Well, apologies, it's been a while since we published. You've had Summer hols, great weather, not so great weather, Wimbledon (bad luck Andy) and probably lots of nonsense about Brexit, The Royals, The Donald and that sort of stuff.
Here it's the middle of winter though some days you wouldn't know it. We've had quite a bit of snow, some rain and some beautiful afternoons. We are overrun by folk on the school holidays from Australia and New Zealand (we locals are a bit fed up of the tourists....) but they'll all be going home again after this weekend.
There was quite a big game of rugby here the other Saturday evening. And, quite frankly, Romain Poite is not the most popular guy over here. Refereeing the final and deciding rugby test match between the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks (Hallelujah! May Their Names Be Blessed), the Frenchman caused outrage over here with a controversial last-minute change of decision which would otherwise surely have gifted the series to New Zealand. He's as popular here as a hedgehog in a condom factory. The media had a field day, "[the game would] descend into a French farce in the last five minutes, when you felt the referee was out of his depth and at a level beyond his abilities. At the end of the game the poor guy wasn't even sure if the game was over."
Oops. It's been mentioned a few times over here since.
At least the fans of the team in red knew what they were talking about. 'Come On You ...ooh...er....."
Meanwhile back in Wanaka the Lions & AB fans took a more oenophilial view of the game. And you know what everybody hates....?
Our love and appreciation of food and drink extends to many homes and bars. Here's:-
* Oli's dark chocolate cake made with Ground Up Oatmeal Stout,
* Another night on beer. KPA (Kiwi Pale Ale) and The Crux Pilsner - again, courtesy of Ground Up. Our supper, foreground, kindly provided by Pembroke Wine Bar,
* The Girls!! More wine appreciation,
* Curry night at Whare Kea.
* Oban, of course was uninvited to any of these parties. So he got the right hump.
Otis is a right lady killer and has become a real smiler. Here's him bowling nana over.
When not charming everyone around him, Otis also takes time to ponder his philosophical musings.
We always try to take advantage of the wonderful outdoors here. The most recent weekend was a bit full on - Friday was a 50 km cycle along the riverside between Hawea and Albert Town. A chilly morning but well worth it for the fresh air, exercise, and the wonderfully azure water flowing down from the lake. We haven't tried the kayak slalom yet, but the Spring is not too far away.
Then - get fresh for the weekend - the first trip to Wanaka's nearest ski field, Treble Cone. The lack of early snow had delayed the opening of the resort for the "Cone Heads", but storms early in the week brought the first dump of the season. This place was an new experience to G, more used to groomed pistes and mapped routes. To a man, everyone back in town had told me "It's pretty steep up there", "you need some experience". Yeah, I thought - I've done Le Face in Val d'Isere and The Kamikaze in La Plagne - no bother. But here, as you crest the ridge from the Home Basin, you witness this enormous natural amphitheatre, chutes and cliffs ranging across the acreage - and not a pisted run in sight. This is the Saddle - and yet another reason why I appreciate that they make them tough out here. Delighted to be mentored by Guy, a native from Canterbury, who guided me down these steep slopes, over and around shoulder-high moguls and very kindly filmed my stumbling progress down the slopes. Fortunately, they won't load on here so my amateur technique remains a secret between me, Guy, and his bank manager.
Then he had the audacity to make me carry my skis right up to the summit (a great view of Mount Cook, NZ's highest mountain, from the top) and whoop and delight in a powder run all the way back home.
A glutton for punishment, I return the next day with Oli - more route marching, chute tumbling, powder crunching. Another fabulous day in superb conditions. And we have three more months of this. Yaaaaaa beauty!!!!
