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.