June 2022

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June saw a lot of activity with a trip to NZ for Stephen and Paulie, travel at the end of the month for the Oxford lads, a hard slog at work for Olivia and a change of circumstances for Nick. And we were delighted that Paulie's niece, Shari, accepted Pete's proposal whilst in Fiji!

James and Keno's Oxford backyard was home to some timid locals. . Foxie Film June 3rd- Pete's Mum was out from Scotland and it was time to celebrate her birthday
. . Jan and Jim were down from Dunoon .
And staying at Chateau AthoTurnbull June 4 - Rosie could tell Paulie and Stephen are off somewhere and wanted to come June 5 - Rosie changed her mind and the duo were off for a work/life balance trip to Aotearoa New Zealand June 6 - with meetings and a conference in Auckland, the guys settled into their B&B - a street away from Paulie's old house in Ponsonby
Monday was a public holiday (HRH's birthday) But work was not impacted by Her Majesty's many birthdays. The guys headed to Paulie's sister-in-law's to see family. After her brother Jim died a few months prior, travel to NZ was near impossible. A great catch up with the Turnbull clan including brother Pete's son young and daughter-in-law Drs Phil Lucy
Scott and Judy's husband Steve caught up with Stephen Meanwhile Marg took Paulie for a tour of the large property ... ... before a toasting to Jim whilst watching the video made for his funeral (see Atho Cinema for a viewing) Sally, Brett and Marg put on a lovely feed
And it was time for Phil and Lucy to head back after catching up with their cousins and aunts. This is a tree Paulie gave to Marg & Jim from her Ponsonby garden That night it was dinner with Graham Prentice who Stephen worked with when at Apple. We met his wife Kathy. Also there were Auckland Uni's Steve Leichtweis and his partner Toni Bruce June 7 - Ex colleague Claire Lanyon (now at Auckalnd Uni) joined the guys for lunch the next day
That night we caught up with Helen June 8 - time for a conference Meanwhile Paulie headed to where brother Peter and Nikki parked their caravan after driving down from Whangarei Paulie also visited the grove where her folks ashes are (Nephew Phil lent Paulie his sister, Heather's car. She is living in Hong Kong)
A drop in on Olivia's dad Maurice. Last seen when he stayed with Stephen & Paulie in France June 9th - The conference winds down Paulie meets Pete and Nikki After work drinks in Ponsonby. Stephen jumped in an uber and headed there.
Then it's back to the B&B . . .
. The boys used leftovers, added stuff, and dinner was served June 10 - the guys return the car to Phil at work Back in Adelaide Olivia watches James take to the skies - a bithday gift
. June 11 - Breakfast before heading to Waiheke Island with Marg Turnbull. Paulie's niece Judy has lived there for decades Fairwell B&B After being collected by Marg Turnbull, they visit the apartment she and daughter Judy bought - their central city base
walking distace to the Waiheke ferry Collected at the ferry by Judy, a few stop were made en route to her place . .
. On the island it time to chill with Sally Who sailed across with husband Patrick (a professional skipper) 12th- a new day awaits
Starting with a morning walk down to Palm Beach . . .
. Some interesting architecture Lunchtime at Onetangi Beach. Waitemata - a very nice restaurant .
Paulie and Stephen got dropped at Oneroa and said hi to Judy's niece, Grace, who is helping at Judy's pharmacy whilst on Uni holidays The guys then took the bus back ... ... with a treat Olivia bonding with Jame's family member
13 th - time to leave the Isalnd Heading to Wellington for meetings Both Paulie and Stephen have stayed at The James Cook in previous professioanl lives They suspect the same chap was playing when visiting decades earlier
June 14 - a moring walk . June 14 - after a meeting with a Vic uni chap it's time to zip over the very windy ‎Rimutaka Hills VERY windy
To see pal Margie who fed the duo Catching up with Paulie And it's off again on the winding road back to Wellington
Going through Wellington to the airport, it was worth Paulie seeing her old digs. . June 14 - Arrived in Christchurch & stayed across the road from the Arts precinct It looked empty but the guys walked through the arches and there was an amazing wine bar/bistro that was full. A light meal was in order
June 15 - time for a quick walk before Stephen had to head to Lincoln for two meetings And it was noted that not all of the old Uni Buildings survived untouched by the earthquakes of 2011 This is where Paulie and Stephen first met in August 2003! The cathedral is being rebuilt
But the glass art gallery was untouched. Whilst Stephen was in Linccoln (30 minutes away), Paulie explored Christchurch The exploration included her Māori heritage. She visited the local Marae. Not specifically for her iwi, Ngai Tahu, but she was grandly welcomed The welcome, or Pōwhiri, involves calling out and introducing her to the elder. In māori, so the lovely nurse working on site introduced Paulie as they advanced slowly towards the Marae.
. . . After such an emotional experience, Paulie collected Stephen near Lincoln Uni and they headed south on a 5 hour drive
. A night in the old hotel in Dunedin that Paulie once worked at when an Otago Uni student June 16 - a morning walk in town. To the Octogon and Robbie Burns. Stephen could remember any Burns poetry.
To the beach . Then to the Uni for some meetings Memory lane for Paulie.
Then it was time to clock off and take a day's leave & to head to the Turnbull homeland . Paulie's childhood home "Balmoral" residents
. June 17 - Te Anu for the night. The family had a home here after Balmoral was given to the eldest son (ye old Scottish way) . Morning play
The old pad Across the road the family boat which regularly sailed the huge lake was berthed Paulie says little had changed here at the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland. .
.. The off again towards Queenstown Lake Hayes in the Wakatipu Basin .
. Into what Stephen thought of as the Gold Coast of Southland. The duo drove through Queenstown but found it very touristy so head to Arrowtown And up the hill (see a movie in the Atho Cinema link)
And stayed a few nights in a lovely B&B In town, a nice wine bar The B&B was behind the Fire station. A nice loud siren called the volunteers Into the old Gold rush town
. 18th - time to defrost and head off to the central Otago wine region Around Cromwell .
The damn at Clyde Up Felton Rd (home of Mt Difficulty & Felton Rd Pinot Noirs) in Bannockburn a quick tasting .
. Then lunch and coffee/something sweet at the Bannockburn Pub. . Back at Arrowtown
Up the hill . 19th - time to head home out of Queenstown In Brisbane Nick looks for work and a trial turned into an offer
In Oxford James enjoyed the summer June 24 - a misty morning walk up Mt Cootha The city in a sea of fog .
June 23 - Some of clan Dunlop/Turnbull are elsewhere In Fiji . Father and Son enjoy teh tropics
. June 25th - as the end of the trip approaches, a marriage proposal! . .
June 24 - Stephen's Mum's friend Ralph drops in- it's been years And the Grandkids join him . A nice catch up.
25th - A trip to Canberra is coming up so a new coat is required Louise and Paulie head to try lunch at the German Club. Nicht so gut. And then dinner with Wendy & Murray who we missed in their home town of Dunedin & they were in Brisbane Keno and James visited family in Germany at June's end.
. . Enjoying the sunshine and the passing of June In Brisbane