When I got to the shop this morning there was only Bianca, the manager, there. I have never spoken to her other than to say hello or goodbye but we had a good chat this morning. She, and her husband, are South African and I am not sure how long they have been here. Before they came here they were living in London but got fed up with it and as they didn't want to go back home they decided on NZ. The manager from the processing room came up and bought us a coffee so all in all it was a good morning.
After the shop I went to do my shopping and decided to go to the old supermarket I used to go to in the hope that I wouldn't get so many electric shocks. Unfortunately, they have changed the floor covering and it is the same as the new shop so I got just as many shocks dropping my butter with fright at one of them. There was a lady filling shelves and she said she is getting so many now she is fed up with it. I don't know what the answer is.
After lunch I had a play on the computer trying to send Heather some copies of our photos she needs for a book she is making. I hope I have managed to get them all to her in time.
I took Totty out this afternoon, it has been a nice day again and the temperature was 16, they have had 19 degrees in the south. The first day of spring is 1 September so we only have a month to go.
I met Bronwyn after my walk she told me she knows the man who does reflexology and she says he lives just around the corner from here. I said I thought he was a bit odd and she laughed and said 'No comment' watch this space.
I haven't had a drink for nearly two weeks and fancied a glass of wine tonight but it tasted horrible. Maybe the antibiotics haven't worn off yet - I had my last dose yesterday. I can't imagine not having a glass of wine now and then, I hope my taste buds go back to normal. The fish and chips didn't taste that good to me either. Oh dear!
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Thursday
I had to go to see the doctor this morning as she would not give me a repeat prescription for HRT until I saw her. I knew she did not want to let me continue and I didn't want a battle so I told her I would start reducing it and take one every other day and see how I go.
After that I didn't do much else. I spent a long time reading the Mail online and hearing about the bad weather UK is having after the good predictions from the met office, so 16 on a winter's day here is not so bad.
Jon didn't get home for lunch till 2.00 as he was in meetings. I am enjoying all the reading that I am doing about New Zealand history not that there are many years of it. Those first people that came out from the UK must have been very brave, five months on a sailing boat to get here and no communication with home must have been awful.
I had my dinner early as I had to go out at 6.40 to my class. There were only five of us there and the tutor is 'different'. He has very strong opinions about medicine, religion, astrology and all natural therapies. Some of his religious ideas are very odd. We spent the first hour talking mostly about him and how he got into reflexology. He is South African but has lived here for 27 years with his wife. He thinks all men are weak and says that women are the stronger and men are useless without them. To a point I agree but not as strongly as he says it. One of the women in the class had a treatment on her feet. She is a bit of a moaner and has every ailment known to man and I don't think I am going to get on with her very well. The others are all nice and like me don't agree with all he said although he is good on reflexology. Next week we practice on each other!!!!
After that I didn't do much else. I spent a long time reading the Mail online and hearing about the bad weather UK is having after the good predictions from the met office, so 16 on a winter's day here is not so bad.
Jon didn't get home for lunch till 2.00 as he was in meetings. I am enjoying all the reading that I am doing about New Zealand history not that there are many years of it. Those first people that came out from the UK must have been very brave, five months on a sailing boat to get here and no communication with home must have been awful.
I had my dinner early as I had to go out at 6.40 to my class. There were only five of us there and the tutor is 'different'. He has very strong opinions about medicine, religion, astrology and all natural therapies. Some of his religious ideas are very odd. We spent the first hour talking mostly about him and how he got into reflexology. He is South African but has lived here for 27 years with his wife. He thinks all men are weak and says that women are the stronger and men are useless without them. To a point I agree but not as strongly as he says it. One of the women in the class had a treatment on her feet. She is a bit of a moaner and has every ailment known to man and I don't think I am going to get on with her very well. The others are all nice and like me don't agree with all he said although he is good on reflexology. Next week we practice on each other!!!!
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
More daffodils
I had to get up with Totty once through the night and I hate doing that when I am on my own.
It was pouring with rain this morning so I didn't get to take Tot out. I went along to the cancer offices at 9.00 and started phoning again. I didn't do so well today as we were just phoning companies from the Yellow Pages and I only sold 12 bunches. They have copied the whole book and enlarged the pages and someone has gone through and highlighted all the ones they think we should try and there are pages and pages of them. Monday's list was of people who had donated last year so it was easier.
After some soup for my lunch I did some cleaning and then watched TV before taking Totty out as the rain had stopped. Just as well I did as when we got back it started to rain really hard.
I have managed to keep myself busy with emails and doing some work for Lions and Jon has just phoned to say his flight from Auckland to Tauranga is on time and he should be home by 8.00.
Jon was home on time and we had another quiet night in watching TV.
It was pouring with rain this morning so I didn't get to take Tot out. I went along to the cancer offices at 9.00 and started phoning again. I didn't do so well today as we were just phoning companies from the Yellow Pages and I only sold 12 bunches. They have copied the whole book and enlarged the pages and someone has gone through and highlighted all the ones they think we should try and there are pages and pages of them. Monday's list was of people who had donated last year so it was easier.
After some soup for my lunch I did some cleaning and then watched TV before taking Totty out as the rain had stopped. Just as well I did as when we got back it started to rain really hard.
I have managed to keep myself busy with emails and doing some work for Lions and Jon has just phoned to say his flight from Auckland to Tauranga is on time and he should be home by 8.00.
Jon was home on time and we had another quiet night in watching TV.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Body & Soul
I went to my fitness class this morning and the leader, Diane, welcomed me back and everyone said hello and it was really good. We had a really good class with stretching, dancing, exercises with a ball and with light weights and ended with some relaxation. I stayed for a coffee after the class and Diane told me she organises lunches every so often and a Christmas party so it is all very social and good fun
After a quick trip to the supermarket to get some bread and where I started to chat to a lady who happened to be English and we had a conversation about ready meals coming into the shops over here. They don't have many at the moment so I am not sure if it will become a as popular as it is in UK.
Jon called at lunchtime just as he was going off to Tauranga airport for his flight to Auckland and then he will fly from there to Melbourne.
I took Totty out for a walk this afternoon and the sun was still shining, the rain they forecast hasn't arrived.
I have had no water all afternoon so I called Alison to see if she had any in case it was just ours. She says she has a bit but there is no pressure. I hope it is back by the morning as I would like to have a shower.
I read four of the books from Alison and they are very interesting. One was about a railway bridge that was washed away when part of the crater wall on Mt Ruhapehu gave way and gallons of water and rubble crashed down the side and washed the bridge away just as the Wellington to Auckland train was approaching. It was pretty awful and over 150 people died and that was on Christmas Eve 1953. The others are about the Napier earthquake and Cyclone Giselle in which one of the Cook Strait ferries was pushed onto the rocks by huge waves at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Many people were saved by some very heroic people who came out in their pleasure boast to help. Of the 735 crew and passengers 51 lives were lost. And the last one is about the last time White Island (this is an active volcano island just a short drive down the coast) erupted in 1914 when ten sulphur miners were killed. I enjoy reading about these natural disasters and hope we don't have any earthquakes or volcanic eruptions while we are here.
I need to make sure I cook myself some dinner tonight - I hate cooking just for me. I think it might be a long night tonight.
Nearly bedtime and it has been an OK night. Jon called to say he had arrived and had a good flight but had a very big lady in the seat next to him. She had a cottage pie for her dinner and asked for another one!
The water finally came back on at 8.00. My neighbour, Margaret, had called to tell me there were some emergency repairs going on.
After a quick trip to the supermarket to get some bread and where I started to chat to a lady who happened to be English and we had a conversation about ready meals coming into the shops over here. They don't have many at the moment so I am not sure if it will become a as popular as it is in UK.
Jon called at lunchtime just as he was going off to Tauranga airport for his flight to Auckland and then he will fly from there to Melbourne.
I took Totty out for a walk this afternoon and the sun was still shining, the rain they forecast hasn't arrived.
I have had no water all afternoon so I called Alison to see if she had any in case it was just ours. She says she has a bit but there is no pressure. I hope it is back by the morning as I would like to have a shower.
I read four of the books from Alison and they are very interesting. One was about a railway bridge that was washed away when part of the crater wall on Mt Ruhapehu gave way and gallons of water and rubble crashed down the side and washed the bridge away just as the Wellington to Auckland train was approaching. It was pretty awful and over 150 people died and that was on Christmas Eve 1953. The others are about the Napier earthquake and Cyclone Giselle in which one of the Cook Strait ferries was pushed onto the rocks by huge waves at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Many people were saved by some very heroic people who came out in their pleasure boast to help. Of the 735 crew and passengers 51 lives were lost. And the last one is about the last time White Island (this is an active volcano island just a short drive down the coast) erupted in 1914 when ten sulphur miners were killed. I enjoy reading about these natural disasters and hope we don't have any earthquakes or volcanic eruptions while we are here.
I need to make sure I cook myself some dinner tonight - I hate cooking just for me. I think it might be a long night tonight.
Nearly bedtime and it has been an OK night. Jon called to say he had arrived and had a good flight but had a very big lady in the seat next to him. She had a cottage pie for her dinner and asked for another one!
The water finally came back on at 8.00. My neighbour, Margaret, had called to tell me there were some emergency repairs going on.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Daffodils
I was feeling very tearful last night don't know why it suddenly started and this morning was a bit difficult, too. I keep telling myself to take one day at a time.
I was up early this morning to get Totty out for her walk(she slept right through the night again so I think she is on the mend) as I was due to go to the Cancer Society Rooms for a fundraiser. Every year the Lions help out with phoning companies to ask them if they would like to buy a bunch of 20 daffodils for $20 for Daffodil Day which is on 26 August this year. So from 9-12 I sat phoning and it was good and I sold about 50 bunches. I am due to do another stint on Wednesday.
The daffodils are now starting to come out in the gardens but apparently they do not grow very well in Tauranga due to a bug in the soil. Those that do grow have to be lifted and dipped after flowering so I suppose they would not grow into nice clumps. They do grow them all over NZ though.
After my stint at phoning I was feeling much better and keeping busy is good. Jon came home for lunch and watched a bit of the Grand Prix - he has to watch it in bits and can't go onto the BBC until he has seen it!
