Busy in Napier on the last day of 2021

We’ve had a busy old time on New Years Eve day.  First was shopping for “essentials” – to be truthful, not really essential food items, rather some “want them, need them” items only available up here.  Our first stop was at the Arataki Honey Centre for Robin to refill his honey jars with delicious Manuka honey.  The honey is kept warm so that it flows easily into the refill jars.  This place is usually full of tourists, but not lately in these Covid times, no tourists allowed into New Zealand just yet, only NZ citizens and residents are allowed to travel back home.   Whenever we are up in Hawkes Bay, we call in here – Robin now has so much honey it will last him all year.

Arataki Honey Centre

Then we called into the cutest little sweet shop around, visiting here is just like walking back into yesteryear.  Remember all those boiled sweets from days gone by?  All lovingly displayed in large glass jars, every type of sweet imaginable.   We replenished our supplies of blackballs for him, and acid drops for her.

Birdwoods sweetshop

Where to next?  It was time to purchase some tasty fresh cherries.  I love them and we knew there was a roadside stall reasonably close by.  Robin doesn't care for them, so they are all mine!

I love cherries

And just to finish off this essential shopping trip, the next place on our list was  Silky Oaks for a delicious Iced Chocolate.  Completely decadent, probably a million calories, but oh so tasty.  This place has a café, a chocolate shop, and a gift shop, but we were rather restrained and didn't bother purchasing any more chocolate, I'm sure there is some left over in our Christmas gift bags.

Iced Chocolate at Silky Oak

After lunch we went to visit caravan club friends Selwyn and Kath who were staying at Napier Beach Top 10 Holiday Park a little further up the coast.  We enjoyed afternoon tea followed by 4zees under their shady awning.  It was great to spend the afternoon with them.

 

Kath and Selwyn

Arriving back at camp we found that the New Year’s Eve fairy had come calling and had left two packets of cat food on the doorstep.  Gemma found the scent wafting from these packets absolutely alluring!  We found out that Viv, who had called around to visit when she spotted Gemma outside on her lead the other day, had cajoled these goodies from her daughter and partner who own Pet Essentials.  Thanks so much Viv, much appreciated, and Gemma certainly gave them a thumbs up!

A gift for Gemma

Our News Years Eve was spent quietly outside, sipping on some bubbly, and watching Gemma stalk and pounce on bugs as the skies darkened.   There didn’t seem to be any parties going on in camp, everyone was very quiet, in fact we didn’t even stay up till midnight, a sign of getting older, I guess.

So that is how we spent the last day of 2021 in sunny Napier.  Lets hope 2022 will be a better one, and that Covid will finally run out of steam.  Happy New Year to you all.

Jeep Recall

Had a trip to Palmerston North recently as our Jeep had a recall to update the computer. It was a beautiful morning for a drive, just look at the snow cover on the Tararua Ranges behind our home.  This view is looking over the caravan parking area in our village.

Cold weather brings snow on the ranges

We dropped the Jeep off off bright and early, and had requested a loan car for the morning as I had to attend a medical appointment.  No problem with that, and we drove away in a little blue Kia.

Leaving our car behind

Both my appointment and the update on the car was all done by midday so we returned the little blue car, climbed into our much larger Jeep, and drove off to have such lunch.  I was gasping for a coffee by this stage as I had to be “nil by mouth” for my early morning appointment.  Finding a car park in the mall was not easy, as the top parking area had been closed off.  Because it was not stable we were told!  What’s to stop it falling down on us below, I asked Robin?  Remember – we live in an earthquake prone country.  Hopefully the problem will be resolved so I won’t have to worry, or maybe we will just park outside in future.

Lunch was at one of the cafes in the Mall.  While waiting for our lunch orders to arrive, I enjoyed my first coffee of the day.  Robin decided a chocolate milkshake was more to his liking.

He loves his milkshakes

With a couple of of things ticked off our list, it was time to head home, and we arrived back to find a courier parcel on our doorstep, from grand-daughter Megan.  Wonder what it is?  Inside was a jar of honey, with a note saying it was made from the hives on the property where she is staying.  How kind is that!

Special delivery from Megan

ICA Rally, Christmas at Putaruru

After two glorious days at Lake Ohakuri it was time to move on to our next venue.  But not before we had a walk along the jetty for a last look at the lake.  There was good fishing to be had here, with one lucky angler catching two trout over our time here.

Jetty on Lake Ohakuri

Then it was time to travel nice and slowly down the pot holed gravel road to join SH1 and make our way north.  First stop was the Tokoroa dump station, then fill up with fresh water from a nearby tap, and rest and relax opposite the sports grounds for a leisurely lunch.  Our stop for the next two nights was at John’s farm in Putaruru, where we were guided into the adjoining paddock, with a few of the other larger motorhomes for company.

