Life gets ya down and you don’t always have the strength to bounce back. You know that feeling? We’re both in recovery from a bad flu we got a couple of weeks ago. As I began to get well I’d look at photos but there was no spark, no strength for thinking and writing. Blogger’s block.
Photo taken by Nigel at Casafuego, Balclutha
It’s the middle of winter here in New Zealand which doesn’t help. Once we’d both improved a bit I had this idea to stay a night in Balclutha. A motel unit there has a wet-floor shower and a spa bath. Luxury. (Compared to home where we have a tiny bathroom and low water-pressure).
The motel sign above shows the highway heading toward the iconic bridge that crosses the Clutha River. The highway then carries on to Dunedin, with a few towns in between.
Before heading back home we visited a new Mexican cafe/restaurant that both of us really like called Casafuego (literally “fire house” in Spanish). It’s in a building that used to be a fire station. The food’s great and the interior decor is marvellous. The first photo in this post, the pretty skeleton girl, was taken in Casafuego by Nigel.
A side room has some new decorations since our last visit. These two photos inspired this post’s title. Both taken by Liz.
HOLDING ON …
HOLDING ON …
Near our table I spotted this fabulous hose reel clock, perfect choice for an old fire station!
— all photos taken a week ago on Monday 08 July 2019
Text by Liz, first photo by Nigel and the rest by Liz; Exploring Colour (2019)
Exploring Colour 
Sorry to hear that you and Nigel have been sick. We have a rule about taking turns, but life doesn’t always work that way! I hope you are back on your feet now.
I’m not sure I’d want skeleton girl watch me eat, but it looks like a fun place. I do like the Holding On man and burro.
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Hahaha I know what you mean about the skeleton thing! I generally don’t like such decorations but I’ve had to make an exception for this place.. they’ve just done it all so damn well!
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I love that there’s a Mexican restaurant in, what I am guessing, is a smallish town, in New Zealand. Even that is enough to spark the imagination and I see it did, I love the little skeleton girl- reminds me of the Disney’s Mexican inspired animated movie Coco about Dia de los Muertos. I hope some Mexican heat got into the pair of you to fight that flu 😷
Very interesting hotel decor.
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It was a super-surprise the first time we found this Mexican restaurant had replaced what used to be a nice but very ordinary Indian restaurant. The transformation of the interior is really magic! Balclutha is a smallish town but a good food stop these days. It also has the best pizza shop I know, called Rusticus. Glad you like the little skeleton girl (I thought you would).
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Hope you feel better soon. 🌷💗🌸
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Definitely improving now thank goodness.. thank you!
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I wondered what happened to you…..🤔 Hope you’re on the mend and feeling much better. I had that last winter and it took me a couple of months to finally feel great again. Missed you. 🙂🐄🌻
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Thank you for making me feel like I’ve come “home”, you’re very kind. Starting to feel stronger now. I hope y’all are doing well!
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Sorry to hear about your and Nigel’s illness, Liz. Flu is one of the banes of wintertime. I hope both of you will be fully recovered soon! 🌸
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Thank you Tanja! I’m so looking forward to spring.. actually I saw a surprising number of lambs when we were driving through farmland yesterday. Seems so early but in truth we’re having a mild winter temperature-wise. They looked like they were doing fine.
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I take any suggestion of spring in the middle of winter, Liz. 😊
Hang in there!
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Fantastic original decor. Hope you had a comfy and relaxing stay and are feeling much better.
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The decor IS fantastic and we’re amazed at what they’ve achieved! The stay in Balclutha was very nice. I found the spa bath surprisingly therapeutic. Well worth having an overnighter away.
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I hope you are feeling much better now! ❤
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On the right track and definitely improving. Thanks Pepix!
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I love the ‘Holding On’ decor – shows they have a good sense of humour! Hope that the two of you are feeling much better!
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Just had a short break at Bluff for a couple of nights. It rained, hailed and blew. The apartment we’d rented had a fire so we hunkered down and had a good ‘ol rest.
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A real fire always makes you feels better! 🙂
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Welcome back. Being creative helps recovery.
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You’re right.. it does! Thank you 🙂
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Hopefully you will feel better soon! Nice restaurant!
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Beginning to feel stronger now, thank you. Very nice restaurant and its a tonic just to visit (despite skeletons scattered around inside). Funny!
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I trust your recoveries are now complete
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Much improved Derrick, thank you!
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So glad to hear you are feeling better…the photos are a hoot.
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Thanks Sharon, getting there. You know, I think you’d really enjoy visiting Casafuego! I was really happy with Nigel’s photo of the little skeleton girl – it wasn’t an easy shot due to reflections.
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It is fun travelling along on your adventures!
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Hope you feel better soon, the flu takes a bit to get back to full strength
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Thank you Alice. It’s given me a bit of a thrashing all right but definitely on the mend now.
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I hear you. I just got over a cold/flu and it is our summer with the hot humid tornado warning type of weather. Hard to stay motivated for writing and photography. Glad you are feeling better. 🤧🙂
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Oh poor you too Louella! I’ve noticed you’ve done a lovely-looking daisy post recently – I hope to take a look at that tomorrow. Best wishes!
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