I got all my washing done today and dried outside as it was another lovely day. I Took Totty out early this afternoon as Alison had invited me over for a cup of tea when she came in from school so I went over there at 3.30 and Bronwyn came, too. Alison got me some books from the library (she is the school librarian) about NZ history and things that have happened here. They are only children's book so will be quick and easy to read but it gives me an insight. We had a good old natter and I came back at 5.00 and listened to Radio 2 iPlayer and did my ironing.
I was up early this morning to get Totty out for her walk(she slept right through the night again so I think she is on the mend) as I was due to go to the Cancer Society Rooms for a fundraiser. Every year the Lions help out with phoning companies to ask them if they would like to buy a bunch of 20 daffodils for $20 for Daffodil Day which is on 26 August this year. So from 9-12 I sat phoning and it was good and I sold about 50 bunches. I am due to do another stint on Wednesday.
The daffodils are now starting to come out in the gardens but apparently they do not grow very well in Tauranga due to a bug in the soil. Those that do grow have to be lifted and dipped after flowering so I suppose they would not grow into nice clumps. They do grow them all over NZ though.
After my stint at phoning I was feeling much better and keeping busy is good. Jon came home for lunch and watched a bit of the Grand Prix - he has to watch it in bits and can't go onto the BBC until he has seen it!
I got all my washing done today and dried outside as it was another lovely day. I Took Totty out early this afternoon as Alison had invited me over for a cup of tea when she came in from school so I went over there at 3.30 and Bronwyn came, too. Alison got me some books from the library (she is the school librarian) about NZ history and things that have happened here. They are only children's book so will be quick and easy to read but it gives me an insight. We had a good old natter and I came back at 5.00 and listened to Radio 2 iPlayer and did my ironing.
Sunday, 26 July 2009
A quiet, sunny day
Well it was nice to sleep through the night and not be woken by Totty wanting to go out. She is still on just water and looks at me in a very sad way and I feel really mean but she can have her dinner this afternoon.
We walked down to Rotary Park with her this morning and there was a very high tide and I had to put her on the lead as she kept wanting to go into the water and it was a bit deep and cold for a first time swimmer!
Jon and I went to the garden centre for coffee and sat in the lovely sunshine. We bought some herbs and a big pot to put out on the deck.
Other than answer lots of emails we haven't done much today. Jon pottered in the bit of garden we have and I sat in the sun and read my magazine.
We took Totty to Rotary Park again this afternoon and as the tide was way out we were able to walk along the beach which she enjoyed.
Alison called me this evening to ask me over for a cup of tea when she finishes work tomorrow so that will be nice.
After dinner we watched some TV episodes that we had recorded while Heather was here.
We walked down to Rotary Park with her this morning and there was a very high tide and I had to put her on the lead as she kept wanting to go into the water and it was a bit deep and cold for a first time swimmer!
Jon and I went to the garden centre for coffee and sat in the lovely sunshine. We bought some herbs and a big pot to put out on the deck.
Other than answer lots of emails we haven't done much today. Jon pottered in the bit of garden we have and I sat in the sun and read my magazine.
We took Totty to Rotary Park again this afternoon and as the tide was way out we were able to walk along the beach which she enjoyed.
Alison called me this evening to ask me over for a cup of tea when she finishes work tomorrow so that will be nice.
After dinner we watched some TV episodes that we had recorded while Heather was here.
Saturday, 25 July 2009
A lovely sunny day
After all the awful weather we had when Heather was here and the first weekend she has gone back and we have bright sunshine.
Totty had me up in the night to let her out four times so I decided, after seeing her scratching her bottom on the floor, to make an appointment with the vet.
We had a phone call from Heather to say a letter had arrived at home saying my credit card had had some unusual activity and to call them. It was the card I used to use for my shopping and I haven't used it since December when I paid the bill. Jon got through to a foreign man at Tesco Finance and had great trouble understanding him. Jon explained that we have been in NZ since January and could not have used the card. He told Jon that it had been used to buy Domino Pizza but was blocked when £489 worth of carpet was bought as they could not provide the security checks. It had also been used to try and buy flights and tickets. The man said to Jon but you have used it in NZ as one of the transactions was BISHOP Auckland. Jon said Bishop Auckland is in the UK!!!! Anyway after a long conversation with three departments we have finally cancelled the card. They wanted us to have a new one but we told them we won't be using it over here and we will get one when we come back to the UK. All day I have been thinking of Bishop Auckland and it makes me laugh!
We saw the vet at 11.30 and he did some pretty nasty examinations on Totty and he thinks she could have an inflamed colon. He gave her antibiotic tablets and an injection and told me to starve her for 24 hours and gave me some powder to mix with her water. Tomorrow afternoon she can have a quarter of a tin of special food and then gradually increase it. Hopefully, that is all it is and she will get better and nothing further will need to be done - fingers crossed.
Jon and I then went to do the shopping. I was really glad he was with me as Heather has been with me for the last seven weeks and it felt very strange not having her there and laughing at me getting electric shocks whenever I picked up anything from the shelves (lots of people have been saying they get electric shocks in this supermarket, I think it must be something to do with what the floor is made of) hopefully these feelings will get less I know my shopping bill has!!!
After lunch we took Totty out for a long walk on Papamoa beach and she had a great time running after shells and then digging them up but she buries them more than anything and it is very funny to watch and the first time Jon has seen her do it. It was lovely on the beach and there were lots of families fishing as the weather was so good - I can't believe how big fishing is over here.
There are many restrictions on how many fish you can take home and they have to be a certain size i.e. no small ones. You are only allowed to collect 50 cockles per person and in some places the police set up road blocks at the end of the afternoon and actually count how many cockles people have and check the fish. If you are caught with too many you have to pay a fine of $250 and the catch is confiscated. That's how big fishing is here! I suppose they need to maintain the stocks.
We got back and had a cup of tea and Totty is going mad for her dinner I think she will be chewing the furniture by tomorrow.
How cruel are we sitting eating a nice steak and poor Totty watching!
We watched Pretty Woman tonight - what a lovely film that is.
Totty had me up in the night to let her out four times so I decided, after seeing her scratching her bottom on the floor, to make an appointment with the vet.
We had a phone call from Heather to say a letter had arrived at home saying my credit card had had some unusual activity and to call them. It was the card I used to use for my shopping and I haven't used it since December when I paid the bill. Jon got through to a foreign man at Tesco Finance and had great trouble understanding him. Jon explained that we have been in NZ since January and could not have used the card. He told Jon that it had been used to buy Domino Pizza but was blocked when £489 worth of carpet was bought as they could not provide the security checks. It had also been used to try and buy flights and tickets. The man said to Jon but you have used it in NZ as one of the transactions was BISHOP Auckland. Jon said Bishop Auckland is in the UK!!!! Anyway after a long conversation with three departments we have finally cancelled the card. They wanted us to have a new one but we told them we won't be using it over here and we will get one when we come back to the UK. All day I have been thinking of Bishop Auckland and it makes me laugh!
We saw the vet at 11.30 and he did some pretty nasty examinations on Totty and he thinks she could have an inflamed colon. He gave her antibiotic tablets and an injection and told me to starve her for 24 hours and gave me some powder to mix with her water. Tomorrow afternoon she can have a quarter of a tin of special food and then gradually increase it. Hopefully, that is all it is and she will get better and nothing further will need to be done - fingers crossed.
Jon and I then went to do the shopping. I was really glad he was with me as Heather has been with me for the last seven weeks and it felt very strange not having her there and laughing at me getting electric shocks whenever I picked up anything from the shelves (lots of people have been saying they get electric shocks in this supermarket, I think it must be something to do with what the floor is made of) hopefully these feelings will get less I know my shopping bill has!!!
After lunch we took Totty out for a long walk on Papamoa beach and she had a great time running after shells and then digging them up but she buries them more than anything and it is very funny to watch and the first time Jon has seen her do it. It was lovely on the beach and there were lots of families fishing as the weather was so good - I can't believe how big fishing is over here.
There are many restrictions on how many fish you can take home and they have to be a certain size i.e. no small ones. You are only allowed to collect 50 cockles per person and in some places the police set up road blocks at the end of the afternoon and actually count how many cockles people have and check the fish. If you are caught with too many you have to pay a fine of $250 and the catch is confiscated. That's how big fishing is here! I suppose they need to maintain the stocks.
We got back and had a cup of tea and Totty is going mad for her dinner I think she will be chewing the furniture by tomorrow.
How cruel are we sitting eating a nice steak and poor Totty watching!
We watched Pretty Woman tonight - what a lovely film that is.
Friday, 24 July 2009
Feeling a bit better today.
I didn't have a very good night's sleep even though we now have the radiator in our room and it was warm. I woke up with a horrible metallic taste in my mouth which is a side effect of the medication ugh! Glad to say Totty didn't get up to go out for a wee - first time in ages.
I phoned home and spoke to the girls. Heather was home safe and sound but had a bumpy flight. She said she had a whole row of seats and so was able to lie down and get some sleep. The food was better for her and so she did not need her supplies. She was delayed an hour and a half from Hong Kong. I think she is happy to be home.
After taking Totty for a walk I got stuck into some serious housework and the house is back to its normal clean and tidy state (I didn't see much point is wasting too much time on housework while Heather was here).
Jon came home for lunch and when he went back to work I watched three episodes of Neighbours that Heather has series linked for me. I felt sad not having anyone to discuss the episodes with as some of the characters drive Heather and I mad.
Every now and again I think of the things we did while Heather was here and it makes me feels sad but it is getting better.
I took Totty out again this afternoon and met Alison coming back from work and we had a nice chat and she said I must go over in the afternoons when she gets home from work if I feel the need for some company.
When I got in I thought I would sit down and have a read and had just made a cup of tea when Bronwyn called to see if I was OK and we had a good long chat. She was telling me her new baby granddaughter stopped breathing the other night and had to be rushed to hospital. They kept her in overnight but could find nothing wrong but they now have to keep a close eye on her. She is looking after her daughter's dog, for the next two months, who has had a hip operation and as she can only take the dog out on the lead, even for a wee she will not be able to get out as much as she usually does so she said I can go over anytime for a coffee or a chat so that is very nice of her, too. Thanks heavens for friends and Totty.
The weather has picked up and was quite warm today but it is forecast to drop to 0 tonight so I lit the fire.
We had our fish and chips later and watched some TV. We are both looking forward to a lie in in the morning and have nothing other than a walk with the dog planned.
