Kia ora! Welcome to New Zild. Walkway between terminals.
It’s now Tuesday May 30th, 2023. Kia ora!
What adventures we have had. We flew back from Taipei to Auckland overnight on Thursday 25 May, leaving Taipei at around 6:30 pm.
We caught a taxi with our eldest son to the restaurant for lunch. The taxi-driver was very chatty = he had an extensive conversation with our eldest son in Chinese during the journey. JD found that he could use Google Translate on his mobile phone to decipher part of the conversation! When I caught up with Succession after we got home, cousin Greg’s use of Google translate seemed totally authentic. We wished we’d used in earlier!
Before leaving we had lunch at a Herbivore restaurant again, where we had been before. This time I had a roasted vegetable salad. JD had the pasta dish photographed below. Afterwards we had coffee at a Moonshine Café where we had been before. Then we said our last goodbyes, retrieved our luggage, and caught a pre-ordered taxi to the airport.
Photos of dumplings and pasta with pesto, pine nuts and avocado:
A Moonshine Café where one could buy a Long Black (and lots of other lovely drinks)
We got very confused at the airport. We got a taxi from our hotel at 3 pm, and checked in, and went through security. Then we were free to go to the Eva Lounge, but first we wanted to buy presents for the grandchildren in Wellington, something we’d not done so far.
There were masses of shops selling very expensive designer bags, cosmetics, perfume and alcohol, but none selling things we could buy our grandchildren such as toys or souvenirs. One wonders just who buys these luxury goods – certainly not us, and many of the shops seemed almost empty. We ended up walking a very long way away, eventually finding what we were after.
Then we had to make our way back. We walked for ages again, then realized we were seeing things we hadn’t seen previously. So we turned around, and made our way back, and finally found the EVA lounge. Once settled in comfy armchairs, we needed something to drink but I found the tonic water really sweet.
There weren’t flight announcements in the lounge; after relaxing for a bit, JD thought we should make our way to our departure gate. But first, I needed to use the restroom. Then we set off again, but it was a really long way to Gate C2. Several travelators and lots of walking later, our boarding passes were checked. Then it was downstairs to another lounge. Soon after we got there, we were invited to board our plane.
It was different, this time, of course; there were no nice scuffs! And no one trying to serve drinks before take off. However an officious air hostess had issues with where I’d stored my handbag behind my seat; she also had a problem with my storing it under the squab. We compromised, with my ensuring the strap was behind the handbag. Then soon after take off, it was dinner time. Someone brought me the mineral water with ice and lemon that I’d ordered, but the amuse-bouche came before the table-cloth was laid! The it was laid, and dinner served. The starter was a “tasting plate” of various items, and then the main course was chicken breast with potato gratin, and some asparagus and peas. It was delicious, but quite a shock to the system to eat so much meat again! Afterwards I had a yummy oolong mousse dessert.
This time the personal entertainment system worked, flight map and all.
Then we settled down to sleep. My bed was made up, and I was quite comfortable for a time, and then I got cramp in my legs. I took off my pressure socks, figuring that they were causing problems, and eventually found my anti-cramp medication. I took two tablets, but I couldn’t really get comfortable again, although I was mighty glad to be able to “lie flat”. There was quite a bit of turbulence and the Fasten Seat Belt sign was on, so I couldn’t stand up and walk around either. I didn’t get much sleep, but I must have slept some, since I woke up dreaming when they turned the lights up – at 3 am Taiwan time! Time for breakfast!
Breakfast was fruit juice, a small croissant, some fruit toast, marmalade, and a cup of black coffee. I didn’t want a hot meal, although JD ordered French toast. We both watched the flight map as the plane crossed near to Brisbane, and drew near to Auckland.
We had a very smooth landing. At Auckland, it was fine and sunny and not too cold. JD declared the wooden tray we had bought with two tea cups, and I went with him, but we were waved through Biosecurity. The sniffer dogs seemed frisky! Ours was the only flight to land at this time, so there was little queuing. Having got a luggage trolley, we decided to walk the walk between airports at Auckland. It was fine, and the air seemed thinner, crisper, and colder. The walk seems to have been improved since we last did it two weeks ago! However I’m not used to seeing so many obese people!
