Our 2018-18 summer was a strange and somewhat difficult time. We only got back to New Zealand in mid-December, and spent much of the time since then away from our Nelson home. It went like this...
Arrive in Nelson, spend a week there then a week in the Sounds. Back to Nelson for a week then up to Auckland to spend a full month renovating Karen's parents' house south for sale in March, very successfully as it turned out. Back home for 2 days then to Hanmer for my mother's 80th - a great reunion of all her children and grandchildren, followed by 10 days with our daughter and family in Melbourne. Back to Auckland for a week, return to Nelson for a week and then into the Sounds again. Finally a few weeks in our house!
The last few weeks in Nelson were lovely. The autumn weather was perfect - so many clear calm days with moderate temperatures. As usual the last couple of weeks involved the ritual of packing up our house so it could be available for rental for the 6-7 months we would be away. We've got it down pat, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant. Our agency managed to find tenants who would take it for the whole time away, less possibly the last few weeks. It certainly helps with the finances.
In the end we would have spent less than half the time in our home out of the 4 months back in New Zealand. It's been hard work, and we look forward to being settled in our French apartment.
