mainland!

Have had a few days in Christchurch, staying with Fiona and John. It's been a great opportunity to catch up with friends here - and meet more babies!

We left Timaru on Sunday afternoon and drove back to Christchurch via Geraldine and the 'scenic' route - through the Rakaia Gorge and Darfield etc. The weather was a bit overcast but some of the scenery was still spectacular, especially Rakaia. We stopped in at John's work to have a look at the farm - he's working at a NZ Care establishment where he works with intellectually handicapped people who spend time on the farm.

I met up with Lisa and her two children, Felix and Phoebe, on Monday. Felix is 20 months now and Phoebe 7 months. Had a walk round to the Beckenham Library cafe which is a lovely spot. Sue came round for dinner in the evening - I cooked some lamb from my new Australian Women's Weekly cookbook.

On Tuesday I went and had lunch with Fiona at a cafe near her work - some lovely food there, inc spinach and salmon stacks which I had. Had a wander around the central city after lunch - I walked around Hagley Park, went to Beads Unlimited and made a necklace, had a look at the Maori cloaks exhibition at the Art Gallery and bought some earrings from the shop there. Also had a look round the shops on Cashel St - not much has changed really! Radio man wasn't there though.

Took the bus out to Mt Pleasant for dinner at Lisa and John's - they are quite high on the hill. Sally and Richard came round as well - Sally made her lovely white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake which I had to have a little bit of!

Wednesday was ANZAC Day and it was really quiet all over Christchurch. About half the businesses were closed, and the ones that were opened only opened in the afternoon. Most restaurants charge a surcharge for a meal too. The weather was gorgeous again, and Fiona and I went for a walk along the river.

Mum and Dad came up in the afternoon, and in the evening we went to see Sacha's choir, Cafe of the Gate of Salvation (http://www.cafeofthegateofsalvation.com.au/), sing at the Great Hall. The choir is based in Sydney, and sings traditional and new gospel music. It was fantastic! The leader of the choir, Tony Backhouse, used to be in The Crocodiles years ago, but now has a passion for gospel music. The choir had been on tour through New Zealand for the last fortnight. Lovely to see Sacha again as well. We went for a drink at the Dux de Lux afterwards.

On Thursday, Mum, Fiona, Sue and I went up to Hanmer for the day for a soak in the hot pools. It's years since I've been there - maybe 15 years at least? They have really expanded it and now have many more landscaped pools, as well as three sulphur pools (40 degrees!). Lazed around in those for a while, then went and had lunch at the Rustic Cafe, and then stopped in at the Nor'Wester cafe in Amberley on the way back to Christchurch. We went and ate at The Brick Works for dinner - more lovely huge mussels!

Am leaving Christchurch today (Friday) for Los Angeles.