My jet set lifestyle

Early tomorrow morning (Friday) I am bravely boarding a teensy plane for a quick hop across to Great Barrier island in the outer Hauraki Gulf for an extended weekend break.  I’m nervous about the little plane but I hear that we fly at only about 1000 metres above sea level which I guess means that at least there isn’t too far to fall if the thing gets blown out of the sky.

I am going to hang out with a old friend in a holiday home owned by another friend. We’re not due back in Auckland until Monday or Tuesday but don’t worry, at that stage I will no doubt compulsively over share the weekends events and maybe even some pics.

You may recall my post in May after my last jaunt around the gulf. At that stage a  couple of girlfriends and I spent a fabulous weekend on Waiheke Island. Waiheke is the largest island in the archipelago you can see above in the inner gulf close to Auckland city.

Anyway got to sign off now and publish this. I still haven’t packed so I better get a move on. Have a great weekend everyone.

Speechless

I had the best weekend. My girlfriends are truly precious.

It was almost sunny on Saturday, the first dry day in weeks. It was still chilly but was almost bearable in the watery sunshine. We slept in, breakfasted and then walked, talked and fished (I only caught 2 very undersized fish so both went back). We found a great cafe for lunch and later we walked again, this time to the fish shop to satisfy our need for fresh fish.

We went through the whole fire lighting process again when we got back to the bach so we could be warm and cook our fish on the coal range. It was a real novelty cooking on the range, we didn’t use the electric stove all weekend. We then ate and drank too much and talked and laughed late into the night. We had dragged the mattresses and blankets into the living area so we could sleep there where it was warmest.

We slept late again this morning and woke to rain. Just for a change. I have no voice at all today. It was a bumpy trip back on the ferry this afternoon but we’re home in one piece and all agree the weekend was a great welcome home surprise for Liz.

Have a great Sunday and Monday everyone. My working week starts again in just over 12 hours {sigh}.

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“A real friend walks in while the rest of the world walks out.” Walter Winchell

Roaring fire

I am trying out this new Vodafone Vodem stick that Bridget* has brought with her to Onetangi (it’s prepaid, no contract) and I’m using her lovely new laptop too. It didn’t cross my mind that we might be hooked up this weekend, it’s cool. In fact I now want a new ‘puter as this one is really nice. Bridget is showering right now while Liz is napping after the multi day trek that is coming home when you’re a kiwi. She’ll be up and about in a couple of hours.

I’ve got a roaring fire going in the living room now thank the gods. It was completely  freakin’ freezing when we arrived a couple of hours ago and I confidently offered to take on the fire lighting as it’s not normally a task I have any trouble with. As long as there’s reasonably dry wood available. There’s also a working coal range (a hundred years old if it’s a day) so I have lit that too and we can get some soup heating a bit later.  I must be a bit out of practice as there was a minute when I thought both fires were going to go out, somehow I held it together and the place is now getting snug. Phew!

I can hear the surf crashing on the beach, can’t wait to go walking in the morning. Maybe some fishing too if it’s dry but that is totally unlikely seeing as it’s barely stopped raining in Auckland for the last 3 weeks. I live in hope as snapper caught from the beach would be awesome for dinner tomorrow night.  I love fishing.

Sounds like Bridget is finishing in the shower so I’ll sign off now and open the wine and nibbles. Yummmm.

Happy Friday night, Lou

*Not their real names.

Resilience

What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it. Alexander Graham Bell

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Tough day

It started with a blinding migraine and steadily went downhill from there. Stressful.

But it’s Friday tomorrow and I have a great weekend planned.

An old friend is arriving home tomorrow from the UK after a long time away and we’re off to have a catch up for the weekend along with another of our closest friends. We’ve very bravely loaned a small bach (pronounced ‘batch’, which is what we in northern NZ call a small basic holiday home, usually at a beach) on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki gulf. I say bravely because this place is really rustic and it’s getting freakin’ cold here now. There’s plenty of firewood though and lots of blankets and so it’ll be great.

There’s fishing gear there too apparently so I might cast a line if the opportunity presents itself. I’m always up for surf casting.

We’ll pick up food and wine in Auckland before we get on the ferry as everything costs more on the island. We’ll jump on a commuter ferry tomorrow night and then a quick taxi ride should deposit us at the front door by 7.30pm. It’s right on the beach.

I can already taste that first fruity chilled sauv blanc mmmmmm oh wait; that’ll be the one I’m drinking now. I bet tomorrow’s one will be just as good. 

Have a great weekend everyone. Be safe on the road.

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Widget

What do we all think of the change to the followers widget ? A bit ego driven perhaps?