Friday 13th February- Wanaka to Twizel

The sun was actually shining when we awoke this morning and not the promised heavy rain. Who can you trust today?

We packed up and the tent external floor was damp and as the site was a little dirty we decided not to fold it up and get it muddy and left the site and mentioned the diesel smell to the camp site owners who stated it was the local council who most likely did it, a most unlikely situation we think for private property.

We drove down to Wanaka to by some petrol for our car and then headed of through the very interesting countryside of more mountains and sheep and cows and even Alpaca.

En route we spotted a couple of classic cars but unfortunately Noel did not have his camera ready and so missed the photos of what were perhaps old Daimler Benz cars. We also saw a very old Ford Zephyr in a sickly light green colour.

We stopped in a small town for a cup of coffee and finally decided to have a sandwich there before going through the Lindis Valley via Omarama and arrived at the Mackenzie Hotel in Twizel just before 4pm.This was good timing as it allowed us to sort out a few personal items and Jennifer catch up with washing and ironing. We have stayed at this Hotel before and during check in it would appear that they miss spelt our names to GROOVES and they could not find us except for our visit for 2008 when we had arrived on the 14^th of February 2008 for two nights

We had dinner in the Hotel where there was also two tour groups and with one of them it was obviously their last night and each one of them wanted to propose a thank you toast to their tour guide and driver, this went for ages with some participants getting quite carried away and emotional. Noel decided to spread a ghastly rumour that Christchurch Airport was closed on Saturday due lack of interest.

The duty Hotel female manager came to chat with us and she was from Borneo in East Malaysia. She likes it here in Twizel more than being at home after 8 years working here with her husband.

During our conversation she mentioned how difficult it was to get chefs and other staff. Noel immediately applied for the job of Chief Chef but strangely was immediately rejected by the manager as being too expensive. She must know something that Noel does not.

An so to bed in a proper room for a change.

Tomorrow we drive to Christchurch and stay in small unit, they call it, its basically a small garden shed with only a bed and costs about

£ 20.00 per night and you have to supply all your own linens. This is quite a comedown from the five stars rated Langham Hotel in Auckland which we stayed in when we first arrived here. That’s life.

Finally, what is happening to my Chelsea team which has now yet another manager? I think next time when I am back in the UK and as I live very close to Cobham will put myself forward for the role.