Christmas 2018 will
probably be remembered as one of the wettest ever – it seemed to rain
for four days straight with only occasional breaks in the weather. And when it
rained, did it rain – it was like a monsoon!
But after a flurry of sewing activity ( I made gifts for
five people, and two dresses for Cordelia ) then on Christmas Eve I got more
inspiration and made two fruit cakes, my
first lot of shortbread for about 30 years and then I got quite carried away
and made doggy biscuits to take to MArgarets two little white fluffies and
Robyns silkies!
Christmas morning it didn’t rain – could even see blue sky
for a little while and although ti clouded over by mid morning and started
raining again the Wattle Downs Christmas parade of decorated vehicles was able
to go ahead as it started at 9am. I went round and gave Peter his Christmas
stocking and then took
him outside and
helped with a few other residents and they enjoyed being part of the action
watching the parade and waving to Santa.
Then
I took Tui home, sorted out all the parcels to take for the afternoon and went
back and had lunch with Peter – he had already eaten half of his Christmas
goodies but it was a a nice lunch – we had a slice of turkey and ham with the
trimmings, a glass of wine and trifle. Not many residents left – only about 8
but it was nice being there – it felt the right thing to do.
Then after a
lovely phone call with the grand kids we were off – into the monsoon like rain
to Karen’s where Albyn, Anne, Rachel and David had had a celebratory vegan
lunch – they liked their gifts and luckily the rain stopped just as we pulled
up so we didn’t get drowned getting out of the car.
Then back into the car and back into more heavy rain,
detours in the road out to Clevedon due to flooding and we eventually got to
Kawakawa Bay where Robyn had her son and his family and quite a few neighbours
and friends – it was worth the effort – she sent Peter back with a couple of
brandy snaps his favourite and Tui got a big lamb leg bone!. Good to see them,
Jason was incredibly chatty – he is rapt with his new boat – loves his fishing!
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| Jason and Jonita with Peter, daughter Robyn and great grand daughters Amber and Maia. |
So back out into the
rain again and took Peter back for his light evening meal, dropped Tui off at
home with her dinner. Then I went and relaxed with Margaret and her family for
a lovely Christmas dinner, Turkey, salmon and ham with two lovely salads! And
meringues, berries and a gorgeous Christmas cake.
Boxing Day
Only cloudy and didn’t really look too bad so I slowly got
ready as I watched the weather. Washed and dried peter’s trousers and finished
the hand sewing on the little girls dresses and then I set off eventually at
1pm.
Not as bad traffic as
I expected although evidence of lots of rain everywhere. I rang from Huntly to
AJs parkover at Horahora and he said – yes there was space and it wasn’t too
wet. I got there about 4pm and it was blue sky, very warm and my back door is
6ft from the banks of Lake Karapiro. Quite a few people here including some of
the Facebook “Female Travel Buddies”. Heaps of people have a little dog here (
all on leads). So warm people in swimming, canoeing, lots of activity – I
could stay here for ages! Beautiful spot. Horahora domain is free camping but
this is only $5 per person per night so really great and he keeps it mowed – there
is even an unofficial shower and a couple of toilets ( which may get shut down
if it gets too busy as it only a septic tank – everyone is supposed to be self
contained.)
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| AJs park over at Horahora - Lovely spot! |
Met Kaye who lives in a quite small Toyota high top van with
her old dog Barney. She does writing – currently writing a book. She gave me
some valuable info about putting in an inverter so that I can charge computer
on the go and possible get 240v power for appliances if I want ( direct from
the house battery) – good for running fan and maybe heater? Leanne has a Nissan
Civilian and lives in it but is working as a Red Cross Op Shop relief
manager and she has a little Pomeranian
“Pom”).
27th December -
The next morning I took off
slowly and tootled South via Taupo -
Five Mile Bay was very full as expected as today the weather was definitely
summer! I didn’t get little peter on the phone so I bypassed Turangi and went
straight down to the Desert Rd, and decided to check out all the Kaimanawa
Forest Park sites that I I had always gone past in a hurry – the book said that
the main site – Urchin campsite was NO dogs so I looked first at tree Trunk
Gorge – couldn’t find any “campsite” just a gravel road which lead to a big
pipe and another gravel road with a First gate across – so I went back to the previous
sites – and looked first at the Poutu outlet – could camp on the gravel area
across the little bridge but it looked a bit bare so went on to look at the Pillars
of Hercules “campsite” – again this wasn’t a campsite as such, just the end of
a gravel road with a sign saying you could stop overnight if self contained.
Lovely bush around it and a swing bridge which led to a mountain biking track
although I asnt sure why it was called the Pillars of Hercules – suspect it was
the narrow cataract with brown cliffs I had seen from the bridge.. decided to
stay the night even though no one else there – the road in was incredibly
uneven and bouncy! – I managed to get
little Pete on the phone and told him where I was but I wasn’t feeling
particularly unsafe. Then another smaller campervan came along with a nice
younger couple in it. They said the urchin site was very full and the toilet didn’t
look good, so they stayed the night by me. Quiet – no one really came down
except one ute with three dogs on it which they let loose for a few minutes. The road in was very bumpy!- wouldnt be good in the dark.
