What we did last winter

A few people have asked me what it is like to be in the bus in winter. To be honest, it can be a struggle and feel like waiting out the dark and cold days. But it also has it’s perks, like chopping firewood, and being warm and cozy inside when it’s howling outside. That only becomes a problem, as we experienced, when the screaming southerly turned our fireplace into a forge one night. Scary!

We decided to go to Hanmer Springs for a few weeks. The kids were pretty excited about staying at the grandparents’ place, in the strawbale cottage, and that definitely made things easier (ie regular baths). The bus worked well as a deluxe office during that time: a calm place to retreat to, to start a fire and have a cuppa. Even though it took til 10 or 11 some mornings for the bus to warm up enough to take off hat and gloves, those were my cherished moments in the bus.

Winter also brought us Otis’ birthday, and the Venus/Jupiter conjunction. Hanmer Springs treated us to a few winter snowfalls, lots of hot chocolates, plenty of hours at the skatepark, and the daily ‘sharing’ of Opa’s breakfast.

All in all, winter was great. Towards the end of our time in Hanmer I noticed the itch to get back into the bus properly though, and to continue north, following the call of the winterless north (“Hello, Thomasssss… Come here…, if you really believe that it’s nice anywhere in New Zealand in September…”).

Winter Wellington

South Island, we’re back

Yay, we got snow!

Warm & happy times