Turangi

I stayed overnight at Tokaanu and enjoyed a soak in the thermal pools. Little changed from when I was a kid. We used to have annual holidays at Turangi. Us two kids would play most of the day somewhere beside the river, making fairy gardens in the black sand with river stones and pumice and whatever else we could find. The smell of the autumn foliage brings it all back. "One last cast," Lou would say, and we knew that meant another hour or so before we would be leaving.

The Kekerengu Store

First night in the new home I stayed in a Top Ten park in Christchurch - a sort-of updated antipodean Butlers Holiday Camp somehow.

Once on the open road I found driving to be more enjoyable than I expected. Sitting so high is very cool. I confess that I am unable to completely renounce cafe culture. How could you drive through Kaikoura and not take a break at Hislops? GF Banana cake to die for!

The Store at Kekerengu is one of my favourite places. This time instead of just stopping for refreshments, I got to stay over.

Dixie was the only vehicle in the car park by the beach. No excuse to go out for a cup of tea when you have a view like this from your own kitchen.

Early dawn over the Kaikoura coast bloomed with a delicate pink, but by the time I grabbed the camera and my shoes, it had faded. Still beautiful though. The drive up to Picton was a treat. The colours of the vineyards against that brown landscape - so unexpected and so stunning.

Christchurch discoveries

I had a couple of days to fill in in Christchurch

These are photos of just some of the stuff I found while waiting for my new home to be ready to drive off in.

Tile designer, Sally Griggs, works from a little studio with a window to Peterborough St. She told me she trained as a rug designer, but has now moved from textiles to ceramics. She screen prints an outline to each tile, and then applies colours by hand. The glaze is fired for 4 days. She usually works to commission, often custom-designing to suit someone's home. I bought three of the over-run tiles at $1 each. I could have taken so many more had I anywhere to put them.

Ages ago I spotted a magazine piece about a shop called Bolt of Cloth, so in the afternoon I set off for Madras Street.

Bolt of Cloth stock a range of commercially produced fabrics I recognized - Florence Broadhurst, Amy Butler, Marimekko. There were also hand printed fabrics by Ingrid Anderson, Ink&Spindle, and others. I really want to pull up in the new motorhome tomorrow morning and get them to sew me new curtains, squabs and cushion covers in bright turquoise, pink, lime green and purples. I love this shop.

In Victoria Street, there is a place that sells something I’d just love to have for my studio when I get settled again. They are dresses like we used to make for cut-out-dolls, but life-size, and they are exquisitely cut and folded from maps.

The yarns are from the window display in the Hands Craft Shop in Norman Rd, Elmwood. Just as well there are a couple of coffee shops in the block. I spent so much time browsing the books and picking some threads that I needed more than one refreshment interlude.

My Kea Camper

I have just bought a camper van. It is an ex-rental from Kea. Looks like this. Can't wait to unpack the Polo and drive off in my new home. What an extravagance. I'll be looking for options to exchange it for either similar in the UK or perhaps plum house-sitting opportunities. It is fully certified for freedom camping and I'll have my bike on the back.

Ashford Cafe, Ashburton

Having a sore back was a good lesson in just enjoying being where I am. It is not easy to let go of all the 'going to's and 'must do's and 'have to's, but I have got better at it.

One week on the road and I have not even reached Christchurch yet. I stopped at the Ashford Mill House cafe and sat in the sun with a cup of tea. And this Noro yarn -- I couldn't resist.

The weaving area is being renovated, so the shop was in a bit of a state. I missed the sofa that was piled with knitted cushions and throws.

Mosaic jacket

I'm knitting the Rowan squares with an idea of making a simple patchwork jacket. One one hand I'm worried that it will be too busy with the 5 colours, on the other hand I want to include a red, or a tweed, just to keep the knitting more interesting.

I'm using child-size needles, which are easier to hold, and take up less space when knitting in cafes! Well, that's what it feels like.

What a lovely little public library in Wanaka. To get to it you go over a little stream. It has been beautifully landscaped. I found a sunny sheltered spot to sit and knit, amongst the falling autum leaves and filled with the sound of the water.

Colours of Wanaka

Forced to walk because my back hurt whatever way I sat, I wandered around the lake. It rained almost the whole week I was in Wanaka. But even in the rain, there was colour everywhere.