Part Two/Getting the Golf Back Home

My driving is slightly off. I haven’t had much practice lately. With three Citroens and one VW, I should have honed my skills like a racing pro. But
I haven’t. I’ve really gotten used to having a driver, namely my husband, who’s far more capable and logical since almost every drive out of here turns into an all-day excursion, considering where we live and where the city is. Phew. That sentence deserves a faster ending. I seem to be the queen of run on sentences.
Anyhow, we went into Christchurch today, but on the way, I needed to do some banking at a couple of banks, then had to return and exchange something I just got shipped that arrived this morning that was pleasantly too large for me. And then I insisted that we take some time for ourselves and have a leisurely lunch that someone else cooks. So, we went back to the Fisherman’s Wharf at the wharf and had a small feast starting with really good clam chowder and then small portions of excellent fish (beer battered blue cod) and chips with a side salad. But just getting our errands done and having some time to ourselves to eavesdrop on nearby conversations, that in that tiny restaurant were easy to drop in on, since the tables are so close together, was unusual. It seemed like we were part of the other people’s conversations. It was more like a shared table. But we had fun. And we even relaxed, knowing that we got a lot accomplished and only had the last part of the big drive ahead of us. But John needed a haircut and I’d decided to go ahead in Citroen number 3 and meet him at his sister’s, so again, I was let loose behind the wheel on the motorway. But aside from John noticing that I get too close or go over the road markings on the left perimeter of the lane, where we drive (in the left lane, steering from the right side of the car…go figure), he said my driving seemed okay. The truth is that ever since he told me to watch it by checking in the side mirror to see how close or far the car is from that line), I’ve gone over it for some unknown reason. When I drove like I used to and monitored the middle line instead, which I can see much more clearly, I never had this new problem. But my spouse insists that his way is preferable, so I go over the line instead of keeping inside it. Somehow this is what he wants me to do, despite the negligible results.
Men are different in so many ways from women. I’ll leave it at that. But I did get my way even though he complained that he wasn’t hungry. When my soup came to the table, a half portion with a piece of garlic toast on the side and it looked and smelled delicious and was, his appetite must have miraculously come back from the doldrums. From there it was a hop, skip and a jump. He was drinking some bubbly, commenting positively on every morsel he put in his mouth and smiling. That alone was worth all the hassle of driving and feeling a bit stretched. But he behaved and didn’t sulk too much when I was shopping as he waited outside the store at the mall. So well done John. After thirty something years together we’re finally in step occasionally. Ta da.
But don’t bother looking for photos that match this story. I took a time out today and took it easy instead of wanting to capture every vaguely interesting view from many angles. So instead, you’ll find images of some stunning flowers from my garden or just general views from my garden. There are so many gorgeous sites around the place, I’m spoiled for choice, but in this season, things are definitely taking a turn for the worse. The nights are getting colder, the winds are getting windier and the day time hours are getting shorter as are the rays of the sun. But I see such beauty here in the simplest scene. See what you think….