I phoned home and spoke to the girls. Heather was home safe and sound but had a bumpy flight. She said she had a whole row of seats and so was able to lie down and get some sleep. The food was better for her and so she did not need her supplies. She was delayed an hour and a half from Hong Kong. I think she is happy to be home.
After taking Totty for a walk I got stuck into some serious housework and the house is back to its normal clean and tidy state (I didn't see much point is wasting too much time on housework while Heather was here).
Jon came home for lunch and when he went back to work I watched three episodes of Neighbours that Heather has series linked for me. I felt sad not having anyone to discuss the episodes with as some of the characters drive Heather and I mad.
Every now and again I think of the things we did while Heather was here and it makes me feels sad but it is getting better.
I took Totty out again this afternoon and met Alison coming back from work and we had a nice chat and she said I must go over in the afternoons when she gets home from work if I feel the need for some company.
When I got in I thought I would sit down and have a read and had just made a cup of tea when Bronwyn called to see if I was OK and we had a good long chat. She was telling me her new baby granddaughter stopped breathing the other night and had to be rushed to hospital. They kept her in overnight but could find nothing wrong but they now have to keep a close eye on her. She is looking after her daughter's dog, for the next two months, who has had a hip operation and as she can only take the dog out on the lead, even for a wee she will not be able to get out as much as she usually does so she said I can go over anytime for a coffee or a chat so that is very nice of her, too. Thanks heavens for friends and Totty.
The weather has picked up and was quite warm today but it is forecast to drop to 0 tonight so I lit the fire.
We had our fish and chips later and watched some TV. We are both looking forward to a lie in in the morning and have nothing other than a walk with the dog planned.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
How do I pick myself up.
I didn't sleep very well and was awake for a long time through the night. I keep telling myself to stop it and pull myself together but it isn't working.
We decided to have breakfast at a service area so set off, as soon as we were ready, on the drive back. I just could not stop crying and it seems to come over me in waves. Jon is not too happy either and when we stopped all he could manage was a coffee and I had a cup of tea.
The drive back was quiet considering rain and high winds were forecast so far they have not arrived. When we got into the house it was horrible, so quiet and we couldn't get Totty till 4.00. Jon washed the car and I made some soup but we couldn't manage it. I am sure it will get easier but it is so difficult. Jon didn't go back to the office. I took Heather's sheets off the bed and tidied up her room and bathroom and from what I can see she didn't forget anything!
We went out to get some kindling and take the recycling then back for a cup of tea and I put the photos on Facebook. I logged on to Heathrow arrivals and I see she will be an hour late arriving, don't know where the delay occurred.
We went to collect Totty so at least there is a bit more noise in the house and it does not feel so empty. I don't know what I would do without Totty.
I know Heather will be fine when she gets home she was looking forward to seeing all her friends and she has a busy life. I am sure that we, too, will be OK but having her around for seven weeks and we have been out to so many places and she has seen so much it is going to take time for me to get into the 'on my own' mode again. I have a busy week next week doing some fundraising things for Lions and I also start my Reflexology class next Thursday.
I have to start a course of strong antibiotics tonight for a gut infection I have but the chemist told me not to venture out when I am taking them so I couldn't start them until today. I hope they do the trick and the affects are not as dire as they tell me they could be!
Well Jon has lit the fire and we are going to watch TV and probably have an early night.
It is strange to think that we will have been to bed twice and Heather is still on a plane!
On the plus side we can now have the radiator in OUR bedroom!
We decided to have breakfast at a service area so set off, as soon as we were ready, on the drive back. I just could not stop crying and it seems to come over me in waves. Jon is not too happy either and when we stopped all he could manage was a coffee and I had a cup of tea.
The drive back was quiet considering rain and high winds were forecast so far they have not arrived. When we got into the house it was horrible, so quiet and we couldn't get Totty till 4.00. Jon washed the car and I made some soup but we couldn't manage it. I am sure it will get easier but it is so difficult. Jon didn't go back to the office. I took Heather's sheets off the bed and tidied up her room and bathroom and from what I can see she didn't forget anything!
We went out to get some kindling and take the recycling then back for a cup of tea and I put the photos on Facebook. I logged on to Heathrow arrivals and I see she will be an hour late arriving, don't know where the delay occurred.
We went to collect Totty so at least there is a bit more noise in the house and it does not feel so empty. I don't know what I would do without Totty.
I know Heather will be fine when she gets home she was looking forward to seeing all her friends and she has a busy life. I am sure that we, too, will be OK but having her around for seven weeks and we have been out to so many places and she has seen so much it is going to take time for me to get into the 'on my own' mode again. I have a busy week next week doing some fundraising things for Lions and I also start my Reflexology class next Thursday.
I have to start a course of strong antibiotics tonight for a gut infection I have but the chemist told me not to venture out when I am taking them so I couldn't start them until today. I hope they do the trick and the affects are not as dire as they tell me they could be!
Well Jon has lit the fire and we are going to watch TV and probably have an early night.
It is strange to think that we will have been to bed twice and Heather is still on a plane!
On the plus side we can now have the radiator in OUR bedroom!
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Heather's last day in New Zealand
We had a lot to see in Auckland and so we were all up early to make the most of the day.
Finishing Heather's packing was difficult as we could hardly close her case and she is five and a half kilos over - oh dear.
I was feeling OK until she asked me to do a room check to make sure she hadn't left anything and then it hit me and I could not hold back the tears.
We set off to take Totty to kennels first. Heather only had time to say a quick goodbye to her before the lady took her, reluctantly, away.
I had a lot of trouble with tears for most of the way to Auckland but just let them run down my face so Heather did not notice.
We stopped on the motorway just outside Auckland and had coffee and Heather had some nice French toast with cinnamon and maple syrup. (She has found, since coming to NZ, that she likes fish, passion fruit ice cream, minestrone soup, maple syrup and stir fry.)
We had no trouble finding our way to the city centre, it is not like driving in London, and we parked the car and went up the tower.
The lifts on the way up have a glass panel in the floor and also the door is glass and you can see out so I had to face the back wall! Although this tower is 23m higher than Sydney it is much smaller at the top and less spacious and I felt more nervous and my tummy was very odd and I could not go near the glass as it went down to the floor at the bottom (Sydney had a solid seat all around the outside edge so it felt better). We then got the next lift and went up to the higher floor and that was even less spacious so after a walk around and a few photos we went back down.
You could watch the people who do the jump and it was horrible to see but they all seemed happy going down. It is not a bungy jump just a sheer one drop right down to the bottom and you pay for it! When you see them going past you it gives you a really odd feeling.
Our next stop was down to the harbour where we visited Minus 5 ice bar. They kit you out in a thick jacket and mittens and then you go in but you can only stay for half an hour as it is so cold. You can have a cocktail or a mocktail and it is served in an ice glass which they say you can eat but I think that would be better on a hot day. We took lots of pics and had our drinks and then it was lovely to get out into the warm sunshine 17 degrees today!
We went across to the Maritime Museum and had a lovely lunch sitting in the sun, we really couldn't have asked for a better day weather wise.
From there we drove along the coast road to Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. They have a tank of stingrays and we arrived to see them being fed by hand by a girl in the tank with them. They were huge and live till they are about 40 and weigh 300 kilos.
We then went on a snow cat ride to see the King penguins which were lovely and they had some chicks which were all brown and fluffy and so cute but with really tiny heads.
After that we made out way to the hotel which was just ten minutes from the airport and we have stayed there before when we went to pick Totty up.
We checked in and Heather had a shower and washed her hair and we left for the airport at 7.45. I was feeling pretty miserable by this time but keeping the tears in check. On the way out of the hotel we bumped into the girl from Bury St Edmunds we had met last time we stayed here and she remembered us and we had a little chat.
The young man who checked Heather in had only just come on duty and he was really nice. Her case was overweight and he asked us to try and get it down a bit even if it meant she had to carry a jumper or something. We took a hoody our and a jumper and it still weighed 24.5 but he let it through. We managed to squeeze one into her had luggage and one into her handbag - phew! Otherwise we would have had to pay $70 kilo! What a nice young man. Jon then asked about the offer Air New Zealand have of paying some money to have an empty seat next to you. He told us that someone had paid for one and so Heather could have the isle seat next to that and she would not have anyone next to her. What a nice man all in all he saved us a lot of money - people are so nice over here.
Heather then had a Subway, all she wanted, and Jon had a hot lamb salad but I couldn't eat anything. Heather was due to board at 10.30 so we sat outside departures till 9.45 and then I said I though she ought to go through and then it was horrible. We cried so much and she was so upset, it makes me cry to write about it now. We had intended to get photo of her departing to finish off her scrapbook but we were all so upset the photo I quickly took is very fuzzy.
We waited till she had gone through security and then we had to leave. It felt horrible like we were abandoning her as her flight was not due out till 11.15 but we could not see her anymore so it was best to go.
When I got to the car I could hold in the tears no more and I wondered how I was going to manage without her as we have had such a good time and done so much. Seven weeks is a long time to have someone with you.
Back at the hotel we went straight to the room and Jon gave me a big cuddle but it didn't help - it hurts so much. Just like January all over again only worse.
Finishing Heather's packing was difficult as we could hardly close her case and she is five and a half kilos over - oh dear.
I was feeling OK until she asked me to do a room check to make sure she hadn't left anything and then it hit me and I could not hold back the tears.
We set off to take Totty to kennels first. Heather only had time to say a quick goodbye to her before the lady took her, reluctantly, away.
I had a lot of trouble with tears for most of the way to Auckland but just let them run down my face so Heather did not notice.
We stopped on the motorway just outside Auckland and had coffee and Heather had some nice French toast with cinnamon and maple syrup. (She has found, since coming to NZ, that she likes fish, passion fruit ice cream, minestrone soup, maple syrup and stir fry.)
We had no trouble finding our way to the city centre, it is not like driving in London, and we parked the car and went up the tower.
The lifts on the way up have a glass panel in the floor and also the door is glass and you can see out so I had to face the back wall! Although this tower is 23m higher than Sydney it is much smaller at the top and less spacious and I felt more nervous and my tummy was very odd and I could not go near the glass as it went down to the floor at the bottom (Sydney had a solid seat all around the outside edge so it felt better). We then got the next lift and went up to the higher floor and that was even less spacious so after a walk around and a few photos we went back down.
