Back in Nelson

Back in Nelson


The Yachting New Zealand coaching course was enlightening. I learned several facets of coaching which I can use in my work.
The last couple of weeks in Auckland allowed me to take Zoe to the Zoo and look after her while Erin did things for herself. That’s what granddads are for.
Grace and Gavan visited us at Whangamata and we had a couple of days together.
We left to travel south on Wednesday September 19 and drove to Taupo. On the way we drove past the new Taupo Motorsport Centre. This is a surprisingly large facility just east of Taupon the Broadlands Road. We spent the night at a POP near Kinloch. These people have a 3 hectare block with a lovely house and space for 4 motor homes. The charge for a night with power was $8.
Another rant: This property is 1200 metres from the lakeside and Environment Waikato have decreed that the owners can only have 2.8 cows, or 4 sheep! Ridiculous!
The next day we dove over the Paekakariki hill to a place called Battle Hill. This is a farm park operated by the Wellington Regional Council. It is situated in a lovely valley not far from the head of the Paremata inlet. We were the only people locked in the park and spent the night in a paddock with a little stream, accompanied by ewes and lambs.
Our crossing was smooth and calm, and we were in the camp here in Nelson by 7.30pm. Saturday and Sunday were spent settling in and then it was straight in to Learn to Sail. The first week was excellent, the weather was perfect and the sailors were able to achieve excellent results.
And then we had our family weekend! Friday night we flew to Auckland for Struan and Debbie’s wedding. This was Pirate themed, and about half of the guests were in costume. It was great to meet Debs relatives. The Photographer was surprised when she called for friends of the couple to be photographed. Usually she gets 15 or 20 but at this wedding there were about 60.
On Sunday morning we flew to Christchurch for Aunty Gweneth’s 90th birthday celebration. This was a marvellous meal at The millennium Hotel in Cathedral Square. And then it was back to Nelson in the evening. The worst weather of the whole weekend was in Nelson! On Tuesday Lorna flew up to Auckland to go to work. She will be coming back down on Thursday.
On Thursday night I managed to gash my head. I was emptying the toilet cassette. When I was ready to put the cassette back in the car, I swung round and hit the top of my head hard on the on the sharp edge of the open hatch. There was heaps of blood. I held my hand on the wound and drove back to the bus. One of the neighbours took me up to the hospital where they glued the small cut in my scalp.
I am now sporting a lump of superglue which will apparently drop off.
On Monday this week we received an email from Yachting New Zealand informing us that we had been given a Yachting New Zealand Honour Award. We will receive this at the Sailor of the Year Dinner in November. This is a big thrill.
The weather in Nelson is still terrible, although yesterday it was good for Opening Day. This coming week we start on the programme proper.