My trip home nearly didn't happen. My mazda overheated the night before I was meant to leave. I went to see my mechanic and tried to act breezy. 'I need to get home today to cheer my mom up, she has to have radiation treatment, so if you could just patch up whatever is leaking, that would be fabulous.' I got a phone call a few minutes later to tell me there was no way I would be driving my car that day and I could kiss goodbye to around $600 to fix it. I then did what any self-respecting grown woman would do...sat at my desk and cried like a small child. I realised, not only did I want to surprise my mum, I have been pretty homesick lately and was really excited for a weekend with family and friends.
Flights were too expensive, so I figured the surprise that the whole family was in on, was a bust. But, once I pulled myself together, I googled cheap rental cars and found 'rent-a-dent'.
So off I headed to Christchurch, in an old Subaru sedan that made a funny wizzing sound when I accelerated. But I didn't care, I was going home. Enjoy a few snaps I took on the way, I truly love this country.
XX
Photos by Katie Appleyard on Lumix DMC-G3