You could watch the people who do the jump and it was horrible to see but they all seemed happy going down. It is not a bungy jump just a sheer one drop right down to the bottom and you pay for it! When you see them going past you it gives you a really odd feeling.
Our next stop was down to the harbour where we visited Minus 5 ice bar. They kit you out in a thick jacket and mittens and then you go in but you can only stay for half an hour as it is so cold. You can have a cocktail or a mocktail and it is served in an ice glass which they say you can eat but I think that would be better on a hot day. We took lots of pics and had our drinks and then it was lovely to get out into the warm sunshine 17 degrees today!
We went across to the Maritime Museum and had a lovely lunch sitting in the sun, we really couldn't have asked for a better day weather wise.
From there we drove along the coast road to Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World. They have a tank of stingrays and we arrived to see them being fed by hand by a girl in the tank with them. They were huge and live till they are about 40 and weigh 300 kilos.
We then went on a snow cat ride to see the King penguins which were lovely and they had some chicks which were all brown and fluffy and so cute but with really tiny heads.
After that we made out way to the hotel which was just ten minutes from the airport and we have stayed there before when we went to pick Totty up.
We checked in and Heather had a shower and washed her hair and we left for the airport at 7.45. I was feeling pretty miserable by this time but keeping the tears in check. On the way out of the hotel we bumped into the girl from Bury St Edmunds we had met last time we stayed here and she remembered us and we had a little chat.
The young man who checked Heather in had only just come on duty and he was really nice. Her case was overweight and he asked us to try and get it down a bit even if it meant she had to carry a jumper or something. We took a hoody our and a jumper and it still weighed 24.5 but he let it through. We managed to squeeze one into her had luggage and one into her handbag - phew! Otherwise we would have had to pay $70 kilo! What a nice young man. Jon then asked about the offer Air New Zealand have of paying some money to have an empty seat next to you. He told us that someone had paid for one and so Heather could have the isle seat next to that and she would not have anyone next to her. What a nice man all in all he saved us a lot of money - people are so nice over here.
Heather then had a Subway, all she wanted, and Jon had a hot lamb salad but I couldn't eat anything. Heather was due to board at 10.30 so we sat outside departures till 9.45 and then I said I though she ought to go through and then it was horrible. We cried so much and she was so upset, it makes me cry to write about it now. We had intended to get photo of her departing to finish off her scrapbook but we were all so upset the photo I quickly took is very fuzzy.
We waited till she had gone through security and then we had to leave. It felt horrible like we were abandoning her as her flight was not due out till 11.15 but we could not see her anymore so it was best to go.
When I got to the car I could hold in the tears no more and I wondered how I was going to manage without her as we have had such a good time and done so much. Seven weeks is a long time to have someone with you.
Back at the hotel we went straight to the room and Jon gave me a big cuddle but it didn't help - it hurts so much. Just like January all over again only worse.
We have lots to do today.....
..... so I got up early and got ready and took Totty out, and it is another lovely day.
Heather was eventually ready and our first stop was to enrol me at night school for a reflexology course to be run for eight weeks 7-9 pm on Thursdays and only costs $60 (£24). It is at the Boys College which is about a ten minute drive from here and I have always fancied reflexology even though I don't much like feet!
We then went into Tauranga as Heather wanted to have one last white hot chocolate from a particular bar and I, of course, had my coffee.
Our camera has marks on the lens and I can't get them off so I went into a camera shop but they say they will have to send it away and it will take 4-6 weeks and cost a minimum of $200 with no guarantee so I am not sure what to do but the marks are getting really annoying
A wander round the shops for a few last minute souvenirs and then onto the library for a few books as I think I am going to have time to read again.
We then went to get some photos printed for Heather's scrapbook which is looking really good then a quick trip to the supermarket before going home for a bowl of soup.
We took Totty out to the park for a game of ball and to tire her out - I haven't told her she is going to kennels again tomorrow!
There is a shop in the Mount that sells lovely ice cream and so we went off to get one only to find they are now on winter hours and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but we found another shop round the corner that was open and I had a lovely passion fruit ice cream and Heather had hokey pokey and cookies and cream. We drove along the front and sat looking out to sea looking for dolphins but didn't see any.
Back at the house Heather is putting the finishing touches to her scrapbook and then we will finish her packing as we hope to get away by 8.00 in the morning so we have plenty of time in Auckland - I am really not looking forward to saying goodbye to her!!!!!
Heather was eventually ready and our first stop was to enrol me at night school for a reflexology course to be run for eight weeks 7-9 pm on Thursdays and only costs $60 (£24). It is at the Boys College which is about a ten minute drive from here and I have always fancied reflexology even though I don't much like feet!
We then went into Tauranga as Heather wanted to have one last white hot chocolate from a particular bar and I, of course, had my coffee.
Our camera has marks on the lens and I can't get them off so I went into a camera shop but they say they will have to send it away and it will take 4-6 weeks and cost a minimum of $200 with no guarantee so I am not sure what to do but the marks are getting really annoying
A wander round the shops for a few last minute souvenirs and then onto the library for a few books as I think I am going to have time to read again.
We then went to get some photos printed for Heather's scrapbook which is looking really good then a quick trip to the supermarket before going home for a bowl of soup.
We took Totty out to the park for a game of ball and to tire her out - I haven't told her she is going to kennels again tomorrow!
There is a shop in the Mount that sells lovely ice cream and so we went off to get one only to find they are now on winter hours and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but we found another shop round the corner that was open and I had a lovely passion fruit ice cream and Heather had hokey pokey and cookies and cream. We drove along the front and sat looking out to sea looking for dolphins but didn't see any.
Back at the house Heather is putting the finishing touches to her scrapbook and then we will finish her packing as we hope to get away by 8.00 in the morning so we have plenty of time in Auckland - I am really not looking forward to saying goodbye to her!!!!!
Monday, 20 July 2009
It was go, go, go for the helicopter today
We woke to lovely sunshine today and the man called to say the flight would go ahead so after a quick walk with Totty we were off to Tauranga airport.
I really did not fancy the helicopter flight and so I took the photos. It looked really small when they were sitting inside it waiting for the engine to rev up or whatever helicopters do to warm up. They took off and were given the chance to extend the flight while they were flying so they did and had a lovely time. The highlight for Heather was seeing dolphins quite near to the beach at the Mount.
Jon and I decided on Sunday to take Heather to Te Puia which is the most visited park in Rotorua but they do put on a good cultural show and as she had not seen any Maori traditions we thought we would go there.
We have discovered that if you say you are living in NZ you get into attractions cheaper even if you are English so that is what we do now.
Te Puia has the biggest geyser in Rotorua, Pohutu, and it goes off two or three times an hour and is very impressive. They also have a Maori village there to look around.
At the start of the show a Maori woman asks for a male tourist to be 'chief'. Jon and I knew this would happen having seen the show before and we had planned for him to put himself forward much to Heather's shock and our amusement. The chief's family also get front row seats in the 'Marea' which is a bonus. We really enjoyed the dancing and singing and particularly the Haka.
After that it was lunchtime and then off to the Redwood Forest to see if we could hire bikes for a ride but we couldn't find the right place so went off to see the Buried Village and the Blue and
Green Lakes.
The buried village was buried in the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 when the beautiful pink and white bathing terraces (these were a big tourist attraction) were also lost. It was a lovely walk around the village and it shows where the hotel was and also some reconstructed buried houses. It must have been so frightening for the people at the time as they would not have understood what was happening and the scale of it was enormous, very scary. 120 people were killed.
The walk takes you alongside a trout stream with lots of fish in it and although fast flowing is not deep. However, it leads to a lovely waterfall which is about a 30 ft drop and really pretty and as it was such a surprise I was really pleased for Heather to see it as it is the first high one she has seen.
Further along the road is a lookout over Lake Tarawera to the mountain and to see how far the lava must have flowed was really impressive.
On the way back we stopped at the Blue lake so called as the bottom is pumice and reflects blue and the green lake so called cos it is green but I don't know why! Both very peaceful though.
We were by this time getting really tired so headed off home. We have had three really busy days and although when writing about it, it doesn't seem much but believe me it was!
I helped Heather get some packing done. So far her case does not seem too heavy but I am sure once the last things go in she is going to be overweight!
I really did not fancy the helicopter flight and so I took the photos. It looked really small when they were sitting inside it waiting for the engine to rev up or whatever helicopters do to warm up. They took off and were given the chance to extend the flight while they were flying so they did and had a lovely time. The highlight for Heather was seeing dolphins quite near to the beach at the Mount.
Jon and I decided on Sunday to take Heather to Te Puia which is the most visited park in Rotorua but they do put on a good cultural show and as she had not seen any Maori traditions we thought we would go there.
We have discovered that if you say you are living in NZ you get into attractions cheaper even if you are English so that is what we do now.
Te Puia has the biggest geyser in Rotorua, Pohutu, and it goes off two or three times an hour and is very impressive. They also have a Maori village there to look around.
At the start of the show a Maori woman asks for a male tourist to be 'chief'. Jon and I knew this would happen having seen the show before and we had planned for him to put himself forward much to Heather's shock and our amusement. The chief's family also get front row seats in the 'Marea' which is a bonus. We really enjoyed the dancing and singing and particularly the Haka.
After that it was lunchtime and then off to the Redwood Forest to see if we could hire bikes for a ride but we couldn't find the right place so went off to see the Buried Village and the Blue and
Green Lakes.
The buried village was buried in the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 when the beautiful pink and white bathing terraces (these were a big tourist attraction) were also lost. It was a lovely walk around the village and it shows where the hotel was and also some reconstructed buried houses. It must have been so frightening for the people at the time as they would not have understood what was happening and the scale of it was enormous, very scary. 120 people were killed.
The walk takes you alongside a trout stream with lots of fish in it and although fast flowing is not deep. However, it leads to a lovely waterfall which is about a 30 ft drop and really pretty and as it was such a surprise I was really pleased for Heather to see it as it is the first high one she has seen.
Further along the road is a lookout over Lake Tarawera to the mountain and to see how far the lava must have flowed was really impressive.
On the way back we stopped at the Blue lake so called as the bottom is pumice and reflects blue and the green lake so called cos it is green but I don't know why! Both very peaceful though.
