• Tamsin Gallie
  • Kate Saxton
  • Tamsin Gallie
  • Kate Saxton

Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019

Post Cancer "Fuck it" World Trip ticking off major ticket items - Trans Mongolian Railway, Russia, Bhutan, Italy etc
Moscow, Mongolia, Manchester and everywhere in between
Okumaya devam et
  • Mowing.....and the jobs begin!!

    18 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    I knew K had a list of jobs for me today so I insisted we start the day at Vanessas cafe with a coffee, pie and paper!
    After our delicious breakfast it was a walk around K’s paddocks listing more jobs that needed doing before we leave- fence mending, water sorting, wood shifting etc
    Next we had to gingerly extract the caravan from the shed without taking out the mezzanine floor or ripping off the roof of the caravan- caravan out safely after step by step manoeuvres.
    A switch of activity to make the most of the internet meant a couple of hours trying to find the cheapest flights to South America and getting quotes for insurance blah blah blah.
    Meanwhile K procured the use of a ride on mower and after doing security detail to keep her safe from the speeding neighbour, she set to the thistles and overgrown grass whilst I waterblasted all the cobwebs off the house ( 1000’s if them!)
    Mower returned it was time for a walk on the beach where we bumped into Sal and Dug McTavish. Due to a lovely catch up we missed the fish and chip shop opening hours!! Who closes at 7pm on a summer sat night??!!!!
    Now relaxing at the crib with the doors open and a glass of wine, Marvelling at the daylight at nearly 9pm.
    Okumaya devam et

  • 7 loads of laundry and a flight

    19 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    A cracking day of beautiful NZ summer weather here today from start to finish. Loving the fact it doesn’t get dark until 9.45pm.
    We spent the day unpacking and sorting... and washing!! 7 loads of laundry, airing of our down jackets, soaking and scrubbing of our daypacks that have been on train station floors and everywhere grubby inbetween, K started making some recycling holders etc etc saw the day just pass us by. (Sadly without too many photos!)
    The afternoon and well into the evening was spent once more trying to find the most cost effective flight options into South America before the prices go up further ( one flight had already increased by $800 since 4 days ago). Finally after 5 hours we booked and paid for a flight into Buenos Aires with the plan to head south ASAP. Now we really have to read the Lonely Planet and work out where to go and how- too much to see and too little time. David Attenborough on the TV helped to motivate the planning!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Oamaru- town day

    20 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Big day today as no jobs because it was “ town day”!!
    K, Mary and I drove into Oamaru armed with a list of jobs each.
    These included a visit to the Stihl shop to get the blade changed on the weed eater.... only for K to come out with a new chainsaw!!! Apparently it was a bargain and we really needed one- that was her excuse when she was caught sneaking it into the boot of the car!
    A visit to the library, a purchase of a 2020 calendar, food shopping, a couple of roadside vege stalls, a purchase of a new fuel can etc etc saw us return home 4 hours later- most jobs completed, some not.
    Next it was a visit from Rob and Lesley dropping off som fruit trees for Mary to look after whilst they r away “ up north somewhere”. However they also came armed with a delicious cake.... diet not going so well!!
    Tonight after dinner it was more photo viewing .... only 20,000 to go!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • One clean caravan and guests visiting!!

    21 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    A v productive 3 hours was spent thoroughly cleaning the inside of the caravan including the fridge and oven which was v satisfying when finished- despite demolishing my rubber gloves and using about 12 buckets of warm, soapy water.
    Carol and Ryan arrived bang on time at 6pm in time for a lamb roast.... thank god they r not doing Veganuary!!
    Hopefully the caravan will be comfortable overnight accommodation and doesn’t smell too badly of “Handy Andy”!!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Moeraki

    22 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Moeraki put on beautiful colours for us today.
    The new fish and chip “shop/container” has had a great new paint job although I’m not too sure the Moeraki Tavern just behind is happy with the competition.Okumaya devam et

  • Fleurs

    22 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Great way to start the day with a coffee at Fleurs after an eggs bene breakfast at home.
    Fleurs never fails to disappoint or look fabulous or just fill the soul with happy feelings.
    After coffee we walked up part of the Millenial walkway and came across rocks full of NZ fur seals. To start with they r so camouflaged but once u spot one u then realise u have been looking at at least 10!!Okumaya devam et

