Sometime towards the middle of 2015 we received a wedding invitation from my brother in New Zealand. My husband, Ray, and I looked at the invitation and promptly put it to one side, as we thought it was an idle (but nice) gesture on my brother's part. We could never afford the airfare to New Zealand.
About two months later my brother, Rob, phoned me to ask if we had received the invitation, and if we would like to attend his wedding. I replied that we would love to attend, but it was impossible to do so as we just didn't have the money. Rob then offered to pay our expenses - I promptly burst into tears!
Within weeks I received our e-tickets - we were really going to New Zealand. We started making arrangements for transport to the airport, someone to feed our dog and to keep an eye on our house. Weather patterns were scrutinised to see what clothes to pack, and of course, passports had to be obtained. Excitement started to set in, although it still had a dreamlike quality to it.
Our day of departure dawned - 14 October. Nicky, our eldest daughter took the afternoon off work to transport us to the airport. Armed with luggage, cameras, all our relevant documentation, and a king-size blanket (wedding gift) we trundled into the airport. I was left with the baggage while Ray wandered off in search of the pre-arranged wheelchair for me. As many will know, one has to be at the airport absolute hours in advance of any international flight. Ours was a night flight, departing at 7:10pm.
Whoever said airline meals are bad are either spoiled, or travelling with the wrong airline. Ray and I agreed that our Qantas meals were delicious. I was plied with flavoursome Australian wines to help me get over my fear of flying - I didn't complain once.
The night was long and tedious. I can't sleep unless laying prone. Fortunately, we occupied the two back seats in the plane so my fidgeting didn't disturb other passengers, and I was right near the loo. Early afternoon, cruising at about 30.000 ft, Australia was sighted. Most passengers craned to get a glimpse of land after seeing so much ocean since dawn. As Ray looked out of the porthole, he spotted something small and shining on the outside of the double glazed window - ice crystals. We were informed that it was -50C outside. At around 4pm we landed in Sydney to await our connecting flight to Auckland, New Zealand.
We touched down at Auckland airport around midnight on Thursday. After the usual hassle of customs, I was wheeled out to the reception area. Even from my height, or lack thereof, I could spot my brother towering over most of the waiting crowd - he stands 6ft 4in. I was immediately struck by his resemblance to the photos I have of our long deceased grandfather. A tearful reunion, on my part, followed. Cheryl (the bride-to-be) stood patiently by, smiling in apparent joy at our loving embraces.
After an almost hour-long drive we arrived at Rob and Cheryl's spacious home in a semi-rural area. We chatted in the lounge over steaming mugs of coffee for a while, before falling into bed - at last.
im soooooo glad thats working out for yall.and you and your brother are getting to see each other,after for who knows for how long of not seeing each other..cherish the time and moments they yall have with each other..great pic's..i was afraid you were gonna say something didn't work out.like forgot the pass port,or they refused for some reason..but yet im glad it's working out..
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Stuff often does not go like we figure...So what's your plan B?
be prepared,be worried,be careful..and watch your 6..
Thanks Wolfie, my brother emigrated to NZ about 23 years ago, I got to see him in 2012 for the first time. Those few days were marred by the death of my youngest daughter, so we never had quality time together.
Our trip to NZ worked out perfectly, thank goodness. Plenty of cool 'adventures', lots of sight-seeing and heaps of pics. I shall be posting the next episode in the coming week (with more pics)........ watch out for it.
For the next few days I had no communication with home. I was too shy to ask Cheryl to use her PC. I hate imposing on folks; besides we were too busy being tour-guided around the countryside by Rob and Cheryl. They had taken the Friday off work as they knew that after the late night/early morning, they would be too tired, besides, they had plans for us.
That Friday we all just took things easy, sitting around the house chatting, doing some serious catching-up. The last time we had seen each other was in June 2012 when Rob and Cheryl had been on a trip to South Africa, so there was a lot of news to swap. The sky was grey and drizzle was intermittent; life indoors that day was pleasant
Okay, I'm jumping the gun a bit here, but by Monday (bear in mind, New Zealand is a day ahead of South Africa) I was in contact with our daughter, Nicky, and started e-mailing her, thanks to Cheryl's generous offer for me to use her PC. I shall now start including mail I sent her.
Hi Nicks,
As you can see, I can access my own email address now. It is Monday night - today was the first day dad and I spent alone at home, we are still recuperating from jet-lag. Dad dragged himself out of bed at 12:30 pm. I was a bit better, was up at 9 having slept about ten hours.
We are missing the sun, it is cloudy here most of the time. Am I glad I brought a long sleeve vest with...... the wind is downright chilly.
