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.