Mundus Casus Pars Duo

  Saturday 29 March 2025 A pretty cold morning in our little cabin, but blue sky and a nice sunrise. A bit of frost on the windshield is reminiscent of Melbourne days. A pleasant drive west to Invercargill, mainly along the coast, sees us arrive to mind Penny the black cat at around 12.30 pm. Sunday 30 – Monday 31 March 2025 Settling in to our new digs. A nicely renovated home with a sunny kitchen/lounge and north facing deck and garden. Tomatoes are almost ripe and we picked a lettuce from the garden. However, the cold weather is coming. It was 2C this morning but we’ve still had mainly rain free days and no wind. This makes getting out and about pleasant, even when it’s 15C. On Monday we went to the most southern point of the South Island at Bluff, about 25 minutes drive from Invercargill. Flashy was rewarded with a plate (6) of Jimmy’s Special (he’s the chef) Bluff oysters. They were steamed with confit garlic and vermicelli noodles. Pretty good, too. While there, we pic...

  Thursday 27 – Friday 28 March 2025 Drove over east to the Catlins today, to a little seaside cabin in Papatowai. A few tourists about but a pretty sleepy place. The blue South Pacific is right on our doorstep and the general store a short walk away. Plugging and unplugging electrical appliances to microwave, boil, fry and heat the room, sort of in that sequence, and we had a delicious vegetable teriyaki stir fry (with thin slices of left over steak and softened Udon noodles) for dinner. Friday looked like being a nice day, when one observed the stars at 3.00 am and the morning was very cold and crisp. But alas, the light rain showers arrived as we headed to Nugget Point. This entailed a scenic drive along the coast, with lots of sheep in the paddocks, rolling green hills and cliff edges dipping into the sea. The uphill walk to the lighthouse was undertaken by one of the party. Apparently, it was nice. Then back to Papatowai and to the general store for what is alleged to be...

  Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 March 2025 After cleaning up and feeding the dogs, we departed Dipton for Clyde, which took us through the dry and rocky Central Otago schist country (that’s a type of metamorphic rock). Our accommodation was pictured as a cabin around a lake. Not quiet true there but a good, one bed, self sufficient cabin on a lifestyle block. Something was a bit fishy we felt when a) there was no road sign or any other indication that the BnB was operating; b) Google said it was permanently closed and c) they wanted a bank transfer or cash on arrival. However, they were friendly. The cabin was clean and comfortable. In the afternoon, we went to Monte Christo winery for a tasting and enjoyed their Riesling and Pinot Noir. When asked where we were staying (which was literally 200 metres down the road), their response was “Oh, yes.” A similar response from their neighbours the next day when we adjourned for coffee, was met with a confused stare. We reckon they had been...

  Friday 21 March 2025 Another nice day on the farm. In the evening, Lady P again stocked up the hot tub and while it was heating, we drove into the intersection of two country roads. Not much there but a service station and Carley’s pop up caravan serving all manner of burgers. Always good to   support the locals, so we got the monster Kiwi Burger with the lot and a Chook burger with loaded fries. Not cheap.   $50. But very good. After that, we lit the dragon firepit, finished off some wine and looked at the stars for a while. Saturday 22 March 2025 A drive to Invercargill to meet Penny the cat and Angela. We are sitting there for a few days in two weeks but as we were going for a wet day drive to Riverton, we decided to catch up. And it was a wet day – all day mostly. Riverton has a large bay looking out to Stewart Island and we amused ourselves looking at the surfers and some of us going on a cliff top walk to look at a sculpture. Blue cod and seafood chowder in ...

  Weekend 15/16 March 2025 The weather remains nice and warm, despite the weather department predicting rain. It’s a lazy weekend, with some admin, cooking curries and soup, doing the washing and playing with the dogs. Venison backstrap for dinner Saturday was delicious and tender (perhaps a tad overcooked) and Lady P stoked up the hot tub again. Monday 17 – Wednesday 19 March 2025 A drive into Winton this morning for supplies as there is a gale warning and rain predicted for this afternoon and tomorrow. The calm before the storm this morning though, with high cloud and darkening skies. Winds at midday hitting 40 Knots. Tuesday’s rain came but there wasn’t much in it and by Wednesday morning we were back to blue sky and sunshine. These days have been a good opportunity to catch up with completing the photobooks from last year and play with the dogs. They have destroyed three tennis balls but are struggling with the little hard solid rubber one. They will fetch all day, almo...

