25/3/26 – Queenstown to Geraldine (driving)
Woke to another stunning day in Queenstown. Raelene and Rhys left early to collect their rental car which turned out to be a 12 seater van which caused great excitement from the boys. The plan for Oliver, Arthur and Patrick to drive with Granny and Grandad to Cromwell was dropped like a hot potato and we had a very quiet drive through the Kawarau Gorge to Cromwell, stopping along the way at ‘ Roaring Meg’. We were in time to watch some people boogie boarding down the rapids
We went in search of the cheapest petrol – ($3.23.) once in Cromwell and then joined the Yerbury family for morning tea in the park beside the big fruit. We then started the long drive to Geraldine and were lucky enough for Patrick join us for the trip so spent a lot of the trip playing all those favourite car games. The drive through Lindus Pass very enjoyable and then had a scenic trip to Mt Cook (Aoraki) National Park, where Aoraki stood clear and proud. We were lucky enough to arrive at the Hermitage Hotel cafe when the pies had just been reduced to $5.00 so a late lunch was had. The convoy then left for Geraldine with a stopover in Twizel for the arbitrate visit to ‘The Church of the Good Shepherd’ and the ‘Collie Dog’. We arrived in Geraldine after dark and found our accomodation at the Big 4 caravan park. Rhys cooked up a yummy chicken curry and then everyone happily hit bed.
26/03/26 – Springfield
Raelene, Rhys, Oliver and Arthur travelled in the van together as they were listening to an audio book so were very lucky to have fun Patrick with us. Patrick was very impressed with the large centre pivot irrigators we passed, he kept saying they are huge. we counted many cows.We then had much excitement as we went over NZ’s longest bridge, over the Rakaia River. Arrived in Christchurch around lunchtime so after collecting the Yerbury’s luggage from Josh’s we gave into requests and had McDonald’s for lunch, before doing a huge grocery shop and heading to our home away from home in Springfield. Once we arrived in Springfield, Rhys lit the fire and very quickly the house was very cosy – in fact by bedtime more like a sauna haha.
27/03/26
Raelene and Rhys snuck away early to return the hire vehicle and catch the flight to Cairns for a week of R and R and Rhys’ graduation. WELL DONE Rhys for managing to graduate with honours in a Masters degree of Social Work while juggling family life and a busy work and social calendar.
After a long night and some restless boys, we had a quiet day , a drizzly bleak type of day so the boys played with their Lego, had a movies afternoon and then a card game after dinner. Boys taught Granny and Grandad the game of Bear, which is a lot of fun. Day finished with the boys having a long warm bath before a book and bed. Didn’t hear a murmur out of them until 0845 the next morning.
28/03/26
Today broke sunny and warm so we headed off to the Melvan A&P show in Sheffield. First stop was to feed and admire the Alpaca’s. A wanderer through the buildings we found some beautiful poultry. Watched the cattle being judged and the boys very excited to see some Belted Galloway. The winner was a very classy Charolais but the Angus, Hereford and Simmental were also impressive. Oliver, Arthur and Patrick had lots of fun riding nume The boys also experience their first “lolly scramble”. There was a area with many, many home made and funny designed bikes: 3 wheelers, 2 wheelers with different sized tyres on front and back etc, etc, I think we spent over an hour there, definitely not tired of riding a bike. A visit to the fire brigade area was a hit as they watched a show of what happens when you put water on a pot of burning oil, tried to find their way through a pitch black ‘house’. Patrick only crawled in to where you could only see his toes and then quickly crawled back, with 3 attempts he always did the same. Oliver and Arthur didn’t get a lot further in before they returned. I have to admit I wouldn’t have done much better. Moral of the story always have an exit plan in case your home catches on fire. Hotdogs and chips were the choice for lunch, our picnic meal had been demolishes for morning tea. We settled down on the grass at the main arena to watch all the afternoon events. Horse jumping, a horse and car relay and a terrier race. The horse jumping was impressive, the relay was fun and the terrier race hilarious, only one of the 6 dogs chased the towed dog roll – the others scattered in all directions with the owners running after them. Boys enjoyed the Grand Parade and telling all in hearing range very proudly that their dad plays the bagpipes. Watching the animals, large farm vehicles & equipment driving passed was also a highlight. The champion of the show was a Bantam hen haha. The boys also experience their first “lolly scramble”. But for Granny and Grandad the highlight of the show was the MC, a woman who looked like dressed like, even had the same hat and the mannerisms of Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances. When we arrived back home the boys disappeared outside to play before we had dinner and the night time routine.