  • Sea swim and yellow eyed penguins

    22 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    So we started the day with a cooked breakfast at home, walk around Moeraki, followed by coffee at Fleurs as per previous posts.
    Just to continue a top day Ryan and I spent a good 45 mins in the sea body-surfing whilst K and Carol sat on the beach in their chairs like a couple of oldies.... apparently too cold for them to join us- wimps!!
    First swim in the sea, not only of the year but for a v long time- it was fabulous!!! There was a bit of a worrying moment earlier on about whether I could still get in my wetsuit but luckily with a bit of effort and a lot of stretching from the wetsuit it was zipped up!!
    Ryan, Carol and K then went to help the neighbour herding his cattle whilst I showered and dealt with the dripping wetsuits.
    Before dinner we decided to go and see if we could see the yellow eyed penguins coming in at Katiki Point Lighthouse.
    Sadly there is now a new walkway which takes u away from the previous area where the penguins come up and the hide u could sit in to watch them. However the path now takes u to the headland where we were able to watch more than 30 NZ fur seals frolicking in the surf or lolling on the beach/ rocks below.
    At 5.55pm the first yellow eyed penguins were spotted battling the surf trying to land. A big cheer went up when the first one waddled out onto the beach.... and more cheers when the second one made it out and was then swept back out by a rogue wave!!
    Sadly no photos of the penguins as they were too far away for the phone cameras and it was just great watching these special little creatures in their natural habitat.
    Okumaya devam et

  • See ya Carol and Ryan/ Hello clean truck

    23 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We started the morning with a lovely 5kms walk from home, along the beach to Vanessa’s cafe in Hampden for breakfast.
    Due to a pre-planned car drop off we drove home as the tide was too high to walk back.
    Carol and Ryan packed up and sadly drove off to return to sunny/ hot Wanaka and left us with an overcast day.
    Without even time for a coffee K had me out working again- this time scrubbing the outside of the caravan whilst she hosed down the truck before we both attacked the inside.
    Driving up to Herbert for some fuel saw us do double takes every time we looked out of the truck windows as it felt like we had smashed the glass!!
    Back home with a can of 2 stroke K set about downing more weeds and thistles whilst I tried to stop the laundry blowing away whilst cooking dinner.
    This evening we bored Mary to death with only the first 2/15 folders of our holiday photos..... lots more to come.
    Happy 7th bday to my niece LaCie- sadly I’m not there for the crown cake or trampolining party!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Work, work, work, work, work

    24 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    A hot and sunny day and all we did was work, work, work, work, work, work- zizzing more weeds and thistles, cleared all grass from around the fish at the gate, swapped the broken wooden gate with a nice metal one that actually opens without falling apart, wheelbarrowed x 15 loads of weeds, checked the neighbour’s stock had water, washed all the windows inside and out, cleared the area for my outdoor shower (i wish!!), chased a trespasser ( actually Toddy the rabbit shooter!), found my sports gear for tmrw’s park run, showed Mary another 2000 holiday photos and arranged a plumber for next week ...... all in all a v productive day.Okumaya devam et

  • K’s first Park Run and a treat of Cats

    25 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Early start as up at 6am to drive to Dunedin for K’s first park run and the first run for both of us in about a year!!
    We arrived at the Dunedin Botanical Gardens in plenty of time to join about 200 other runners for an undulating 5kms run/walk- (it almost took longer to find our running gear!)
    The weather was overcast but dry and despite the locals commenting on how “hot “ it was, it was perfect temperature.
    The run actually involved quite a steep moderate hill and several other undulations which killed the legs and unfit lungs but we both finished in 1 piece which was the goal of today.
    We had to go for a coffee in Perc in our leisure wear as we both couldn’t stop sweating!! After a quick toilet change into decent clothes it was off around Dunedin for a look for some replacement travel items.
    I then left K to go to Bunnings unsupervised (always a danger) whilst I went to a pole open day at “Vals pole”- resulting in a half price voucher for my first proper class whilst K returned with a compost bin, oil and other things on the list.
    It was now 2pm and we were both starving so we had Chinese for lunch to celebrate Chinese New Year before walking all the way back up Stuart st to pick the truck up - it was a killer!
    Next it was off to Countdown for groceries before K’s treat of the day for running this am- a cinema visit to see Cats!!! She was in heaven and was singing the words to all of the songs during the film ( no it wasn’t a sing along!!)
    Back home at 6.30pm we r both totally knackered and r both stiffening up so we can’t move however K is putting together what looks like her “ naughty corner box” aka a composter.
    We have run/ walked 15kms today so not sure our “ rest “ day had that much rest!

