Lowburn-Lawrence-Mosgiel

Sometimes in your life, you have a bit of a revelation and realise that you know some truly amazing people. People who are funny, genuine, warm and humble, and make you feel like a million bucks. And although a million bucks in the pocket would be very nice, you realise that you have something much better than money, you have genuine friends.

We left Lowburn in fog and headed into Cromwell to fill with LPG, and to empty the tanks at the dump station. However, it wasn’t going to be that easy as once we got to the dump station we found that the water tap was frozen. Fortunately, the fresh water tap/faucet (rather than the dump station tap) began flowing after a little coercion and we were able to fill with fresh water.

Chilly tap

The fog cleared as we crossed the bridge out of Cromwell and we were soon on our way to Lawrence.

On our way

Between Cromwell and Clyde

Heading over the bridge in Alexandra

One of the remaining old bridge supports

Heading towards Roxborough

Stunning landscapes

Bridge under repair at Beaumont

Why Lawrence you may ask? Well, some friends we met on the road a few years ago now reside in the town although they do still get away regularly. We met up with Kim, Harry and their two lovely children Estella and Reuben and spent time catching up before arranging to meet in town the following morning for a coffee or three.

These guys were just standing around in Lawrence.

Soon it was time to head off, not too far, just into Mosgiel on the outskirts of Dunedin. We headed to the Showgrounds as that is where we planned to park however, we got there to find that the place was full and there was nowhere for us to park. So onto plan B, which was quickly formulated. We headed round to the Racecourse at Wingatui where we found a very affable custodian, who welcomed us to park wherever we liked.

Parked at Wingatui

One of the main reasons for heading back this way was for Roy to get his second Covid jab in Dunedin, that is all done and dusted without any side effects/Microsoft updates/tinfoil hats required.

Now here is where I slipped up again, or should that be once more? I neglected to take any photos over the next couple of days, I admit it, I was too busy gas bagging.

We arranged to meet up with my nephew Stuart, along with Emma and their three children Toby, Maggie and Mack for dinner. They came over to Mosgiel and we all met up at Nellies restaurant for dinner where we enjoyed good company, conversation and food. It was really lovely to see them all again and catch up.

The following day we met up with David & Di, friends we stayed with a couple of months ago, for lunch at the garden centre in Mosgiel. again, fabulous food, company and conversation. Today was going to be a busy day of meet ups.

After a great long lunch we then headed into Dunedin to meet up with niece Jenny. This time I remembered to take a photo!!

Roy & Jenny at Nova cafe in Dunedin.

Again it was lovely to catch up with Jenny and hear all her news before it was time for us to head off and meet up with Harry, Kim and family for dinner. Yes, we were meeting up with the family again after our lovely catch previously in the week in Lawrence.

We had all forgotten that the All Blacks were playing in Dunedin however we managed to find the restaurant we were booked in at with parking not too far away. We had a fabulous Indian (vegetarian) meal, where the conversation flowed, the laughs were aplenty and the food delicious.

Back: Kim & Bernice Front: Roy, Reuben, Harry and Estella

We bade fond farewells to this lovely family, we will keep in touch and hopefully catch up again soon.

The journey

Theatre, rugby, party, football time

Friday 29 December:

We headed into London on Friday afternoon aiming to eventually end up in the Westend as we had booked seats to go and see a show. Alex, Antony Roy and I made our way into town via train and tube with Ian joining us later once he had finished work. But first we all need to have something to eat as we hadn’t had lunch at it was by now nearing 5pm and the hunger pangs were starting to gnaw away.

We headed to a restaurant by Covent Garden called Ping Pong, for a dim sum feast.

Alex reminded us that we had actually been here before when we last visited London, except that time the restaurant was Spanish tapas bar and our company at that time was my niece Fran and her now hubby Clive. I’ve looked for the photo of us having dinner together then but I cannot find it amongst the few thousands of pictures we have!

From there we headed across to the Westend Theatre district where we were set to see a show, called Mischief Movie Night, an improvised movie live on stage. We first had to meet up with Ian before the show, we then settled in to watch the show.

the scene is set

What happens with this show is that you suggest a genre, location and title and Mischief Theatre’s improvisers bring the show to life, complete with rewinds, fast forwards, directors cuts and a live score. So when it came time to call out suggestions for genres, a few were called out and picked then we had to vote for which one we wanted….Alex’s choice of Kung Fu movie made the cut as did Roy’s suggestion of Spaghetti Western with Roy’s suggestion winning out to popular vote. Other extra things that were added to the plot was the classic gunfight scene, the setting was an old picture theatre and a dinosaur had to make an appearance!