Saturday, Rob & Cheryl took us to a little town about 20km away, by the name of Pukekohe. Dad & I window-shopped while R & C were having a dance lesson. (A special dance to open the dancing at their wedding.) What a pleasure to not be jostled off the pavement. One shop in particular caught out eye. They sell only Christmas decorations. When we all met up again, we went for lunch at McDonald's. Drove back, doing more sight-seeing on the way. Went through a village called Aka Aka, then on to take pics of the Waikato River.
Drove through to Auckland to fetch the wedding rings. There are still many old houses dating back to the early 1900s in one section of the city, all been kept in good condition - it was almost like travelling back in time. * Side note: I got an uncanny feeling of Deja Vu with a couple of houses on the same street. As if I knew the layout and contents of the houses - weird, I know. I was really miffed that I forgot to take pics of them - too busy looking.
Afterwards, Rob drove us around the Marina - some huge cruise ships in the harbour. Climbed out of the car to look at a monument and beautifully laid out gardens, then went to eat NZ ice-cream at an ice-cream parlour.. ...Yum!!
On Sunday we took quite a long drive to meet George, Rob's son from his first marriage. We had not seen him since he left South Africa, when he was still in Primary School. We were in for a bit of a shock - if we thought Rob was tall, well, George is even taller. He stands 6ft 7in - a hefty block of a man! Quite soft spoken; a gentle giant.
While we waited in the parking lot, I spied an old, small cemetery nearby. I have a passion for old cemeteries! I just Had to have a look at the inscriptions on the gravestones. They were all military graves from some battle with the Maoris' - Maori and European graves, much the worse for wear.
I wrote home:-
On Sunday, Rob drove us to a very old hotel/pub in a place called Rangiriri, where we met George for lunch. The men had huge burgers - like the ones at Heia Safari Ranch. Cheryl had seafood chowder, while I had smoked salmon and salad. I shocked everyone by finishing my food, LOL.
Oh yes, I must tell you of a hilarious incident. On Friday morning, dad and I were in our bedroom. The door was open and Misty, the short-haired cat wandered in. Dad let out a big fart - Misty bounced straight up, then turned in mid air and took off down the passage at top speed. Dad and I cracked up ....it was just so funny!
Rob has some really tall strelitzia growing behind his garage; dad took pics of me standing by them, just as a comparison in size.
I shall write again when I have more news - I am having a hard time at the moment - a kitty (Lizzy) trying to type for me, LOL.
On Tuesday morning we (dad & I) went on a jaunt into town in the little car Rob has left for us to use - a Ford Fiesta, automatic. We wanted to thank the lady that did the bookings for us, but unfortunately, she was off sick. We took a little stroll around Waiuku (Rob lives on the outskirts of town - not in Auckland, as I had thought. Waiuku is about as far as Randfontein to Jo'burg - 50km +-) then went home, as dad had food on the stove - the brinjals and peppers dish. BTW, Rob was as pleased as punch to eat that again, and Cheryl enjoyed it too - both went back for seconds.
Ford seems to be the favourite make of vehicle here. Rob has not one, but two utility vehicles; his latest is a Ford Hi-rider (we would call it a double cab) only three weeks old. The older one is a Ford Ranger - Cheryl also rides a Ford, don't know exactly which model.
A couple of Rob's hens escape from their enclosure, on a regular basis. If I sit outside on the veranda, one or two will come up to me to see if I have anything to eat. Yesterday one actually went to peck at my nails ......hmm, maybe they looked tasty? Later, dad went to shoo a large white hen back to the chicken run, and it 'went for him', wings flapping and all ...cheeky sod!
It is dad's job to feed the Alpacas now - Rob calls them his girls. (Choco & Eve are their names) They make the strangest, gentle noises.
Yesterday, Thursday Oct. 22, we (dad & I) paid another visit to Waiuku. We got to meet the young lady that made the bookings for us - chatted with her for a while. After that we explored the town a bit more. I bought myself a black tracksuit pants with the NZ emblem on it. Hah! Now I have my own 'personal' souvenir - dad bought himself an NZ cap a few days ago. I bought Shen a pink dream catcher, (LOL), to go with her room.
We went on the local supermarket to buy a couple of items to replenish Cheryl's stocks - namely coffee, sugar (which they don't use) and milk. We spent almost an hour in the supermarket ("New World") just looking at all the wonderful goodies that we don't see back home e.g. Kg packets of frozen berries, and fresh muscles (kept alive by running water). It was an educational trip for both dad and I.
