Christchurch
Christchurch. 1 hour flight from Auckland clear views there but rain on arrival. Malcolm met us and we recognised many roads on the way to their lovely home. Liz went to the concert dress rehearsal but I slept. Ursula, Emily and Bernard were all on great form. Ursula's paintings really make the house. We laughed at The secret life of Walter Mitty on their huge screen. N Z beat Australia in the rugby. Slept well.
Sunday to mass at St Peter Beckenham.went there 2 years ago. Music group did well Haugen, Gather us in, Farell, Christ be our light, Overhead projector Mass setting easy to sing. Old words for Gloria. All not many. Bishop Paul Martin who is very tall gave an excellent homily on divisions in families and suffering. He wants to close churches and cathedral and rebuild elsewhere not popular. Brunch then to The Piano for Canterbury Philharmonia concert which was very good. Verdi, Mussorgsky, Babar and SaintSaens. Mozart Sinfonia concertante. Malcolm played oboe and is chair. We saw the huge new playground and the outside of the new library. Beer and chips with the wind section at returned services Association lots of interesting memorabilia. shopping and delicious lasagne with 19 crimes wine! Fiddler on the roof part 1.
Monday a glorious sunny day with blue sky. Malcolm drove us to Hammer springs with wonderful views of snow covered mountains. Stopped for cheese scone and coffee. Enjoyed the hot springs - pie and tea had a look in the library. Saw falcon and taikapo like a moorhen. Aidan back from Wellington univ where he is enjoying his jazz course and showed us his new Aiwa synthesiser. Steak for dinner. We saw a student movie he filmed and Fiddler part 2.
Tuesday a beautiful drive to Lyttelton the destruction still visible in many places. Liz had nails and hair cut at South City. Malcolm and I visited the wonderful new library and met one of the staff of 100. The working conditions are amazing 9 to 5, one late night every 4 weeks! To The Piano for an excellent show case by National arts and dance school students including one from Sweden. Sushi and bought calendar then to the new earthquake memorial. On the way we went into St Michael's church and Liz fell over the step. Graham was on duty and I got to play Bach on the magnificent 3 manual organ..A sombre afternoon. Bought 2 books at bookshop near where Malcolm works. To the mosque and wrote in the book there. Paid for chicken dinner packed. Emily came. Aidan played so well. Took photo. Bed at 10.
Wed up at 3.45 and Malcolm took us to the airport. Had delicious avacado, smoked salmon,poached egg like we had in Bali. 3 hour flight to Sydney lovely views of snow covered mountains and Sydney bay. Straight through customs and to domestic terminal delays due to wind.
Plane full and we started off not sitting together but a man kindly swopped with me. Picked up Avis car went for GPS automatic Peugeot bigger than I am used too. Found brake tricky. Air bnb in Camberwell excellent it is a granny flat. Walked to posh supermarket.then drove to where Ann and Paul are staying then to excellent Chinese where we met Sarah and Mark. She is charming. Back by 8.
Sunday to mass at St Peter Beckenham.went there 2 years ago. Music group did well Haugen, Gather us in, Farell, Christ be our light, Overhead projector Mass setting easy to sing. Old words for Gloria. All not many. Bishop Paul Martin who is very tall gave an excellent homily on divisions in families and suffering. He wants to close churches and cathedral and rebuild elsewhere not popular. Brunch then to The Piano for Canterbury Philharmonia concert which was very good. Verdi, Mussorgsky, Babar and SaintSaens. Mozart Sinfonia concertante. Malcolm played oboe and is chair. We saw the huge new playground and the outside of the new library. Beer and chips with the wind section at returned services Association lots of interesting memorabilia. shopping and delicious lasagne with 19 crimes wine! Fiddler on the roof part 1.
Monday a glorious sunny day with blue sky. Malcolm drove us to Hammer springs with wonderful views of snow covered mountains. Stopped for cheese scone and coffee. Enjoyed the hot springs - pie and tea had a look in the library. Saw falcon and taikapo like a moorhen. Aidan back from Wellington univ where he is enjoying his jazz course and showed us his new Aiwa synthesiser. Steak for dinner. We saw a student movie he filmed and Fiddler part 2.
Tuesday a beautiful drive to Lyttelton the destruction still visible in many places. Liz had nails and hair cut at South City. Malcolm and I visited the wonderful new library and met one of the staff of 100. The working conditions are amazing 9 to 5, one late night every 4 weeks! To The Piano for an excellent show case by National arts and dance school students including one from Sweden. Sushi and bought calendar then to the new earthquake memorial. On the way we went into St Michael's church and Liz fell over the step. Graham was on duty and I got to play Bach on the magnificent 3 manual organ..A sombre afternoon. Bought 2 books at bookshop near where Malcolm works. To the mosque and wrote in the book there. Paid for chicken dinner packed. Emily came. Aidan played so well. Took photo. Bed at 10.
Wed up at 3.45 and Malcolm took us to the airport. Had delicious avacado, smoked salmon,poached egg like we had in Bali. 3 hour flight to Sydney lovely views of snow covered mountains and Sydney bay. Straight through customs and to domestic terminal delays due to wind.
Plane full and we started off not sitting together but a man kindly swopped with me. Picked up Avis car went for GPS automatic Peugeot bigger than I am used too. Found brake tricky. Air bnb in Camberwell excellent it is a granny flat. Walked to posh supermarket.then drove to where Ann and Paul are staying then to excellent Chinese where we met Sarah and Mark. She is charming. Back by 8.
Slept well bed is comfy. Hartwell station on the Alamein metro line is very close so we met Ann and Paul at Camberwell where we bought a one day Miki card. To National gallery of Victoria. Paul went to see the terracotta warriors.We went to see women designers, Chinese modern art, European 17th and 18th century art and Venetian glass. Sandwich and juice. To Hamer hall to get tickets. Back to Camberwell Clare, Mick and Owen had arrived and played track with Owen. Back to the Hamer hall for a superb concert by Melbourne symphony orchestra. Mendelssohn SaintSaens played by Jian Wang Bach encore. Symphonie fantastique superby played.
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