Kaikoura

Greg had a biology conference in Kaikoura which I was also fortunate enough to go on.

We had a lovely time. I met some lovely people. Read 3 books and had to buy another.

One thing I didn't take into account is that instead of just my own darling geek, I now got to listen to 49 other geeks talk about things that are completely over my head. Even if they were very nice people.

So, our first night there, we had a very romantic dinner of fish and chips on the beach. We were really enjoying the cool climate and the lovely sunset when I realized that I had lost my bag with all my important documents in it - passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate. We retraced our steps and saw it sitting in the fish and chip shop window. Which was great, but the shop was closed. But they were still there, so we were able to get ny bag back.

The people running the conference took very good care of eveyone. They provided breakfast and lunch. And even for me. Our day would go like this; Greg would rush out early about 8am. I would laze in bed reading etc... until about 10 or 11 am. Walk in to have lunch with Greg. which was about 2hours. After lunch I would go to the beach or the pub and read my book until Greg was finished and then we'd do something with the group.

Monday, we walked around the coast and sat ont he talking and enjoying the scenery and weather.

Tuesday, we went to the seal colony, which was almost completely bereft of seals. Walked around the rocks, climbed up one of those random rock formations, (greg's like a billy goat and I trailed after him like grandma wishing for her walker), then walked quickly up some hill trail and embarrased myself by just about bursting into tears cos it was so difficult. Embarrassing becos it was tiny, and I huffed and I puffed, and ached for days afterwards. You know it must have been bad when your husband asks if you're mad at him.

Later we went out for dinner, which took a really long time and had poor service but the food was nice. The best thing about the poor service is that it really brought the group together and gave us a common interest. Amazingly, the lobster platter was $100 and people were ordering it?????

Wednesday was a free day. Greg and I chose not to spend $125 to swim with the dolphins or whalewatch. We relaxed, read our boooks, had a leisurely lunch, read some more, went to the wine ...I mean poster night. Which had the grand total of one poster. So guess who won the poster prize?

Thursday, dinner at a winery. Lovely food. Great views. Cute cat. Later we went to the pub.

Friday we checked out of our cabin early and the conference finished at 12 noon. I ended up talking to a lovely young lady and while I was telling her about losing my passport, I suddenly realized that I had left it at the cabin. Talk about feeling stupid. Kim kindly gave me a lift to pick it up. I made sure to tell Greg that I had it, straight after telling him I'd left it. And thats all I'll say about that so I don't get in trouble with my husband.