We were by this time getting really tired so headed off home. We have had three really busy days and although when writing about it, it doesn't seem much but believe me it was!
I helped Heather get some packing done. So far her case does not seem too heavy but I am sure once the last things go in she is going to be overweight!
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Too windy for the helicopter....
.... so it was cancelled again and we went off to Orakei Korako another thermal village near Taupo and then onto Craters of the Moon. We were so busy all day I think we will sleep for weeks when Heather leaves.
The first thermal park was way off the beaten track and across a lake on a short ferry ride and it was really pretty. It took about an hour and a half to get round looking at all the silicaterraces made by the geysers and hot springs. There is also a geothermal cave with a small pond in the bottom and it is said to make your jewellery clean so Heather cleaned all of hers and true to say they did look shiny. You go down some very steep steps to get to the bottom and it was hard on the legs coming back up again!
After the park we went into Taupo for lunch before going to Craters of the Moon. This is a huge flatish area with lots of steaming craters and you walk around on boardwalks. There are lovely views and it is quite different to the other parks and not so commercial.
We then had a long drive home getting here about 6.00 - poor Totty was more than ready for her dinner.
The first thermal park was way off the beaten track and across a lake on a short ferry ride and it was really pretty. It took about an hour and a half to get round looking at all the silicaterraces made by the geysers and hot springs. There is also a geothermal cave with a small pond in the bottom and it is said to make your jewellery clean so Heather cleaned all of hers and true to say they did look shiny. You go down some very steep steps to get to the bottom and it was hard on the legs coming back up again!
After the park we went into Taupo for lunch before going to Craters of the Moon. This is a huge flatish area with lots of steaming craters and you walk around on boardwalks. There are lovely views and it is quite different to the other parks and not so commercial.
We then had a long drive home getting here about 6.00 - poor Totty was more than ready for her dinner.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
A visit to the Kiwi Park
It was pouring with rain this morning so the helicopter flight was cancelled and has been put in for tomorrow morning - fingers crossed.
We had to go over to Bay Fair this morning to the pharmacy as Heather has conjunctivitis in one eye and I didn't want it to spread to the other. We got some eye drops for $16 and they have to go in her eye every two hours much to her disgust. We had time for coffee and a muffin then set off to the Kiwi park in Rotorua in the rain!
It is quite a small park but well set out and as I told the ticket office we were from Tauranga (well we are British living there) we got an annual Bay of Plenty pass for less than the price of three adults so we had a bargain day. Jon and I will go back there again in the summer as they do night/evening walks and we would like to see more kiwis. We did manage to see one in a nocturnal enclosure and they look very clumsy but cute. After a cold walk around the park looking at other native birds and lots of fish, mainly trout, we went into Rotorua for lunch at the Fat Dog again, it is very good there.
We then visited the Rotorua Museum which was very good and we watched a film about the Tarawera volcano eruption in 1886 with movement!!! which gave everyone a fright but it was very good. The building used to be a healing bath house, probably one of the first health farms in NZ. I think Jon and I will go back again as there is a lot to see.
We walked up to the roof tower and had a look out over Rotorua. There is soooo much to see in Rotorua.
We didn't get home till 5.30 just as well it was only a stir fry for dinner.
Fingers crossed for the helicopter ride tomorrow.
Heather's eye is looking much better. Shame Totty hasn't had a walk for two days.
We had to go over to Bay Fair this morning to the pharmacy as Heather has conjunctivitis in one eye and I didn't want it to spread to the other. We got some eye drops for $16 and they have to go in her eye every two hours much to her disgust. We had time for coffee and a muffin then set off to the Kiwi park in Rotorua in the rain!
It is quite a small park but well set out and as I told the ticket office we were from Tauranga (well we are British living there) we got an annual Bay of Plenty pass for less than the price of three adults so we had a bargain day. Jon and I will go back there again in the summer as they do night/evening walks and we would like to see more kiwis. We did manage to see one in a nocturnal enclosure and they look very clumsy but cute. After a cold walk around the park looking at other native birds and lots of fish, mainly trout, we went into Rotorua for lunch at the Fat Dog again, it is very good there.
We then visited the Rotorua Museum which was very good and we watched a film about the Tarawera volcano eruption in 1886 with movement!!! which gave everyone a fright but it was very good. The building used to be a healing bath house, probably one of the first health farms in NZ. I think Jon and I will go back again as there is a lot to see.
We walked up to the roof tower and had a look out over Rotorua. There is soooo much to see in Rotorua.
We didn't get home till 5.30 just as well it was only a stir fry for dinner.
Fingers crossed for the helicopter ride tomorrow.
Heather's eye is looking much better. Shame Totty hasn't had a walk for two days.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Jon was up amd off very early......
..... for a day trip to Wellington but I didn't hear him go.
The dog has been getting me up at least twice a night to go out for a wee (or more) and it is driving me mad I don't know what to do about it as nothing has changed.
We finally got out to do the shopping and brought it back and then went out to the Mount for lunch at Gusto which was very good. We were going to have an ice cream after that but we were too full so that will have to wait until Tuesday as Jon is off for the next three days and we have plans. The helicopter ride for tomorrow has been cancelled due to bad weather and it may happen on Sunday instead.
We managed to get the recycling done as it was building up in the garage.
It was so wet today we didn't get out with Totty which is a shame as she makes me feel so guilty but she wouldn't go out in the rain if I took her.
I finally have all my ironing up to date and managed to fit a bit of housework in, too.
Jon was back on time but had a bumpy flight back as it was wet and windy.
It is fish and chips tonight and Heather says she is going to miss it when she gets home. Maybe she will start eating more fish in England now.
The dog has been getting me up at least twice a night to go out for a wee (or more) and it is driving me mad I don't know what to do about it as nothing has changed.
We finally got out to do the shopping and brought it back and then went out to the Mount for lunch at Gusto which was very good. We were going to have an ice cream after that but we were too full so that will have to wait until Tuesday as Jon is off for the next three days and we have plans. The helicopter ride for tomorrow has been cancelled due to bad weather and it may happen on Sunday instead.
We managed to get the recycling done as it was building up in the garage.
It was so wet today we didn't get out with Totty which is a shame as she makes me feel so guilty but she wouldn't go out in the rain if I took her.
I finally have all my ironing up to date and managed to fit a bit of housework in, too.
Jon was back on time but had a bumpy flight back as it was wet and windy.
It is fish and chips tonight and Heather says she is going to miss it when she gets home. Maybe she will start eating more fish in England now.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
This time next week Heather will be on the plane......
........ and we will be driving back from Auckland and I will be wondering what to do with myself.
Although they say the earthquake in the South island could be felt up here we did not feel it but then with the Harry Potter sound effects at the end of the film it was no wonder. Fortunately damage was limited to bottles falling of shop shelves and no people were hurt.
It really rained hard last night and was raining this morning till about 10.00. I made an appointment at the doctors as I have been having really bad tummy pains for a few weeks now. He did some blood tests and thinks I may have a gut infection and has given me some medication to take and I need to go back next week, so we will see how they work. Only thing is they may have a bad effect on me so the pharmacist suggests I don't go too far away from the bathroom so I don't think I will start them till I get back from Auckland!
I did some shopping today for my nephew's children who both have birthdays coming up and I got one of the presents into the post between looking in more shops with Heather.
This evening Heather and I watched a film. Jon had an early night as his flight to Wellington tomorrow is at 7.05 tomorrow and he will be back by the evening.
Although they say the earthquake in the South island could be felt up here we did not feel it but then with the Harry Potter sound effects at the end of the film it was no wonder. Fortunately damage was limited to bottles falling of shop shelves and no people were hurt.
It really rained hard last night and was raining this morning till about 10.00. I made an appointment at the doctors as I have been having really bad tummy pains for a few weeks now. He did some blood tests and thinks I may have a gut infection and has given me some medication to take and I need to go back next week, so we will see how they work. Only thing is they may have a bad effect on me so the pharmacist suggests I don't go too far away from the bathroom so I don't think I will start them till I get back from Auckland!
I did some shopping today for my nephew's children who both have birthdays coming up and I got one of the presents into the post between looking in more shops with Heather.
This evening Heather and I watched a film. Jon had an early night as his flight to Wellington tomorrow is at 7.05 tomorrow and he will be back by the evening.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Harry Potter day today
We had to go to Bayfair this morning and Heather had a very nice haircut for £25.
We then had the usual morning coffee and chocolate and trying more dresses and tops on and I bought a very nice wrap over top in a mink colour.
We had lunch and then had to go to the library as I had let the books become overdue and I needed to pay the fine as they would not let me renew them.
I have never shopped so much as I have since Heather has been here and we now know all the shops very well.
We got back and took Totty out for a walk and then it was time to go and see Harry Potter. It was very long and for most part I didn't know what was going on which was not helped by the group of young girls behind us who hardly stopped chatting all through the film even after Heather telling them to be quiet twice. Heather really enjoyed the film but then she has seen all the others so knew what was going on.
We then got Domino pizza and went home.
We then had the usual morning coffee and chocolate and trying more dresses and tops on and I bought a very nice wrap over top in a mink colour.
We had lunch and then had to go to the library as I had let the books become overdue and I needed to pay the fine as they would not let me renew them.
I have never shopped so much as I have since Heather has been here and we now know all the shops very well.
We got back and took Totty out for a walk and then it was time to go and see Harry Potter. It was very long and for most part I didn't know what was going on which was not helped by the group of young girls behind us who hardly stopped chatting all through the film even after Heather telling them to be quiet twice. Heather really enjoyed the film but then she has seen all the others so knew what was going on.
We then got Domino pizza and went home.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Tuesday and what shall we do today?
I really must do my blog everyday as for the life of me I can't remember what we did.
I know we went to the office to see where Jon spends his time and we met a few people there.
We then came home and had fish finger sandwiches for lunch which Heather loves.
And I don't know what we did in the afternoon!!!!!!
I had my Lions meeting in the evening which went on longer than usual but it was good and it is nice chatting with the women. they have lots of things organised for fundraising which I think are going to be a lot of hard work.
I know we went to the office to see where Jon spends his time and we met a few people there.
We then came home and had fish finger sandwiches for lunch which Heather loves.
And I don't know what we did in the afternoon!!!!!!
I had my Lions meeting in the evening which went on longer than usual but it was good and it is nice chatting with the women. they have lots of things organised for fundraising which I think are going to be a lot of hard work.
