We have finally made it across Cook Strait and are enjoying parking up at a super campsite, a paddock with artisian water, just a few kilometers from Picton. It is owned by an elderly couple who are farmers here. Les likes to check out the campers and is a big yakker! He and his wife are very generous in letting NZMCA members stay for $5 a night.

One of the wonderful aspects of this lifestyle is that jobs don't dictate our lives, which means that every day we have a choice about what we do. We work around the weather. If its fine we're off, and if not, may do indoor activities, catching up with inside jobs. Getting dressed early is not necessarily a priority! Not having a schedule gave me the freedom to participate in NANORIMO. National November Writing Month, a web-based programme which challenges a writer to complete 50,000 words in the month of November. It does require focus and commitment, but I made it. Yay! I just wish I could keep that focus year round.

Housework doesn't go away and there is a surprising amount, considering the small space we live in. All the dirt from living, cooking and walking around is concentrated in one area. The floor needs sweeping daily and washing fairly often. There is nothing worse than a smelly loo so keeping the bathroom sweet is a priority. Our dishwasher is mostly Warren, and we have to collect our water and heat it whenever we need it. Laundry is either done by hand or, more often, at the laundromat. I recently did a week's worth at my sister's house. Thanks Heather and Chris!

Picton is as pretty as ever. I don't think it has changed a lot since I was last here, at least ten years ago, although there are probably a few more bars and cafes. Perhaps the Kaikoura Earthquake is the cause of quiet streets. Yesterday we went for a bike ride to Waikawa Bay which provides a mooring for small boats.  Cycling is such great exercise, we need to use those bikes more! Picton's streets suddenly filled in the afternoon when the Christmas Parade was due to start. It was good to see the community support for their marine themed event.

In one of the cafes, we met an English couple who live in Nelson. They recommended the walk out to Bob's Bay, at the top of the right hand arm of the harbour. It was a beautiful bush walk, carved out of the bluff and looking out over the sounds. While sitting on the shingly beach, with one other walker, the earth was suddenly shoved what felt like a meter one way, then back. "Did you feel that?" our lone walker yelled. We had. It was a 5.5 quake and the first I have ever felt in all my years as a Kiwi living in New Zealand. Since we are travelling in the South Island it may not be the last.

Whatever else is happening (we do have a few dramas along the way) we always eat well.

Here is my version of Curried Thai Chowder

Thai Chowder (Can use seafood, chicken or tofu)

2 tbsp Oil

One onion, a few cloves of garlic, grated ginger (if you like it)

One carrot in strips

Thai curry paste ( about a dessert spoon)

Chilli (maybe though the thai paste is a bit hot).

1 tin light coconut milk

Soy sauce 

Several mugs of water

Ramen noodles. (You can use rice noodles or spaghetti but they take longer to cook)

Green vege, eg Chinese cabbage, or spinach

Fish and prawns or shellfish, or sliced chicken (you might like to cook it first), or tofu.

Saute the onion, garlic and ginger, add carrot and Thai paste. Add a mug of water or two. Add tin of coconut milk and soy sauce. Taste test. Add coconut milk. Once soup base is prepared, add the ramen noodles, seafood, chicken or tofu. Taste test and adjust as you prefer.

Eat.

Lyn