Will the Wind ever Stop?

Our three day Wellington Anniversary Weekend caravan rally at Oroua Downs School was memorable for the incessant wind which kept blowing, buffeting the caravan and trying it’s very best to whistle back down through the Range Hood over the oven.  Admittedly, Friday afternoon wasn’t too bad, and we enjoyed 4zees (Happy Hour) outside in the sun shine, but that was the only time it was nice enough to sit outside.  The Maori name Oroua means “place of dredging for shellfish” with the coast not too far away.

There were nine vans or so, parked up on the school playing grounds, and we had access to the small hall for  our get-togethers.  Making good use of the hall on Friday evening, we gathered for the usual tall stories, and catching up with everyone’s news.

Saturday was a free day, and we met back in the hall and ate our respective evening meal together.  Originally we had planned to BBQ, but it was much too windy, and then the rain came down.  What’s happened to Summer, I wonder?  This was followed by shared desserts, when everyone brought along a plate or dish of something scrummy, I particularly remember the trifle, meringues and chocolate balls.  Meant to take a photo or two, but obviously we were too busy eating.

After dinner Robin kept us entertained with his “Media Night”.  First up was a short video “Good Warriors” explaining how the internet works, rather like “The Dummies guide to the Internet”.  Then he played a CD of Shaun Connors “On the Beat”, an Irish comedian telling jokes.  We came across this tape way back in 1999 when we were taking a coach trip around the Ring of Kerry, Ireland – the bus driver thought it was a good introduction to Irish humour for his coach full of tourists.  Robin enjoyed it so much he purchased a copy to take home. Many thanks to Don and Barry for providing the technical equipment and expertise for the evening.

Barry and Robin

Then on Sunday morning we traveled up the Woolshed Café up SH1 just before Sanson for Morning Tea.  What’s that in the garden, it’s a Moa!  You don’t find many of these wandering around these days.

Woolshed Café

There were two large tables set aside for our group.  Some decided on a late breakfast or early lunch, while others had the usual cabinet food such as cheese scones (yummy) or various cakes on offer.  All with tea or coffee, of course.  It was so nice to welcome members Selwyn and Cath, who drove up from Paraparaumu to join us.

Our VIPs for the morning, Kath and Selwyn

The whole gang

It was movie night on Sunday evening and Barry played “The Fugitive” for us.  Harrison Ford was Dr Richard Kimble who was hell bent on bringing the one armed killer of his wife to justice, without any help at all from the police, all the time evading recapture. 

Gemma wasn’t too upset about the weather and spent most of the weekend stretched out on the caravan bed., only stirring now and again to demand her next meal.   Cats have the best of lives, don’t they.

Don’t  bother me, I’m resting

As Monday is a public holiday we enjoyed a three day weekend away.  Many thanks to Barry for donating lovely fresh plums from his orchard for us. My crock pot (slow cooker) has some simmering away, we will enjoy some cooked plums for breakfast.  Another good rally, and so nice to catch up with everyone again.  And as expected, once back home in Levin, that pesky wind is nowhere to be seen.

Probus Get-together and getting ready for the Weekend

Our Probus Club had planned a pot-luck lunch on Tuesday at Graeme and Kay’s spacious country home.  Their grand-children were on hand to help with the parking, and all the cars were slotted into place.  Members arrived, with their finger food contribution for lunch, and what a wonderful spread there was.  Plenty for everyone, and wonderful choices, a veritable feast.

Just some of the food on offer, there was plenty more

The weather was nice and warm, so we decided to sit  outside on the deck, under the huge Archgola, chatting to some of the members.  The teenager grand-daughter kindly took a photo for me.  We marveled as she balanced on the edge of the deck on her tippy toes, and climbed up effortlessly onto a wooden bench.  “You can’t do that when you are our age”, we told her, sadly balance and mobility problems are creeping up on us all these days.

Under the archgola

We were called inside to help ourselves to lunch, with coffee to follow, and had a great catch up with friends.  It was a lovely time indeed.  When it was time to go I went to collect my plate.  “Take some of this food home” our hostess implored us, so some goodies came back with me, that saved on cooking an evening meal. 

Then today, in-between the showers, our caravan was moved from it’s parking spot to the car parks outside our villa, all ready to get loaded up for our three day weekend away.  This will be our first time away since early December, so Robin is getting itchy feet.  We are off to Oroua Downs School, not too far away up SH1, and we are looking forward to catching up with our caravan buddies again.

Ready for our next trip away

What we’ve been up to

Not a lot, as it turns out.  We decided not to attend the Drop-In Rally between Christmas and New Year this time, so this was a  quiet week at home.  Then, we just puddled about, a few little day trips, mainly because we were waiting on the mail for upcoming hospital appointments for each of us, really didn’t want to miss that.  My one came through, and Robin’s is still in the pipe line, as expected, he had been told his one would take a while.

