Week 3

Week 3. Sunday 5th December Made bacon sandwiches. Played cards again. Went to visit Jim and Wendy who live not too far away. Jim and Rob go out fishing together from time to time on Jims boat. Jim is Julie's half brother. Wendy has the most beautiful garden and Nigel and I spent a good half hour or more going round it with her. Some familiar plants and some not so familiar plants. Sat on the deck and had a coffee along with Nina, the parrot! She likes men and really took to Nigel! Rob and I left late am and took Jonny back home. It's a fair trek from here, about an hour and a half each way. Still, it was worth it to see Jonny again. Missed Danni again, she was at work but rang us as we were on our way back. Monday 6th December. Rob left before we were up. A day at home for me. Nigel went for a walk in the morning. I had a tidy up and sort out. First time I've had chance to do so since we got here. A few jigsaws here to keep us going as well as books and dvds. Tuesday 7th December. I decided I would go for a walk with Nigel this morning. Still no news of when or if we will have a car! It took about half an hour, strolling, to get to the shops at Mangawhai Heads. A pretty warm day so was glad to be able to sit and relax with an iced coffee and the lpaper at one of the cafes. The last hill on the way home was a bit of an effort but I was pleased to have been able to walk that far. Wednesday 8th December A week since we arrived and beginning to feel at home and get my bearings. I felt the effects of yesterday's walk so I let Nigel go for a walk on his own today. I had a phone call from Rob in the afternoon to say that Martin, where Rob is going to work after Christmas, will have a car available for us to borrow and we can pick it up tomorrow. Rob gave me all the details and I rang AA insurance to insure it from tomorrow. Messaged Angela whose friend, Vicky, is going to give us a lift into Warkworth to pick it up. Seem to have a problem connecting to the Internet so will go into Vodaphone tomorrow. Thursday 8th December. As arranged Vicky picked us up at 10am. Not met her before but she was very chatty and pleasant. Arrived at garage and met Martin. The car had gone for its MOT so he invited us into his office and we chatted until the car was brought back. It's, like me ,elderly but well preserved!, Honda Accord. I have to say I had been a little apprehensive about driving a different car on the other side of the road but soon felt fine about it. It's automatic which makes it much easier! We went to the vodaphone shop and got the phone sorted then had lunch before going to do a shop at New World. All that done we left for the drive home. The first part of the journey is through the Dome which is a notorious black spot. Nothing wrong with the road the problem is some of the dangerous driving so I took it carefully! Not a good road to be on at busy times. Anyway,we made it safely back home and got the shopping unloaded and relaxed. Friday 9th December. Went into Mangawhai to join the library. Not as easy as it sounds. I asked if we were able to have temporary membership and the ladies in charge, volunteers, had to ring up the librarian to find out! Thankfully the answer was yes and I filled in the relevant form. I didn't know my phone number so it was suggested that I return tomorrow and finish the registration. Wonderful to be in a library again, so many books to choose from. I felt like a kid in a toy shop! I asked if they knew if there was any free wifi in the area and we were told to ask at the computer shop in Mangawhai Heads. We are so used, in both France and the U.K to being able to go into many coffee shops, bars etc where wifi is widely available. Not here it seems. Nothing in Mangawhai or Mangawhai Heads apart from the information office where it is free for 15 minutes. It's a very poor connection though and I didn't think it worthwhile although Nigel persevered with it! Saturday 10th December. Went to market and library. My library card was written out but told to return in a week to pick it up when it will have been laminated. Things work slowly here, it seems! Picked up some veg and Cornish pasties and came back home. Rob came early pm. Had bought some beef in Warkworth so he cooked that along with some Yorkshire puddings which I have to say were exceptionally good. Probably helped by the fact that he used beef dripping.