Green Parrot Cafe

Opened in 1926, the Green Parrot Cafe is a Wellington icon.  Ten Heretaunga Caravan Club members drove from near and far to meet up for an evening  meal.  For some this was a return trip down memory lane from dining here many years ago.   We had to brave peak hour traffic, and find a parking spot, not easy as most of us no longer travel regularly into the big city.  

Owen had booked a table for us all, conveniently in front of the large mural hanging on the wall.  There was much discussion on who the customers were, we recognised several familiar faces, Barry Crump and Peter Jackson, and were in two minds who some of the others were.  MP Winston Peters is a well known regular as well.

Dot and Donald in front of some famous faces

Drink orders were taken, and quite sensibly, the drivers made do with a soft drink.  Helen and I splashed out with a little bottle of prosecco each.

Everyone arrived and settled down, and then came the serious business of "what shall we order?"  The menu consisted of steak, chops, sausages, fish, lambs fry and kidneys, plus omelets.  Not forgetting the plates of white bread and butter added to table.  This was obligatory at cafes back in the day, we could all remember.  I ordered something a little different, kidneys and bacon, which came with salad and chips.  The kidneys were sliced in half and cooked on the grill, we often do this on our BBQ with bacon and egg for breakfast.  Robin was served two huge pork chops, and yes, he managed to finish them, no trouble at all.

Kidneys and bacon

The food is still cooked on a grill made from melted down gun barrels and installed by third owner  Tony Marinovich in 1932.  This cook top has been going strong since then, imagine how many meals have been produced here to visiting politicians, famous people, and plenty of sailors and locals over all these years.

Cooking up a storm

Some of our friends decided on dessert as well, apple pie and chocolate sundaes were delivered to the table, together with tea and coffee - maybe an iced chocolate as well.

It was a great night out, many thanks to Owen for organising it for us.

Our old Home Town

 Although we have been living in Horowhenua for the last few years, I always think of the Hutt Valley as my home town.  Robin lived here too as a young boy before his family moved to New Plymouth.  The drive down along the motorway and then on to the Transmission Gully road makes the journey quite quick these days.  We traveled down to meet up with a friend for lunch

We stopped across the road from the Lower Hutt Town Hall, and I reminisced to Robin how I used to attend Youth Club on Sunday afternoons at the adjacent Horticultural Hall, which has now been replaced.  What fun I had as a young teen rock'n'rolling the afternoon away.  Dances were also held in the Town Hall - those were the days.

Town Hall and the black building replaced the Horti Hall of my youth

Across the road are taps supplying fresh artesian water for residents.  People come and go to fill their containers with this water, and there is a much larger outlet at Buick St, Petone, in fact there are 25 water fountains supplying artesian water across Lower Hutt.  The water comes from the Waiwhetu Aquifer, a natural underground water system located the Hutt Valley and Wellington Harbour.  Aquifer water goes through a natural filtration process underground.  Then before the water comes out of the taps it goes through a filtration and UV treatment on-site to ensure it is safe to drink.

Artesian water taps at Dowse Square

As we had a little time to spare before meeting up, we decided to drive down to Petone Beach, park up and enjoy a coffee from the coffee cart.  There were plenty of people walking by, enjoying the sea breeze on a lovely sunny morning.  Wellington City is across the harbour.

Coffee in the car at Petone Beach

Petone Beach has seen a lot of history.  In 1840 the first six immigrant ships arrived at Petone Beach.  With the help of the local Maori people, the first settlers built huts along the foreshore.  Many of Petone streets are named after the early settler ships, and there is an interesting Settlers Museum which tells the story of these new arrivals.

We were here to meet up with my old school friend Merilyn who had flown up from Dunedin for a family Memorial Service for her brother.  It was a sad time for her, farewelling one of her siblings, and I was pleased we had a couple of hours together.  As usual, it was just like we had never been apart, there's always plenty to chat about.  We last caught up with Merilyn and her hubby last year on our South Island trip.  And guess what, we told her, we are hoping to have another South Island caravan trip in the New Year!  That's the plan, anyway.

