The title of this post should be an oxymoron but, it is indeed springtime in New Zealand.  So far that means wild, unpredictable weather.  We’ve had hot days,  40 mph wind days, all-day rain days, and snow-on-the-mountain days.  To further disorient us, Thanksgiving is not celebrated here, it’s just another Thursday.   I meant to cook up a couple of turkey drums, but we went out for Thai that night.  Honestly, it felt weird and we definitely missed our family.  Hope you guys in D.C., Austin, New Braunfels, Galveston, and Blue had a good day together.  We are thankful for all of you!

Here are some springtime photos:

The owner of our home, Marie, is “the constant gardener”  and so we have roses to enjoy every day now.  

The water is warming up and Fitzroy Beach’s “snack bar” is open again. Yeah for “hot chips” (french fries)!

Des and I at the walkway bike to Te Henui trail run meeting spot.  Sam is always happy to  take our picture.  He feels it’s his job to “help show you are a committed couple for immigration!” 

Beach walk finds:  Rib bone of large animal, ? dolphin?  and some type of sea star with 11 arms!

I had recent night out with girlfriends, Kelly (our neighbor and daughter of Marie) and Nicola (Kai’s closest friend’s mom).  They are fun as and very Kiwi!  Here we are getting drinks at Hour Glass bar and I ordered the best beer I’ve had in awhile… The “Behemoth Dump the Trump lager” !

And we voted absentee!  We’ll never know for sure if our ballot was counted but it did arrive in NZ and we faithfully mailed it back to Texas. 

Below, a good learning day on the mountain bike trails with Des.

Okay, next up is…… Kai!