Week 8

Flag of d Paihia, Northland, New Zealand January 07, 2017 Sunday 8th January. Our last day here. A quiet day. Jonny over with Clare and family overnight. I finally got this blog together and sent link to friends, that took most of the morning! Packed the suitcase ready to load into the car. Had lunch. Packed odds and ends, sorted out food and fridge. Rob and Jonny here about 4pm. Cooked a big breakfast! Wanted to use what we had in the fridge rather than buy anything else. Jonny always happy with bacon! Monday 9th January. Rob came down just turned 8. He and I went down to put some petrol in the car. He left for work. We left just before 10am. Drove to Kawakaw and down SH1 past Warworth and turned off at Waipu. Lots of wild Agapanthus on the grass verges Surf Beach Mangawhai Heads Surf Beach Mangawhai Heads Story! . I noticed one high hedge that was covered in beautiful, deep blue Morning Glory (Ipomea). It looked stunning but it is considered a noxious weed here as it is so in invasive. We were back in Mangawhai Heads, where we had lunch, by midday. An easy drive back, roads much quieter than when we went up there. Then we came back "home"! The house was beautifully clean and tidy with a vase of Hydrangeas on the table! So, unpacked again at least,we are now here for the duration so we can really settle in now. It felt so good to be back here, more space and such beautiful, surroundings. I had a game of cards with Jonny, he won again! We had tea on the deck. Mild and breezy. Nice to be a bit cooler than it was in Paihia. Apparently the weather in Auckland has not been good over the Christmas period, windy and rainy. I think we have just had one wet day since we arrived here. I was really wanting to see the beach again so when I announced I was going to go down there, Nigel and Jonny decided they would come as well. John, who owns this place had told me that it had been like"a zoo" here over the Christmas period! I suspect that there's still quite a few people here during the day but this evening it was just so beautiful. Jonny played in the sand, Nigel strolled and I had a good a walk and paddle along the waters edge. The sea was calm and very little wind. I felt in a reflective mood and thought how, sea, tide and beach carried on their twelve hourly cycle despite people coming and going. I read somewhere, a while back, that just 10 minutes a day watching and listening to the sea is good therapy, good for the soul. I am convinced that this is true and do feel refreshed after being by the sea. Tuesday 10th January. Jonny going back home today. Up and away by 9.30am. Called at library to exchange books and pick up a jigsaw. Then on our way to Auckland. Two backseat drivers! Jonny told me I should have shot through the lights at Hill Street, Warkworth when they turned to orange! Otherwise an easy journey. Went in to say hi and everyone seemed pleased to have Jonny back. Danni and Dan there as well. So, turned round and off again. Stopped in Warkworth. Had lunch at the Riverside cafe. Shopped at Countdown. It's a new supermarket since we were here last time and I wanted to try it out but think I prefer New World. There is an escalator going up from the car park to the store, signs at the top and bottom saying dangerous to use in bare feet! Quite a few people in this country walk round in bare feet so it's not an odd notice to have there. Raining as we left and rained on and off until we got off SH1. The road from there to Mangawhai goes through farming country. Not a lot of sheep but several herds of cattle. Mixed dairy herds, nice to see a few Channel Island breeds in them. Mixed beef cattle too with a lot of Angus. We have been told that there is also a herd of water buffalo but not seen them yet. Back home about 4pm. Long day, pretty tired. Played Scrabble. Early to bed for me. Wednesday 11th January . A rather lazy morning. Got jigsaw started! Rang about the senior citizens cards afternoon today. Spoke to Warren who said we would be very welcome. It takes place at the village hall in Mangawhai Heads, a relatively new and impressive building close to the retirement village. We were a bit early so walked up to 4Square to get a couple of things. When we got back to the hall everyone was there, 11 including us. They play a game called 500 which neither of us had played previously. Best to play with tables of 4 or 5 but as we were new they made up 2 tables of 4 and Warren spent the afternoon teaching us and playing with us. It's a good game, not too simple needs a bit of thought! Will definitely go back. Session lasts from 1pm to 4pm. Back home and I decided to go down to the beach, N wasn't keen so went down on my own. It had been a cool, cloudy morning but whilst we were at cards the sun had come out and it was pretty hot. A lot of people down on the beach, many going home but still a lot there. I had a short walk and paddle but prefer being down there when it is quieter. N went for a walk, beautiful sunset. Steve facetimed, good to chat and to see Lauren and Josh. Thursday 12th January. Went into Mangawhai, dropped N off at the information centre to use the free wifi. Bought a fly swat! Went to butcher . Picked an up and went to the post office to post a couple of cards. Another warm day, suspect beach is busy so will give it a miss today. Another beautiful sunset. Friday 13th January. I'm sitting out on the deck, as I write, looking out over the estuary and thinking how lucky I am to be in such a beautiful place. It's a bit cooler today with a nice, warm breeze. It's very quiet apart from the blasted sparrows tweeting away! It seems that they were introduced here in the 1860's and twenty years later they were designated as pests. Rob working his final day in Kaikohe. He got a lift down to Martin's, in Snells Beach, where he picked up a car and arrived here about 8.30pm. Saturday 14th January . Rob was up and away by 6am, gone fishing with Jim. I could have gone but too early for me! N and I went in to market in Mangawhai. Bought fresh veg, free range eggs and Cornish pasties. Went over the road to the St Johns op shop (charity shop) and I spotted two lightweight folding chairs for $2 each. Bought them, they'll be ideal for when we spend time on the beach or go for a picnic. Rob was back early pm, no fish, they have gone with Jim to be smoked. He was shattered so went for a siesta. N and I went for walk on