  Weekend 15/16 March 2025 The weather remains nice and warm, despite the weather department predicting rain. It’s a lazy weekend, with some admin, cooking curries and soup, doing the washing and playing with the dogs. Venison backstrap for dinner Saturday was delicious and tender (perhaps a tad overcooked) and Lady P stoked up the hot tub again. Monday 17 – Wednesday 19 March 2025 A drive into Winton this morning for supplies as there is a gale warning and rain predicted for this afternoon and tomorrow. The calm before the storm this morning though, with high cloud and darkening skies. Winds at midday hitting 40 Knots. Tuesday’s rain came but there wasn’t much in it and by Wednesday morning we were back to blue sky and sunshine. These days have been a good opportunity to catch up with completing the photobooks from last year and play with the dogs. They have destroyed three tennis balls but are struggling with the little hard solid rubber one. They will fetch all day, almo...

  Thursday 13 March 2025 Driving to our pet sit in Dipton today, briefly via Queenstown as the road in was at a standstill due to roadworks. So, a quick look at the lake from the top of the hill and onwards to the deep south. Our hosts, David and Jo are a wonderful couple who showed us around and we met the dogs, Gin and Harley and the cat Angel. She’s a cat. The dogs are licky, tail wagging farm dogs and all three need very little attention. We are in a sprawling farm house with all modern cons and central heating. The fridges and freezers are full. We were shown the amazing man cave with bar and giant TV and the cover has been taken off the outdoor hot tub at Lady P’s request. The tub is a work of stainless steel art. You collect pine cones and kindling and light the fire at the bottom. Flashy is already stressing and thinking of that old boil the missionaries cartoon. Dave fills it with the high pressure hose from the spring and tomorrow we will light her up. It may take f...

 Wednesday 12 March 2025 Wanaka this morning is cloudy and chilly, so a late start to the day. A visit to the centre of the city (pop13,600) and there are more RV's than flies in a dairy herd. They literally line both sides of the street. For the shoulder season, there's plenty of tourists about. We wandered about for a while, picked up some cheese from a French deli and some chicken for dinner at the supermarket. Google took us to the Chopping Block Butcher and Smokehouse, out in the trade area and we got some venison and smoked salami for future consumption. Late in the afternoon Lady P disappeared to climb a 500m hill, while Flashy held the fort at home, preparing dinner.

  Monday 10 March 2025 Checking out of the Miner's Cottage is a bit of a cleanup and simply drive off. We head to our one night at Fox Glacier. It’s another brilliant sunny autumn day with blue sky and sunshine. This time we are again on a farm but in a shepherd’s cottage. One room with comfy bed and kitchenette and attached ensuite, all set in a beautiful garden. Sky here is overcast with clouds sitting on top of the mountains for a change. A walk into town to suss out the food options is confronting, as the cafes and well, there all cafes and all have simple food at exorbitant prices! God damn, NZ is very expensive. Steam is coming out of Flashy’s ears at the price of a simple pizza at $39 and a chicken pasta at $42.  Now here’s some perspective. Grossi Florentino Grill, a restaurant some of you may have heard of and the rest of the world thinks is pretty special, has pasta and mains around this price. A friggin café in Fox Glacier! Well, they tell me it’s like this all ...

  Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March 2025 Nelson Last night, we went to dinner with a couple of Kiwis that Lady P met on the Camino, at ‘Eight Plates’ in Nelson. It’s the type of place that has only eight sharing plates on the menu, plus some sides. So, after some gin cocktails, we ordered all of the eight share plates, plus a repeat of the crumbed chicken, a side of zucchini fries and a dessert. It was OK. Not brilliant. Almost, but not needed or indulged, a Big Mac on the way home. Hokitika Saturday morning saw us up early and off to our off grid miner's cottage on a farm outside of Hokitika. It’s about a five hour drive, with a few small towns to stop and get some supplies. The miner’s cottage is a single room with a comfortable bed and a little veranda. There are cheap little solar cells around the place, driving little LED lights plus a couple of strategically placed torches. A short walk to a long drop dunny and a little further to the camp kitchen and single shower. Remarkabl...

