SLG Get-Together

Our December get-together with our Super Leisure Group friends was Robin’s to organise.  With being away for the previous three weeks, he hastily made a booking for lunch, choosing to dine at Paraparaumu.  About halfway for us all, we drove down from Levin, and the others drove up from the Hutt Valley. 

Although Paraparumu is about 45km from home, we left bright and early, allowing extra time for heavy pre-Christmas traffic and the never ending road works.  And wouldn't you know, we were so early we decided to venture into the Mall to fill in some time.  Malls are not our favourite place to be, but this one has a real attraction, Butlers Chocolate Café.  What would be nicer while we wait than a cup of Hot Chocolate, served with a complimentary chocolate of our choice.  Butlers Chocolates began life in Dublin's Lad Lane in 1932. The company was founded by a pioneering woman called Marion Butler who named her luxury chocolate creations Chez Nous Chocolates. Marion established the company in the heart of fashionable Georgian Dublin, making her delicious confections by hand.

Butlers Café

As we enjoyed our morning indulgence, we watched as a steady stream of people came and went from this establishment.  Butlers really is a popular café, and the locals at the table next to us confided that they like to support local business and come each week for their chocolate fix!

Time for a hot chocolate

With lunch time approaching, we made our way to Breakers Restaurant to meet our friends.  We reminisced how we had dined here for Christmas Lunch with friends Graeme and Katherine some years ago when the restaurant was a Cobb and Co.  But now it is part of the Breakers chain, decorated with a sun shine and surfing theme.

Breakers, Paraparaumu

It was nice to welcome everyone again, catch up on news, and begin the task of “what to have for lunch”.  Orders ranged from fish, pork belly, hamburgers and steak.

Lunch at Breakers

The meals were very nice, and several decided they still had room a little room for dessert.  Just look what Ashley ordered, a “Double Donut Sundae” – we were all interested to see what it actually was!  Ashley was not deterred at all by this large dessert,  and he ate every bite. 

Ashley’s Double Donut Sundae

After our leisurely lunch, and tea/coffee we wished each other well for the Christmas break and headed on our way back home.  So nice to catch up with our SLG friends again.

10 Pin Bowling with the Oldies

Several car loads from our village drove down to Paraparaumu for a pre-Christmas get-together and a night of fun.  The ladies meet regularly for lunch, but this time we invited the men out too.  We were going bowling.  Most of us had tried a game or two, but we were by no mean serious players.  But perhaps there was a bowling expert hiding amongst our group of OAPs?

We entered the building to find most of the lanes busy with serious looking players.  So we paid our fees, (pensioner discount), ordered our evening meal for after our game, and collected our bowling shoes.  After being split into two teams, we all spent a little time checking out the TV screens in  front of each lane.  It all seemed rather high-tech to me, I can remember when boys were at the end of the lanes, nimbly leaping out of the way of the balls as they quickly placed the pins back in place.  Things have certainly changed since those long ago days.  Ready or not, let the games begin!

Checking out the screens

Bowling is a very tricky business if like me, you are not a sporty person.  For instance - what ball do you choose?  I guess the different colours all meant something to the serious players, But I didn’t have a clue.  And try as I might to keep that ball rolling down the middle, just why did it usually veer off to one side?

Is this the way to do it?

Our two teams battled it out amongst themselves, some taking the game very seriously indeed.  There were several lucky enough to get a strike, while others managed to knock the ten skittles over in two bowls.  Meanwhile, to the side of us, other more experienced players really showed how it should be done, effortlessly sending that ball down with a nonchalant flick of the wrist.  Congratulations to our winners, Bruce and Graham.

Bruce and Graham, the winners

We changed back into our own shoes and retired to the café to enjoy our pre-ordered meals.  The table was set up very nicely, all ready and waiting for us to complete our game.   Plates of fish, burgers, pasta, Thai salads, soup were delivered to our table, all very tasty and reasonably priced too.  After all that exercise, some of our group decided on desserts as well.

Enjoying our meals

It was certainly a fun night, and I can see it being repeated in the future.  I’m sure some of the ladies would like another chance to knock the men off the winners podium next time. 

