Hi to all our PMC members,

We are off on tour of New Zealand and the International Workshop over the next few weeks.
We left Sydney beginning with our lunch in the Qantas Business Lounge to enjoy an end to all our efforts of packing bags, organising passports and tickets, ordering $NZ for spending and including our warm thermals for the colder weather and the start to our journey. Leaving Sydney it was only 3 short hours “across the ditch” as our ANZAC neighbours tend to say, to our country of destination, New Zealand.

Shortly we were to see that all the postcard pictures of this place ARE TRUE!!!
However when we landed, thermals were needed in Christchurch to weather off rain and temps at 3 – 9 degrees. But we were in luck as the temp rose to 5 degrees the next day, but showers still falling. But not to worry our travel group was rugged up for the weather as we headed for the tram trip around town.

The City of Christchurch is still a city affected by massive rebuilding efforts due to the damage caused by the earthquake over five years ago. Although the blooms showed the spring was coming, the buildings showed another story of a city struggling to survive.

Rebuilding of the Christchurch Cathedral is still a very slow process with scaffolding all around most of the city buildings, Hotels and shopping centres. Some shopping Malls have taken to re-using old shipping containers to keep their businesses going.

As is the way with PMC tours after the sightseeing tram tour then comes the shopping experiences.
Some needed to stock up on warm woolly items. For those who needed to know what the ladies
were doing there was also a few items to buy – GSA = Gone Shopping Again.

The next day we made our way to the train that was to take us over Arthur’s Pass that ascends
737m over Arthur’s Pass and where the weather can drop to a fresh 3 degrees with wind
chill factors feels like -1.

But not to worry as we had rugged up with more thermal layers.
More travels to come on our PMC NZ Tour.

Regards
Wendy