Monday, 13 July 2009
I can't believe how fast the time is flying by
Only a week and a day before we have to take Heather to Auckland - it only seems like yesterday that she arrived!
We were supposed to go to the hot pools this morning but it was so cold and they are outdoors we thought we would wait for a better day even if it is next year!
I managed to get my washing done and dry this morning which saved using the tumble dryer. As Heather spent a lot of time on the computer this morning I also managed to get my hair dye done - something I hate doing.
We went out to Tauranga to the dressmaker to get a new zip put in Heather's bright blue skinny jeans which she loves. I also took my new bargain jacket that I bought two weeks ago to the shop as I had managed to zip it up wrong and could not get it open properly. Fortunately for me the dressmaker was able to fix it for me at no charge.
We got back in time for Jon coming home for lunch and had toasted sandwiches.
This afternoon we went over to a shop that sells possum products to have a look at the sale but they didn't have anything we liked. Heather had some more photos printed for her scrapbook which is looking very good. I just hope we can fit everything in her case and it does not weigh too much!
Heather suggested I try Totty with a harness in the car as she jumps about so much so the other day we bought one and today was the first time she had used it. We drove to the beach at Papamoa and she was quite good and stood still but she did not look a happy dog.
We had a lovely walk on the beach and met a lady with a six month old Yorkshire terrier which ran around chasing Totty and they had a lovely time. Totty then went into her chasing shells and digging mode and once again dug holes all along the beach. On the way back we met a lady with a lovely two year old golden Labrador who had a good play with Totty so much so she has not moved much this evening.
Jon is into his jigsaw that the girls bought him for his birthday but the cloth we have to do it on is not very good at rolling it up and so he has to put it all together again every time he gets it out. I think we are going to have to look for a big bit of wood to put it on before he gets too far on with it.
He came home tonight telling me he has to go to Melbourne again on 28 July overnight which I am not very happy about as Heather will have just left. It is also my Lions night but I don't think I fancy going out and coming back late up a dark drive into a cold, empty house so much for visits every four months!!!!
We were supposed to go to the hot pools this morning but it was so cold and they are outdoors we thought we would wait for a better day even if it is next year!
I managed to get my washing done and dry this morning which saved using the tumble dryer. As Heather spent a lot of time on the computer this morning I also managed to get my hair dye done - something I hate doing.
We went out to Tauranga to the dressmaker to get a new zip put in Heather's bright blue skinny jeans which she loves. I also took my new bargain jacket that I bought two weeks ago to the shop as I had managed to zip it up wrong and could not get it open properly. Fortunately for me the dressmaker was able to fix it for me at no charge.
We got back in time for Jon coming home for lunch and had toasted sandwiches.
This afternoon we went over to a shop that sells possum products to have a look at the sale but they didn't have anything we liked. Heather had some more photos printed for her scrapbook which is looking very good. I just hope we can fit everything in her case and it does not weigh too much!
Heather suggested I try Totty with a harness in the car as she jumps about so much so the other day we bought one and today was the first time she had used it. We drove to the beach at Papamoa and she was quite good and stood still but she did not look a happy dog.
We had a lovely walk on the beach and met a lady with a six month old Yorkshire terrier which ran around chasing Totty and they had a lovely time. Totty then went into her chasing shells and digging mode and once again dug holes all along the beach. On the way back we met a lady with a lovely two year old golden Labrador who had a good play with Totty so much so she has not moved much this evening.
Jon is into his jigsaw that the girls bought him for his birthday but the cloth we have to do it on is not very good at rolling it up and so he has to put it all together again every time he gets it out. I think we are going to have to look for a big bit of wood to put it on before he gets too far on with it.
He came home tonight telling me he has to go to Melbourne again on 28 July overnight which I am not very happy about as Heather will have just left. It is also my Lions night but I don't think I fancy going out and coming back late up a dark drive into a cold, empty house so much for visits every four months!!!!
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Sunday and the weather was set to be bad.....
........but it was a nice day.
It rained so much last night and was so loud on the roof I thought I would never get to sleep but I did and when I was woken by the dog at 5.30, as she needed to go out, it was raining quite gently.
This morning we had all decided to have a lie in and not rush about but it turned out to be a mistake as the weather was good and we should really have had an early start and gone off somewhere. As it was we didn't get out till about 12.30 and drove down to Whakatane. It was a pleasant drive down the coast to this small town with a large population of Maori and Dutch people.
Much to Heather's delight we had a Subway for lunch and then drove down to the beach. It was very cold and windy and the ocean was very rough but there were still people surfing - mad.
We got home in time for a cup of tea and lit the fire so it was nice and cosy.
I am really beginning to feel I need a rest but I am not looking forward to Heather leaving, only 10 days left.
This evening I have enjoyed looking at Philip and Hayley's wedding photos online. I am sure Mary must be very excited about Kathryn's forthcoming wedding and then she will be looking forward to the grandchildren.
It rained so much last night and was so loud on the roof I thought I would never get to sleep but I did and when I was woken by the dog at 5.30, as she needed to go out, it was raining quite gently.
This morning we had all decided to have a lie in and not rush about but it turned out to be a mistake as the weather was good and we should really have had an early start and gone off somewhere. As it was we didn't get out till about 12.30 and drove down to Whakatane. It was a pleasant drive down the coast to this small town with a large population of Maori and Dutch people.
Much to Heather's delight we had a Subway for lunch and then drove down to the beach. It was very cold and windy and the ocean was very rough but there were still people surfing - mad.
We got home in time for a cup of tea and lit the fire so it was nice and cosy.
I am really beginning to feel I need a rest but I am not looking forward to Heather leaving, only 10 days left.
This evening I have enjoyed looking at Philip and Hayley's wedding photos online. I am sure Mary must be very excited about Kathryn's forthcoming wedding and then she will be looking forward to the grandchildren.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Saturday and the weather was not good.
One of the first things Heather did this morning was book for Harry Potter as the tickets were put online this morning. We managed to book for Wednesday at 6.00 but we might be hungry as it is 2.35 long.
After breakfast and walking the dog we set off to visit the Fountain Gardens just north of Tauranga. The forecast was for heavy rain in the afternoon so we though we might manage to see something.
We missed the turn for the gardens and so carried on to visit Wahi which is very pretty but by the time we arrived it was starting to rain and I was the only one to venture out of the car to take a picture of the beach.
On the way back we dropped in to see the Fountain Gardens which are very pretty but as Heather is sick of hearing 'Will be much prettier in the summer'
We carried on toward Tauranga and went to Bethlehem for lunch a small suburb of Tauranga.
We then carried on to Papamoa to get some refill scrapbook pages for the scrapbook Heather is making of her time here.
By the time we got back we had managed to wast a whole day doing nothing much - I really don't like the winter here even if it is the worst they have had for 15 years it really stops you from doing things.
We lit the fire and played Guess Who as it was now raining really hard and no chance of taking Totty for her afternoon walk.
We had a lovely roast dinner and watched Shrek 3 and so it goes on! Here is hoping for better weather tomorrow!
After breakfast and walking the dog we set off to visit the Fountain Gardens just north of Tauranga. The forecast was for heavy rain in the afternoon so we though we might manage to see something.
We missed the turn for the gardens and so carried on to visit Wahi which is very pretty but by the time we arrived it was starting to rain and I was the only one to venture out of the car to take a picture of the beach.
On the way back we dropped in to see the Fountain Gardens which are very pretty but as Heather is sick of hearing 'Will be much prettier in the summer'
We carried on toward Tauranga and went to Bethlehem for lunch a small suburb of Tauranga.
We then carried on to Papamoa to get some refill scrapbook pages for the scrapbook Heather is making of her time here.
By the time we got back we had managed to wast a whole day doing nothing much - I really don't like the winter here even if it is the worst they have had for 15 years it really stops you from doing things.
We lit the fire and played Guess Who as it was now raining really hard and no chance of taking Totty for her afternoon walk.
We had a lovely roast dinner and watched Shrek 3 and so it goes on! Here is hoping for better weather tomorrow!
Friday, 10 July 2009
Friday and another lovely sunny day
We popped into town to do some souvenir shopping this morning before going to do the weekly shop. I now have so much stuff in my cupboards that Heather could live on it until she leaves.
We had a lovely fish finger pannini for lunch today. I can't remember the last time I had a fish finger sandwich but it was very good.
As it was such a lovely day we thought we would take a drive along the coast towards Whakatane but we only got as far as Kiwi 360 and stopped in the souvenir shop for ages and by the time we had finished it was too late to go any further. We have managed to waste so much time over the last six weeks but it has been a lot of fun doing so.
We got back home and fed the dog before taking her out for a walk.
It was nice to light the fire and just sit down and enjoy a cup of tea while Heather made Lollie cake. This is a typical NZ cake made with malt biscuits, butter, condensed milk and Eskimo shaped sweets (huge jelly baby shaped sweets that are like marshmallows) and a million calories! She discovered it the second week here and has been addicted since and now she knows how to make it I will have to send her parcels of Eskimos to UK.
Jon arrived home at 7.45 and brought our fish and chips with him. He had a good trip to Melbourne and thinks we should visit and have a look around, he will have to go over there every four months or so.
We had a lovely fish finger pannini for lunch today. I can't remember the last time I had a fish finger sandwich but it was very good.
As it was such a lovely day we thought we would take a drive along the coast towards Whakatane but we only got as far as Kiwi 360 and stopped in the souvenir shop for ages and by the time we had finished it was too late to go any further. We have managed to waste so much time over the last six weeks but it has been a lot of fun doing so.
We got back home and fed the dog before taking her out for a walk.
It was nice to light the fire and just sit down and enjoy a cup of tea while Heather made Lollie cake. This is a typical NZ cake made with malt biscuits, butter, condensed milk and Eskimo shaped sweets (huge jelly baby shaped sweets that are like marshmallows) and a million calories! She discovered it the second week here and has been addicted since and now she knows how to make it I will have to send her parcels of Eskimos to UK.
Jon arrived home at 7.45 and brought our fish and chips with him. He had a good trip to Melbourne and thinks we should visit and have a look around, he will have to go over there every four months or so.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Wednesday and Thursday
Katikati Museum is a little museum that Jon and I had been saving for a rainy day as the lady there had told us you could spend up to three hours there. Well it wasn't a rainy day but it was cold and dull and I wanted Heather to see the murals in Katikati so I took her to the museum first telling her we would only be there about 40 minutes or so as Jon and I would go back at a later date and then go for lunch - WRONG!!!!!!
