Slept like a baby :) Margaret's spare bed was just as amazing as I remembered from my last visit! It was so nice to be in a comfy double bed, it was the 14th of October since my last night in a double bed!!! Hehe. I set my alarm for 8am as I was going to go with Maragert, May and their friends walking in Queens Park. Every Tuesday morning they have a group that goes for a 45 minute walk and then a cup of tea in the museum cafe. The eldest lady was 90 and I think Margaret might have been the youngest at 82 years :)

It really was a lovely morning, and their local park is spectacular with a show of colour in the flower gardens to old oak trees lining the paths. Everyone that passes us whether they were walking or cycling said hello. It was such a friendly place. Margaret's sister May was also with us, so it was lovely to see her again and the three of us then spent the day together.

By the time the morning fly was over, it was lunch time. I heard all the gossip of Invercargill from the last week and I loved every minute. Margaret, May and I had a walk through the museum before we left and saw the famous New Zealand Tuataras again. The weather was really nice in the morning but it had turned quite windy by the time we went out for lunch. We went to Nicolls Garden Centre where May insisted on paying, it was just like a garden centre from home with a nice gift section but the display of flowers was unbelievable (That defiantly wasn't like a garden centre from home!).

On our drive back to the museum to get May's car, they took me for a drive round the Ryman Retirement Village which was called Rowena Jackson. It was amazing, there were different sections of the village from 1 or 2 bedroom retirement houses, to studio apartments, to a care home section to a hospital. The gardens around the village were unbelievable, they had court yards in the middle of the care home and also had a bowling green, swimming pool and gymnasium all in the village. So basically I want to set up a business like this at home now haha. Yeah that'll be right!!!

We actually went into the care home so I could get a nosey at the inside, and we visited a 92 year old lady who was also a Henderson relation. She was called Isabella McLean and it was her Dad and Margaret's Dad that kept up the family connections when they went and met Mum's Uncle Bruce during the war in Christchurch. She looked amazing for 92, hopped out of bed and was delighted to see us. I certainly notice after being in the retirement home and spending the day with Margaret and May that the population is much older here than at home. I don't think I have met any patients in their 80's and 90's that actually still look and act like they are in the 70's. Well except from Auntie Rhona but she's an exception :)

May had mentioned that she had a new microwave in her car that she had attempted to lift out herself and she was going home to take curtains down with a step ladder, for 84 I thought that sounded crazy! So I invited myself round to do these things for her haha. Margaret wanted to go to the supermarket so I suggested I went home with May to give her a hand, so that's what we did. Old microwave was removed, cleaned the space then lifted the new one in and set it up for her, simple as. The curtains weren't as simple, because she then decided she couldn't take them down without having the new ones to put up, as people would see in. Therefore the curtain situation wasn't accomplished, but afternoon tea certainly was.

Afternoon tea is done properly here, I love the china cups, plates and napkins. We had cheese and biscuits with mint on top, followed by the best chocolate biscuits I had ever tasted (and I am not joking!). After leaving the house at 9.15am this morning we eventually got home about 5.30pm. It had been a busy day, and I was actually exhausted. Of course it was time to eat again...!

In the evening I went round to Hamish and Lisa's new house to watch Andy Murrays first match in the Australian Open. It was a long match but he did actually win. I got a tour of their new abode and it was lovely, 4 bedrooms, massive living room and garden, double garage etc. It was huge but really nice. Margaret had things to sort out for her holiday next week so while I was there, she went to Robyn's to do the things that needed done, before picking me up on her way home.

I was pretty tired tonight, and poor Margaret looked exhausted. I sent an email to Jen with the latest news/banter/moans before I went to the land of nod! Haha.

P.S. I still Love Travelling, today was the day I was originally meant to fly home and I'm so glad I'm not just yet :) xxx