29/03/26
Another home day which we started with a game of Bear and Grandad enjoyed playing the dice game “Greed”. Then the boys wrote their journals, as they have done everyday. Now, once again, the journals are up to date. Boys spent the rest of the morning playing outdoors. Our long time friends Rosie and Giles, from Otautau – vets, arrived and we spent the afternoon catching up while the boys had another movie afternoon
30/03/26
Today the boys very quickly wrote their diaries as today was an adventure day. We headed into Christchurch to Ninja Valley where the boys had a 3 hour pass of extreme fun! Until with only a 1/2 hour to go, Arthur hurt his ankle on the trampoline. We iced and elevated it until Oliver and Patrick finished their play and then the fun really began. We were sent to an emergency medical centre where we waited 2 hours for an x-ray and then we were told we had 3 more hours to wait to see a doctor. So we escaped for a couple of hours. Granny found a Toyworld where the boys were able to buy a Lego car each and 2 monster trucks for being so well behaved and to entertain them while we waited for the verdict. Verdict was a Avulsion fracture/bad sprain. Dr put a stretchy cuff on his ankle which helped him weight bear. Then the phone call to tell Mum and Dad! They reacted very well which was nice. We were worried that this injury could put a spanner in the works for the rest of the ride but from how amazing Arthur is being I think things should go to plan. Arthur was a very brave patient, never complained and only had a couple of silent tears when we iced his ankle. We didn’t get to leave Christchurch until 1830hrs so when we got to Sheffield we bought hot chips for a quick dinner at home, bath then bed.
31/03/26
Woke up to hear the boys happily chatting as they all were putting their new lego cars together. Granny and Grandad had a lazy start to the day staying in bed reading until the first hungry boy came in to ask for breakfast. Boys spoke to Mum and Dad when they rang to check on how Arthur was and they wished dad all the best for his graduation ceremony. They loved seeing him dressed in his Harry Potter cape. Due to Arthur needing to keep his leg up, we all watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and then played Bear. This game we played till only one player was left and it ended up being a great tussle between Oliver and Grandad. If I remember correctly Grandad lost. Lovely fresh corn on the cob for dinner.
01/04/26
A lot of fun and noise doing pinch and a punch to start the day. Made up a picnic lunch and off we drove to get to the Arthur’s Pass summit. Stopped at Lake Pearson to stretch our legs and feed some ducks. The boys liked the cranberries in our scroggin! Back in the car heading to the summit – what a stunningly beautiful pass. Arthur loved having his photo taken at the top of the pass beside his “name-sake” sign. Had lunch at the DOC picnic area, where the boys were hoping to see some cheeky Kea’s – alas. We drove home the long way as we turned off and explored the Hawdon Valley, stunning. Oliver very impressed to see a ute loaded with killed deer with antlers, highlight of his day. Back to the main road and to the Lake Coleridge turn off. Just another beautiful lake with a stunning drive through mountains. Oliver and grandad has a skimming flat stones competition and Oliver won by miles – about a 20 jump skips……. 🙂 Came home via the Rakaia gorge. To have a look – because we could. Home just on dark, so a quick pasta meal for dinner. Boys had another nice deep bath then bed.
02/04/26
Our normal start to the day, play with lego then diaries. Granny brought out the craft bag and we all started making easter baskets. 1330 hours granny left for Christchurch to pick up Raelene and Rhys while grandad was left to supervise the easter basket making and getting tea on the go. The plane landed on time and Raelene and Rhys flew out promptly as they only had hand luggage. We found a Pack n Save and stocked up on more food before we headed home to 3 very happy, excited and noisey boys. Everyone very happy to be all back together. Granny and Grandads child minding duties over and done. Just absolutely loved our time wth Oliver, Arthur and Patrick never a dull moment.