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| View from the swingbridge |
28th December
Set off reasonably early as there wasnt much more to do - checked out the Urchin site on the way out ( this is the main Kaimanawa Forest campsite)- but again the road was very bumpy - the site was very full and most of those there were camping or in little vans - although a 21ft caravan was there - they said they went every year! Not close to a stream and although walking tracks - not sure of the appeal unless you were a mountain bike enthusiast or tramper.
Carried on down the Desert Rd - brief stop at Waiouru and then trundled on to Palmerston North. Arrived in brilliant sunshine. Kids arrived later on and the fun/chaos began.
29th December
We did the presents thing - the kids got lots of little bits and pieces - many of them useful for their swimming - lots of books, - only Cordelia started her Lego that Day - Callum still wedded/obsessed with his computer. I went out with Jonathan and the kids to the donkeys - the girls went out in the carriage with Amy and Jonathan Callum and I walked Poppy and Ollie. Long walk for me, but managed fine - very pleasant in fact. Callum and Annabelle rode their bikes on the same route we took with the donkeys - good exercise!
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| It is the little cheap presents they like best! I made the pink and white dress. |
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| Not sure which day - but the girls independently making pancakes! |
Callum and Annabelle rode their bikes around the city block later in the afternoon.
Not sure what else we did that day - except Cooked a roast of lamb for dinner.
30th December
Jonathan went with Amy to the donkeys and I had the three kids - we went to the bike park.. they rode bikes and expended energy at the playground where it started to drizzle.
I made cheese muffins when we got home which were eaten enthusiastically, and then we got a phone call - Amy was on her way to A&E with Jonathan - he had fallen on the road and broken his collarbone. Amy was very upset - Jonathan was in severe pain and eventually passed out in the waiting room. We met them at the hospital and took Topsy home. It was a very quiet afternoon with a very shaken up Daddy!
Jonathan insisted we cook his beautiful big turkey! He regained some appetite by the evening.
I popped round to see Christine and have a chat although didnt stay late.
31st December
Had the New years Eve party this evening, so Vince and his family were to be there and mostly friends that had known Vince when he lived in P Nth plus Vince's parents. There were clearly goingt o be a fair few kids - my initial estimate was 12 adults plus 12 kids but it swelled to 14 adults and 16 kids - I made extra salads and got some dips etc sorted. Evening appeared to go well - no major disaster and Jonathan held up well on pain killers although everyone else had to do the BBQ. I enjoyed the company of Vince's parents. Forgot to take photos - damn!
1 January 2019
Very hot morning - so I took the kids to Himatangi beach - the sand was very hot and blazing sun - but they enjoyed running madly round, going into the water and building a hut from logs. By 1.00 pm I think most of the population of Palmerston north had driven tot he beach and it was very full - so I retreated after providing icecreams allround.
2 January
After dropping the kids at swimming so that Daddy could have another rest, I drove down to Waikanae to see my friend Jane who had gone to live in a retirement village there - her apartment was lovely - plenty spacious enough and she had had enough money from the sale of her Auckland home to furnish the apartment as well as she would like. Good to catch up with her and despite her failing eyesight she has I think made a good decision and will be able to find a real sense of cummunity there.
Then drove up to Waitarere beach - traffic getting thicker esepcially with road works at Otaki - spent a lovely few hours with Griet Lombard and her husband Willem. They have only been in NZ for 10 years - originally from Bloemfontein in Sth Africa - their home beautifully reflects their background.
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| And this is only about 1/3 of her stash! |
Lovely people, and it was a great opportunity to see all Griet's wonderful embroidery and textile art - it is not really patchwork in the old traditional sense - gorgeous work! I will definitely return there to visit - the kids could play in the forest ( Callum had cub camp there apparently) very close to the beach and not far from Palmerston North.
Late home but a great day! Girls opted to sleep outside in a tent on their own tonight!
3 January
In the afternoon we decided I could take off and wend my way home - still very hot and the a/c in the car wasnt keeping it cool - Tui looked like she was going to expire. I went via Hastings to see Laurie B. Hard to believe he is 91 - he does very well, although he is slowing down he is still very well read, and a delight to visit with.
A very hot night in the campervan!
4 January
After checking out the Evers-Swindell Reserve at Clide ( I will go back there - nice spot) I went up to Napier waterfront for morning tea. Tui was just so hot and I decided I would just see how the traffice was before deciding whether to drive through to Auckland.
Took the Taupo Napier road and stopped at about three rest areas in the shade to give Tui a walk, somehow missed the big one by the river and just after Taupo noticed that tui was going nuts biting her bum Deduced she had got a flea or two somewhere so called in at vet at Tokoroa who sold me a flea treatment. Tui was still clearly uncomfortable, so decided to come on home - took it easy - had plenty to drink and arrived home about 6pm,.
Unpacked, all well at home - neighbours had watered the garden and the tomatoes were high. Tui was still quite agitated even after I had gone to bed and was starting to scratch her hair out in clumps, so I got up at midnight and bathed her in flea treatment shampoo. She was a bit more settled after that!
Here endeth this very long update.
