Week 6

Sunday 25th December. It doesn't feel at all like Christmas. Sun shining and not a lot of Christmas decorations around. A much lower key experience which is much better than all the usual hullabaloo. Rob came down to pick up some things for later. Nigel, Jonny and I went into Paihia. Parked at the far end and walked along the beach to the centre. People in swimming gear wearing Santa hats! Had a look in the church. Very busy in town. Had a coffee. Drove up to Rob's about 1pm. Lunch was smoked Marlin and various nibbles. Had good chat with Danni and had a look at her school report which is very good. Spoke about her plans for the next couple of years. Christmas dinner early eve. BBQ snapper, lots of it, that Rob had caught earlier in the week. Big salad, fried potatoes. So different from the usual Christmas roast! Not the right climate here for that. A very relaxing and pleasant day. It's the first Christmas I have spent here so a very special occasion. Monday 26th December. Dan, Danni's boyfriend, left Auckland at 6.15 to come and pick her up! They were down here, with Rob, about 9.30. They had some cereal and were obviously eager to be off! A brief stay but pleased she found the time to be able to spend Christmas Day with us! Rob went back to get some more sleep! Cold snapper and salad for lunch! Played cards with Jonny. Rob came down and we went into Pahia, had walk around. Then we went to port at Opua. This is where the car ferry goes over to Russel. Both ferries operating as a busy day for them. Much quieter than Paihia not many people around. Had a look at the boats. One very large one, Pacific HQ, which is an expensive charter boat for game fishing. Then back to Paihia and on to Waitangi. Stopped on the hill above the treaty grounds and looked over the golf course and out to the bay. Called at supermarket for a few things and then back "home" and Rob went home. A bit of a problem with Jonny who it seems is bored. A bit of a surprise/shock as I thought we were doing alright with him. I did get rather upset, Nigel did his best to pour oil on troubled waters (!)but Jonny not communicating or eating! Tuesday 27th December. Jonny still silent apart from saying he's not hungry. I texted Rob and said needed to see him and could we meet. Texted back to say meet at Te Huomi beach which is between here and his place. I drove down and told him what had happened so he said he would be down shortly and would take Jonny fishing at Opua. So off they went and we breathed a sigh of relief! Very hot so we stayed home and chilled. They were back about 3pm. They had met up with Oscar at Opua. Oscar being 11 year old son of Clare, friend of Rob's. Oscar and Jonny fished and got on well. Rob had arranged for us all to go to Clare's early evening for supper. Rob went home and I got some food together and we went and picked Rob up and drove to car ferry at Opua. Left car on the pier and went on ferry and walked up to Clare's. Nice lady with three children. We all got on well. Had lots to eat! Played silly but fun board game and had a good laugh. There's a fishing competition for kids tomorrow so Jonny staying over there and fishing with them tomorrow. Thankfully he's brightened up a lot! Left as darkness fell and the midges started biting. Walked down to the ferry and caught the last one back across to Opua. I drove back and dropped Rob off on the way back here. A very good evening. Wednesday 28th December Pleased to have a break from Jonny and pleased for him that he has a friend. Good for all of us. Quite understand that it's not all a barrel of fun being with aged grandparents but he has to understand that life is not all about him. Still I expect he's no different from many others of his age. Went into Pahia and had lunch, bacon and egg bap, and a coffee at the cafe by the ferry terminal. Went to supermarket. Had a pause by the beach on the way back. Paddled and read. Pretty hot. Rob called in after work, he's going over to Clare's later. He took Jonnys fishing gear over on the early ferry this morning. Thursday 29th December Quiet morning. It's pretty hot at the moment so it's easy to hang around here up the hill where it's a bit cooler. The last time we were here, in 2012, it was Autumn and relatively quiet. Now it's full to bursting with summer holiday makers. Not always easy to find anywhere to park and beaches are very busy. Cafes and takeaways very busy. We could walk down there but it's quite a hill to get back here so haven't tried that! Rob rang just after lunch to say would I go down to the ferry to pick up Jonny who had just come over with Clare and Oscar. Did so, he's still rather quiet, will just have to let him come round in his own time. Rob came in after work. Friday 30th December. By the time I woke up Rob had been and picked Jonny up to go into work with him. N not very well, usual symptoms of a flare. Will have to see how he goes over the next few days. I went down to the beach, Te Haumi first but tide was in an nowhere to walk so went into Paihia. Managed to park near the thirty bar. Walk, paddle, read and people watched. Always happy to have a walk and paddle, a paddle a day keeps the doctor away! Went to supermarket pm, N came too. Rob brought Jonny back. He went back home and walked down here 6.30. Jonny, Rob and I went to pub, N stayed here. Jonny and I back about 8. Saturday 31st New Years Eve. Another hot day. Rob came down, had a cuppa and I made pancakes for us all. Then took Jonny back home with him.N and I went to supermarket bumped into Rob and Jonny. We had a walk and paddle on way back. Rob brought Jonny home and went back to have a sleep in readiness for tonight! I had bought rump steak and cooked that along with roast potatoes and veg. Rob came down and we had a couple of drinks then I served up the meal.Rob and Jonny started laughing and I didn't know what it was all about until I tried my supposedly tenderised steak! What a disaster it was, tough as old boots. Not much of it was eaten! Anyway we had a few more glasses of red and a laugh and a chat. Rob went down to Paihia. We decided to stay here, it will be very busy down there and Rob reckons it will get quite raucous later. So we managed to stay awake and then made our way to the top of the hill to watch the fireworks from there at midnight. Rob walked up to see the new year in with us, I was so pleased he did. Then he went back down to the maddening crowd again! We came home and were soon in bed.