Over the hill to Wainuiomata

Wainuiomata (affectionately known as Wainui) used to be called  “Nappy Valley” in the 50s and 60s, being an affordable housing area popular with young families.  The Maori name Wainuiomata is made up of the words WAI – water, NUI – big, O – of, and MATA – which could refer to a woman’s name.  A commonly accepted translation refers to the women who came over the Wainuiomata Hill to evade marauding tribes from the north, and who sat wailing by the stream after the slaughter of their men folk.  We drove up and over the hill road to have lunch with our caravanning friends Geoff and Pauline.

Nearly at the top of the hill

Arriving at Wainui

Geoff and Pauline were part of our group when we holidayed around the South Island recently, although they had to return home a little early for a visit to hospital.  Now sporting a new hip, Pauline is moving around very well with the aid of her crutches.  She has to be careful to take things easy in these early days, and not overdo things, not an easy task for someone with Pauline’s energy.  Here she is checking out the greenhouse, wondering how soon she can get in and put things to right.

Pauline can hardly wait to get gardening again

The family chooks were happy pecking about in the garden and a handful of feed made sure they were all in the same place while I snapped a few photos.

 

Here, chook, chook

Robin and Geoff were busy loading “points of interest” on another caravanner’s GPS system.  This took some time to do, and then they took it for a test run in the car to make sure it called out “Club Parking” in a loud voice as they drove past the local RSA club.  Mission accomplished – and they arrived back feeling very pleased with them selves.

Loading info into the GPS

After our epic South Island trip Geoff has been doing a few jobs on their caravan – including replacing the tyres!  That shows just how many miles we travelled, loaded up to the gills.  I presented Pauline with a “get well” gift of a New Zealand themed cushion I had stitched, for their caravan.  It doesn’t look too bad on the couch, does it?