Much hilarity ensued, with the cast at times unable to contain themselves when things went awry and ended up in fits of laughter. We all thoroughly enjoyed the humour and it was a really great night out, with a train journey home to wrap up the night.

Saturday 30 December:

We were all going to Twickenham to watch a rugby match, including Ian’s parents Christine & Barry, their cousin Julie & Brian, Matt and Alex’s friend Helen completed the group. First we headed to the Campden pub to meet up with everyone for a bite to eat for lunch before making our trek across the city, oh and this was the same pub we came to on Christmas Day. At times it was like herding kittens.

The train journey meant we had multiple changes to make and platforms to find, but we got there in plenty of time to then make the trek from train station to the rugby grounds.

walking along the streets with the crowds.

getting settled into our seats

It was a packed stadium with nearly 78,000 people in attendance, but with clear views of the pitch, a huge screen at each end of the stadium and smaller screen directly in front of us, we were guaranteed not to miss a thing.

The ball delivery was a little different as well with a high wire stretched across the top of the stadium and a guy bouncing along the wire to the middle to deliver the ball dropping it from the great height. I have to admit that I could not watch him as it made me feel rather ill.

in both pictures above, you can see the tightrope walker in the screen and if you look carefully you can also see him in the little piece of sky peeping through the top of the stadium. In the lower picture, the ball has just been dropped which you can see in the tv screen. Please note that I took these pictures by not looking and just pointing and clicking!!!

We enjoyed the game and the crowd was very good. Rugby crowds are very different to football (aka soccer) crowds here. Apparently football supporters are kept very separate from each other with lots of police and crowd control in evidence. In many matches, one group of supporters is locked in the grounds whilst the opposition supporters are let out, and usually in totally different directions so they never meet! A little different to what we experience and what is experienced at the rugby where everyone is mixed and friendly banter ensues. I am told that rugby is for “posh” people in the UK, the ones that go to the right schools, don’t ask me if it’s the public or private school as the two types of school are labeled the opposite of what we know them as in NZ!

A few of the many food stall at the grounds, we had a drink or two and a bite to eat whilst we waited for the crowds to dissipate.

We managed to stay together and retrace our steps home.

the rabble on the train.

Oh and if you were wondering, the Harlequins won 50-21.

Sunday 31 December:

A few of Alex & Ian’s friends had organised a dinner at an Indian Restaurant, aka a curry house in this neck of the woods, for a group of us to go to on New Years Eve but first they all descended upon their house for an afternoon of watching the football and trying out a few gin based cocktails as we somehow seem to have managed to put together a reasonably large selection of gins.

looking up recipes?

From here we then went to the Curry House for an evening that proved to be brilliant on many counts. First the company was great, second the food was amazingly delicious and very very different to the NZ versions of curry, and thirdly there was entertainment. And believe me when I mean entertainment, I mean we were thoroughly entertained.

The entertainment was one guy on a key board who we must admit that initially we had serious reservations regarding his competence, however after a couple of songs, which included local improvised lyrics, wigs hats and glasses were continually being added for dramatic effect, we were all soon into the swing of things. With the refreshments flowing, he was being helped along by our vociferous table (albeit except me as I had woken that day without a voice), but I did try!!!

doing his Elvis impression.

After an hilarious evening out we headed back home to continue the celebrations including watching on TV London putting on an impressive display of fireworks.

Monday 1 January :

It was a slower (and later) start to the day today, by late morning we were all up ready for the days activities. Alex and I went off to do the grocery shopping whilst the blokes went off to the local football match, supporting Welling. Apparently Roy is becoming known as an honorary long distance supporter, as I think this is his third or fourth game he has been to!!!

The ground for the game against Dartford

Meanwhile Alex and I had a quiet day at home before everyone returned for dinner then we all settled down in front of the TV to watch the darts final live. I know, who would have thought that I would want to watch men throwing darts at a dart board? But after having to watch a number of games surrounded by some very avid and vociferous fans, I became a little interested! And yes, it was a good final.

All in all a busy and fun few days.