What the lady did not tell Jon and I was that she gave you the tour of the museum showing you the things SHE thought were interesting and treated Heather like a 10 year old. She showed us the downstairs and kept trying to make eye contact with Heather and saying 'I try to explain this to all the young ones but it is hard'. To cut a very long and funny story short with her showing us old gramophone players and magic lantern shows with all the different voices and accordion sound effects we finally finished the downstairs and she told us to go upstairs where we thought we could look around at our leisure. Oh no! Her husband (who was about 90) was waiting to show us an 8 minute VIDEO of an old man talking about his first job working for the Forestry Department starting when he was 16. He told us it was a beautiful video that we WOULD love!
After that I would have liked to look around at all the old things that were mostly brought out from Britain a hundred years ago when the settlers came out but he wanted to talk about the things that interested him. I politely told him we were running out of time and we moved on to the 'milking parlour' where there was a plastic life size model of a cow being milked. He gave me a ball of, what looked like dirty play dough and asked me to guess what it was. I told him I had no idea and he so he eventually told me it was a hairball that was taken from a cow's stomach!!! Ugh! By this time Heather and I were finding it hard to keep a straight face - that or cry I thought. After seeing a one hundred year old washing machine, which he switched on for us and an old kiwi fruit grader we managed to make our escape.
It was by now 2.00 and we were very hungry so went off to find a place to eat. Jon had said he would like to visit the museum and what a shame he had to go to Melbourne. I rang him at the airport and told him he had had a lucky escape.
After lunch and a walk around Katikati we went to Omokoroa beach to have a look at the ferry that goes across to Matakana Island which is the big Maori settlement.
It was then back to the house and out with Totty for a walk dropping in on Bronwyn on the way back. She has just had three heat pumps installed in her house and it was so cosy and I am very jealous. We hope to meet up with her next week for coffee.
We had Domino's Pizza tonight and I had one with a puff pastry crust and it was very good.
Jon called to say he had arrived safely in Oz.
Thursday. What a beautiful day again.
Totty was smelling pretty bad after her confrontation with a wave on the beach the other day so we took her over to Kiwi Pets for a bath and now she smells much better.
This afternoon we went over to get Alison to walk up the Mount it was a beautiful clear day with not a cloud in the sky and quite warm, 14c. Alison is a lovely lady and very interesting and knows all sorts about NZ and the Maori people and Heather really enjoyed listening to her. The walk up the Mount is steep but we all made it and Heather was very impressed with the views. It was really warm and Alison said this is the sort of winter day they are more used to than all the rain that we have had.
Back down at the bottom with very wobbly legs we sat in a cafe and had a nice cup of tea before going home.
Walking up our drive I met my neighbour Kim and we had a chat as she has just come back from her mother's in Auckland. The phone was ringing when we got in and it was Alison to tell me that she had found a bag of cat biscuits and a note from Bronwyn to say that her daughter had had a baby girl this morning and they had gone up to Auckland and could she feed the cat please - just as well Bronwyn didn't come up the Mount with us. She is calling her Gabriella Sophie.
We went into Taurang to try and book Harry Potter tickets but they are not on sale until Saturday, Heather wants to see it on the first day so she sees it before they do in UK by 12 hours.
We had our dinner and then watched Sleepless in Seattle which I had recorded a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it but Heather was not impresses but then it is an old film.
And now I am writing my blog as I am two days behind and thought I had better get it done.
What the lady did not tell Jon and I was that she gave you the tour of the museum showing you the things SHE thought were interesting and treated Heather like a 10 year old. She showed us the downstairs and kept trying to make eye contact with Heather and saying 'I try to explain this to all the young ones but it is hard'. To cut a very long and funny story short with her showing us old gramophone players and magic lantern shows with all the different voices and accordion sound effects we finally finished the downstairs and she told us to go upstairs where we thought we could look around at our leisure. Oh no! Her husband (who was about 90) was waiting to show us an 8 minute VIDEO of an old man talking about his first job working for the Forestry Department starting when he was 16. He told us it was a beautiful video that we WOULD love!
After that I would have liked to look around at all the old things that were mostly brought out from Britain a hundred years ago when the settlers came out but he wanted to talk about the things that interested him. I politely told him we were running out of time and we moved on to the 'milking parlour' where there was a plastic life size model of a cow being milked. He gave me a ball of, what looked like dirty play dough and asked me to guess what it was. I told him I had no idea and he so he eventually told me it was a hairball that was taken from a cow's stomach!!! Ugh! By this time Heather and I were finding it hard to keep a straight face - that or cry I thought. After seeing a one hundred year old washing machine, which he switched on for us and an old kiwi fruit grader we managed to make our escape.
It was by now 2.00 and we were very hungry so went off to find a place to eat. Jon had said he would like to visit the museum and what a shame he had to go to Melbourne. I rang him at the airport and told him he had had a lucky escape.
After lunch and a walk around Katikati we went to Omokoroa beach to have a look at the ferry that goes across to Matakana Island which is the big Maori settlement.
It was then back to the house and out with Totty for a walk dropping in on Bronwyn on the way back. She has just had three heat pumps installed in her house and it was so cosy and I am very jealous. We hope to meet up with her next week for coffee.
We had Domino's Pizza tonight and I had one with a puff pastry crust and it was very good.
Jon called to say he had arrived safely in Oz.
Thursday. What a beautiful day again.
Totty was smelling pretty bad after her confrontation with a wave on the beach the other day so we took her over to Kiwi Pets for a bath and now she smells much better.
This afternoon we went over to get Alison to walk up the Mount it was a beautiful clear day with not a cloud in the sky and quite warm, 14c. Alison is a lovely lady and very interesting and knows all sorts about NZ and the Maori people and Heather really enjoyed listening to her. The walk up the Mount is steep but we all made it and Heather was very impressed with the views. It was really warm and Alison said this is the sort of winter day they are more used to than all the rain that we have had.
Back down at the bottom with very wobbly legs we sat in a cafe and had a nice cup of tea before going home.
Walking up our drive I met my neighbour Kim and we had a chat as she has just come back from her mother's in Auckland. The phone was ringing when we got in and it was Alison to tell me that she had found a bag of cat biscuits and a note from Bronwyn to say that her daughter had had a baby girl this morning and they had gone up to Auckland and could she feed the cat please - just as well Bronwyn didn't come up the Mount with us. She is calling her Gabriella Sophie.
We went into Taurang to try and book Harry Potter tickets but they are not on sale until Saturday, Heather wants to see it on the first day so she sees it before they do in UK by 12 hours.
We had our dinner and then watched Sleepless in Seattle which I had recorded a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it but Heather was not impresses but then it is an old film.
And now I am writing my blog as I am two days behind and thought I had better get it done.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Monday and Tuesday
I really needed to catch up with some washing so we had an 'at home' morning today.
In the afternoon we went over to Bay Fair and looked around the shops and printed some photos off for the scrapbook Heather is making.
I don't know what we do some days as they pass by so fast but we enjoy ourselves.
Tuesday morning we went over to Cherrywood which is a small suburb on the other side of Tauranga. We had coffee, chocolate and a white chocolate and berry muffin all very fattening but very good.
We then went for a walk along the beach before going to meet the lady in the pet shop to ask about home care for Totty instead of kennels. she is going to get back to me about a local lady who may be able to take her.
This afternoon we went over to Welcome Bay for a walk.
I tried to make the garlic spaghetti like I had in Hamilton. It was good but not as good as over there.
We are trying to sort out a visit to Taupo to the mountains and see some snow but as it is school holidays all the hotels, except the expensive ones, are booked so it may have to wait until the following weekend.
Jon is off to Melbourne tomorrow till Friday so Heather is looking forward to Domino Pizza! Not sure I am!
In the afternoon we went over to Bay Fair and looked around the shops and printed some photos off for the scrapbook Heather is making.
I don't know what we do some days as they pass by so fast but we enjoy ourselves.
Tuesday morning we went over to Cherrywood which is a small suburb on the other side of Tauranga. We had coffee, chocolate and a white chocolate and berry muffin all very fattening but very good.
We then went for a walk along the beach before going to meet the lady in the pet shop to ask about home care for Totty instead of kennels. she is going to get back to me about a local lady who may be able to take her.
This afternoon we went over to Welcome Bay for a walk.
I tried to make the garlic spaghetti like I had in Hamilton. It was good but not as good as over there.
We are trying to sort out a visit to Taupo to the mountains and see some snow but as it is school holidays all the hotels, except the expensive ones, are booked so it may have to wait until the following weekend.
Jon is off to Melbourne tomorrow till Friday so Heather is looking forward to Domino Pizza! Not sure I am!
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Glow in the dark golf
It was a bit of a dull day again and we couldn't make up our minds what to do. After a late start we went out for lunch and then onto The Rock House which is a wall climbing centre and also has glow in the dark crazy golf. Heather did wall climbing for her Duke of Edinburgh so we went along to have a look. We will put it on the back burner for the next rainy day. However, we did try the glow in the dark golf which was dangerous but fun!
We came back to feed Totty and then went back to Taurangs to the cinema and watched Ice Age 3 which was good. We had intended to go out to eat but it was too early so instead we went to the supermarket and bought some bone steaks and crusty bread and had dinner at home and very nice it was too.
We came back to feed Totty and then went back to Taurangs to the cinema and watched Ice Age 3 which was good. We had intended to go out to eat but it was too early so instead we went to the supermarket and bought some bone steaks and crusty bread and had dinner at home and very nice it was too.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Hamilton
The forecast was for rain in Tauranga and fine in Hamilton until 3.00 so we took a chance on Hamilton and fared pretty well.
Our first stop was at Hamilton Gardens on the outskirts of the town and they are very big. They were very pretty but I am sure will be much better in the spring/summer so Jon and I will have to visit again. There are lots of little gardens to visit within the one big one and we saw a lot of them but not all.
