I was not impressed by the Met Service’s idea of a welcome home.
Goodbye Melbourne. At this moment, the plane had started its take-off run and I was being pushed back in my seat.
We left Melbourne a little behind schedule at 1 am. We enjoyed every moment of our stay over there except for the previously mentioned incident, and now it was time to say goodbye. We were travelling economy, so despite an empty seat beside me, sleep was elusive. We arrived in Wellington after a three-hour flight at about 6:15 am (you are smart enough to work it out).
Welcome home weather … Petone Wharf looking mean and green
There was a light Northerly breeze and a fine day was forecast. What lies! The wind soon went round to the South, the temperature plummeted and suddenly, people were talking massive waves on the South Coast. I was cold, tired, grumpy, and when a friend suggested I go to the South Coast, since waves were my thing, I was resistant. Of course I should have gone, but I had another excuse. My new “new camera” had just arrived. You may recall that I got all excited with a mirrorless camera back in December. Sadly it proved to have persistent problems with imbedded dust in its sensor, and despite three replacements, each with the same problem, it ended up going back to the vendor for a full refund. I now have an Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mk II (Ollie, to its friends). I rejoice to say that a photograph with a lot of clear sky now has no detectable blemishes except seagulls. Anyway, I had to take Ollie for a test drive.
View to the city from the car park at the Western end of Petone
Did I mention the Southerly? I stayed in the car as much as possible and shot through the briefly opened window.
The Terns hunched down getting what little shelter they could from the dips in the road surface
At the Western end of Petone Beach I found a bunch of white-fronted terns shivering in the cruel buffeting wind.
This is not a welcoming shore. Petone Beach in a blustery Southerly
Looking back along the beach, I decided I should go home to a warm room and spend some time reading the manual and learning how to use the camera. There is so much to learn.
Though I loved family time on the other side, I am glad to be home.
Glad you are back safely and keen to follow Ollie!