So what else happened in that full second month?

Aside from loving the countryside which of course I'll come back to, I've actually been doing something along the social lines and actively meeting new people. This  which may surprise those who know me well and know how much I struggle with the whole meet and greet thing, especially if there's a larger group  involved (more than 2 or 3 constitutes a larger group in my eyes). 

I'd noticed on previous visits to NZ  there are plenty of wool stores that sell luxurious looking yarns and in the months prior to moving over, I'd also noticed that there are knitting groups in Wanaka. My house mate mentioned a little pop up wool shop so I went along to check it out. Michelle at The Woven is a wealth of knowledge, has a wicked sense of humour and is able to assist you with just about any question, plus the wool is gorgeous and as some of it is aptly named, Sumptuous!

From there, I found myself going along to Knit Club. Yes, you heard me right.. Knit Club! They meet one evening a week at a cafe/bar on the lake front and it's an eclectic group of women of all ages. The youngest I've seen there so far pre-teen and she was a fabulous little knitter. She was also quite despairing of her mother, who didn't appear to have the same knack. The girl's school teacher (she'd been attending a Steiner school) had fostered her interest in knitting.

It's always a good night, knitting with a glass of wine, sometimes a light meal, lots of chatter, plenty of laughs, the odd swear word here and there, and of course, what would a night like that be without the occasional joke. I'm loving every moment of it! And I'm actually creating something useful. I'm working on a small blanket made from local wool that incorporates the colours of the landscape here. The blues of the lakes, the blue-green of the glaciers, the zesty green of the wildflowers and the natural colour of the sheep. I figured it would give me a unique memento of this adventure.

I've also attended a lunch for women who are new, newish and not so new to Wanaka. The woman who organises these get together's has been doing them for about 10 years and is a lovely warm welcoming person who is quite passionate about ensuring people have the best opportunity to meet others. 

She sends delightfully chirpy emails to let you know when the next meet is happening and is there to greet everyone at the lunches. The start time is about 45 minutes before lunch to allow maximum mingling time before being seated. If you don't mingle, then it's not too long before you're gently encouraged to move and meet someone else or another person is introduced to you.  

When we do get to the sit down and eat part which was at a lovely lakeside restaurant the day I attended, everyone seems to be fairly relaxed and chatty. There are pens and notepads on the table if anyone wants to exchange contact details. I found it quite a unique way of getting to meet new people as we're all in the same situation, so have something in common right from the start. And the lovely thing is, people are welcome to come along as often as they want.. whether it be just once, a few months or a few + years.  Either way, you will always be meeting new people.

In other news, just one week into November a big cold front moved in and we had a light dusting of snow one night, with a heavier dump of snow the next night. This meant my plan to drive across the Crown Range on my way south to Invercargill was out of the question as the roads were only open to vehicles with snow chains.

The alternative route out of Wanaka is via Cromwell and the main highway. There was still plenty of snow to see on the alps and a lot more to see once I was south of Queenstown. Around the Garston area, there was snow on the roof tops and as I drove further south, there was snow across the paddocks right up to the road side for at least an hour of the drive. One pic I wished I'd turned back to take was of a snowy paddock full of deer, it looked just like a northern Christmas scene!

I stayed in a little place on the northern outskirts of Invercargill and had only booked last minute the day before when the weather conditions looked as if they may impact on the drive. I noticed when booking that it said some rooms had a bath tub, so thought I'd ask on the off chance the one remaining room had one. When I arrived, the receptionist greeted me with a smile and said I was able to find you a room with a bath. The place I was staying was an older place but it was so roomy and the bathtub was large and I was able to stretch out. It was one of the best tubs I've come across in recent times.

My trip to Invercargill was for a job interview which I was to have the next morning at 10 am. The interview was expected to take at least an hour, then I had to get back on the road and drive 2.5 hours north to a place called Alexandra for another interview at 2 pm. Thankfully, all went well and I made both interviews on time, reaching Alexandra with 5 minutes to spare!

The drive home gave me lots of think time and I realised that although I was applying for jobs further afield, I really wanted to remain in Wanaka. That's where my heart is and it's the reason I came over here, to spend more time there. Just driving away from the place gets me in the feels and when I'm driving back, it's like coming home. This place with the lake surrounded by alps feels comforting and protected. Perhaps it's the reason it has such a sense of healing here for me.

A couple of days later, I had a night in Queenstown and this time I was able to drive the Crown Range. There was still snow about the tops to see, however, chains were no longer needed to drive the road so I was able to drive and admire the snow at the same time. 

I'd gone down to attend an evening workshop, so booked accommodation for the night. I was a little annoyed with myself for not doing my research properly when I realised the accommodation was about 15 minutes out of Queenstown, as I'd hoped to get something nearby. However, it ended up being a great mistake because the place overlooked the Shotover River and once again, I was surrounded by spectacular scenery.

Of course that meant I had to get up early to enjoy the crisp mountain air and watch the sun filter in over the alps. Being on the Shotover River meant it wasn't too long and the Shotover Jet Boats were delighting (or perhaps terrifying) tourists with their speed and spins on the water which I was able to see from the table and chairs just outside my room.

I decided to take my time coming back and do a little more exploring, so found the spot where the jet boats started out. They go through a narrow looking gorge to start with which I imagine sets the tone for the remainder of the trip!

I started my summer job two days later. It's a tough gig working in such beautiful surroundings. I drive up in towards the mountains each morning which makes the morning commute a relaxing way to start the day. There is a little beach near where I work and I sometimes stop there on my way home just to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Speaking of peace and quiet, I have another favourite place I like to go to relax a while with a book. The Lavender Farm isn't too far away and with summer on it's way, their spring gardens are spectacular and the lavender is starting to bloom.

Well that's it for this post, other than to say my time here is going way too fast!  This post covered the earlier part of November and now it's December, so I still have some catch up to do. Until next time...