Thurs & Fri - Christchurch and Camera Catastrophe

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The next day we are very glad to leave and head for a town called Oxford since there is nothing closer to Christchurch than this. It's a lovely spot near a river and much better than our last place. We visit the town ( a speck on the map) and plan our day in Christchurch.
It's a lovely town but unfortunately, not a good day for us. Soon after we arrive, someone taps Grahame on the shoulder and tells him that his pack is leaking. Our nightmare happens—now the camera seems to be dead after it's contact with liquid. Juice in the pack has leaded out and filled the knapsack soaking our best camera in it's case. Again we are hoping a drying time might help but this has ruined our day and we haven't even been able to take one picture of this very picturesque town. We visit the cathedral but that's about all we do. Such a shame. It feels very weird not being able to snap anything that takes our fancy. Makes me realize how many shots we have taken so far and we aren't even half way through New Zealand yet. We now have to rely on the kids' cameras which are good but are more point and shoot.
Very half heartedly we spend a lot of time at the I-site finding information about skiing as we know the season will soon be over and we should make arrangements. It sounds very complicated and finally we just phone the mountain itself. So back at our cabin we organize and decide to book at a next town, go to the ski hill and ski if conditions are good. Getting Benjamin and Joshua up at 6 am should be interesting. Benjamin has taken the adolescent sleeping in thing very seriously. Checking out by 10am is always a squeak.

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