Avian visitors.
I had just prepared a cup of tea this morning when I heard “peep, peep” outside the door of the bus. This little family were looking for handouts. Sorry we do no want duck poop in our awning. They were still really cute though. There are now a pair of Starlings outside showing off their iridescent backs.
Sunny Nelson is living up to its name. Being parked under a Willow tree is great when the sun is shining, but when the rain falls leaves and branches concentrate the drops. The other night there was a strong Northerly blowing and we decided to put the awning away in the dark before going to bed. As we rolled the fabric away some small branches rolled up with the roof. Some action with a sharp knife the next morning should prevent a recurrence.
Mike has developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – possibly aggravated by the use of an outboard motor. We are attempting to manage this with a splint worn at night and when practical during the day. The worst part is pain at 3am!
Adult Learn to Sail courses start this Sunday which means that Mike is now coaching six days a week. Lots of fun! Lorna has been having a few short days as the lady she is to relive has not gone yet. Full time work will start next week.

Semi Permanents!

We are now officially long term residents of the Tahuna Holiday Park. Our rental has reduced by over $80 per week. Now that we have been here for four weeks we can join the public library, which is just as well because we are running out of reading material. Mike has finally hooked up the waste pipe so that he no longer has to empty the grey water by bucket. During this exercise he discovered that the bus exhaust had melted the balance pipe between the two grey water tanks. The plastic pipe has now been replaced with a rubber one and re routed away from the exhaust.
It is raining. This is the first real rain we have had since we have been in sunny Nelson! We woke this morning to the gentle patter of light precipitation falling through the willow tree on to our roof. The time is now 10am and the water is still falling from the sky albeit slowly. The weather here is very different. The southerly blows strongly – like a Canterbury Nor’ Wester and if there is any sun a sea breeze comes in from the Nor, Nor West and builds up to about twelve knots, then drops off in the evening. Often when it is blowing hard in the surrounding areas Nelson has light winds and the afternoon sea breeze.
Work for Mike has been very busy. There is now training each night after school, with a big increase in the number of Ps sailing. This is a lead up to the nationals which are here in January.
Last weekend the cruise ship “The World” called in here and seemed to fill the harbour as it moved in and out.
Lorna has spent all five days this week at work. She is having some difficulty adjusting to the pace. On four days she came home early. Being in a Whanau based organisation also has some challenges.

2nd week in Nelson

The second week in Nelson was also busy. Learn to sail takes the whole day and leaves this old fella tired! The weather played funny games. The first two days there were light southerlies in the morning which dropped out to let in sea breezes around midday. This wind was a little strong for the beginners. Wednesday was very light all day and Thursday produced a strong North Westerly. Friday there was almost no wind. It is still surprising how much the children learn in the five days.
Man at work!
Opening day on Saturday was perfect weather with a moderate sea breeze in the afternoon. There is much excitement about the 150th year of the Nelson Yacht Club. Things at the camp are going along well, although emptying the waste with a bucket is a drag. One of the club members is getting us some hose so that we can allow the sink water to run direct into a waste gully. Last night was cold and as I sit here in the front of the bus I can see a light dusting of snow on the hill just behind the city. The mountains in the background are glistening white. The sun will soon melt the close stuff. I hear on the radio that Dunedin has snow down to sea level. Yesterday we caught up with Val and Nancy Griffiths who we met at Ambury Farm Park in Auckland. They are on a nostalgic tour of the South Island.
Lorna has a job with Family Start in Nelson. She starts on Wednesday, initially doing short days until a lady leaves to have an operation, then she goes on to full days. This will save her from becoming bored.
Well I must go to my office soon. The desk is in the race control room above the Yacht Club with a 180degree view of the harbour and entrance – tough eh?

First week in Nelson

The first week as Coach / sailing development manager for the Nelson Yacht Cub has passed successfully. The learn to sail group was a bunch of children aged from 8 to 15. They kept the old man active. On Wednesday he was shattered but by Friday had recovered. The children were also tired by Friday afternoon. Everbody at the club is most welcoming. The Local paper published a very sympathetic article on Thursday. I hope I can live up to all of this hype! Things at the camp are settling in really well. Being in the flight path for the airport is interesting. The first flight in the morning takes off at about 6.30 and the last arrival is about 9.30pm. Our camp site is close to the facilities and sheltered from the daily sea breeze. There were some strong South Easterly winds in the evenings early last week. On the first night we took in the awning, but the wind dropped after about half an hour so it has stayed up since. Lorna has made contact with a couple of temp agencies and is hopeful of getting some work. Mike took the kayak out for a spin today . It only took 9 minutes to walk to the water towing the yak and he came home after 30 minutes paddling. It will probably take about 40 minutes to get to the Yacht Club where the plan is to store the kayak. Today we also went for a drive around Nelson – about an hour covered most of it. Today we have had some light drizzle – the first rain since we came!