The sun is shining today, WOW! Yesterday was overcast the whole day, and the wind was blowing a gale. Dad nearly got blown off his feet when he exited the car in town. I believe the wind was gusting up to 53km/ph at times.
We are staying home today. Tomorrow is the beginning of a long weekend. Monday is Labour Day in NZ. Rob has promised to take us sightseeing again, so will surely have new places for you to Google.
Folks, I am going to divide my next letter into two, else there will be too many pics on one post:-
Okay, I don't remember where I left off..... Saturday, Rob took us sight-seeing again. I can't remember the *name of the beach offhand, but it was a black beach, literally. The beach is very fine black sand, ground down from volcanic rock. The sun came out for a bit, just to show us how the sand sparkles like miniature diamonds in the sunlight. We took pics, of course.
On Sunday, we left home just after 8 am. Rob drove us to Matamata (a 2 hour drive) and put us on a bus to Hobbiton - that is the location where they filmed "The Hobbits" and parts of "Lord of the Rings". It has now become a major tourist attraction. We spent three hours walking around on a guided tour. 62 pics and sore feet and backs later, but we survived, saying it was definitely worth the pain.
The weather was on our side that day, so when Rob collected us at the bus stop, we drove another hour through some fern forests to Rotorua. The lake there is huge. They have a paddle steamer on it like the old gambling boats on the Mississippi. They also have an island-hopping helicopter and light aircraft for tourist travel. We went on to look at natural hot springs in a public park. The water bubbles, steaming and crystal clear, out of the ground. These dozens of springs are all fenced off - if anyone is unlucky enough to fall into one, it would be instant death - they say the water is 212 degrees - don't know if that is Centigrade or Fahrenheit - either way, your goose would be cooked!!
After that, Rob took us up a cable-way to the top of a dormant volcano - Mount Ngongotaha - to an outdoor restaurant, for a supper of fish and chips. What a view we had of the lake and the islands.
By the time we got home, it was past 10 pm - dad and I were well and truly pooped!
* Kariotahi is the name of the black sands beach.
Footnote:- (Pun intended) The black sand is REALLY difficult to remove from ones feet. It sticks like glue - you have to scrub...... hard!
Monday, being a public holiday, Rob's daughters came around for a BBQ. Dad took a pic of me between them - I look like a midget compared to them. Lucinda, the youngest girl (it's her 24th birthday today) is taller than her father.
Tuesday, we went into Waiuku to look around again while Rob and Cheryl were at work. Went to the Information Center to get pamphlets and maps of the area. Wednesday, we visited the museum here in Waiuku. It made us feel old when we discovered that a few of the items on display were so similar to things we had at home, ha ha.
Today we drove the 20 odd km to Pukekohe and had lunch there. While we were window shopping, it started to rain softly. It hasn't rained since last week - LOL, the Kiwi's seemed to think they were having a drought! Rob has even been putting the sprinklers on to water his garden.
We have no plans for tomorrow. I have no idea if anything has been planned for Saturday, but I do know that I am to attend the "Hen Party" for Cheryl on Sunday.
I woke up just before 6 this morning. It was raining softly, but the birds outside were chirping like crazy, really making a racket. It's the first time I have woken up to a chorus like that. There are dozens of birds that nest in the trees that surround the property. Rain stopped at about 9, and we decided to crawl out of bed and make coffee. I usually have my coffee and have a smoke out in the 'cabana' - we would call it a lapa, a few meters away from the house. Yes, I am still smoking, but you will be pleased to hear that I have cut it down to six per day. Dad is still moaning at me, but I feel proud of myself, after smoking thirty a day for so many years.
This afternoon, we took a little drive. Instead of turning left at the end of the lane (entrance drive to the property), we turned right. The road took us to farmland set in a more hilly setting. I took pics of wild flowers growing on the roadside - lots of lily type flowers, very pretty. We passed a deep crevice between the hills, thick with trees. I would have liked to stop to take a photo, but the road was narrow and winding with no place to pull the car off the road - it was gone in a flash. I want dad to take me back next week, and drive Slowly so I can take a pic. *
Dad and Rob have been chasing chickens again. Rob is threatening to shoot a couple of the hens. There are three that are regular escape artists. They manage to get out of the enclosure and scratch up his garden. He is really p---ed off with them - he says they have caused hundreds of dollars damage in the past two months. We have been trying to see how they get out, but to no avail.
* I later discovered that we drove North, along a peninsular - no wonder it was so wind-swept. Many of the trees were deformed by the constant blowing of the prevailing wind. We did eventually take that road again, but I never found that special spot I wanted a pic of, much to my disappointment.