Jenny and Merilyn

Regional Rally - Brookfield's

 It's been a long time since we stayed at Brookfield Scout Camp, Wainuiomata, known as the Outdoor Education Centre.  The land was purchased in 1864 by John Crowther and developed as a farm.  His daughter Mary lived all her life on the property and bequeathed it to scouting on her death in 1958.

The Wainuiomata Caravan Club were hosting the Regional Rally and welcomed us on site into the orchard in the pouring rain.  Three of our members were attending,  the Turnbulls, Archers and us.  Once settled down we went over to the small hall to register, collect our rally ribbons, have a cuppa and catch up with the other attendees.

Here we are, all ready for the weekend

There were 24 vans taking part, from Heretaunga, Wairarapa, Wainuiomata, plus members further afield from the Executive Committee.  One of these members suffered from a tyre blowout while traveling along the Desert Road, so that must have been a trying experience indeed.

Camping in the orchard

The Opening Ceremony took place on Friday evening, and the banner holders  carried the club banners into the hall.  The 22nd Central Regional Rally was officially opened.

Banner holders on stage

The weather on Friday and Saturday really had us on our toes, throwing everything at us.  High winds, heavy rain, a little hail, and an afternoon of thunder and lightning, what else was coming, we wondered.  We won one of the Lucky Van prizes, a lovely print of a Tui to hang on the wall.

Robin with our prize

Then it was time for Club photos and we gathered around our flag.  Many thanks to Rae from Wairarapa Club for doing the honours for us.

Robin, Jenny, Eileen, Geoff, Owen and Helen

The weather cleared sufficiently on Saturday afternoon and we finally had a chance to enjoy 4zees outside.  Then the rain came down again and everyone packed up their folding chairs and tables and scuttled back to their vans.

4zees outside before the rain returned

We BBQed our evening meal using Owens BBQ and ate our meals together.  Next on the programme was a Pot Luck Dessert in the hall, and what an array of dishes to share there was.  Everything from trifles, fruit skewers, steamed pudding, ice-cream, fruit salad and much more.  The planned Campfire evening never went ahead because of the wet conditions, and people gathered in the hall. 

The table was loaded with desserts

After Morning Tea on Sunday the Rally was closed, and we packed up to head back home.  With Waitangi Day on Tuesday, some campers opted to stay the extra two days.  We had a great time, catching up with friends from the other clubs, and those who traveled from further afield from the Executive Committee.   And what a surprise we got when old friends Denise and Clive, who were camping at Brookfields with the NZMCA contingent, came calling.  We hadn't seen them for ages, and Robin and Clive had both served as CCNZ President some years ago.

Valet Service

 Prior to attending the Brookfield's Rally last weekend, we were invited to stay with Helen and Owen overnight in Lower Hutt.  Why?  All because he wanted to give our caravan roof another clean down after doing such a marvelous job  removing lichen some months ago.  We were parked up beside their house, safe and secure behind the high fence.

Our site for the night

Gemma enjoyed her time here, trotting in and out of the caravan door, safely on her lead.  With no worries about marauding dogs coming by, both of us were happy with her being outside in this setting.  We enjoyed 4zees outside under the tree, sheltered from the hot sunshine.

Owen was up bright and early the following morning with his ladder, water and soft broom.  It took him a while to get right around roof.  No fears of falling off the ladder, he was a fearless cleaning machine indeed. 

Owen up the ladder

Through the caravan window, those legs look familiar

Once the roof cleaning had been done to Owen's satisfaction, he wasn't finished by any means.  The walls of the caravan got a clean as well.  Then out came the blacking - wheels were done and the storage box on the drawbar too.  The caravan certainly had a great valet service.

Robin is not comfy climbing ladders these days, and we really appreciated all the effort that Owen put in.  Many thanks for the hospitality and we left for the weekend rally looking spic and span.