As we write this, horrendous bush fires are raging over 2 million hectares of Australia, some very close to where we used to live in Sydney and the Blue Mountains in NSW. Our thoughts go out to all those affected in whatever way and especially to those battling the fires and struggling to save lives, homes, flora and fauna.
The summer has not yet reached us in Queenstown as strange weather hits the Southern hemisphere. Torrential rain, gales and snow melt means Lake Wakatipu has been close to record highs. Sand bags have been out, the cycle tracks flooded and jetties underwater. All this rain here, when in Australia, there are many places on compulsory water rationing. Such extreme weather patterns are disturbing; are we ruining our world for the generations to follow? We travelled north to Auckland last week to witness the fabulous pohutakawa tree of NZ.
2019 has been another action packed and fun-filled year for us. We finally made it to the homes of a number of friends, and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality.
There have been too many great days/evenings to list all of them or everyone. Here are a few favourites:
Hikes/Tramping
The impressive ridge on the Kepler track;.
the muddy but incredibly varied Humpridge track in the south west corner of the S. Island of NZ.
The National Parks of SW USA (Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Mesa Verde) which were superb and fascinating in their rock formations
Adventurous sports
Jet boating with Kjersti;
white water rafting with Tom Ryan.
Hobbit, bravely attempting a paddle boarding lesson with Sarah in 10C Lake Wakatipu (until she fell in); packrafting and camping trips for Sarah.
Cycling
The West Coast Wilderness cycle way with Marti and Robbie at the end of February.
Sarah finally bought an e bike after getting fed up being left for dust by me. Now guess who is at the front, leading the charge down the cycle trails?
Art
‘Big Mama’ - she had a long voyage to get to NZ and we are both sure she lost weight (and height) en route!
and ‘Sarah Jane goes shopping’ (13kg hand luggage from Vancouver to London)
Two new arrivals in our sculpture collection.
The Chuhily exhibition at Kew Gardens with Jude
Culture
Opera picnic in a local private garden with Diane, Krysia and Hil and Dave.
New York and London for cultural immersion (our record is 6 operas and 4 plays in 9 days including a Wagner Ring Cycle) Catching up with Kin Lam
and our regular visit to Glyndebourne, Macerata (with Monique and Robert) and Pesaro Opera festivals
Golf
Sarah won her first golf competition in Wanaka in March (along with Jo, Kath and Jill) and is still challenged by the game. Pre golf warm up...
We are fortunate to have played some awesome courses. Our favourites are Grey Wolf and Copper Ridge in BC Canada (beware the bears)
and Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay NZ (windy, slopey, tricky chasms and cliffs) with Linda and Cam.Both on Par NZ tours.
Always love Jacks Point closer to home.
Quirky and memorable places we have stayed in
La Torre in Porto Novo (a Napoleonic tower on the beach in Le Marche) with Marti and Robbie
with sunset dinner on the beach at Il Clandestino (Michelin starred chef at v reasonable price) and Il Molo.
A rooftop apartment in Florence overlooking Ponte Vecchio with Jude
Celebrations
New Years Eve with fireworks and champagne on the balcony with Mum and Dad in Queenstown.
After years of telling us that New Zealand was only for young people, they finally visited. They are still young at heart.
Black tie picnic and opera at Glyndebourne with Arild and Dorette (a belated wedding celebration)
Carolyn and Mark’s 60th party in Sydney - every year we are amazed at how quickly we are all aging!
New stuff
Despite Sarah’s NY resolution not to take up anything else, we both joined the local residents group to help out with trapping on Queenstown Hill. Sarah screamed like a baby the first time she had to touch a dead possum, so Jo chucked the first few.
Now, Sarah is an expert at servicing the traps.
Jo is learning bridge and has joined the local club and is always coming bottom or close to it.
Health stuff
So far so good. Lots of check-ups and scans. More of the same to come.
Jo is still in remission from myeloma. Sarah is fit as ever; still an exuberant, bouncy, competitive, (i.e. irritating) exercise bunny.
House stuff
A year review is never complete without a comment about our latest house renovation project.
We finally finished our Cowgill Grange house renovation and launched the property for rental.
https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Lake-District-Cumbria-The-Lake-District-Cowgill/Cowgill-Grange-961447.html
We are both proud of how it’s scrubbed up.
Thanks to Michael and Eric for their support, encouragement, dinners and for all the plants donated to what we now call The “Austwick Hall” bank.
What next?
Well, we like shaking things up.
We have just sold our home at 38 Edinburgh Drive in Queenstown and will move out by 17 March.
Lots of reasons why, but we are both happy with our choice. We will miss the views and the garden.
We are still figuring out where next/our options; we will probably try to stay in the Queenstown area. Q1 2020 is going to be busy, exciting and probably a tad bit stressful.
One thing’s for sure; there is never a dull moment!
Meanwhile, thank you to everyone who has made an effort to catch up with us in 2019. We love sharing great food and wine with interesting people and doing some activity. Long may it last.
Whatever you are doing, wherever you are, we hope you have a wonderful festive holiday.
Hope to see you in 2020, somewhere in the world.
Lots of love
Jo and Sarah
xxx
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