We have just come back from the North Shore, in other words, the part of Auckland north of the bridge. Cheryl's mom and youngest daughter put together a "Hen Party" for her. There were ten ladies present. We had a great time chatting, eating, drinking wine and playing (adult) games. I even won a prize for "Pin the junk on the hunk". Of course I got ragged about that. I also won a bar of chocolate in "Pass the parcel". I think some pics may be up on FB.
Yesterday, Cheryl took the day off. She went to fetch her wedding dress in the morning - really lovely in dove grey satin and a bit of lace. In the afternoon she had her nails done - pretty cherry pink with silver art work.
Today dad is cooking steak & kidney for us, with mash and peas. BTW, the evening meal here is referred to as Tea ....LOL, a bit confusing for us at first. Even though my Gran was 'English', it was always Dinner or Supper.
Tomorrow evening we are all going to view the new puppy (Rottweiler) which they will be collecting a week after the wedding. I gather that we will be getting home in time to roll into bed.
Not much excitement today. I Will close now. Love to all, from all of us.
Footnote for my viewers:- No pics from today's news, just adding a pic of Cheryl's nails taken at the wedding, for the ladies who may be interested. (sorry, you will have to zoom in)
I rolled out of bed at about 7:15 this morning to the sound of rain crashing down on the tiled roof. It is the first day that it has rained heavily like this and the wind is blowing an absolute gale. It is 10:30 now and the sun has just peeped through the heavy grey clouds - looks like there is more rain on the way. We are not going Anywhere today! The chickens have only just emerged from the hen-house, and Misty has just crawled out of her bed to see what I am doing - Lizzy, the long haired cat has just joined us in the PC room, but has parked herself just inside the door.
When we arrived, Misty was 'in season' and 'went out on the tiles' for a night or two. I spotted a gorgeous black and white cat (Sylvester style) in the vicinity, who came 'courting' - will there be kittens soon? Hmm.....
I hope the weather clears up before this evening - riding in the dark, and rain, along these narrow, winding roads does not appeal to me in the least.
I don't know if I shall have a chance to write to you again before the wedding. Cheryl is taking tomorrow off to get stuff done. Friday, both are taking off work to sort out the reception venue and have asked dad and I to help. There will be a house full of Cheryl's family over the weekend as well, so who knows...... There is also talk of us all (Robert's kids as well) going away for a few days. So, if you don't hear from me in a while, you will know I can't get to the PC.
Love to all, with the usual extra hug and X for Shen, XXXXX
Last evening we went to view the puppies and Rob and Cheryl chose a little female. Wow! Are they beautiful, or what? There were about 6 little girls to choose from, only 2 boys. The folks breeding the Rottweilers have been doing it for the past 30 years. We met Coby, the grandfather of the pups - he is a champion. Coby is HUGE! He is a gentle giant, very patient and gentle with the pups. We took pics, naturally. The home where the animals are was a lot closer than expected, so we arrived back home much earlier than anticipated. The wind had dropped a bit, but was still pretty chilly - I was clever enough to don my vest, plus a jacket.
After yesterdays rain, the tanks are full again. Did I tell you that folks on the plots, here, don't use municipal water? Only rain water. The water runs off the roof, through filters into underground storage tanks. No need for fabric softener in the wash. I am taking advantage of the sunshine this morning to do a bit of laundry.
Cheryl left at 8 this morning. She went to collect her bridesmaid, then take a 2-3 hour (one way) trip to fetch the wedding cake. She wanted a traditional cake, not one of the more modern variety. This evening she is going to have her hair tinted/coloured.
That is all I have for now, will write again when I have a chance. Heaps of love to all, and the usual extra for Shen (miss that child!), XXXXX
We had a dog called Titan, a black lab rott mix. At nearly 2 years old he weighed 150 pounds (all muscle) and was still growing! The vet said he wouldn't get much taller, but broader, which was good because on hind legs my face was in his chest.
Lol, Wolfie, here in S. Africa your fur-kids would be called 'samples'. The pups in the pics were about 7 weeks old.
Val, I also had a 'pup' that used to hang his paws over my shoulders when standing on his hind legs. I named him Phantom, because he was pitch-black. His mother was given to us, claiming that she was a white Boerboel. My knowledge of that breed was extremely limited at that time, so we accepted her as that. His father was a traveling man, lol, never even caught a glimpse of him. Eleven pups were born, all black! When I took them to the vet for vaccinations etc, the vet said, "Oh! Labradors!" I didn't bother to correct him. All were sold except for Phantom, the runt of the litter. His mother turned on him and would bite him, so I hand-reared him. Turns out, his father may have been part Labrador, part Shetland Pony, lol.