    http://www.metrocinema.co.nz/the-cinema/
    Okumaya devam et

  • Relaxing day and the rugby sevens

    26 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Any day that starts with a coffee at Fleurs is a good day. Sadly we didn’t get a picture of the seal asleep outside that required a warning sign for the diners at Fleurs.
    Our coffee was followed by a drive over to the second Kaika in Moeraki to appreciate the beautiful bay.
    Next was a visit to Mike with a v badly broken pelvis following a car accident checking stock. By his own will rather than good medical management he was doing v well.
    Mary provided us with a v lovely lunch and then K did a bit more mowing whilst I tried to raise some holiday funds by listing some unneeded goods on Trademe.
    Next we picked up our Elton John tickets purchased on a whim as one of K’s friends had a spare 4 she needed to sell. Looking forward to that concert next Tuesday Feb 4th.
    Back home it was a relaxing evening watching NZ womens and men’s rugby sevens teams win their finals- Go NZ!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • A new pet plant and a surprise WOF

    27 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Another busy and productive day in the sunshine.
    Caravan registered and warranted-now nearly ready for sale if anyone wants a cracking caravan?? Val??!!!
    New succulent bought and planted after fabulous ones being spotted at Fleurs- thanks K.
    Also decided to try to keep the coriander alive by repotting it- stand by as I’m not known for my green fingered success rate!
    K dug out a spot for the compost bin after Carol educated us it needed to be outside as we live in the country!!
    In between this I downloaded all 10,000 holiday photos to a hard drive - a quick look confirmed half are out of focus and the other half are the same as K’s but not as good!
    Another beautiful day in Moeraki ( sorry not reflected in the photos today)
    Okumaya devam et

  • Vanessa’s was closed!!!

    28 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Woke up to a beautifully sunny day. The caravan took another 2 hours to clean the pop top- nearly, nearly ready to list it.
    Mary kindly drove us up to Hampden so we could go to Vanessa’s for a well deserved coffee- we had planned to walk up and back but due to the extended caravan time we had missed our opportunity to walk both ways due to the tide times.
    However desperate for a coffee we were more than dismayed to find the cafe closed- shit it’s Tuesday!!!!
    V despondent we headed straight for the beach to walk the 5kms home. Then we remembered the Moeraki Boulders Tea Rooms that were on the list to visit anyway so we headed there instead.
    2 coffees and a date scone saw us out on the deck with the lovely view of the boulders. However there is something weird about the tea rooms and when I found a hair in my scone it put me off going back in a hurry!!
    By the time we got home it was lunch time,
    after which the afternoon was spent on more clearing and weeding.... yep it’s never ending!!
    The succulent and coriander got gentle watering and before we knew it it was time for dinner.
    A quick read of a cycling magazine peaked our desire to get on our bikes ...., looks like we may be off to central Otago as soon as more jobs done- yippee!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Trip planning, a plumber and a tool rail

    29 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    After yesterday we decided to head straight to Vanessas for an early coffee and the newspaper before today’s work commenced ( yep it’s still not a holiday!), so at 8am we trudged through the door still half asleep.
    At 9am we were at Hampden recycling centre educating ourselves on the new NZ plastic recycling rules ( who said we don’t live exciting lives these days??!!)
    Kate spent the day making Mary a tool hanging rack to organise the myriad of garden tools whilst I spent the day starting to try to plan our next 4 month adventure to South America.
    Then the u expected happened.... the plumber turned up as arranged!!! What a miracle. Tim was v nice and was even nicer when he reported my outdoor shower was a possibility- at last!!!! How v exciting??!! ( also i tried to sell him the caravan to which he appeared semi interested- bonus!)
    So excited I did a bit more weed killing before we headed back down to Mary’s where she kindly cooked us dinner.
    After dinner there was a spare hour to go through some of K’s Grandad Charlie’s memorabilia - such fabulous history and a nice way to end the day.
    Okumaya devam et

  • Oamaru and the caravan is listed!

    30 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We started the day with coffee and the newspaper in Steam cafe, Oamaru as we had to go to town to get some materials for the tool rack.
    https://steamcaf.weebly.com/
    After a productive couple of hours in town and a visit to a road side vegetable stall (yep life is still exciting) it was back home.
    Kate finished off Mary’s fabulous tool rack whilst I listed the caravan on every appropriate selling site- does anyone need a caravan??!!!
    Dinner at home and several worrisome hours about how my little succulent would survive the gale force winds that kept changing direction- had to go to bed praying she would make it through the night -meanwhile the coriander continues to flourish!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Katiki beach & more trip planning

    31 Ocak 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Several hours this am was spent in front of the screens down at Mary’s continuing with the trip planning- any top tips for Argentina much appreciated.
    Lunch back at home was followed by a few short jobs- K digging out the earth for the outdoor shower steps, me killing more thistles etc etc
    Due to the afternoon low tide we took the opportunity for a long walk on Katiki Beach. This was delightful as we had the beach to ourselves (apart from a few sleeping seals including a massive one!)- it was a bit chilly due to the wind but v nice nonetheless- NZ is soo beautiful.
    Back home K decided we didn’t need to do any more work and we could enjoy a platter of nibbles followed by a wine. Friday night already- second park run tmrw.
    Ps the succulent survived but she is looking a little battered.
    Okumaya devam et

