Overseas travel

I thought I'd be living it up in Invercargill tonight; my annual dental check should have taken place tomorrow and I lined up movies to watch, shopping to get and a visit to the barber for an overdue haircut. I've known about my dental appointment for a couple of months but didn't book my flight off-island at the same time. When I tried to book a couple of weeks ago I was surprised to find all morning flights fully booked so after kicking myself, I decided to go on the last flight today. The Weather Gods thought otherwise with low cloud over the island this morning. The fantastic people of Stewart Island Flights contacted me at lunchtime to say that they were hoping to get a flight over around 1pm but it might be the only flight of the day. I was supposed to be working until 4pm but Sam gave me leave of absence and I thought I'd be in Invercargill by 2pm. Ha ha - when I got to the Flight Centre, the weather over the island got brighter but the murk moved to Invercargill Airport which then closed! In the end I rescheduled my dental appointment, cancelled my bookings at Tuatara Backpackers and went back to work. I could have taken the 3.30pm ferry but it just seemed easier to go when conditions might be calmer and drier.

The weather has disrupted my outside work for the last couple of weekends so I downed tools and went for a walk instead.

Lovely native bush on both sides of the road

Old flax seed pods

Spring was sprung in August with leaf burst on the native fuchsia

Native Fuchsia excorticata flower buds

New buds on ???

Mill Creek at low tide

Views from Mill Creek through to Bathing Beach

First daffodil

A natural sculpture at Ann's place - last summer's fronds on Agapanthus plants

Spring bulbs - one that the deer didn't get!