A quick trip to New Zealand

In mid April I made a quick trip to New Zealand, in order to visit my family.   it was a long overdue trip due to my reluctance to fly anywhere.   I am not sure about the reason, but the lack of travel during the epidemic probably had something to do with it.

Anyway, I finally made a decision in March and booked flights to New Zealand.   

And guess what, I developed Covid symptoms the night before I left Adelaide, although I thought it was an allergic reaction to the dust from the road works close to Aldinga Beach.   However, by the time I arrived at the hotel in Auckland I was feverish and achy.   

To think I have been Covid free, also mostly cold and flu free, since 2020.    Then when I finally decided to fly somewhere I get a Covid infection.    There must be message here somewhere.

When I arrived in Nelson, the extra line on the Covid test showed up very clearly.    Margaret and Gordon also developed symptoms, either they caught it from me or from another source.   We are not sure.    Se we three spent the next few days in isolation and comparing symptoms.

Thank goodness we have all recovered!

Our view from the lounge room, which looks out over trees, the bay and the mountains in the background. Thank goodness the weather was sunny and warm.

We went through quite a few masks!

The garden was beautiful, and brilliantly landscaped with succulents and flowers.    I spent a lot of time lying on the lounger in the sunshine.

A beautiful corner of the garden.

After a couple of days we ventured into Isel Park, which was a few minutes walk from the house, and also contained an outdoor cafe.    I bought a take away coffee there every morning, keeping a distance from everyone else of course.    Excellent coffee.

                                         
Margaret standing in front of some of the deciduous trees in the park.   I think it was a bit late in the season for the best colours.    The park is well known for its collection of large trees and rhododendrons. 

Margaret took me for a drive to Monaco, a low lying suburb, which often gets flooded, and not really where I would like to live.    However it is a very pretty place, especially at low tide, and on a beautiful sunny day.

In Nelson they pronounce Monaco with the emphasis on the 'a', which is interesting.   It is also not at all similar to the glamorous Monaco in the Mediterranean.    It could be the connection with boats.    

I love the way places were named in Australia and New Zealand, as often there was no similarity between the original place and the new place.      Too late to understand the explorers' minds now. 

The birds on the tree beside the house, waiting for Gordon to feed them in the morning.   And they appeared to have their order of who eats first and who has to wait.

We also went on a trip to Rabbit Island.   There are no rabbits there, but it is a beautiful reserve with many native birds, namely the Weka, a flightless bird.  It was difficult to get a photograph of the Weka, as they walk very fast.     Dogs are not allowed on the island, which closes from dusk to dawn.   

As it was school holidays there were plenty of little wooden structures on the beaches, made by the children.   And beautiful safe beaches too.

At the end of my time in Nelson we drove to Brightwater, and ate a lovely lunch in the cafe there.   We presumed we were no longer infectious.

I loved the photo of this old church.

Isel House, now a restored building, is in the middle of a 4 ha tree filled park.   It was the home of very early settlers, Thomas and Mary Marsden.     Isel park and house was named after Isel, a small village in Cumbria, England.

Thomas Marsden was not related to the infamous Rev Samuel Marsden (1765-1838), who was known as the 'flogging parson' in Sydney, during his time as a magistrate there.     As he was a missionary he also travelled to New Zealand, where he was seen in a better light, I think.   However, it was good to see these two men were not related!

 

I read an interesting book, written by Gordon's cousin.    His great grandparents, who were among the first settlers in Nelson,  also lived in the area, and were connected with many of the buildings and places around Stoke.   Sadly his great grandfather was killed when he fell out of a buggy as it was crossing the creek behind Isel House.    Thomas Marsden was called to help but it was too late.

The Marsden Anglican Church, on the land given by Thomas Marsden.    It contains many very old gravestones.

I spent an extra five days in Nelson with Margaret and Gordon, which was a lovely bonus, as I changed the flights to Invercargill and then back to Adelaide.   Despite the Covid infections it was great to spend the time with them.   Always very special. 

Margaret and I at the airport, looking very peaky, but mostly recovered by then.