18,587 KM from home – Still meeting family

Before I left the UK my mum told me that her cousin Bob had moved out to New Zealand years ago and she had lost touch with him but would try and find out where he was in order for me to get in touch. She ended up getting in touch with him and found out that he was in the Richmond, about 15km outside of Nelson city centre. To be honest I had completely forgot this information in the 2 months I have been travelling and although I knew that he was about somewhere I though it was actually on the North Island so didn’t even think of remembering to check the details since I am still in the south.

In a rare chance conversation with my mum I mentioned that I was in Nelson at the min and she reminded me about cousin (or uncle, or second cousin to me, who knows!) Bob and said I should pop in and see him. Armed with the information of “He has a shop called English Bob’s near Nelson” I hired a bike from the hostel and set off on a 16km bike ride in order to try and find it in the nearby town of Richmond. As it happens the rain managed to hold its self at bay for the day and I ended up having a quite pleasant ride out to Richmond via the coastal bike path.

Finding a shop called “English Bobs” in a small town during the age of the internet is a pretty easy task and so I managed to find the place pretty easily even though they had only just moved locations the week before!

I wandered in and had a look around the shop at all the imported food and goods that they had in the shop as Bob was busy with customer when I got there. It is amazing how much food from home you miss when suddenly surrounded by all the options of things that you can have again! As soon as the customer had gone I wandered up to the counter and said “Bob Wren by any chance?”. There was a look of confusion on his face as he tried to work out who I was and how I seemed to know him. As soon as I said “I have a message for you from my mum…” it instantly clicked and he knew who I was. The threat from my mum of “I will always find you and manage to visit” has been carried out via proxy this time but I think she is still going to count it as a win.

It was nice to chill out in the shop for an hour or so and then grab a pint with Bob chat away. He used to live in Wanaka before moving to Nelson which is where I was for 2 weeks so it is always great to get a bit more information from someone who has been here and lived the life for a while to figure out what works, what does and the little tips and tricks of the trade.

It was a shame I didn’t have longer to spend with Bob and his life Lesley as they are both great and made me really welcome. I have said that I will be back though in the Summer to see Nelson and the Able Tasman park in its full glory. Cant wait!