Day out at Kapiti

We had things to do down Kapiti way.  Most importantly, to check our booking at Paekakariki Holiday Park.  We are rally family at this camp in a few weeks time, and needed to make sure that our booking had been recorded.  As it happened, the office lady was out for the day, and her hubby was busy doing outside jobs and not inclined to check our booking.  “There’s plenty of room here”, he said, “Of course we can fit you in”.   He was right of course, with over 200 sites there’s room for an army.  And the camp is not likely to be full in the middle of winter.

As I wandered around to take a photo of the giant flowering, or maybe it is fruiting, cactus, a voice said hello.  It was fellow club members Barrie and Dianne who were returning their caravan to the secure area.

Huge cactus bush

Chatting away, we were kept amused by the antics of a mother tui and her fledgling in the trees overhead.  We had never seen a baby tui before, and try as I might, I just couldn’t get a decent photo of them through the branches and the leaves.

Next stop was back to Paraparaumu, and soon attended to our business at the beach shops.  Noon must mean it’s time for lunch, we reasoned, so we went into Fed Up Foods for a fish lunch.   Tasty Bluff oysters were on the menu, but at $38 a dozen (cooked) we sadly had to turn them down.  “Cooee, cooee” called a lady in the café, don’t know who she is, so she surely can’t be talking to us. 

But we did know them – it was former caravan club members Andy and Bev.  Bev used to have a head of bright red hair, and that was why we didn’t immediately recognise her – she is now sports a very elegant steel grey hair do.  We joined them at their table, ate our lunches together, and caught up with  each other’s news.

Lunch over, we had a few more things to do, this time in the bustling local mall.  With the school holidays almost over, the place was buzzing with kids, little ones out with their Mums and Grannies, and plenty of teens mooching around.  With all our shopping and chores taken care of, it was time to relax with a cuppa.  And this looks just the place, Butlers Chocolate Café.

I went to the counter and ordered a Flat White for him,and a Hot Chocolate for me.  And what chocolates would you like with your drinks, I was asked.  That was a hard choice, for a procrastinator like me.  I looked at the selection in the cabinet, read all the little labels and finally told myself, just choose something!  So we got a double chocolate choccie each, and they were absolute bliss! 

We drove back home with rain all the way until we reached Levin.  Surprisingly the roads were dry, the washing was safe on the clothesline, and no sign of rain at all.  Who would have thought it?

Chocolate for Afters

It was a matter of chocolate for afters in the afternoon of our SLG outing.  We had already seen how bread is made the old fashioned way in a small bakery, and enjoyed our our lunch at Breakers.  John had organised a visit to “The Most Amazing Chocolate Factory” in Paraparaumu.

  Step through these doors for some chocolate

Locals with long memories will recall that this business used to be known as Nyco Chocolates.  And we can remember when the factory was first established over the hill in Featherston.  Lenora Nysse was quite keen to make chocolates after her husband returned from an overseas trip with some chocolate moulds for her.  Nyco Chocolates was established in 1981 and went from strength to strength.  Son Steven joined the company in 1985 and sales grew so quickly they outgrew their premises.  It was time to expand, the factory relocated to Paraparaumu in 1992.  Today, Nyco Chocolates exports its chocolate products to Japan, Singapore, Australia, Middle East and Pacific Islands.  They also specialise in private label chocolates for businesses and weddings, and manufacture the chocolately treats which go into commercial ice cream and baking products. 

Our group was there to take a tour through the factory.  But first things first, we had to follow procedures and cover our hair.  In Robin’s case, that meant his beard too.

All ready for the chocolate tour

A seemingly never ending stream of warm white chocolate gurgled away in the machine and our the tour guide demonstrated filling the moulds  to make the chocolate cups.

Under the chocolate fountain

These can be filled with all sorts of goodies, topped up with chocolate again, and popped into the refrigeration unit to set.  In this case, jelly beans were added into each cup.

Jelly Bean choccies

The large moulds, such as hollow Easter Eggs or Rabbits, had chocolate added then they were placed on a spinner.  This ensured that the chocolate got into every little nook and cranny.

 

Two halves of an Easter Egg

We were offered tastings as the processes were explained.  Then it was through the factory doors again we were let loose in the retail shop.  Now, what to choose?  The sign said if we buy three bags it works out cheaper!  One bag of peppermint  chocolates, one of  hokey pokey, and the last bag had manuka honey in the filling.   That should keep us going for a while.

