Decisions and Partings

We have had a couple of significant events this week. The first was a visit to Hawera to see our lovely builder Bert, to discuss some details regarding the house build, particularly with regard to internal elements where we needed to make decisions. In the process of doing this, the nature of the cook top (hob) came up for discussion - gas or electric? We hadn’t realised how things had changed with gas appliances so he suggested that we visit TradeDepot on our return to Auckland. This we did on Friday, and I don’t think he had any idea what he was introducing us to! We well overstayed the 1 hour parking limit, but discovered products which we didn’t even know existed. It was brilliant and we got overexcited, though this wasn’t difficult as the meeting with Bert had gone so well, and then in the afternoon we had been over to New Plymouth to see the stained glass artist. He already had a design idea to suggest to us, which we really liked in outline, so it turned out to be a positive trip to the south.

We are using a new route around Hamilton after discussion with family members while on Ohakune, and that is proving interesting, especially at the northern end as I am having difficulty matching the actual roads with what I am seeing on maps (including Google). This is significant as one of our regular coffee/tea/driver swap stops is in the area and we don’t want to miss out on it.

The other significant event has been farewelling Felicity during a gloriously hot and sunny weekend. Yesterday we went up to Clem and Pat’s for a shred family lunch, taking platters of fruit for dipping and pumpkin pasties which Nicky had prepared. Today many of us piled out to the airport for last goodbyes, and Nicky made a birthday cake for Andrew, which we got stuck into after Felicity had gone through security. As a result, it has been quite an emotional weekend. 

The Full Management Team

For those who don’t know, Felicity is the eldest of the seven siblings, and was the only one other than Nicky living in England when Nicky and I met. As she and her family welcomed me warmly, and she almost became my proxy mother-in-law, though this didn’t really prepare me for the real thing! In 1998 when I came to visit Nicky and Claire and stay with them and Nicky’s mother, I experienced the generous family welcome again, and then even more emphatically when we moved here in 2007 for our permanent residency. It has been really good to see Felicity again, and to see the pleasure she has enjoyed in visiting her home country and so many friends and family members living here.

The weather has been great this week. Most Auckland meals have been consumed outside (it was very windy in Hawera). Nicky had an 8am Eye Clinic appointment at the Greenlane Clinical Centre on Monday, and she suggested that I drop her and go off and have coffee. I had a very pleasant hour strolling round Cornwall Park in the morning sunshine after having enjoyed a suitable dark brew. In the evening we had a FaceTime chat with Jancis and provided some technical assistance to boot. On Friday evening Paul and his mum came over to deliver a calendar and some beer, and ended up staying for a good, long, and enjoyable chat. This evening will be devoted to the tellybox, once we have come in from The Rattigan and the evening sunshine.

Take care, Rick