance weekend.  It's only 2 weeks away!   I ran the distance of the half... albeit over the flat... It was in the sun.  I learned a hat may come in handy.  The last 4 kms were a little slow.  My goal is to finish the half... I really hope I can...   A lot of progress has been made over the last 4 months since I started jogging.  It's been good- but my poor feet are looking forward to a drop in the kms. :) 

 

 

 

 

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Another week...

Last Sunday I tried another New Zealand first- freshly caught snapper wing caught by a friend of mine. It was quite good- and I ate surprisingly a lot!

 

I'm writing this from an internet caf in Blenheim, NZ, population ~20,000.  I've received a job offer here and came to scope out the town a bit.  So far, so good.

 

In other news, ER started playing this week, and I was pleasantly surprised with the first episode. The story line of Lucca and Abby and the baby was fantastic.  I haven't enjoyed ER so much in many years.  The Amazing Race has also started airing a few weeks back.  Grey's Anatomy is still too come- and they tempt us with "coming soon."

 

Managed to see the comet this week.  IT was quite low on the horizon and not super visible, but it was still neat to see.

 

 Also went for another nice ocean swim on Rocks Road. Fantastic...   Should I move to blenheim I'm going to miss being so very close to the sea.

 

dance classes start up again soon and I don't want to miss them. I've also been invited into a small private class as one of the folks is missing a partner.  I like mad want to enter, however if I do move it won't be so easy. 

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Another weekend

Well...  the 3 weeks of jogging off are finally wearing down. I'm starting to feel nearly normal doing my 8 kms, which is good.  The half is only 3 weeks away!!!

 

I spent last night in something very Saskatchewanian, so it was ironic that I came all the way here to do it... Two friends and I had a lovely mellow girl's evening last night at Tipi Stay in Upper Moutere.  We ended up meeting a lovely couple also staying at the same place.  He was a chef and whipped us up fantastic pasta and salad for supper.  We played skip-bo and badminton, and then moved into our 3 bed tipi- started the fire and toasted marshmallows from our beds.  It was surprisingly not smoky!!   It was a cool place to stay, and I'd like to go back for a couple of nights... very mellow. A nice getaway and so close to Nelson!

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A few new things...

My new  years resolution, as I may have mentioned, was to try something new every week...  From sleeping under the stars on NYs eve, to going to an outdoor movie in Botanics Park last night, it has been going good.  This weekend a couple of friends and I are booked into stay in a tipi on Saturday night at a little place called "Tipi Stay" in Upper Moutere on the way to Motueka!  It's funny that I come all the way to NZ to stay in a tipi...

 

I can't wait to see what other fun things trying something new will bring...

 

On the job front, I'm two interviews in- waiting to hear whether I would get the nod on either of those fronts. I'm not feeling it's too promising, but you never know.

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Kiwi language...

It's always rather interesting when a group of Canadians and kiwis get together, such as at our flat a couple of times this week for supper.  Whether it be discussing the different versions of "cards" that we play, or discussing differences in language...

 

I heard a new one... Our pronunciation of "t"s appearing in the middle of words is often more like a "d".  Think about it and it is true... Contrast rattle and rat. 

It is quite interesting how language (at least the first one) is second nature, and you don't think about things phonetically- or how you would have to if you were just learning a language.  Sometimes I feel like I'm learning a new language, but it's just kiwi speak... And there are a diversity of kiwi accents.  The folks in the Nelson areas drop the "r"s, much like the part of the US which has "harvard" university- as an American couple we met when out for supper one night pointed out...  There are so many different sayings it is continually interesting... Plus the different way of saying things.  I love it... :)

 

The training for the half marathon continues... Actually I must say I've been rather naughty and taken about 3 weeks on a very light load. Things just didn't happen so well over the Christmas week and then I injured myself and was off about a week and then it rained about a week and puppy sitting which was a convenient excuse.  I've done a lot more walking over the past bit than running.  I did my first 8kms this am and decided to crank it up and double the run.  The next 4km were sweet, my time improved and I felt great.  I felt I was "in the zone"...  however this was only until I turned back and had to run into a rather strong wind the next 2kms... It wiped me out and definitely ruled out the possibility of going any more than 16kms today...   I'm done puppy sitting on Tuesday which should make the training life much easier... (Although I'm still not REALLY looking forward to the early morning awakenings to head out for my 8kms.)

 

A few friends and I went for a walk on the beach last night.  It was timed perfectly between the rain showers...  It is really that spot that got me into the jogging bit.  It's worth a wee run, just for the chance to stand there for 5 minutes.   It's a special place and I love it every time...  This hasn't faded in my 6 months in Nelson.

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Another update

I know, I know... I'm bad at updating the old blog of late...

 

I'm still puppy sitting Sam.  My flatmate gets home soon.  I forgot that dogs are a little more responsibility than cats, but now I remember.

 

Last weekend I went out to the golden sands of Kaiteriteri with some friends, and had a nice beach day, complete with some ice cream.  We also stopped in at a place to watch "goat milking", only it was actually sheep and we weren't there at the right time so missed seeing that as well.

 

This week was really good as I got to see my first 2 friends in New Zealand, as both were in Nelson this week.  It was great to see them both.

 

Nelson weather has been Atypically rainy this week, hampering the 1/2 marathon training bit...  Hopefully it will turn soon as I need to get back to the jogging!!!  Only a month until 1/2 marathon day...

 

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My New Years

I had planned on having a quiet NYs in Nelson, however at the last moment received an invite to go out to my flatmate's boyfriend's friend's bach (aka cabin/cottage) in the Marlborough Sounds.  It was simply lovely... We were picked up by Phil and his boat and boated out to the Bach around noon on NYs eve.  It was amazing scenery, although I must say the kiwis roads are something else...  As Di drove out to where we parked prior to meeting up to catch the boat, my tummy started acting up a bit. Curve, followed by curve, followed by another curve all the way! :)  Anyhow it was a great bit of time.  A great bach, great people, and great scenery... Great weather too. I actually spent the first day of the NY sleeping under the stars... It's pretty hard to beat that... 

One of the men had a good time scouting out the rocks down by the jetty- he showed me little crabs, pointed out the jelly fishes, and the rock oysters... There were different shells too, than at Tahuna beach...  A fantastic NY, and I'm looking forward to 2007!

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