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I've been back for just over a day now, and a lot of that time has been spent sleeping. Or grocery shopping or tidying up or doing the laundry or other chores. So it hasn't been until now that I've had much of a chance to get back into my normal rhythm.
The paintings. I don't think they sold, and DD didn't think about picking them up until after the time for collection had passed - I was in Dunedin and had given her the pickup form with the details. So I guess they are gone, along with $165 in frames that could have been re-used.
Aldi tomorrow. They have a 512Mb flashcard on special that will extend my camera's capacity eightfold. 64Mb is not enough to count on for a whole day of bookabout. $79 - that's a good price. They also have a pack of frames that I can use two of to frame my certificates from New Zealand. One for the Best Themed Release, the other for the Best Catch.
Friday, two Fridays back, we drove up to Sydney after Kerri finished work and stayed overnight in B-I-L's flat on Hyde Park (he is posted to Sydney and drives back home to Canberra on weekends). A very comfortable and convenient location. Saturday morning we were up and out early to the airport, where we caught an Airbus over to Christchurch. Three hours until our little propjob took us down to Dunedin, where we swapped a box of chocolates for a car and drove to our Bed & Breakfast place above Broad Bay with a fantastic view over Otago Harbour.
Sunday was the Albatross Colony and a look around downtown Dunedin that evening. Lovely to see the great birds with their huge wingspans, flying around and around their nesting sites without a flap. Saw a couple of chicks and noticed their retromingency.
Monday was Dunedin in detail, mainly the station, the art gallery and the cathedral. In the afternoon we took a train trip up Taieroa Gorge, a thrilling trip that took us high above a river gorge between near-vertical rock walls. Amazing.
Tuesday was Larnach's Castle, supremely well restored example of colonial wealth, with beautifully-detailed interior and a stunning garden. And a view that just went on for ever and ever. We went over to the other side of Otago Harbour and looked at seals close-up. Then we had a meetup with the local Dunedin Bookcrossers.
Wednesday was coffee on the Octagon before collecting Rarsberry for the drive up to Christchurch. We checked into our motel and walked for bloody miles to find a few groceries.
Thursday we strolled in the Botanic Gardens and took a turn around the city, pursued by drunken and graduating students.
Friday was more gardens, then the welcome drinks at the Dux de Lux. Catsalive I'd met that morning when we walked up to the nearby Internet cafe together, and thebiblioholic and Mundoo appeared together a few minutes before I was to drive them into town. I renewed friendships with the New Zealanders, and some of those from the Sydney convention, as well as others from both OZ and NZ. Pizzas were distributed, the Cheat Book and the Convention Journal appeared. I ran a taxi service back and forth before the last attendees were safely home. A fun night.
Next day we walked through the gardens to Cathedral Square, where we met for a walking tour and release frenzy. Leaving a trail of books behind us we visited many landmarks, including a sculpture in the Firefighter's Reserve made from twisted girders of the World Trade Centre and the Old Provincial Buildings among many others. We had a flash mob in the Arts Centre and a thoroughly good time. The evening was the Convention dinner and Debate, where the Kiwis contrived to win the debate no matter which side won. (The topic was "New Zealanders are the Greatest Bookcrossers in the World" and their team argued the negative!)
Sunday was a trip to Akaroa, a supremely beautiful French colony in New Zealand, where we ejnoyed the thrilling bus ride, the book sale, a picnic and a walk through the town. A great time but we were all thoroughly flaked out by the end.
And Monday was the Farewell Brunch, capping off a wonderful convention. I took Kerri, littlemave and lollie-mavette for Devonshire tea at the Sign of the Takahe, a special place, where littlemave made her 500th release.
And then we climbed aboard our Airbus and flew home. I had to hand the wheel to Kerri on the drive back from Sydney - I was exhausted by the holiday!
The paintings. I don't think they sold, and DD didn't think about picking them up until after the time for collection had passed - I was in Dunedin and had given her the pickup form with the details. So I guess they are gone, along with $165 in frames that could have been re-used.
Aldi tomorrow. They have a 512Mb flashcard on special that will extend my camera's capacity eightfold. 64Mb is not enough to count on for a whole day of bookabout. $79 - that's a good price. They also have a pack of frames that I can use two of to frame my certificates from New Zealand. One for the Best Themed Release, the other for the Best Catch.
Friday, two Fridays back, we drove up to Sydney after Kerri finished work and stayed overnight in B-I-L's flat on Hyde Park (he is posted to Sydney and drives back home to Canberra on weekends). A very comfortable and convenient location. Saturday morning we were up and out early to the airport, where we caught an Airbus over to Christchurch. Three hours until our little propjob took us down to Dunedin, where we swapped a box of chocolates for a car and drove to our Bed & Breakfast place above Broad Bay with a fantastic view over Otago Harbour.
Sunday was the Albatross Colony and a look around downtown Dunedin that evening. Lovely to see the great birds with their huge wingspans, flying around and around their nesting sites without a flap. Saw a couple of chicks and noticed their retromingency.
Monday was Dunedin in detail, mainly the station, the art gallery and the cathedral. In the afternoon we took a train trip up Taieroa Gorge, a thrilling trip that took us high above a river gorge between near-vertical rock walls. Amazing.
Tuesday was Larnach's Castle, supremely well restored example of colonial wealth, with beautifully-detailed interior and a stunning garden. And a view that just went on for ever and ever. We went over to the other side of Otago Harbour and looked at seals close-up. Then we had a meetup with the local Dunedin Bookcrossers.
Wednesday was coffee on the Octagon before collecting Rarsberry for the drive up to Christchurch. We checked into our motel and walked for bloody miles to find a few groceries.
Thursday we strolled in the Botanic Gardens and took a turn around the city, pursued by drunken and graduating students.
Friday was more gardens, then the welcome drinks at the Dux de Lux. Catsalive I'd met that morning when we walked up to the nearby Internet cafe together, and thebiblioholic and Mundoo appeared together a few minutes before I was to drive them into town. I renewed friendships with the New Zealanders, and some of those from the Sydney convention, as well as others from both OZ and NZ. Pizzas were distributed, the Cheat Book and the Convention Journal appeared. I ran a taxi service back and forth before the last attendees were safely home. A fun night.
Next day we walked through the gardens to Cathedral Square, where we met for a walking tour and release frenzy. Leaving a trail of books behind us we visited many landmarks, including a sculpture in the Firefighter's Reserve made from twisted girders of the World Trade Centre and the Old Provincial Buildings among many others. We had a flash mob in the Arts Centre and a thoroughly good time. The evening was the Convention dinner and Debate, where the Kiwis contrived to win the debate no matter which side won. (The topic was "New Zealanders are the Greatest Bookcrossers in the World" and their team argued the negative!)
Sunday was a trip to Akaroa, a supremely beautiful French colony in New Zealand, where we ejnoyed the thrilling bus ride, the book sale, a picnic and a walk through the town. A great time but we were all thoroughly flaked out by the end.
And Monday was the Farewell Brunch, capping off a wonderful convention. I took Kerri, littlemave and lollie-mavette for Devonshire tea at the Sign of the Takahe, a special place, where littlemave made her 500th release.
And then we climbed aboard our Airbus and flew home. I had to hand the wheel to Kerri on the drive back from Sydney - I was exhausted by the holiday!