Aaw shucks! I have just realized that the captions to my pics do not appear. I shall have to remember to tell you what is going on in a footnote in future.
This morning, Rob took dad to the hairdresser. Rob had his hair cut; dad had his beard and hair trimmed. Apparently, when the lady saw dad, she insisted on taking pics of him, then did his trim for free. Ha ha, it pays to look like Father Christmas, eh?
Around mid-day, we went to fetch the flowers for the chapel and the table decorations, then on to the venue. The tiny chapel is set in a miniature village, surrounded by forest - it is absolutely stunning. Of course we took plenty of pics. Tomorrow dad will be too busy snapping away at the bride and groom - Rob has lent dad his camera for that. We tied the yellow satin 'sashes' around the 50 chairs, and set up the electric candles and placed the yellow roses on the tables. It all looks so pretty. The music has been set up in the chapel, all ready for George to press play tomorrow..
On the way home, we stopped in a village for a bite to eat. Dad and I had prawn twisters with sweet chilli sauce - 6 thin cones of batter with prawns inside. I had a beer to go with it, dad had ginger ale.
When we got home, Rob and Cheryl gave me a gift-wrapped box to open. Inside was a most exquisite necklace. It looks almost like a black arum lily on a thick silver chain. They told dad that his present was still to come. Just something to remember them by, they said.
Before I forget, again, ..... the day that dad drove into Pukekohe, he got a traffic fine. A parking ticket!! We didn't notice the tiny sign on that side of the road for 30 min. parking - we parked for almost 2 hours, LOL. A whole $12, which translates into R120 - ah well, we live and learn.
We were shocked to learn today, that Agapanthus and Arum Lily are considered weeds here in NZ.
That's all for now, have a great weekend. Lovies to all. XXXXX
Footnote: All (except one) the pics posted are taken of, or within the 'village' wedding venue. The very last pic is of the beautiful present I received.
The morning of the wedding had dawned, crisp and clear - beautiful!. Rob had been packed off to his Best Man's home the previous evening after collecting the rented suits for them both. Cheryl and I paid a visit to the hairdresser/beauty salon, where we had our hair done and Cheryl had her wedding makeup applied.
Just after noon, Deanna, the bridesmaid arrived, looking very striking in a long black dress. After Cheryl had dressed, dad took photos of them in the garden. Shortly after 1 pm, Rob arrived with the bouquets and corsages, but naturally, was not allowed into the house, nor catch a glimpse of Cheryl, LOL. Rex, the best man arrived minutes later in his red V8, trimmed with the bridal ribbons; printed with the words "Cheryl & Rob". Dad and I left with Rob.....making sure he didn't back out at the last minute, ha ha.
The wedding venue was set in the Bombay Hills - and idyllic setting for an event such as this. The day warmed up nicely - too warm for some of the locals - to a whole 20 degrees Centigrade. The lady who was to perform the ceremony (co-owner of the venue) actually opened all the windows and back door to the non-denominational chapel, stating that it was the first time ever for her to air the chapel in this manner, during a ceremony.
Cheryl arrived on the dot of 2:30, looking absolutely gorgeous in her dove grey satin dress; her hair all a-sparkle with tiny diamante ornaments which matched the trim on her dress. Rob, nervously prancing from one foot to the other at the front of the chapel, looked extremely dapper in his black three-piece suit.
The ceremony was beautiful, including a 'reading' by George. Rob had trouble getting Cheryl's ring on, due to the fact that she was shaking, and her fingers had swelled from the heat. They concluded the ceremony with a ritual which I have never witnessed before - "The Lighting of the Candles". Three candles were set up on a candelabra; two smaller ones with a big one in the middle. First, they individually lit the two outer ones with tapers, then with new tapers, lit from their 'own' candles, simultaneously lit the taller candle. This was to symbolize the joining of their separate lives. Neat and unusual, I thought. Throughout the service, dad and a score of others had been snapping away. Rob and Cheryl will have hundreds of pics to choose from to remember their special day.
We all trooped over to the reception area and enjoyed champagne and snacks while waiting for the bridal couple as they were being photographed. When they joined us, a buffet meal was announced. What a spread! Baby potatoes, green beans and carrots, battered fish and a cooked ham and beef. Along with this were three kinds of salad and a variety of sauces to choose from, all tastefully presented. Dessert was pavlova, fruit salad and ice cream, and Italian kisses. Between courses, the speeches were made. Rob had the guests in stitches with some of his remarks, as did Rex. I had an SA couple from East London/King William's Town to my left - Mike & Hazel. Rob had met Mike in hospital when they were both going for cancer treatment. We had a good old chat.
