A lovely day...

Clear blue skies with some wispy clouds over the outlying hills. Gentle breeze and about 22 degrees. Perfect.

What they say about the NZ sun is true though. It is quite strong. I loaded up with sunscreen to avoid burning and was glad of the shade from time to time.

Went to the arts centre this morning to check out the weekend outdoor arts market. After looking around there I walked up through Hagley Park. Very nice park.





After coming out the north west end of the park I walked up to Mona Vale -- an Edwardian house on the river now converted to a restaurant. There were some lovely public gardens and I popped in to the front lobby to look at the woodwork. The neighbourhood had some pretty swish houses and from the Mona Vale gardens you could look into the yards of the houses backing on the river (most front yards here have big fences around them so you can't see people's gardens). There were some pretty spectacularly landscaped places -- although I must say that I do prefer my own ramshackle garden.

There was a neat little gazebo in the gardens (with a cat sitting it) and the gatehouse was quite cute.




Then I walked around the northern section of the city for a bit before heading back to the cottage to grab my computer and come down to Starbucks to log in to wireless.

Tonight I will have some leftover lamb vindaloo from last night's dinner out. I have some halloumi cheese in the fridge so I will fry that up with some onion, garlic, lemon and mint and pretend it is paneer and make some raita with some of my yogurt.

Have to be up early tomorrow to catch the shuttle to Akaroa (about an hour and a half drive outside Christchurch) for the day.

No need to ask for extra sour cream in this country...

Feeling a bit peckish this afternoon so popped into a pub for some potato wedges. And, crikey, it's the kind of sour cream you cut with a knife. "Skim" isn't a word associated with dairy here it seems. A glass of "Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg" pinot noir (central Otago region) helped. Good thing I had walked about 8 miles already.

Boxing Day, or I Get Back to Working on My Sunburn...

Still quite cloudy this morning. The weather gal said it would clear mid-day but I was a bit leary of that and decided not to risk the beach. Went to the Canterbury Museum this morning which was a nice little museum. There was an exhibit on Freemasonry in New Zealand that said it would explain the world of freemasonry but I am just as clued out as ever. They do have some neat robes and jewelry though. And there were some painted "training boards" on display that were used to explain symbolism to the new members. Totally baffling but very cool paintings,

Another favourite thing at the museum was the "Spot the Santa" game where little plastic Santas were placed in various exhibits for the kids to find. The best was a kewpie-style Santa who was fishing in the middle of a Maori hunting scene. You don't notice it at first and then you do. I think I snorted quite loudly.

Also very charming was the display in the Egyptian room done by museum staff who had "mummified" their favourite stuffed animals from childhood.

By the time I left the museum at mid-day the sun had indeed come out and the clouds had dispersed. I went up the street to the Christchurch Art Gallery and looked around there. Museums are free here.

My stomach was grumbling a bit so I found a table in the sun at one of the cafes along the river and had some lunch. Roasted tomato and capiscum (red pepper) soup with curried goat cheese spring rolls plus a glass of local "Pegasus Bay" sauvignon blanc. Yum.

Then I went to walk around the Barbadoes Street cemetary. It's amazing this country actually got underway as everyone seems to have been dead by the time they were twelve years old. There is also a good "Cold Case NZ" episode here somewhere looking into all the "accidental drownings" from 1860 to 1902.

Now I sip a green tea lemonade at the Starbucks in cathedral square to end my afternoon.

I have food for three dinners in my fridge but think I will go out tonight for Indian food and then make dinner at "home" for my next three nights here.

Hope you all enjoyed your wintery Christmas Day on the other side of the world.

More proof that Pyhrr is a sweatheart...

Asleep on the roof of the glassed-in kitchen addition on the cottage.


Curled up on the beanbag next to the couch while I watch British cooking shows on Christmas night. (Kristin, if you are reading this -- Martin from Coronation Street was on "Celebrity Master Chef". So there is now a Corrie Street reference on this blog along with the cat stuff. Don't worry, I am sure somewhere in this country there is a dolphin that is a dead ringer for Victor Newman and, if there is, I will find it.)

