Where are we all

That's right KB, DS - dear (or darling) son; DD - dear daughter; DH - dear husband etc. GS, GD, GC - are the grands.
Two years ago, when I was down under for the spring, it was your coldest spring for goodness knows how many years, but wasn't all bad. The times before that I had great weather. But I know what you mean about the changeability of the weather.

Hi Greatnan and Annobel, Greatnan, our weather so far today, (Friday morning 8:00am is fabulous. It's 'turned the corner' I think, although you know what our weather can be like, summer in the morning and winter by night time. So good to see blue sky again. Have you emigrated to NZ and living in the Nelson area? Or are you a "kiwi" too? I hope your grand-daughter has a lovely Christmas with you. Annobel, what a shame about the weather here while you were travelling. We had six weeks driving up through England to Glasgow, Helensburgh (where my h. comes from) and Edinburgh then back through England to London in Sept. Loved it!!! But the weather in Scotland! Had to hang on to lamp-posts to stay upright! Still had a really great time and would love to do it again. A very Happy Christmas to you both. Lovely to 'chat' from the 'deep south'. One last thing - what is a dd or a ds? What sort of 'daugher' or 'son'? Dear daughter maybe?

Greatnan, I am always amused that what we call hiking or even just rambling is 'tramping' in New Zealand - it sounds so much more arduous.

Good luck with the whale watching and may the sea be calm... Kaikoura?
Hi kiwibird - big fan of NZ and although not been to Dunedin did make it to Stewart Island. I know the wellington region best. Miss it. Son there. Need to plan next trip.

Right....now I really am envious Greatnan. Say 'hello' to the whales from me - it's the nearest I'm going to get! Please tell us all about your adventure next time. Have a fabulous day x

I am going whale watching with one of my grandsons tomorrow, and then on the post boat round the islands of Marlborough Sound the next day. I love New Zealand and the friendly people here.

Kiwibird I bet you can lay claim to being our most southerly member! I visited the Otago Peninsula the first time time I came to NZ - saw the albatrosses and the yellow-eyed penguins - fabulous. We had lunch in Dunedin, but it was raining and we didn't have an incentive to wander round and catch the atmosphere of the place. Maybe next time... Sister is one of the lucky ones, with little structural damage, still waiting to get the surface damage fixed - plastering, redecoration, etc. Last time I was in NZ, we intended going to Stewart Island, but it was very stormy and we stayed at Wanaka where we almost go blown away walking by the lake. Again, maybe next time...
Merry Christmas to you - thirteen hours earlier than ours!

It seems to be the year of disasters - Collingwood is still accessible by boat and helicopter only. No problems here in Wakefield, just slow traffic into Nelson as only one road is open.

Hi Annobel, I've just discovered your message. I live in Dunedin, south of Christchurch. Dunedin's a lovely university city. Born and brought up here although spent 7 years living in Brisbane. I do hope your sister's house wasn't damaged in the earthquakes and that she's feeling a little safer now that the number of aftershocks is decreasing. A terrible time for them all.

Hi Kiwibird and welcome to the Northern Hemisphere. Where are you in South Island? My sister is in Christchurch and I have been there several times and toured around most of the island. So lovely and now Christchurch is so sad, though hopefully it will revive.

It finally stopped raining in the night and the bridge to Nelson airport has reopened, but a State of Emergency has been declared as there is widespread flooding in the coastal areas, with landslips, roads washed away, and general devastation.
My daughter's creek has subsided and her pigs are nice and dry on their raised platform. The house itself is on piles which is common here.
One grand-daughter arrives from England via Melbourne and Auckland in about an hour (it is 9.05 here) and the eldest grandson arrives on Sunday.
It is quite warm and the house is very snug - it will soon be very crowded with nine people, a cat and two dogs indoors, but we will have a lovely Christmas!

Hello, Kiwibird. I am in Wakefield at the moment, and the Brightwater bridge is closed. My grand-daughter is arriving from England tonight so we hope the river has subsided a bit by morning so we can pick her up at Nelson airport. What is the weather like near you?

I'm in the South Island of NZ. Born and bred here apart from 7 years in Brisbane Australia.

Maybe we could meet for a coffee next time you head over this way riclorian?
I love all the shipping traffic, the cruisers and even the mahoosive container ships. Southampton Water is so narrow, it feels as though you could reach out and touch the ships from Waitrose car park! You can set you watch by the 5pm cruise departures when all the famous liners set off and hoot their very loud hooters.

Hello Notso - I live in Romsey , so not too far from you . We like to visit Hythe , such a pretty little town , with a lovely view of all the shipping in and out of Southampton .Nice to meet another southerner !! .

But not one of those with the push-on bit at the back, they always fall off

how about a little pin badge with the letters GN ?

nanachrissy love the secret sign idea

I'm in Hampshire riclorian, on the coast at Hythe. I often look around the supermarket queues and wonder if there are any other Gransnetters there!

Hi mamanc nice to meet you not a lot of us up here. Where about are you, I am on the outskirts of Newcastle at the moment.

been here all my life and not totally convinced grrrranny!!

Yup syberia - been here about 15 years and still not sure where I am. Is it the back of beyond or not. Trains go to London, Leicester, Nottingham and bus to Peterborough but anywhere else seems just too hard unless by car. I think I like it but not totally convinced.

Northamptonshire anyone?

number at least you are not in Boston Mass.USA you would be very alone then LOL.

Talking of being alone, I think that I well and truly am alone, I don`t think there`s anyone else from around here on Gransnet, here, by the way, being Boston, in Lincolnshire.