  • Kate’s PB and a day in Dunedin

    1 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    An early start to arrive in Dunedin for our second Park Run at 8am. We scoped out a new post run coffee shop before we even arrived.
    Once in situ in the Botanical gardens we couldn’t help but acknowledge it was a pretty cold morning, definitely chilly and needing a merino long sleeve.
    Our warm up was rudely interrupted by “Carol from Chicago” who was in the ODT earlier in the week for flying into Dunedin for the “ Run the Runway” 4kms run tmrw at 6.15am at the airport. We had looked at entering it but at $50 each for a 4kms run we didn’t feel it was worth it when we could run 5kms for free today!
    Luckily the briefing saved us from Carol talking at us any further.
    I can’t say once we started that the run felt any better than last week but K got a PB and i ran/ walked 2 mins faster so that’s progress.
    Straight after the run it was off to Oaken Cafe, a new place for us.
    https://oaken-cafe.business.site/

    It’s the Masters Games in Dunedin this wkend so we weren’t the only ones in our “leisure wear” whilst we had our coffee and read the paper cover to cover.
    The day was spent mooching around Dunedin and enjoying the temporarily pedestrianised Octagon- although habits die hard and most people were still just walking on the pavements.
    I was hoping for my first pole session in Dunedin but sadly due to my lack of commitment earlier in the week there was no confirmation of my place so we left town early at 3pm.
    The bonus of this was that we managed to catch up with Val at home for a quick drink before she headed off.
    A nice dinner at home and now we r just waiting for the Crusaders vs Waratahs super rugby game to be screened at 9.30pm in Prime.
    Well done K on ur first timed park run!... and Happy Birthday to my nephew Alfie xx
    Okumaya devam et

  • Fleurs and dinner at the neighbours

    2 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We started off the day with coffee at Fleurs with Raymonda and Jenny, the start of Mary’s pre bday celebrations for a catch up.
    Back home it was a bit of baking and lunch before having a coffee with Belinda and Garth who stopped in on their way back from Timaru.
    Tonight it was more pre-bday dinner celebrations with Yvonne and David Medlicott who cooked a lovely lamb roast. Luckily it wasn’t too far to come home as they only live 300m down the road.
    Can’t believe the wkend has gone so fast... thank god we don’t have to work tmrw. It’s Mary’s actual bday so we r off for a day driving through central. Fingers crossed the forecast rain holds off.
    Okumaya devam et

  • Happy Birthday Meem

    3 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Sadly our plans to go for a bday drive to Central with Mary were curtailed due to rain and gale force winds.
    Due to this K decided it was a good time to spend a couple of hours “tidying up”. This meant opening boxes we had previously packed to try to make some space- this resulted in me finding 6-8 “nice” notebooks i had been saving for “best”- coupled with 1000 pens, 50 highlighters, 200 packets of post it notes- god I felt like a demented kleptomaniac as I opened each box to find the same!!
    We took the premade picnic lunch down to Mary’s for her bday lunch seeing we sadly couldn’t get into the high country.
    Ange an old neighbour was visiting which was nice to see her and we saw her again after she phoned for a jump start to her motor home!
    This afternoon we cleaned the crib inside from top to bottom- how many spiders and cobwebs??!!!
    Dinner was made at home and then taken down to Mary’s for a v low key bday dinner, whilst boring her to death with 3000 eagle festival photos. She politely said she enjoyed them!
    Tmrw it’s off to Dunedin for the Elton John concert!
    Sadly I have had to repost yesterday’s cake photo as K seems to have gone on strike again.
    Okumaya devam et