We have been to the movies twice recently, I went to see “Blithe Spirit” with a friend, a piece of classic Noel Coward writing.  Then yesterday Robin and I went to see the Aussie film “The Dry”.  A little slow to start, but once it got going we found it really enjoyable.  Two crimes were solved (one current and one 20 years old) by a detective who returned home for his childhood friend's funeral after many years away   Well worth seeing, and we never picked “who dunnit” at all.

So now we are getting ready for our first trip away in 2021.  Our Jeep has been serviced last week, so that’s a job well done.  And Robin has been busy giving the caravan a wash today.  He started fairly early in the morning before the temperature reached the expected 25 degrees.  We will be away for three days  next weekend over Wellington Anniversary Weekend, not too far away, which is always a bonus.

Hard at work

HAPPY NEW YEAR

New Year’s Eve was quietly celebrated at home, just the two of us - we are well past the age where we need to go out and kick up our heels!  So what did we do?  We enjoyed a nice homecooked meal of Satay Pork and rice, eaten outside in the warm evening under the Archgola.  This was followed by an extra  piece of my birthday carrot cake which I had hidden away in the freezer for such an occasion, coffee and liqueurs. Coming inside a bit later to watch a little TV, I lit my pretty candle, a gift from one of the granddaughters – it created a flickering ambience and smelt nice too.  So that was our New Years Eve, hardly a raucous affair, and we didn’t even make it till midnight!

Flickering candle light

More celebrations happened on New Year’s Morning when we enjoyed a Bubbly Breakfast outside, must admit that the weather has been rather pleasant lately, except when that pesky wind gets up.  Hot croissants with ham and camembert, washed down with a glass or two of bubbly, what a way to start the New Year.  Just as well we weren’t driving anywhere.  This breakfast brought back memories of the bubbly breakfast we shared with Bill and Val in Gisborne, the first place in New Zealand to see the sunrise, way back in the year 2000.  Remember that – it was predicted that terrible things would happen, planes would fall from the skies, ATMs wouldn't work, all because of the Y2K bug!

A toast to 2021

Robin was getting a bit stir crazy after being home all week, after all, we are usually off and away in the caravan this time of year.  He really needed a drive, he told me, so we took a trip up to Viv’s Kitchen in Sanson.  And found a car park right under the sign.  It may look fairly empty here as we were heading home, but we had to squeeze ourselves in when we arrived.  Everyone else seemed to have  the same idea as us, so the café was crowded with customers all out enjoying themselves.  .

We indulged in an early lunch, panini for him and quiche for her.  Viv’s Kitchen is famous for cream horns, but we couldn't go past these delicious chocolate eclairs!  We will have to stop eating all these extras, they can’t be good for us.  I think that’s quite enough New Year's celebrations, don't you?

Lunch at Viv’s Kitchen

So, a quick look back at 2020.  We enjoyed a 3 week ICA trip in February that took us from the Art Deco Festival in Napier (a first for us), Hawkes Bay, Kairakau, Cape Palliser, Masterton and back to Petone for the farewell dinner.  We had a blow out in one of the caravan tires on this trip, so that was quite a shock.  Luckily several of our group stopped to help put the spare tire on. 

Then a couple of weeks later, the country was in lockdown, hoping to stamp out the Corona Virus.  Every weekday PM Jacinda and Dir Gen of Health Ashley held daily briefings on TV when we were informed what was happening.  Our borders were closed, and we all learned new words,  bubbles, clusters, social distancing, PPE, and the like.  The virus seemed to rage on for a while, and sadly got into a rest home or two but with the “team of 5 million” doing their bit to bring it under control, we had minimal deaths here, compared to other countries.

Easter was spent at home, no caravan holiday, and slowly restrictions eased.  Being in the vulnerable over 70 age group, we had to learn how to order groceries on-line for home delivery, and generally laid low for weeks on end.  Even when restrictions had eased, we were reluctant to mingle with crowds again.  Our caravan club president Barry organised our first Zoom meeting and we had a socially distanced Happy Hour in our village.  My daughter sent me a care package of flour when I was unable to purchase any, seems that all the stay at homes were baking up a storm while home schooling during lockdown.

After three long months the caravan was pulled out of it’s storage spot and backed into the car park outside our home.  It was time to get ready for a three week trip away. So where are we off too?  Hamilton to get the caravan serviced, Opotiki to meet up for a ICA Rally, through the Wairarapa for our caravan club rally, and places in-between.  It was great to be on the road again.

Things slowly returned to normal, and the country went to the polls in October, returning Jacinda and the Labour Party with a healthy majority.  I celebrated my 75th birthday that month and made sure I had several outings.  After all, if I’m going to turn that old, I really need to celebrate, that's my view anyway.  Caravan rallies continued, and before we knew it, Christmas had arrived.

We wish all our friends, readers, and bloggers a safe and happy 2021.  This year has certainly been different, but living here in New Zealand, we have escaped the worst of Covid, although we must not become complacent, we are told regularly.    Keep safe, and keep on keeping on.  Happy Travels to all.