When the meal was finished, dancing was announced. Rob and Cheryl put on a spectacular, stately display {to the song, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, by Bryan Adams} before we were all asked to join in. They had a four-piece band playing music from the 60s - 80s, loudly. Rob was in his element! I had a few dances too. Somebody captured the dance I had with Rob.
The venue closed at 8:30. Cheryl's mom, brother and sister-in law brought us home and stayed for the night. Rob and Cheryl went to an hotel in Bombay Hills for the night, arriving home just after midday on Sunday.
That's all folks .......for now. Love to all, from all of us.
On the day after the wedding we spent time 'at home' with Cheryl's mom, brother Ian and his wife. They got up to mischief, making 'apple pie' of Rob and Cheryl's bed and switching their underwear drawers around. Dad helped them write "Just Married" on the rear windows of their vehicles with car polish. LOL. When Rob and Cheryl arrived home we all had lunch and chatted till the others left for home.
On Monday, we went with Rob and Cheryl to return the rented suits. We walked through a mall that was decorated for Christmas - so pretty! After that, Rob took us touring again. We stopped off at a waterfall in the catchment area...."Hunua Falls". Lots of pics were taken again. Cheryl caught a candid shot of Rob holding my hand, LOL. We returned home in time for dad and I to make us all hot dogs, Ferguson style.
On Tuesday, I did some washing. While it was drying, we went into the village to confirm our tickets home. While we were in Waiuku, dad went around to the hairdresser to show the pics on his phone of him in Santa gear, as he had promised. The ladies were thrilled to see him, and the pics. When we got back into the car, it wouldn't start.....flat battery! Automatic ...can't push to start! Crap!! What now? Dad had the bonnet up, checking battery connections, when a Maori guy and white girl pulled up and asked if we needed help. They had jumper leads with them and soon had our car started......Phew!!! We got home safely.
On Wednesday, we stayed quietly at home watching TV. I made the family tuna pasta and salad for supper. Rob drove the offending car to work to give it a good long run to charge the battery.
On Thursday (today), I have done a bit of laundry again in preparation for the weekend. We are leaving at 6 am tomorrow morning to spend the weekend in Russell. Rob seems rather excited about the up-coming trip, as his children are to meet us there. I Googled the town/city. It is an historic place to the far north. I guess I will have a lot to tell you on Monday.
Our trip up to the Bay of Islands was very enjoyable. We bypassed Auckland on the main highway, then went through many small towns with names like Warkworth, Wellsford, Waipu and Ruakaka (plus more with strange names in between), till we got to Opua. There the car was put on a ferry and we crossed to Russell. George had joined us at the small town of Warkworth where we had coffee and took pics of the jetty on the river. There was a duck that was very inquisitive and followed us, probably hoping for food, but we had nothing to feed it. Dad rode with George for the rest of the way. On the way we passed thick forests of many different trees, sometimes pines, sometimes tree ferns and palms interspersed with other indigenous trees. A few mountain passes looked awfully like ones we go through on the way to Port Elizabeth, you know, the last couple before the coast. One could also know when we were pretty close to salt water, just by the mangroves, which grow in abundance.
We arrived at our weekend 'bach' (that is the name the folks here give to a holiday home) and off-loaded the vehicles before walking down to the harbour. The bach is at the top of a rather steep driveway. There is space for double parking on that level, then you take the stairs up to the living area with kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom - we got the downstairs bedroom. Upstairs are two more bedrooms and a bathroom. Our bedroom had no windows that opened, just a sliding glass door which led out onto a balcony that ran past the dining and sitting rooms. The balcony/deck, being high, overlooks many of the buildings and has a lovely view of the harbour, where a HUGE cruise ship was docked. The upstairs bedrooms each had their own small, private balconies. Around the back of the house was another level up, with a nice braai area - open fire place, Weber and a large gas barbie (which didn't work so well). On the steep slope above the braai area was yet another part of the bach - a wooden cabin containing two beds. In total, there were enough beds for twelve people. We were astounded to find that it looked like the owners had recently vacated the home, taking ONLY their clothes. Half used jars of olives, along with eggs and tomato sauce etc were in the fridge. Bottles of wine, spirits and Coke were out in the open - dad and I looked at one another, thinking, this would never happen back in SA !!!