  • An early start and Elton John

    4 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    Today started early with a meeting with Otago Regional Council about some trees ( our responsibility) during which time we had to work out how to get out of bed without flashing Gary and the possible new neighbours looking to buy the section below!!
    We left home at 10am with a visit to Evansdale cheese and a drive around old Cherry Farm ( bad vibes) on the way to Dunedin.
    Arriving in Dunedin it was pissing down and we couldn’t find a park within 100m of Vogel st kitchen (VSK)
    We got a bit soaking on the way to a coffee, VSK, which was packed.
    We tried to do a bit more trip planning and we were all ready to pay for some internal flights when we saw that checked baggage was only 15kgs and hand luggage 5kgs- bugger we may have to do a trial pack as we normally travel with at least 20kgs as we need gear for all weather etc
    Next it was off to St Clair for a coffee with Val- we were nearly all blown and washed away- the surf was pounding. Cafe was packed for the whole time we were there but lovely to catch up with Val and her lovely haircut.
    By now it was 3.15pm and torrential rain+++.
    We decided we needed ponchos but on discovering/ hearing they were sold out we used a bit of kiwi ingenuity and went to PacnSave and bought..... wheelie bin liners!!!!
    The parking gods were with us even if the weather gods weren’t so after parking, dinning our bin liners it was off to the Taj Mahal for an Indian - we arrived awash on the outside but dry on the inside.
    Dinner was fab, back in with the bin liner and it was a 20 min walk/swim to Forsyth Barr stadium to wait for Elton John to come on- we joined the throngs of other dripping wet people. Our seats are on the back 10m line so not a real hope of seeing too much- K is hoping no-one takes up the invitation to stand up and dance that is being offered!!
    Thank god for the stadium roof!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Elton John - the concert

    4 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    Great concert - he has still got it at 73! As did the drummer Ray Cooper- what a legend?!.
    Still raining and wheelie bin bags did us well getting back to the truck. The great car park had us out of town by 11.10pm. Should be home by midnight all being well.Okumaya devam et

  • Work,work,work,work,work!!!

    5 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    After a bit of a sleep in, it was up and at it by 10am. Make hay whilst the sun shines, so in this case it was mow lawns to be able to pile and sort timber, lift and sort timber, sort lots of stuff from the bottom paddock, repeat x 15. Finished at 7pm, well not exactly finished but stopped for the day. Sadly the forecast tmrw is bad so may not be able to carry on until Friday.Okumaya devam et

  • Coffee, caravan and cracking tickets

    6 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today started off with bringing the caravan up to ours and one last final spruce up in preparation for 2 viewings.
    Next it was off to the Kaik for coffee with Jenny and Raymonda- this was special because they live in the A frame house I have looked at longingly for years. Today I got to go inside! It didn’t disappoint and the mesmerising sound of the sea at the kaik, just a stones throw away was breathtaking.
    Sadly on the 5 mins home we had to pass a fatal crash at the Moeraki Village turn off- v sobering about how quickly life can change and ramming home how trivial things r just that. Many peoples lives changed in that moment of the crash- v sad.
    Next it was home for the first viewing of the caravan. To cut a long story short the first couple were delightful, also belonged to the lymphoma club with mike currently undergoing treatment, and we were more than happy when we had to contact the second viewer to say it had been sold.
    The caravan is now in Chch with its new owners that will hopefully have many happy times/ memories in it.
    By now it was 3pm and too late and too wet to start work outside so off to Mary’s we went for more trip planning.
    By 6pm I had managed to book tickets to Easter Island for half of the expected price by using the Chilean website- only issue was the whole booking process was done in Spanish which I do not speak, the internet cut out at the payment page, after reinserting all details (passport numbers, dates, the lot), it wouldn’t accept the first payment method accepted, many, many more pages in Spanish I managed to book using my credit card.... only for the confirmation page to come up blank!! WTF!! Finally more than an hour later I think we r all good to go!! Super excited.... if the booking is as google translate says it is!!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Tidying up the bottom paddock

    7 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Had a slow start to the day by the time we had filled up with fuel ( have to drive 20 mins for the cheapest diesel!), bought some eggs from the egg farm and went to the roadside vege stall for rhubarb only to find they didn’t have any!
    Spent a solid 7 hours tidying up the bottom paddock (aka being attacked by thistles even when there didn’t seem to be any!), moving and stacking trailer loads of timber and tin and just trying to get things ready to sell/ give away equipment that is no longer needed or able to be used.
    I ended up cutting my fingers and bleeding everywhere.... not working but doing the lunchtime dishes!!! Dangerous stuff kitchen work! No photos cos too busy working!
    Okumaya devam et

  • Tidying up the bottom paddock Day 2

    8 Şubat 2020, Yeni Zelanda ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Same as yesterday really. It was freezing first thing this am and then the sun came out and it was boiling- the forecast was rain all day which is why we cancelled going to Dunedin for our weekly Park run. A bit gutted with the good weather so we made the most of it by clearing the bottom paddock and listing all of the equipment that was needed to be done.
    Almost immediately we started fielding message after message for people wanting the items however until they turn up and collect these immovable items god knows who will end up with what.
    This evening we had a lovely dinner at Rob as Lesley’s with Mary.
    God only knows what tmrw will bring except from 20 random messages and hopefully at least 5 people turning up with trailers and a lot of muscle!
    Okumaya devam et