All these goodies for sale

Then it was back to John and Jan’s home for afternoon tea, and yet another natter, and put our feet up for a while before heading off to our respective homes..  It was a great day out, thanks to John for organising it for our SLG friends. 

Bread – the Staff of Life

Our SLG friends have been meeting once a month for over 20 years now for trips and outings and we have been to an awful lot of places in this time.  John organised yesterday’s outing and surprised us all by taking us to a place none of us even knew existed.  We played “follow the leader” in our cars and all pulled up into a car park in an industrial area of Paraparaumu.  Where we we going, we wondered – hope it is not to that gym we can see, our middle aged bodies wouldn’t look too good in lycra!  But no, our visit was to Paraoa Bakehouse, the home of Purebread.

Paraoa Bakehouse

The factory owner, Robert Glensor, is passionate about his products, and makes bread the old fashioned way using bulk fermentation and organic ingredients.  From the very beginning organic was at the heart of this little bakery and Purebread proudly became New Zealand's first Bio-Gro certified organic bread.  Purebread utilises age old ‘slow’ production process, sourdough starters or fermentation methods.  This allows the natural enzymes to get working, breaking down the complex carbohydrates, which ensures easier digestion.  He believes that much of the gluten intolerance many are experiencing is partly caused by the ‘modern’ and very fast methods of bread baking, making the bread less digestible, damaging the gut causing the sensitivity.  Robert related the history of his company, and showed us around the factory as the various bread products were being mixed, cooked, and packaged. 

Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread

We had a peek in the store room where the organic flour imported from Australia is stored.  The company buys products from some of New Zealand’s best known organic food producers, helping to support the local industry and produce the healthiest and most nutritious foods for everyone, such as the big drums of Oxford honey we saw, and many other ingredients necessary in the art of bread making.

After our tour we tasted some hot buttered toast, spread with another of Robert’s products, delicious peanut butter.  Yum, it may be an ever so humble snack, but we couldn’t help ourselves and it all went in a flash.

SLG friends in the factory with one of the workers

As a firm believer in sustainability, nothing is wasted.  The factory turns extra bread into breadcrumbs, and donates leftover bread to food banks.  There is no shop on the premises, but Purebread is available at selected shops, or can be purchased on-line.  We will certainly be buying some – it may be a little more expensive, but it is made by hand and no one ever regretted buying quality.

After our morning bakery visit, it was time for lunch.  Where to, John? we wanted to know.  Round a few corners we drove to arrive at Breakers Cafe and Bar.  With good value $12 lunch deals available, there was something for everyone.  Robin chose beef snitzel and chips, and my choice was fish pie and salad, both nice and tasty. 

$12 lunch deals

So that is the morning over, wonder what John has in store for us after lunch?  We will have to wait and see.

Out and About

It was a busy day yesterday, going out and about down to Paraparaumu with our list in hand.  We visited various shops, checking off the items on the list as we went along.  It was opening day of Smith City’s latest shop, and we joined the great multitude of customers all looking for an opening day bargain.   We could have come home with large radio controlled helicopter if we were so inclined, but no, Robin wasn’t allowed one.   After all this excitement we really needed a sit down, so opted for lunch at the adjacent shopping mall.  How about the Pensioner’s Special at the Chinese stall – that sounds like us, and quite a reasonable price it was too.

A Chinese meal for lunch

We had various stops on our way home, calling in briefly to the MIL (Robin’s Mum) and two lots of friends.  (No wonder we were so late getting back home to Levin).  We really struck the jackpot on one of our visits and came away with copious amounts of bananas.  Seems that Geoff had found a real bargain in bananas, and bought a whole box of them.  He was only too happy to pass some on to friends and family.  After eating bananas morning, noon, and night, it looks like I’ll be making a few banana cakes and a batch of banana muffins to get through them all. 

We came across a sorry looking little wax-eye on one of our visits.  It was sitting in a tree, looking rather puffed up, and didn’t move away as we approached, camera in hand.  In fact, we wondered if the poor little thing was ill, as it didn’t look at all happy.  These little native birds are usually so busy, fluttering around the trees as they look for something to eat.

.Little wax-eye, perhaps it is sick?