Down at the waterfront, we ambled along, looking at (and into) all the quaint shops and restaurants. I guess a lot of the buildings had been there since the 1800s. We were blessed with beautiful weather, so had lunch outside, overlooking the bay. After lunch we took the passenger ferry over to Paihia to look around at their more touristy shops, eat ice-cream cones and walk through a craft market. By the time we got back to the bach, we were all tired. Cheryl and I had a glass of Merlot with supper, watched TV for a bit while waiting for Priscilla, Lucinda and friends to arrive. We chatted for some time then tootled off to bed.
Enough for now, I will continue tomorrow. Tons of love, Dad & Mom XXXXX
To continue with the weekend: Saturday morning very early, George had to leave as his boss wouldn't give him off. Priscilla, with her car full, and Rob with our vehicle full, caught the ferry and went by road to Paihia. The youngsters went parasailing while the oldies went sight-seeing in Kerikeri (where we had a light lunch) and the surrounding countryside. We saw a Maori canoe in the bay, the occupants were singing in their language - think it was some sort of ceremony. On the other side of the road were Maori carvings, painted red. We were taken to the Haruru Falls - beautiful!
We got back mid-afternoon as Rob had a headache. Dad and I took a walk across the road to wander around an old graveyard in the grounds of the ancient church. A lot of the graves are from the 1800s, one being of the first white woman born in NZ. Dad took pics inside the church - rather quaint.
That evening we all had a braai - proper one with an open fire. Later we played Cludo and other board games. Just before going to bed, I went out onto the deck to have a last smoke, and had an inexplicable experience which I will tell you about when I get home. (One for YGS, LOL)
Sunday morning we had a slap-up breakfast in the braai area before saying goodbye to the bach and the gorgeous weather. By the time we arrived 'home' it was gray skies, wet and windy.
I never got to write home again. I shall tell you about our last days in that beautiful green country, and our trip home, but I shall split it into two episodes - too many pics for one post.
After the long weekend away, we went to fetch Rob and Cheryl's Rottweiler pup, Lady. Oh my! What fun and games. The cats were Not impressed with this intruder on their property. Lizzy (the long haired one) hid in our walk-in closet and didn't want to come out. Misty (the short haired one) took to walking sideways with her back arched. Lady seemed oblivious to them both, most of the time. She was just interested in sliding on the floor and chewing anything in sight - and her food, of course. She dined on raw chicken necks and goats milk. I was allotted the task of 'puppy-sitting' during the day. She was still too small to be allowed to roam the grounds unattended. During the night, or when we went out, she was put in a cage in the garage, along with her pillow and toys.
Time had flown and we were to fly home in a few days time. We tried to cram a last bit of sightseeing into the hours left.
Ray and I made use of Rob's spare car once more. We went to have a look at some of the first buildings in Waiuku, at the Tamakae Reserve situated near the museum. The first school; first dairy; first lock-up (jail), and a couple of houses. One of the houses is now being used as a shop, selling hand-crafted clothing and other hand-made things such as cushions, door-stoppers etc.
While I was browsing in this shop, I felt a 'presence' and the motion activated door-chime tinkled. I took a peek at the door, thinking that Ray might have decided to join me, but no, nobody was in sight. The lady behind the 'counter' explained that the chime sometimes did that. I half-jestingly suggested that it may be one of the former residents. I was really surprised when she agreed with me.
That evening, while we were seated in the dining room having tea (supper), Rob sighted a Tui bird (apparently seldom seen as it is very shy) taking nectar from orange flowers on his property. Ray was extremely lucky to get a pic.
On our last day, we packed a sandwich lunch and coffee. We had decided to view the rather squat lighthouse at the Manukau Heads, first built in 1874, overlooking the Tasman Sea. We were interested to see where the worst shipwreck in New Zealand history took place, where the HMS Orpheus ran aground and 189 lives were lost in 1863.
We took the winding road past the wind-swept trees. It took us nearly 1 3/4 hours to get there, but was well worth the trip. This is one of the few lighthouses that is open to the public. I waited patiently on a wooden bench in the car-park, while Ray took the 120 steps up to the lighthouse to 'happy-snap' with his camera.
By the time Ray returned, ours was the only vehicle in the car-park. The camper that had been parked near the ablution block had packed up and left. We consumed our picnic lunch while Ray told of the sights to be seen from the top of the lighthouse. We were on our way to the ablution block to make a pit stop before making our way home when a car pulled up and a man and young girl alighted. It turned out to be the lighthouse keeper and his daughter. Fortunately, our 'nature's call' wasn't urgent - we stood chatting for over half an hour. LOL. New Zealanders' are sooo friendly!
