Splish splash

This weekend we have Len & Val, Joanne's dad and step-mum, staying with us. It's the first time they've been down to the see the house so it's been very exciting showing them around.

Neither Len nor Val have ever been up to Hanmer Springs so we decided a nice trip up there would be good for a wander round and a dip in the thermal pools.

We drove up to Amberley, which is just short of halfway between here and Hanmer, and stopped at the Nor'Wester Cafe for lunch. It was a recommendation from Gabi at work and none of us were disappointed. The 'windjammer breakfast' was excellent (apart from the sausages being beef not pork, of course!) and everyone else seemed to enjoy their food too.

We continued our drive as and turned inland as the Canterbury Plains gave way to more rugged, barren land. We were all struck by just how dry everything is. This summer has been quite dry but now I see why I hear at work that farmers are bleating on about drought. It's quite amazing to see paddock after paddock of straw-dry grass before suddenly one lush, green, irrigated field flies by.

Did you know that the UK is ranked 51st in the world in terms of national population density with 246 people per square kilometre? In comparison, Nuzziland ranks 203rd with 15 people per sq km. Driving north for an hour and a half today I can believe that. Until we arrived in Hanmer, that is. Where everyone within a one hundred mile radius had congregated. Despite that the thermal pools weren't too busy and we had a very relaxing hour sitting in the water, par-boiling nicely, with the mist over the mountains adding to the ambience. I think I actually nodded off for a while too, which worried Joanne when she came back to find me slumped in the pool, eyes closed and stationary.

A slice of carrot cake and a wander round the town preceeded the drive back home. The sun came out too to give a whole different view on the scenery. I wanted to stop to take a photo of Frog Rock, but there wasn't anywhere to pull over.