Sally and Neville, proprietors of the Cathedral Inn, run a traditional UK style B&B setup so we went down to breakfast for an interesting menu selection that included pancakes, bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon or a salmon and avocado omelette. My choice for today had to be the 'Heart Attack Breakfast' although I sincerely hoped it would not prove an accurate description! Nicola played safe with cereal and toast.
We both enjoyed the meal and set off to our various tasks for the day. I was taking our hire car back to Kiakoura I would then get a lift back with Mark and Julie who were travelling up to spend a few days with us on the Abel Tasman coast. In the meantime Nicola was going to discover the delights of Nelson town on foot.
I set off looking forward to the scenery down the north and east coast which was rapidly becoming one of my more travelled roads in NZ and enjoyed an uneventful trip to Blenheim before stopping to fill up. Just outside the town I saw a Chinese girl hitching a lift south and as I felt guilty driving with an empty car, I stopped to pick her up, spending the rest of the journey quizzing her on her travels.
She lived in Hong Kong and was spending a year in NZ. Her jobs had so far included working in a hotel in Wanaka during the winter, a stint in a vineyard before her current job opening mussels! It turns out that the best skilled operator can open 10,000 mussels in a day which we worked out to be 2.88 seconds per mussel in an 8 hour shift, no breaks. Even the more normal 7,000 only gives 4.11 seconds although it would probably put you off this food for life!
Another interesting discussion we had concerned the fact that what she was doing is relatively unusual for girls of her age and background as there was significant pressure to get married and settle down with a family.
In no time at all we pulled into the petrol station in Kiakoura to drop off the car and bade my travelling companion farewell on the rest of her journey (she was hoping to reach Christchurch by nightfall)
A quick turn round and bite of lunch with Mark & Julie and we were heading north again. There was a small detour to find the location of a couple of farms that were for sale in the area (very scenic) before arriving in Nelson soon after 18:00 to hear about Nicola's day.

As it was Sunday, I decided to attend the Communion Service at the Cathedral. There were lots of people there, some regulars, some tourists and some there for the Christening. I really enjoyed singing carols and the Service. I was surprised to be offered at communion, a choice of wine or fruit juice, being a creature of habit, I opted for the wine. I noticed there were lots of decorated Christmas trees in church, at least 40, but as it was a beautiful day outside I decided to come back another day to investigate the reasoning behind this.
Sally had given me a map of the 'Eel Walk', this was an easy walk round Nelson highlighting various points of interest, named the eel walk because it starts at the bridge known as Aratuna (Pathway of the Eels).
I started the walk from the Cathedral, down the steps and along Trafalgar Street past Symonds Gas Light, (a replica of the original in 1880). Continuing down the street to see 'The Southern Cross' sculpture built in 1992, which relates to the constellation that guided navigators to NZ.
Next on the map was the Cabbage Trees (a species I'd never heard of) these I could not find anywhere, but I did find the jewellery shop recommended by Liz and purchased my Christmas present from Henry!
How the time flies when you're shopping.
Although the Library was closed I could see from the window the 'Knowledge Mural' based on rock carvings by early civilisations including Maori. Next stop the Information Centre. There I found out which roads were still closed, all roads to Golden Bay and they advised no swimming on any beaches due to storm damage. Right outside the centre were two artworks the Vessel and Reef Knot reflecting NZ's Maori heritage.
The walk took me along the Maitai River, past the contemporary sculpture 'High Flyers' and on to a new bridge the artwork depicts the eel, which used to be plentiful in this River and a popular food for Maori for centuries.
Next stop the Huangshi Chinese Gardens, completed in 2007, a testament to Nelson's sister city relationship with Huangshi. This garden leads you into Queens Gardens, which opened in 1891, a classical Victorian ornamental park, with an eel pond and Cupid fountain at the centre. I sat in the sunshine and ate lunch on a park bench by the pond and yes there were eels in the pond.
I was looking forward to the next stop, 'Bishop Suter Memorial Art Gallery', opened in 1899.
The entry fee was waived today due to flood damage to the toilets. I gave the $3 as I had come to look at the art and that was in tact. The Gallery is very small with three galleries, one with local art for sale and the other two with exhibitions. For me the highlight was the Ceramic Exhibition. This had pieces from some well known artists and some in their final year. I thought many of them were great and spent well over an hour looking at them all. I thought of my neice Lucy, who studied Art at Glasgow University and how she would have enjoyed this exhibition.
I was now homeward bound, past the old fire station, post office box, stopping to admire the Earth-Sky sculpture, up the hill back to the B&B just in time for the arrival of Mark, Julie and Henry.
We all set off for 'Fords' in the centre of Nelson and had lovely meal. Returning to the "Inn" we sat and chatted in the lounge whilst consuming a moderate quantity of port and home made Christmas cake until 11.00 pm.
We took the opportunity to chat with Jack & George over Skype and used the video function to have a quick scan of the house (you are never too old to keep checking up on the kids!) All was well and we could almost smell the roast chicken lunch that was in the final stages of preparation. Timing was good too as George needed the recipe for roast potatoes (a mothers job is never done). Reassured we went to bed at midnight.