Staying in the paddock at Putaruru

The other motorhomes were parked all around the house

The temperature on Saturday was promised to be 27degrees plus, but we awoke to a misty morning looking through the trees over the valley.  This is a glorious property indeed.

A misty morning

Morning tea was held in John’s extra large garage, and then everyone decorated their tables all ready for our Christmas Lunch.  Everything looked very festive indeed.  Ladies from the local Girl Guides were doing the catering, and what a great job they did, feeding us all.

Ready for lunch

The meal was wonderful, we ate our full, the bubbly flowed, and everyone was happy indeed.  And because we had been very good boys and girls Santa put in an appearance, carrying a couple of large bags.  Wonder if there will be something for us?

Santa came calling

On opening our parcels, this is what we found inside.  Robin was under strict instructions to share is chocolate Santa with me!

Christmas gifts

Then the Christmas cake was cut and passed around.  It wasn’t as if we really needed more food, but who can say no to Christmas cake?  Everyone wandered back to rest or snooze in their vans to let the big Christmas lunch digest.  The temperature had risen to 29 degrees in the afternoon so we decided it was much more comfortable sitting outside in the shade, chatting to our neighbours.  Gemma had a great time outside too, so many interesting little bugs and beetles to stalk in the long grass.  And goodness know what she found in the garden, but she spent quite some time there.

We have had a great time at the ICA Rally, our first, and were made very welcome indeed.  Time for us to move on in the morning, although most at the rally have two more nights at another venue.  So we bid them goodbye, and no doubt will catch up at another rally in the future.

Mother’s Day Sunday

It’s rather sobering to know that we are now the older generation, both my parents and Robin’s have been gone for some time.  We started our Sunday morning with our usual bacon and egg breakfast, Robin’s specialty.  I like tomatoes with mine, and Robin gets two eggs.

Sunday breakfast

Then I opened my Mother's Day gift from daughter Nicky.  Wonder what it is?  Oh look, chocolate!  Lindt chocolate with fruit centres, doesn’t it look yummy.  Guess I’ll be sharing these with you know who.

Lindt chocolate for Mother’s Day

And Gemma wants to say hello.  As she is getting older (she is all of one year old now) she is starting to do things differently.  Such as lying in the front of her play tunnel, to watch the world go by.  Not so long ago, the tunnel was just the thing to run through very fast, in one end and out the other at high speed, jumping  out at us as we walked into the kitchen.

Hello from Gemma

The caravan got a good wash yesterday, all ready for our trip away next weekend.  We will be traveling over to the Wairarapa, sadly can’t go a day or two early this time as existing appointments take priority. 

Wishing all a Happy Mother’s Day, have a great day.

A Week of It

Although just a short week, with Monday being a Public Holiday, it was still full to bursting.  It started off on Tuesday when our 6 month old Birman kitten had a hospital visit to get spayed.  It all went well, and we took her home with all sorts of instructions ringing in our ears - keep her quiet, no running and jumping, no licking stitches.   Easier said than done, of course.  At her three day post-op check up the vet was a little concerned about her wound – it’s not too bad but they didn’t want it getting worse.  So she was prescribed extra antibiotics, and we were told to persevere with the collar.  Seems the trick to is to get an ordinary fabric cat collar, thread it through the loops of the plastic one, adjust to fit, and hopefully it won’t be slipped off so easily.  Poor Gemma is not at all happy.

Why are they doing this to me?

Wednesday was check up time for both of us at the doctor’s – no problems there, luckily.  No kitchen duties for the cook on Thursday evening when we attended a dinner to farewell a longstanding member from the Menz Shed.  This was held at HLC (Horowhenua Learning Centre) and the meal was prepared, cooked and served by students working towards their Chef and Hospitality Certificate.  The meal was great, and our retiring member and his wife were very touched with the Life Membership conferred, gifts and best wishes.  Their new home town also has a Menz Shed, so Tony is sure to find his place there.

Friday was a little sadder, as we attended the funeral of one of my co-workers from years ago.  Anne lived a full and happy life, but sadly, as is often the case, her last few years were fraught with health issues.  It was good to catch up with others, and remember some of the fun times we had together.

Saturday evening’s outing was a happy occasion indeed, helping our caravan friends Bill and Val celebrate their 50th Anniversary.  It may have been pouring down outside the restaurant, but inside was warm and happy as we watched a slide show of their years together, including snaps of the caravans they had owned over the years.  We enjoyed a lovely buffet meal together, heard a few stories, related some more, and Val replied in her usual manner with a poem.  A great night out indeed.

Bill and Val cutting the cake

And there was another celebration on Sunday as well.  We met up with daughter Nicky at the grandly named Orlando Country Club (Palmerston North) for a birthday lunch.  There were plenty of keen golfers taking advantage of the Driving Range with their buckets of balls.