One of the items on our shopping list was a new camera for me. We found some which looked good, and finally decided on an Olympus.  I wanted one with a greater zoom than my current 5,  and this new one has a zooms up to 24.  No doubt it has all sorts of fancy features which will be beyond me, and we will have to sit down and watch the accompanying video together.  An easy “point and shoot” is what I was after, and small enough to pop into my pocket or handbag.  And it’s such a pretty soft burgundy colour – “take me home” it said to me.   I always have my camera on hand, you just never know when you might want to take a photo – friends doing something silly, an interesting scene or wildlife just waiting to be captured.

 

My new camera

Big Breakfast and Beer

It’s no secret that our host Geoff just loves a “Big Breakfast”.  His job takes him far and wide across the country and he knows exactly where to find the best priced big breakfast in any town he passes through!  As a sign of our appreciation for inviting us to stay on their property while we are currently homeless, it was decided that we would take over the cooking duties on Sunday morning and make a big breakfast for the four of us to share.  Now, what about the menu?  Robin and I decided on bacon and eggs, of course, with hash browns and tomatoes.  It was easier to use Eileen’s kitchen than try to juggle everything on the caravan stove top.  We took our favourite pans into the house and Robin went to work.

Big Breakfast underway

And very tasty it was too.  We finished our breakfast with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, made by Geoff.  Breakfast wasn’t served till about 10.00am so I don’t think we will need much lunch today.

Geoff and Eileen with their breakfasts

IN the afternoon Geoff and Robin took a tour through Tuatara Brewery in Paraparaumu.  The tour guide introduced the guests to the brewing process at Tuatara, showing the equipment and how the beer is made from start to finish. Questions were encouraged throughout the tour – the guides pride themselves on knowing  their stuff!   At the end of the tour  four Tuatara beers were tasted. 

Tuatara Brewery, Paraparaumu

A Selection of Tuatara’s Beers and Gift Packs

The tour and tasting lasts approximately 45 minutes, after which you are more than welcome to stay for a drink and something to eat from our tasting room menu. Robin’s favourite was the Tuatara APA (Aotearoa Pale Ale). For those interested in Beer and wishing to know how it is made this tour is well worth while and recommended. You can find out about the tour here.

Weekend at Kapiti Coast

A drive of 60kms on Friday took us to our destination for the weekend Caravan Club rally, up to Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast.  We were staying at the rather grandly named Kapiti Holiday Resort, which caters mainly for long term permanent tenants.  There are a small number of sites available for casual travellers, or small weekend groups like our caravan club.

Entrance to Kapiti Holiday Resort

Each site has separate facilities attached – a basic small shed with a toilet and shower.  The separate bays are sheltered by extremely dense macrocapa hedges.  Down the end of the camp there is also a small communal kitchen and laundry available for residents.

Our site with our own ablution block

The weekend weather was fine but very cold and windy. On Friday afternoon  three of us decided to get a little exercise and take a walk along the beach, suitably garbed against the cold wind in our jackets and woolly hats.  The beach was just across the road from the camp, and a brisk walk would be just the thing to chase the cobwebs away.

Bill and Robin ready for a walk along the beach

An Aloe Vera plant (I think) on the path to the beach

We walked through the sand dunes down to the beach, and Kapiti Island lay straight ahead.  Once the stronghold of feared Maori warrior Te Rauparaha in the 1800s, the island was also home to visiting whalers. They established themselves on Kapiti and the three islets where they set up seven whaling stations. By about 1846 whaling was no longer profitable and the whalers moved away, leaving behind several large whaling pots.  These days Kapiti Island is a bird sanctuary and visitors can enjoy day trips and learn about the fascinating history of this island from the wardens.   

Kapiti Island in the sunshine

Houses with a glorious sea view looked out at the island, but we wondered how safe they were so close to the beach with the heavy seas continually eroding the coast line.  They might well have a nice view, but these houses would be well out of our price range, we decided.

Sea front properties

A trip to Lindale Farm Kitchen was proposed for afternoon tea on Saturday.  As to be expected, all the womenfolk thought this was a great idea, after all, what could be nicer that a latte or cappuccino?  Accordingly, we pooled cars and travelled a couple of miles down the road.  Just as well that I wasn’t driving as I was sure that to get to our destination we should be turning right and not left onto State Highway One.  “That’s why I’m the driver and you are the passenger”, Robin told me firmly.  I’m the first to admit that I sometimes have trouble with navigation!

