Still snowless in Queenstown

We only spent one night in Christchurch and then moved up to the station - where we got our feet wet during the river crossing. Supposedly there was some work to do for us there. This job turned out to be cutting down some trees to make a small clearing for hunters. Unfortunately, it only took us a few hours. It was good fun though, my first time of holding and using a chainsaw. Those trees came down well!
The rest of our days there we spent walking (or running) Larry, going for a little run, using the sauna, enjoying the delicious Mrs. Smiley-made food, and so on. We don't complain!

After the station we headed back to Christchurch, only to prepare to go down to Queenstown again. We looked at some more properties and made some more appointments. I think by now we have talked to just about every real estate agent in the city. We also poked our head in on the Queenstown Winter Festival, but shamefully enough there was hardly anyone out there. So sad, a Winter Festival without snow and people!
On our third day there, though, I am happy to say that we found a place which we really liked and which Alex is going to make an offer on. Fingers crossed!
We decided to extend our stay for a few days to get the ball rolling. Unfortunately the snow was still lacking, so there wasn't too much to do except for properties. The job hunt is still fruitless, since the snow isn't there ... Everybody is very positive though, that the jobs will come once the snow is there. Let's hope so!

On Monday we went for a second viewing of the property and we are still pretty convinced that we want this one. Yaaay! Finally a winner. The ball is rolling now and the question is now what we will do for accommodation in the mean time. It looks like it's going to be jostling from hotel to hotel, since rentals are - like I said before - pretty hard to find, since it is quite hard to know when exactly we will be able to get into the apartment, and since renters aren't too happy about tenants who don't know how long they are going to stay. Hotels it is, then!
I will be happy to get settled though, because it is a bit tiring to move from Christchurch - Queenstown - Station - ... all the time. I also want to get a job started so I will be able to buy my snow gear.
Because, believe it or not ... Snow has started to fall in Queenstown since yesterday! A very big front was expected, and is there now, so for the next few days it should be snowing hard. Should be, I say, because you never know in New Zealand.
We are going back on Sunday - going back to stay, this time - so the mountains should be covered in a thick white carpet - I can't wait! But to be honest I'm still holding my heart because I will only believe it when I see it. Touch wood people, your snow dances seem to be working! :-)