On the way back home we stopped off in Pollock. They have an art gallery at the side of the road. Paintings, fabric art and glassware all for sale to folks with loads of money. As we were leaving, it started to rain so we made a quick getaway. We also saw white-painted chapels along the way, used for weddings. We don't have anything like this in SA, so we find it unusual.
This will be the last entry, as far as our New Zealand trip is concerned. I would like to thank Val for the use of her site. If it were not for her, I would never have committed my whole story to print. Thanks too, to Val, Wolfie, and all the others who have taken the time to read the scribblings of an old lady.
That night we finished our packing and had an early night as Rob and Cheryl were to drop us at the Auckland Airport before going to work. We had to get up at 4am.
There was a bit of a mix-up at the airport. Our travel agent had swapped our flight to LAN, a Spanish (I think) airline so we wouldn't have to wait in Sydney so long for our connecting flight home. The problem was, nobody seemed to know which queue we must join to book in. We were sent to three different queues before we were directed to the correct one. Rob had come into the departures section, 'shouting the odds' at the incompetent employees when he saw our dilemma.
I just HAD to go outside to have a smoke to calm my nerves, and got chased, as it wasn't a designated smoking area. I was Outside, for heaven's sake! What difference does ten steps further make?
Tearful goodbyes were exchanged by Rob and I, and then they had to leave for work. Our flight with LAN was interesting. The Spanish accent of the pretty flight attendant was delightful as she served us our breakfast of fruit, yoghurt and coffee. The three hour stop-over at Sydney airport was wearying. I was so glad that it wasn't for longer, as our first flight-plan was supposed to be. At least, our long flight with Qantas would be a day flight this time.
Why do so many people complain about airline food? Ray and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Maybe we are not so picky.... hmm?
For the most part, the flight was uneventful - until the very last leg, just before South Africa came in sight. As we neared 'home', the plane hit turbulence. Seat-belt lights came on and the cabin crew had to strap in too. At one stage the plane dropped horribly. I was left gripping the arm-rests with white knuckles - my fear of flying had abated, but not That much. There was one passenger that enjoyed the turbulence - a little girl, maybe four years old, sitting two rows in front of me. Especially with the big drop, she squealed with delight. Well, good for her! I jokingly murmured to Ray, "You can see we are nearing SA, they even have potholes in the sky"!
As we were flying over the Reef, (short for Wi****ersrand to English speakers in SA), I saw what appeared to be large, perfect circles on the ground. Most seemed to be "crop circles' literally, with green vegetation growing within them, others were of red soil - I would love to know what they were. Took a pic. Was someone taking the Micky out of aviators, or was it just a quirky farmer? (LOL, I have since been informed; the irrigation system works from a central point, like a mathematical compass, spraying water within the circle.)
My wheelchair was waiting for me at the airport, thank goodness, as the trek from the plane to the arrivals area was a looong one. En route, we had to stop off to collect our luggage at the round-a-bout. My wheelie-case was easily identified and collected, Ray's was nowhere to be seen. We waited, and waited, eventually becoming panicky, as he had all sorts of gifts and souvenirs tucked away in it. We were the last ones there and only two luggage items left. Ray made a grab at one, turning it over - it was his, but because it had been turned on its face, he hadn't recognised it. *Huge sigh of relief!* We then perambulated between a row of policemen with cute little doggies. It was only afterwards that I realised that they were "sniffer dogs", there to sniff out illegal drugs. I wonder what would have happened if I had reached out and patted one?
Nicky and Shenay were waiting for us in the arrivals hall - huge hugs and kisses all around. It was the 23rd November, so we wished Nicky for her birthday too. Nicky insisted we go for coffee before leaving the airport - to avoid heavy traffic, she said. Obviously the delay didn't help much as it took us almost an hour and a half to reach her complex, where our car was parked. We reached home at 8pm, absolutely pooped - we hadn't slept for over 36 hours. We just dumped our cases in the lounge and made straight for our bed. We slept until about 11am the next morning.
So ended our fabulous, never-to-be-repeated, unexpected holiday.
Footnote: The first pic is of Sydney harbour - note the Opera House on the left. The second pic is of the 'crop circles' here on the SA Highveld.
Fergie, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful travelogue with us. It brings back memories when Rex and I honeymooned in NZ about 20 years ago. It's a beautiful country, the Land of the Long White Cloud. We met so many lovely people there too.
Doesn't Ray look splendid with his white beard? He looked right at home in Hobbiton - I bet he'd have found a place as an extra "wizard" when they were making the LOTR movies!
