Clyde, Central Otago

It is hard to believe that we have been back here for just on a week already. We drove back from Geraldine last Monday afternoon, after getting haircuts, (which are the shortest I think we have ever had. Just as well it grows quickly!)
Our little 'flat' was just as we left it back in June, except some of the fruit trees were in blossom which certainly helps to give that feeling of spring. It didn't take us long to settle in, and we have spent much of the week having a big 'spring clean'. It is such a good feeling to know that the place is both organised and cleaned. There is still a way to go, but we are getting there.

Each day we have tried to get out and go for a walk around the streets in Clyde.
Clyde is an historic gold mining town in Central Otago that dates back to the 1860s.  The main street still features many of the original buildings, and these are labeled to indicate their use.  At this time of the year the gardens are at their best with all the blossom trees in flower, making it a treat for our walk.




Up until the 1970s Clyde was a sleepy wee town, tucked against the banks of the Clutha River but during the 1980s  Clyde became the site of NZ's largest hydro electric power station, with a dam that flooded  all of the orchards along the Cromwell Gorge, as well as parts of the Cromwell township and created Lake Dunstan.  The dam provides a large recreational park for the area, and attracts thousands of visitors every year. And of course the power station provides enough electricity to supply both Dunedin an Christchurch for a year.

       Clyde Dam information

The population of Clyde has mushroomed and hundreds of new houses have been built, many as holiday homes.  For such a small town it still sports a number of cafes and restaurants, a boutique picture theatre as well as being the starting point for the Central Otago Rail Trail. The once famous 'Olivers' restaurant and accommodation are being restored.

                     

We are already feeling like we belong (we joined the library today) and know that we are going to enjoy the next few months as we make Clyde our base.

Click here for further information about Clyde

Back to Collect the Bus

 After nearly nine weeks across the ditch, it was time to return to Fraser’s farm in Mid Canterbury and collect the bus. We had left it with Fraser as he was going to build some much needed joinery for the bedroom. Stephen is good on construction work but not so good with the more fiddly and detailed work. Fraser has developed a real interest in this type of work and the beautiful pieces of furniture we have all been given over the years is testament to this.

Before we left in June, we helped strip all the temporary shelving out, as well as the mattress (working in this confined space would be easier without it). What we found when we returned was just fantastic. We now have proper cupboards and everything is so well finished. All it now needs is some colour, as Fraser has left us to decide on that. The photos don't do it justice. He has spent a lot of time with extra detail like the hidden shelf in the space where the air conditioning unit was, and the two extra little cupboards in another space we hadn't thought about. We would like to say a big thank you to you Fraser.

The following photos show the progression of the bedroom over the years:

The interior in its original state.

The bed with the beginnings of the temporary shelving.

The bedroom as it has been for the last three or so years.

The new joinery. 

Wardrobes and extra storage.

Farewell To Australia

Last week was a busy one, with the last of our planned activities in Canberra.
We visited a boutique brewery and enjoyed a couple of their beers with our lunch. On Thursday morning I had the privilege of visiting Helen's classroom. She teaches in a Montessori School so it was a very interesting experience. There are many aspects of the school and their philosophies that are very close to my own. I intend to do some more reading about it. A link to the Canberra school can be found here Canberra Montessori School

That afternoon Rob took us out to visit some of their friends - Neil and Debbie. Interestingly, they had both taught in Invercargill at Tweedsmuir Intermediate schools back in the early 80s, and Debbie had actually gone to school there about the time Stephen was there too. Another 'small world' moment.
They live on a 40acre bush block about 40minutes out of Canberra, in a house they literally built themselves. That included making all 1000 mud bricks.

Our final evening was spent revisiting the Vietnamese restaurant My's. We had a meal there and met Neil and Debbie, when we first arrived in Canberra back at the end of June so it was a fitting end to a wonderful trip.

We would like to say a very big thank you to all the new friends we met and a special BIG thank you to Rob and Helen. You all made us so very welcome.

An enjoyable outside lunch in Canberra.