A reasonably good night was had apart from being woken
by some rather noisy drunken louts walking along the road about 30 yards away. Unfortunately
when everything is so quiet you hear every other noise.
After a quick breakfast we drove down to the Wanganui
town centre for a brief look around and wished we had more time to spend here but
that is life. Anyway after a look around and some photos we took off in the
direction of Wellington where we are booked on a cross island ferry from
Wellington to Picton. En-route we passed through a town called ‘Bulls’ where every
other street or building or association has an ending with Bulls. Very amusing
really and quite extraordinarybull.
The journey across the cook straight was very windy but
the vessel was quite stable really
We had booked for their club class but somehow
following a ship losing its propeller and a change of ships there was no room
for us and of course they had refunded us back in November which after a bit of
hassle was actually yesterday, or perhaps today but yesterday sounded so much
better. We arrived on time in Picton and within twenty minutes were on our way
to Blenheim where we arrived at the Two Tree lodge about half an hour later. We
had previously decided to go out for a light dinner only to find the majority
of restaurant closed, it was a Sunday, and so it was either a take away Chinese
or Malaysian or try what looked like a nice Hotel restaurant called Hotel d’Urville
in the centre of town and with a chef proudly displaying that she only sells
only the best beef and lamb that money
can buy.
We both ordered the Scallops to start which although a
little small were very tasty. Along the lamb and the preparation was very good
only the lamb was second or third rate perhaps even frozen chops and not what
we expected. Rather than let it go Noel complained to the waiter part the way
through the lamb who offered a number of excuses and then said how about a free
desert. As it happened neither of us wanted anymore and his offer was rejected
and I said look it’s not good but what I am prepared to do is pay for one lamb
plate only which the waiter had to check. He came back and said that had I
rejected the plate at the start they would have offered something else but we
did say that we did mention at the beginning of the meal but as it was a lamb
is in a rather good but strong sauce we could not think of anything on the menu
that would be suitable as a replacement. I said that I was unhappy with the
matter and that could I see the Chef which quite startled him. He then said he
has another customer complaining about the same matter just a few days ago and
that they would be sourcing the lamb elsewhere and the chef is too busy and
that the rules state that unless we reject the food up front then no discount,
so I demanded to see the Chef again and so we waited and he was still busy so I
asked for his card as the name Mark means nothing, and it was quite surprising when
the card came back it was not Mark but a lady called Maree Connolly. I said I
would write and perhaps send a copy to the local newspaper and also a full
report on Trip Advisor.
We did find on Trip Advisor a report from somebody else
on the same subject. See link
It is also surprising when you read her own CV as per
link below
So over the next day or so I will prepare a letter and
a report for Trip Advisor. Oh well that is life but why can you not get good
lamb in New Zealand????
Tomorrow we leave early and head for Timaru en-route to
Lake Wanaka for a few nights camping