We then went into the city and made our way to Scott's Restaurant which is recommended in the Lonely Planet Guide, it was by this time raining and it wasn't 3.00! We found Scott's which was small and very busy but we got a table. I ordered the garlic spaghetti which they are famous for and it was very good and very garlicky and only $9 which is less than £4.00. Heather had a pannini and Jon had a sort of bubble and squeak with Mediterranean meats - all very good. We then shared a piece of very good chocolate cake with fresh fruit berries and yogurt yummy!
We then braved the rain but managed to find a huge shopping centre, well by NZ standards it is huge and I haven't seen so many shops for a few months. When we need to buy clothes it will be worth going over there on a Saturday as it only takes about an hour.
We set off home and it had stopped raining and we had a good journey until we got to the Kaima Hills and the cloud was so low as we were going over them it was like night fog and horrible. Heather has been on that road seven times since she has been here and only once has she been able to see the lovely view from the top. However, we got home safely and Totty was happy to see us and ready for her dinner.
Our first stop was at Hamilton Gardens on the outskirts of the town and they are very big. They were very pretty but I am sure will be much better in the spring/summer so Jon and I will have to visit again. There are lots of little gardens to visit within the one big one and we saw a lot of them but not all.
We then went into the city and made our way to Scott's Restaurant which is recommended in the Lonely Planet Guide, it was by this time raining and it wasn't 3.00! We found Scott's which was small and very busy but we got a table. I ordered the garlic spaghetti which they are famous for and it was very good and very garlicky and only $9 which is less than £4.00. Heather had a pannini and Jon had a sort of bubble and squeak with Mediterranean meats - all very good. We then shared a piece of very good chocolate cake with fresh fruit berries and yogurt yummy!
We then braved the rain but managed to find a huge shopping centre, well by NZ standards it is huge and I haven't seen so many shops for a few months. When we need to buy clothes it will be worth going over there on a Saturday as it only takes about an hour.
We set off home and it had stopped raining and we had a good journey until we got to the Kaima Hills and the cloud was so low as we were going over them it was like night fog and horrible. Heather has been on that road seven times since she has been here and only once has she been able to see the lovely view from the top. However, we got home safely and Totty was happy to see us and ready for her dinner.
Friday, 3 July 2009
And the sun is still shinning.....
....even after some torrential rain overnight.
We went to the Tourist Information Office to see if we could find something to do for this weekend which is forecast to be wet. We didn't find anything but think we may head over Hamilton way and see what we can find. Heather would like to go down to the south of Lake Taupo to see the snow but as it is the start of school holidays this weekend we will leave it till next week. We might go right across to Raglan which is on the west coast - it all depends on the weather.
We then did the shopping and got back in time for lunch with Jon.
As it was a good day we took Totty down to Papamoa beach and the tide was high. We walked along collecting some lovely shells - something Heather can't resist since a little girl. Heather threw a big shell for Totty and she chased it and then started to dig in the sand to try and get it. If you have Facebook you can see the video on my page, it was so funny as she did it all along the beach with the same shell every time we threw it for her. We walked a long way then turned round and by this time we had quite a collection of shells but we came to a spot on the beach that had a huge amount of really pretty shells and Heather and I were bending down to look at them when the biggest wave washed up on the beach and soaked us from the knees down and covered Totty. We were so wet. Heather at least had her wellies on and it had gone over the top but it had completely swamped me and my shoes were full of water and we could not stop laughing, so funny.
We drove back with wet shoes and had to have a quick change just as well it was a warm day.
A cup of tea and a rest with my feet up and a quick read and I was fine again.
Fish and chips tonight and it was really good again. The fire is lit and it is now cosy and we are ready for the rain again tomorrow.
We went to the Tourist Information Office to see if we could find something to do for this weekend which is forecast to be wet. We didn't find anything but think we may head over Hamilton way and see what we can find. Heather would like to go down to the south of Lake Taupo to see the snow but as it is the start of school holidays this weekend we will leave it till next week. We might go right across to Raglan which is on the west coast - it all depends on the weather.
We then did the shopping and got back in time for lunch with Jon.
As it was a good day we took Totty down to Papamoa beach and the tide was high. We walked along collecting some lovely shells - something Heather can't resist since a little girl. Heather threw a big shell for Totty and she chased it and then started to dig in the sand to try and get it. If you have Facebook you can see the video on my page, it was so funny as she did it all along the beach with the same shell every time we threw it for her. We walked a long way then turned round and by this time we had quite a collection of shells but we came to a spot on the beach that had a huge amount of really pretty shells and Heather and I were bending down to look at them when the biggest wave washed up on the beach and soaked us from the knees down and covered Totty. We were so wet. Heather at least had her wellies on and it had gone over the top but it had completely swamped me and my shoes were full of water and we could not stop laughing, so funny.
We drove back with wet shoes and had to have a quick change just as well it was a warm day.
A cup of tea and a rest with my feet up and a quick read and I was fine again.
Fish and chips tonight and it was really good again. The fire is lit and it is now cosy and we are ready for the rain again tomorrow.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Gondola, luge and chairlift......
I did them all today.
It was a really beautiful day today and Jon phoned from work to say he could take the day of and would Heather like to go to Rotorua to have her ride on the sea plane? WE decided to go for it as she would be very disappointed if we didn't get another clear day. So it was a quick walk out with Totty and off we went.
We arrived in Rotorua and went straight to the lake where Jon and Heather checked in for their 30 minute flight - they also had to be weighed. We then had a coffee and a cake and waited for the plane which was 10 minutes late taking off. I did not fancy it so I was the photographer.
They flew over Mt Tarawera where the volcano erupted in the 1800s and then over some clear blue lakes over Waimangu where we visited a few weeks ago then back over Rotorua and landed very smoothly on the lake. I sat in the sun which was lovely.
We then headed out to a mountain on the other side of the lake where they have a cable car ride to the top and there is then a luge track to come down on to half way down before getting an open chairlift ride back up and then doing it all again. There are three different levels of track and you all have to do the scenic (easy) one first just to get used to the sledge. We had lunch first and then put our bags in a locker before picking out an appropriate helmet - Heather and I small and Jon large - who has a big head then!
The scenic route was very good and a good way of getting a feel for it. Jon and Heather were a long time at the bottom before I got there. When you get to the bottom you have to put your sledge on a belt and then queue for the chair lift. I was OK so far up but it stopped at a particularly high/long drop bit and I really did not like it. After the chair lift I didn't think I wanted to do another run but they persuaded me and off we went on the intermediate and it was such fun. It was by this time getting quite cold coming back up on the chair lift. The third run down I went on the scenic run again and Jon and Heather went on the advanced. I think I got better value for money as mine was a more gentle ride and theirs was short, steep and bendy.
After that it was a quick visit to the shop to buy a magnet to add to our collection and then back down in the cable car again and it felt even steeper going down!
All in all it was a very good day and we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Because we were on the other side of Rotorua to what we usually are we drove back to Tauranga on a road we don't usually go on and which is having major roadworks with lots of rock blasting which was interesting to see.
Back home Heather and I cooked chicken and pasta bake and we lit the fire and had a cosy evening in watching the F Word.
It was a really beautiful day today and Jon phoned from work to say he could take the day of and would Heather like to go to Rotorua to have her ride on the sea plane? WE decided to go for it as she would be very disappointed if we didn't get another clear day. So it was a quick walk out with Totty and off we went.
We arrived in Rotorua and went straight to the lake where Jon and Heather checked in for their 30 minute flight - they also had to be weighed. We then had a coffee and a cake and waited for the plane which was 10 minutes late taking off. I did not fancy it so I was the photographer.
They flew over Mt Tarawera where the volcano erupted in the 1800s and then over some clear blue lakes over Waimangu where we visited a few weeks ago then back over Rotorua and landed very smoothly on the lake. I sat in the sun which was lovely.
We then headed out to a mountain on the other side of the lake where they have a cable car ride to the top and there is then a luge track to come down on to half way down before getting an open chairlift ride back up and then doing it all again. There are three different levels of track and you all have to do the scenic (easy) one first just to get used to the sledge. We had lunch first and then put our bags in a locker before picking out an appropriate helmet - Heather and I small and Jon large - who has a big head then!
The scenic route was very good and a good way of getting a feel for it. Jon and Heather were a long time at the bottom before I got there. When you get to the bottom you have to put your sledge on a belt and then queue for the chair lift. I was OK so far up but it stopped at a particularly high/long drop bit and I really did not like it. After the chair lift I didn't think I wanted to do another run but they persuaded me and off we went on the intermediate and it was such fun. It was by this time getting quite cold coming back up on the chair lift. The third run down I went on the scenic run again and Jon and Heather went on the advanced. I think I got better value for money as mine was a more gentle ride and theirs was short, steep and bendy.
After that it was a quick visit to the shop to buy a magnet to add to our collection and then back down in the cable car again and it felt even steeper going down!
All in all it was a very good day and we all really enjoyed ourselves.
Because we were on the other side of Rotorua to what we usually are we drove back to Tauranga on a road we don't usually go on and which is having major roadworks with lots of rock blasting which was interesting to see.
Back home Heather and I cooked chicken and pasta bake and we lit the fire and had a cosy evening in watching the F Word.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
The sun is out again - a little bit!
Heather and I visited the Historic Village today and I spoke to a Kiwi there who, like many others, told me that this weather is very unusual and they never have it as cold as this in this part of NZ - it doesn't help! Today was quite nice after all the rain we have had to see the sun again was good.
We took the dog to Te Puna Quarry Park where Jon and I have been a couple of times before. It is very pretty there but they have had a couple of land slides due to all the rain but Heather enjoyed it and the views from the top.
This evening we made a chilli for dinner followed by apple crumble and we had to make the custard the old fashioned way but it did taste much better than the instant stuff.
I am getting very good at lighting the fire everyday now and the house is much warmer and it is nice to know we won't run out of wood for a while.
Jon has to go to Australia for two days next week so Heather is already planning for us to have Domino pizza again!
We took the dog to Te Puna Quarry Park where Jon and I have been a couple of times before. It is very pretty there but they have had a couple of land slides due to all the rain but Heather enjoyed it and the views from the top.
This evening we made a chilli for dinner followed by apple crumble and we had to make the custard the old fashioned way but it did taste much better than the instant stuff.
I am getting very good at lighting the fire everyday now and the house is much warmer and it is nice to know we won't run out of wood for a while.
Jon has to go to Australia for two days next week so Heather is already planning for us to have Domino pizza again!
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