Driving Range, Orlando Country Club

The three of us enjoyed a nice lunch together, and Nicky presented me with flowers and a lovely gift – Led Candle Lantern, which will be just the thing for the caravan,   while we sit outside on warm summer evenings .  Another lovely meal out, and it was great to have a catch up again.

 

Nicky and Jenny, Happy Birthday to me

So that was our week, practically full to bursting.  There’s always plenty to do to keep us on our toes.  

Rally at Feilding

Luckily the rain had stopped on Friday so we quickly packed the refrigerator and set off on our way to Feilding for the long three day weekend.  It was Waitangi Weekend and the news is usually full of the shenanigans that happen when politicians and protesters mix to celebrate our National Day.  Just as well we would be far away from it all and would watch the TV coverage instead. 

As our rally was to be held at Manchester School, entry to the school grounds was deferred until 4.00pm.  We had arranged to meet us with our caravan buddies at Timona Park for lunch, and to while away a few hours until it was time to arrive at the school.  We were the first to to arrive – it was nice and sunny, but still plenty of blustery wind around.

Lunch at Timona Park

Three other vans arrived shortly and parked up too.  Self contained rigs can stay at Timona Park for several nights, and we watched as one van after another rolled in for the long weekend, looking for spaces along the river bank. 

Four of us at Timona Park for a while

In the late afternoon we arrive at the school, found a place to park, and met up with the others coming for the  weekend.    This was a Combined Rally hosted by the Wellington club, with members of Wairarapa and our club Heretaunga also attending.  There were 11 vans in total.

Tucked away in a corner at the school

Some of the vans in attendance

With some free time in Saturday we decided to go to town and catch up with grand-daughter Emma who works at McDonalds for a coffee.  Luckily she was on a break so had time to come and sit with us.  Emma is often a bit camera shy, so rather than embarrass her at work, she took a photo of us instead.  It was a warm day so Robin enjoyed his chocolate milkshake.

Grand parents at McDonalds

Caravan buddies Dot and Derek had been to the market in town and came back with a little something for Robin.  As he rather likes headwear, they found a special Christmas reindeer hat for him, complete with a set of bright green quoits.  The label calls the hat “Reindeer Ring Toss” with three Wreath Rings and promises hours of holiday fun.  "Become a family legend", the label reads, "one ring toss at a time".  I can just imagine Robin sitting in a chair wearing his new hat while we toss the rings at him, hoping to hook an antler!

Robin’s new hat, thanks D & D

Everyone met in the hall in the evening where we all enjoyed a Pot Luck meal.  As usual, these occasions are always full of tasty food and good company.  Later in the evening we took part in a couple of competitions, as a series of “Feelly Bags” were passed around and we had to guess what the object was inside.  It was an interesting observation that most could remember the suspender from the good old days.

Enjoying our Pot Luck meal in the school hall

The school has lovely grounds, a great variety of climbing frames, large trees, and the former school swimming pool is now a plant nursery.  The two aviaries alongside are full of chirps and squawks and fluttering birds.

Tucked away at the school

Family Time

It was a damp and misty morning when we loaded the presents into the back of the car – what’s happened to our sunny summer weather?  .  We were off the Kiwitea  to drop the Christmas presents off to the family. 

A misty morning

But we had a couple of stops to make on the way.  First stop was at the very busy Tendertips Asparagus packing shed to purchase a nice big kilo bunch of asparagus to take up to daughter Nicky.  I know she will enjoy that.

Nice fresh asparagus here

Then we stopped at Sanson to purchase six Cream horns as our contribution to lunch.  Viv’s Kitchen was busy, as usual, and our order was carefully packed in boxes for the journey.  The staff are all very pleasant and helpful, and dressed in the style of the 60s – very fetching indeed.

Viv’s Kitchen, the place to go for Cream Horns

The further north we drove, along country roads, the more misty it became.  Soon we reached our destination,  carried the gifts into the house, and placed them under the Christmas tree.  My goodness, there were heaps of presents there already.

 

Emma and the Christmas tree

Cooking smells filled the kitchen, Emma was whipping up a batch of Chocolate Brownies and Chocolate Peppermint Fudge, how yummy.  After a catch up it was lunch time,  and the Cream Horns were quickly demolished.  Then it was time to don our gumboots and do the obligatory walk into the paddock to admire the horses.  It was just as well we had remembered to pack the gumboots in the car.  Emma is very proud of her foal Fire Dancer and we took carrots out to give the horses a treat.

Robin feeding a carrot to Fire Dancer

Soon it was time to pack up and head for home - we had a bag of gifts to take, plus some of that yummy fudge.  As we headed back through Feilding we reflected that it had been a lovely day indeed. 

Feilding clock tower