Week 5

Rob left late morning. In the afternoon we walked up the road. N had been up before but I hadn't. There is a notice saying it is a private road but it isn't. It is the start, or the end, of the Goldschmit track which goes a very up and down route to the surf beach. We just walked up to the highest point and sat on the seat there admiring the view across the estuary to Great Barrier Island. We conjectured on the way back about a very large house which appears to be unoccupied. Is it a holiday home? If so they must be a very wealthy and large family! Monday 19th December. Plumber came again. Went up to the shops in the afternoon and then down to the beach. Dull and windy. Not many people about. Walked round the corner to the estuary where it was a lot calmer and we were able to find a shady spot to sit and relax. Tuesday 20th December. A beautiful day so we spent the afternoon on the beach. I had a walk and paddle along to the rocks whilst Nigel got settled in our usual spot. Another lazy afternoon reading and watching the world go by! Wednesday 21st December. Left at 11am for Warkworth. Called in to see Angela and got the registration for the car. Lunch at the Riverside then off to Auckland to pick Jonny up. Easy drive there and back not too much traffic around. Played cards! After tea Nigel and Jonny went for a walk. Thursday 22nd December. Went into Mangawhai to the library. Dropped N off at the information centre to use the wifi there. Jonny stayed home. We leave tomorrow so have to pack and clean the place and empty all the cupboards and fridge. Later in the afternoon we went down the beach for a short while. Nigel and Jonny walked part of the way then I picked them up on the way down. Friday 23rd December. Nigel and Jonny packed the car up and we left at 10am. Drove through Waiwera and Langs Beach. Beautiful beaches so must take a picnic up there one day when we return. Got up to SH1 and drove past Whangerei. Stopped in Kawkawa to use the famous Hunterwasser toilets and have some lunch. Arrived Paihai about 1.30. Had a coffee and then came up to our new lodgings. It's a small place I found on Airbnb. No complaints as it is as advertised. Finding somewhere to rent up here in our price range in the holiday season was a bit of a challenge so I think we did well. Small and the strange thing is that the shower is in the kitchen! Not the best arrangement but we did know about it beforehand. The bed is comfy and there is enough room in the sitting room for Jonny to have the put u up bed provided. The kitchen is small and not a lot of storage so won't be doing a lot of cooking here. There's a small sitting area outside. The owners are away for the festive season but there is a young couple looking after the place. So we got unpacked and everything stowed away before Rob came down after he had finished work. He went back home to change and came back, on foot, and we all went down to his local watering place! Had a couple of beers with him then we left him there and came back here. I taught Nigel and Jonny to play Kaluki, the card game I play back in France. Saturday 24th December Lazy morning. Rob came down for a cuppa then he went and Jonny and I had a shower, not together! Rob came back for Jonny and took him into work with him. Nigel and I went into Paihia had a kebab! And then to cafe by the ferry port for a coffee. Paihia is a popular place particularly at this time of year. Unlike the majority of beaches there are many cafes and shops bordering the waterfront. The ferry terminal is busy, both with ferries for the short ride across to Russell and tourist boats for fishing and sightseeing in the Bay of Islands. We had stayed here for a couple of days on our last trip in 2012. It was late summer then and much quieter than it is now. Rob brought Jonny back about 3.30 and then went home to get changed. Danni was due to arrive, on the bus from Auckland, at 5.30. Rob came back and he and I went to supermarket in Waitangi to get a few supplies.and then went down to pick her up and take her back to his place where she is staying. He and Danni then walked down here and we went down to the bar in Pahia. I then drove us all back here and made bacon sandwiches before Rob and Danni walked back to their's. My little granddaughter is all grown up! Lovely to see her.