The weather for the last week of Nana and Papa’s visit was reminiscent of weather reports in England….”Bright” means a thinning of the cloud cover, not actual sun exposure. “Fine” indicates that the rain can be repelled with a jacket, not drenching. We made the most of the “fine” spells around the tropical cyclone remnants that kept Christchurch soggy for two weeks.  At least the grass grows well!

One drizzly Christchurch morning Jeremiah took the crew over to Okains Bay to collect mussels and got a pleasant break in the weather. The bulk of the Banks peninsula shelters some bays from the prevailing weather (rain from the north, in this case), so much so that the sun peeped through!

Jeremiah got his love of sea food and meat gathering straight from his dad. Milo giggled as they got caught by waves while they peeled mussels from their toe holds in the rocks.

Raw?! Papa wasn’t so keen to try the drippy raw kina (sea urchin) that some Maori gatherers offered us in Kaikoura, but when it comes to mussels, that sliminess was apparently passable and he swallowed it down.

Milo’s learning from the best–he’ll be a food gatherer too one day. Note the blue sky–it was reassuring to know that it still existed up there somewhere.

New Zealand has a lot of dramatic coastline, and this bit (Godley Head on Banks Peninsula) is particularly accessible to walkers.

Nana is not so keen on heights, but this one bit of track had a rare handrail, much to her relief!

Nana’s iPad renders color so much better than our camera, I’m jealous! These cliff-side flowers are scrumptious.

Nana and Papa learned to navigate the city bus to get into central Christchurch a couple days with Milo while Molly and Jeremiah were at work. Here they are kayaking on the Avon River.

Watch out ducks, here we come!

All along the backwater through the rushes tall, ducks are a-dabbling, up tails all!

Castle Hill is one of our favorite places to take visitors. Situated close to Arthur’s pass in the foothills of the Alps, the exposed limestone boulders make a giant playground for kids and grown-ups alike.

Milo did a lot of riding on Papa’s shoulders on the short walk in, but once among the rocks he scampered around on his own two feet.

Peekaboo!

Milo gives nice kisses.

My baby’s growing up! I have a picture of her just weeks old sitting on my lap in another little “rock nest” here on castle hill. This time she could smile for the camera.

Bye Nana and Papa, thanks for coming the long journey to visit us!