  Thursday 6 March 2025 A very chilly, if not nippy start to today - 6C. Off to Nelson via Picton at 10.00 am this morning. A beautiful drive across the top of the North Island, with a little picnic lunch stop in Havelock. Our digs in Nelson (58K population) are wonderful. The bottom half of an old house, with a working kitchen. The brief walk about the CBD produced a Free House for a couple of pints and a bag of crisps and a great cheese shop for cheese, salami and chutney. That’s dinner tonight after the 5 pm GnT’s. Friday 7 March After some late research, we headed back 1.15 hrs to Havelock, to catch the Mail Ferry around the Marlborough Sounds. Perfect early autumn weather, 20’s and blue sky. The 15m, twin diesel catamaran, clips along at 27 knots and takes about 80 passengers as well as mail and other supplies, while it visits a number of the outlying, isolated and tiny settlements that dot the shores of the Sounds. Hard to describe the stunning beauty of the volcani...

Wednesday 5 March 2025 Today was a day to taste the wines of the Marlborough region. A good deal of research was done by Lady P and we even consulted with the Chinese sommelier from yesterday. So, four wineries were chosen. Clos Henri, Forrest, Hanz Herzog and, of course, Cloudy Bay. Cloudy Bay was the last but it should have been the first winery, as it is the benchmark for NZ Sauvignon Blanc, possibly Chardonnay and their Pinot Noir is absolutely the NZ wine to be what is the typical PN. Well, I hear you say, what bullshit! But bear with me here. If you wanted to taste what all the world thinks NZ produces, you could start at Cloudy Bay. Like Australia is Penfolds. Anyway, their Pelouris sparkling, SV and Chardonnay and PN were clean, crisp, and very well made and so, well, Cloudy Bay -pretty good as expected. Now here where it gets better. We went to Cols Henri. French expats bringing different techniques to wine making along the La Loire and Sancerre traditions. Their Sauvignon Bla...

  Monday 3 March 2025 We left Hanmer Springs at 10.00 am in more hot weather and brilliant blue skies and headed north to Blenheim. This took us into Kaikoura first, around lunch time. Along the way, Flashy amused himself by watching the hybrid gauges charging the battery. Not that the scenery was not interesting, it was stunning volcanic landscapes, with the trees just about to turn. No, it was just a scientific interest in electronic things. Kaikoura is right on the South Pacific coast, with amazing blue water and rocky outcrops. The road winds its way right along the coast where drivers must keep watch, or they will join the frolicking dolphins and migrating whales. Great to be here in the shoulder season, as there are a few - not thousands of RV’s and holidaying Kiwis. Got to love them though. They love their bucket hats, shorts and runners with black socks. On nippy mornings, they just put a jumper on. I’m sure they must own long pants. Anyway, we park under a shady tree...

 Sunday 2 March 2025 Another amazing summer day here with 30c and blue skies. Lady P did a 1.5 hour walk this morning and Flashy did some more experimenting with cooking eggs in hot water in the coffee plunger. Twenty minutes soaking is too long, so tomorrow we'll see what 15 minutes does. Mid afternoon we walked back up to the town in search of a beverage and a snack.  We found both. One was excellent the other lousy. A pint of Monteiths Old was delicious. So too, a mid ale in the old fashioned glass at another pub, likewise cold and refreshing. However the $25 souvlaki was disgusting. Lamb pieces fried in a pan and tough; under seasoned with a teaspoon of sauce; chopped iceberg lettuce and three little bits of tomato; served on a thick flat bread, which was about the only tasty thing on the plate. I shall give them a 3/10 review. And that's generous. We're off on the road tomorrow, so some observations so far. Hanmer Springs is quite a nice little town. A good vibe and we...