Travel Page 31

31
Easter at Waiwera

On our way back from Whangarei, we stayed here for a few days and liked it so much, that we decided to come back here for Easter, after we had visited Auckland and our relatives.

On Tuesday before Easter we drove into Auckland and visited Geri and Colin. It was lovely to see them and Geri gave me lots of good hints about gardening, what to grow and she also recommended that we should also have a few chickens. I now realise that there will be a great deal to learn, but it seems to me that the New Zealanders are keen gardeners and I am sure everyone will be giving us lots of good advise.

While visiting Geri and Colin, we also made a trip to one of the dance shops in Auckland , to find out how things are done here with regards to feet and pointe shoes. Geri lent us her car and so made the trip much easier. I learned a lot from the two people who run the shop. They run the shop with care and enthusiasm but they are also realistic and aware of the fact that they are running a business. They both also had great product knowledge and good fitting knowledge, but compromises have to be found…. What I have found out will help me shape the decision groups I am going to run for the BBO in June and July.

Geri & Colin's dog Maggie

On our way home to Geri we got caught in the Auckland rush hour and it took us 2 ½ hours to get home. We were so grateful that we do not live here and not have to ever do this again. It is also incredible how quickly we have adjusted to a much slower way of life with not much traffic and the great lack of crowds everywhere we go. If there are more than 5 people on the beach then it is very crowded. So we are already totally spoilt and grateful that we are moving to a place which has space, light and room to grow things and is just outside a small village community, with only 1800 people living in and around Waipawa!

On Wednesday Geri took us for a drive and a nice walk which ended up with a great view over Auckland . We returned for lunch and then returned to Waiwera and a quiet Easter. I caught up with writing letter to our friends and family who do not have access to the Internet. We also did some lovely walks in the area.


We first explored the beach just round the next headland from us. The rocks are all layered and in parts it looks and feels like a broken down amphitheatre. Fergus took some lovely pictures and we hope you can see what I mean.


We went to the farmers market in Matakana just north from Waiwera, but it was a bit disappointing. The village is very small and it was totally overrun with visitors' cars parked on both sides of the road, lots and lots of people slowly ambling down the road. I got a bit stressed and realised that I do not like being in this kind of situation. This probably means I have become a Kiwi already. Anyway we did have a look at the market, but it was all a bit too "designer" for us and overly expensive. There was also almost no fresh fruit and vegetables, in other words, not what we were looking for. We eventually managed to untangle ourselves from this place and drove back to Warkworth. We found a fine butcher, and bought supplies for three days. They also sold dried ham which is one of our favourite foods and can only be found in specialist shops, with Swiss, German or Italian connections. Feeling a little bit better we headed home and the calming sight of the sea and enough space to breath and move. The Matakana war memorial statue had lost his head! ------>


		There is a wonderful park on the other side of our Holiday Park , and we did a splendid walk on Easter Sunday. It took us across the bridge, and into the bush. This bush was very different from the one in Whangarei and I know one or two of you who would love this place. The palm trees are very different, much taller, with a smooth trunk and a fantastic canopy at the top. The walk was across wooden boardwalks and then it headed up the hill on a much smaller and less well-prepared path. We got hot and sweaty and our hearts started to move up a gear or too. My calf muscles also started to complain and I am obviously using very different muscles from the ones I used for teaching ballet. <------ Esther hiding behind a palm tree.


Never mind, we made it to the top and the view was incredible. Then we headed back down and entered a wonderful park given to the community for all to enjoy. It has a grand Villa in the centre of the park, which is now used as an education centre and the house is surrounded by parkland and gardens. We walked the estate boarder, which took as along the beach for a bit. Then the path returned inland and a fantastic avenue greeted us, of what must be very old, European looking trees. The trees are shedding their leaves and if felt like being back in England rustling through the fallen dry leaves of lovely autumn day!


We really enjoyed our stay by the beach and spent our last day going once more to Auckland , but this time we took the bus. We visited another ballet shop and I got a bit more of my research done. Then we had a very nice lunch in one of the side streets in Auckland and we treated ourselves to a glass of white New Zealand wine. Then we visited Cathy at the bank to make all the final arrangement with her to complete the first part of our house purchase.


		We left Waiwera on Wednesday and drove to Port Waikato south of Auckland on the west coast. We found a lovely site and while there we did two fantastic beach walks. Then we headed off again to West of the North Island and perhaps we will get to Wanganui for Fergus’s birthday. That would be fun as he was born there.

Port Waikato

We will defiantly move in to our granny flat on Thursday 4^th May and we will have a new address, which Fergus will send to you all of you in a separate email.

We would love to know what is happening with you, wherever you are. I will write back personally to anyone how writes to us….


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