Merry Chrissie!

Overcast and showery today so that put the kibosh on my plan to go to the beach. Will see how tomorrow is.

This morning I had three visitors: Gold, Frankincense and Pyrhh...






Pyrhh came in and curled up on the couch with me, rumbling away for a few hours while I read this morning.

Showers have let up a bit and the sun is trying to break through the clouds. I have come out for a walk and am sitting in Cathedral Square logging in to Telecom wireless. There are lots of people out walking around and a fair number of shops and cafes open.

Hopefully it will keep clear so I can barbecue this evening. Otherwise I will have to grill up inside.

My nose is sunburnt and the cats are plentiful...

The word seems to be out on Chester Street that the renter of Entwhistle Cottage is a certifiable crazy cat lady as I have had a variety of visitors. Little curious faces looking in at me from the patio or the fence.



Today's featured neighbourhood feline is a pretty little orange girl who I like to call Feisty Meisty. She seems hellbent on proving that just because your mom dresses you up in a sweet pink collar doesn't mean a thing.


Last night I watched a very funny Australian movie called "The Castle". Great deadpan humour about a family whose house is being usurped by the local council. Includes humourous reference to Yvonne Goolagong.

After the movie I was further rewarded with an episode of Prime Suspect that I have never seen. Jane Tennison's police career and life is about to combust. Helen Mirren is fantastic.

Today the clouds rolled in and quite a cool breeze was blowing. Good for walking though. Found a butcher this morning to select my Christmas bbq meat and decided on a lovely small Porterhouse steak. Will grill that up tomorrow with green beans.

This afternoon I walked around the city some more and went to the Botanic Gardens. So lovely to see everything blooming. Never seen some many different kinds of dahlias in my life.

Today's featured public sculpture is from a pond in the Botanic Gardens.


And now here are some photos of the cottage to close out today's post. I will head back there now to make some dinner (fresh pasta with pesto sauce) and to settle on to the couch for some reading or some telly watching. I believe there is a Jamie Oliver xmas special to entertain me.

Christmas in Christchurch

It is quite funny to hear Christmas music when the sun is shining and the flowers are in bloom.

Arrived yesterday. On the connecting flight from Auckland the pilot announced "The weather today in Christchurch is simply magical." And it was. I took a shuttle from the airport to Entwhistle Cottage which I am renting for the week. The cottage is just lovely. I couldn't be happier. I had slept on the flight so felt good and had a shower to freshen up and then went for a walk around the town. Sat outside in the warmth at a pub by the river and had Corn and Kumara fritters with smoked salmon and a large glass of "Squawking Magpie" pinot gris. Lovely. Walked around a bit more then went back to the cottage to relax. Picked up a kofta on a pita at the kebab place around the corner. Had a nice chat with the owner over a cup of tea as his wife made my kofta and he told me why they chose New Zealand to settle in after travelling the world to find a place to live.
Fell asleep on the couch watching "Gladiator" so a I guess the long trip had caught up with me.

Woke up around 7 very refreshed and went into the kitchen. Very happy to find a lovely cat sitting on the fence meowing loudly at me. Friendly little fellow. Gave him some good pets and he went on his merry little way. I am sure he will be back as the visitor book in the cottage is full of references to various neighbourhood cats that come to visit.

Started the morning with a leisurely latte and then went to the Christchurch Arts Centre to look around the shops and studios. Had lunch at Annie's Wine Bar in the courtyard at the arts centre -- chicken and bacon pate with crostini and fig relish. Washed down with a glass of "The Decadent Daughter" riesling. Today is lovely and sunny but there is quite a breeze.

Very cool little hanging sculpture in the courtyard -- just like it was floating in the sky.

In the afternoon I went to the children's service with animals at the cathedral. It was quite fun. Lovely to see people bringing sheep, goats, pigs, cats, dogs, rabbits, donkeys, ponies and a chicken into the cathedral -- many dressed up for the holidays with garlands and bows.

And now I will go find a grocery store to get some fixins to make my dinner. Bottle of sauvignon blanc chilling the fridge.