We all enjoyed our afternoon tea

Saturday evening saw the keen rugby supporters in our club go down to the Kapiti Club for a meal and to watch the game on the big screen TV.  This important game in the Tri Nations series was between arch rivals New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies, and yes, we were victorious. Thank goodness for that, or the men would be in mourning!

The Museum of Aviation

We had a double dose of museums on Sunday, leaving the Otaki Museum to drive down to Paraparaumu. Our second museum visit on Sunday was to The Museum of Aviation at Paraparamu Airport, which is housed in the former Meteorological Office. Their aim is to preserve and display the local aviation history. Paraparaumu Airport was the hub of commercial aviation in New Zealand, until the construction of Wellington International Airport was completed in 1959.

We were welcomed into the museum by the President, John Kennedy who took us through the emerging history of air transport in New Zealand. The museum has a time line display of the various companies which started business in New Zealand and models of all the planes which flew in our skies over the years, with names from the past such as Union Airways, Cook Strait Airways, and SPANZ. We all remembered the early airlines Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) and National Airways Corp (NAC). Ansett has come and gone in New Zealand, and these days Air NZ rules the domestic market.

Models of aircraft

A very large wall full of gadgets and dials turned out to be a calibration flight instrument. This is used on board an aircraft to check the calibration of airport landing aids. I’m not quite sure how it all worked, but it looked very impressive to me. Men being men, the blokes in our group all seemed to understand the function of all these dials and gizmos.

Calibration flight instrument

On display were all sorts of memorabilia from early aircraft menus and pieces of beautifully designed crockery, and photos of Air Hostesses in extremely short skirts and hats perched nattily onto of their heads. This NAC transfer had a more personal story. John related the story of being an NAC rep based in Napier in earlier years. When he changed jobs the company cut the piece of glass holding the transfer from the glass door and presented it to him. What better place to display it than the Museum of Aviation.

Part of the glass door

There are several wooden propellers displayed on the walls of the museum. In pride of place is the propeller from the Will Scotland aircraft which flew at Otaki in 1914 and became the first aircraft to make a commercial flight in New Zealand. Aircraft enthusiasts from the deep south were delighted to find that the museum had such a treasure on display. As they were planning to build a replica of this aircraft, they came up to take photos and measurements to ensure the replica is exact.

Will Scotland propeller

Paraparaumu Airport home to “Air 2 There” which offers flights between Paraparaumu and Nelson and Blenheim. Air New Zealand is set to start up local commercial flights again shortly. There are plans to resurface the runway, and build a temporary terminal. 50 seater flights between Paraparaumu and Auckland will mean that local people will not have to take the long trip into Wellington Airport. The downside will be quite an increase in airport noise so that will perhaps upset some of the local population. Such is progress.

Morris Dancers at the Market

It’s always fun to visit the Paraparaumu market to stock up on freshly grown local vegetables, and pick up a little something for lunch. As usual, the market was full with locals and visitors alike, all looking for a bargain or two to take home. We can vouch for the locally produced sausages, and the rather tasty Eccles cakes.

Paraparaumu Market

What’s this I see – a troop of Morris Dancers and musicians walking through the market. I love to watch this sort of thing, there must be a bit of Pagan blood coursing through my veins, I think (Like a moth to a light says Robin). So there I was, quite enthralled, snapping away with my trusty camera, while Robin waited, and waited, then waited some more. The dancers were in fine form, and danced gaily around waving their handkerchiefs in the air, stamping their legs to make those bells tinkle.

Then they did a couple of dances clacking their sticks together with great gusto. The strips of loose cloth on their costumes swirled around in a riot of colour as they danced around. I don’t know who was enjoying this spectacle more, me or the dancers.

The ladies were up next carrying garlands of flowers as they moved around in formation. You could certainly imagine all this taking place in Pagan times in all the rural communities to welcome Spring after a long cold Winter.

All this brought back delightful memories of the Morris Dancers we saw on in Stow-on-the-Wold a couple of years ago on our UK trip. Morris dancing is obviously alive and well in New Zealand too. The origins of Morris dancing are lost in the mists of time. It survives today as a form of folk dance performed in the open air in villages in rural England. It is felt that the dances have a magic power and serve both to bring luck and to ward of evil. The performers certainly enjoy themselves, and speaking for myself, the onlookers do too.

The musicians