Blogging Off…

Short and sweet – that’s what this cruise has been. But then we really didn’t want anything too challenging, as we’re just testing. Only one small mishap by Peter in rough seas when he forgot to hang on to something when he stood up in the library which is positioned, like a crow’s nest, forward on the top deck, over the bridge. But generally, he’s done very well on his feet, with his wheelie-walker. And once I get going, I’m alright, even though this deceptively medium-sized ship seems to be very long when walking from stern to bow.

We haven’t had much rough weather, but of course, New Zealand’s weather was predictably unpredictable. We did get wet one day ashore, and of course, windy Wellington lived up to its nick-name. We sought out our one-time close friends and reminisced in Napier, Tauranga and Wellington. Did the rounds of the wineries in Marlborough as well as Peter Jackson’s WW1 Aircraft museum – the aircraft exhibited being original, and gathered there by him from all over the world, in such an incongruous place surrounded by vineyards. But there’s enough of a flat area adjacent to it to have the airstrip where working models of those planes are occasionally flown to and from.

That was as the ship was moored at Picton on the northern tip of the south island. Last stop after that, Nelson. I didn’t go ashore, but Peter went into Nelson on his own, feeling capable enough to manage the shuttle-bus. Which brings me to say that we have been right royally well looked after. On board, staff and passengers can’t do enough, and in NZ, tour guides, strangers, bus drivers, all helped us collect our walking aids, helped us up and down steps, and all with a smile on their faces. We are truly grateful for it all, but I have to say, I’m occasionally fighting back resentment for being in this state.

This holiday has had a surprising effect on us, too, which makes it more than worthwhile as a means of togetherness. Instead of our home routine, which is borning, repetitive, but necessary, we’ve been able to talk across lunch and dinner tables about all and sundry, to communicate with strangers who then become acquaintances, to find temporary friends to dine with, who may turn out to become pen-pals/Facebook pals from the USA.

So it’s with a little sadness that we pack this afternpoon, for disembarkation tomorrow, where I hope we find the same sort of friendly assistance, as we head for Sydney aiport for our flight back to the Sunshine coast airport, and home.