Back from the South Island

So, on reviewing my pics from our trip, I find I have around 200 - sheez!

I won't inflict them all on you and even an edited version would be a bit much, so I will drip feed them over a few posts.

To start tonight though, I have a recent arrival from Temu with some more good stuff, here it is!

The four items

From the same range as the machine tools - a set of water pipe connections - probably destined for addition to the factory terrain

A set of 120 tufts on the left, next to some "Western" ones that cost about 5 times as much for fewer items!

I thought the Temu ones were small but its mostly an optical illusion caused by the packaging

The best bit - my first proper bridge - 3d printed with three options for around NZ$15!

Option 1 above - small intact bridge

Option 2 - large intact bridge

With 28mm figures and vehicle for scale

Option 3 - damaged bridge!

The fourth item was another set of the plastic railway tracks - I now have an extra 4 straights and 10 not really required curves - but for $8 I am ok with the deal.

The first of my holiday snaps below 

We picked up the hire car around 845am on Friday and headed straight off to Lake Tekapo about 2.5 hours' drive to the southwest of Christchurch

Stopped en route for a couple of scenic views

Tekapo is famous for this iconic, historic church - "Situated on the shores of Lake Takapō amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God and as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country."

A couple of views of Lake Tekapo from the shore below the church and looking at the Southern Alps in the distance

A statue of a working dog - as per below

Halfway back to Christchurch we stopped at this viewing point

Back in Christchurch, it was a simple matter (thanks to GPS!) to find our Air BnB in Salisbury Street. A very modern, one up one down apartment about five minutes' walk from the city centre but a very quiet, one-way street with no issue getting free parking within a few yards of the front door - and all for the princely sum of NZ$135 per night - even I can't moan about that!

It's in the middle of this image around the red or silver car

The downstairs from both angles above and below

Upstairs bedroom above and view out the rear window below

First meal was dinner with an Italian flavour (no pun intended!)

View from my seat out of the window

The restaurant is the one on the corner under the green awning

A few images on our walk back to the air B n B - Captain Cook above

An art gallery (I think)!

I will leave it here for tonight - a "few" more pics to come over the next week or two - and hopefully some toy soldier content too :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you found something of interest in my ramblings!