We got to Auckland Domestic Airport and checked in, after rearranging our luggage; I retained my overnight small case. Then we went through security, and eventually found the Air NZ lounge. It was busy, but we managed to find the showers. There were no towels, but we were given towels. Showering was a bit complicated, since the floor was very wet, and there weren’t many places to put things. Also, I wanted to change my clothes completely. Still, I succeeded, despite frequent banging on the locked door. Eventually, I exited, barefoot, and found a quiet place to put my shoes on. Then I joined JD and we had a cup of coffee; he had something to eat. Then we boarded our flight to Wellington, again walking a long way! We were seated in the emergency exit row, which I usually avoid, but there was much more legroom, and I was sure JD would know what to do in an emergency.
Back in Wellington, we caught a taxi home. Then there was a quick turnaround before we headed north. JD put a load of washing on; I repacked, trying to retain many things while adding what I might need for Hawkes Bay, and in some cases, trying to find things! Meanwhile, I tried to have a rest, and I had more coffee. JD wrote a report, and, of course, he wanted me to read it.
By 5:45 pm we were on our way again, in the car, to Palmerston North. It was already dark, and I had such trouble finding things in the dark. Fortunately we’d taken some biscuits with us. We were thankful for the Expressway, but everything looks different in the dark! And we don’t usually go to Palmy. But we did, turning off between Levin and Shannon, and then we were on Fitzherbert Avenue, and our motel, the Distinction Coachman, was coming up on our left. It was just before 7:30 pm. The receptionist confirmed that I had paid, and that he would upgrade our room. We could park in the basement, and there was a lift to our room on the 3rd floor. The room was just great: a king size bed, a sofa, and a lovely bathroom with shower over spa bath and lovely toiletries, and a robe!
We went down to the dining room where JD had a burger and I had vegetable soup. Then we went upstairs where I had a lovely spa bath. I set the alarm on my phone for 6:30 am the next day, aiming for a 7 am start to get to Taradale. I checked for cafés, but many did not open till well after 7 am. I used Google maps to direct us to the Saddle Road to Woodville. In the event, we stopped at Maccas in Dannevirke to get something to eat. JD wanted to get gas, but the petrol station next door was still closed! We each had something to eat and some coffee, and went on our way. Eventually we got to Hōhepa School, at Poraiti, where the Hōhepa Family Day was to be held. We had missed the first session; they were just having morning tea. We were so grateful to get there that we didn’t have morning tea! Back in the Hall (I hadn’t been there for years!) the Family Association had its AGM, and JD spoke about the Hōhepa Foundation. He was the only trustee there representing the Foundation. There were lovely plaudits for JD for his financial acumen and his efforts to get climate change and the vulnerability of the beautiful Clive site taken seriously (which it now is!). Then we had lunch, and after that we toured the building site at Poraiti, where facilities for elder-care are being built. After that, there was to be more viewing at Taradale, and afternoon tea at the Hōhepa Taradale Shop. JD and I asked our motel in Havelock North whether we could check in early, and accordingly, we did. What a lovely place! We had stayed at Te Mata Lodge before, but this was different: a big spa bath, a quiet heat pump, a bathroom with a wet shower, and lots of lovely toiletries.
We had a rest, and then went to have an early dinner at Breakers in Taradale (new to Taradale, I think) with our daughter and her flatmates and some carers. The meals are huge there – but we didn’t feel too guilty here about leaving food behind.
There was to be a party at the Napier War Memorial Hall. We returned to the motel to have showers and get changed. We managed to used lots of towels, but we eventually got to the party – it was hard to find the right place! There was a rugby league game on at MacLean Park, so there was lots of excitement! In the event, we saw friends at the party, but our daughter’s team had left by the time we got there.
That night we slept really well. The supermarkets closed at 9 pm, so we’d missed buying any food. We went to a local café for breakfast, where I had scrambled eggs and JD had Eggs Benedict. We went back to our room, and the friendly housekeeping lady changed the towels, replenished the biscuits, and left us alone. We’d arranged to pick up our daughter after lunch, and went shopping.
We had afternoon tea outside one of the cafés in brilliant sunshine. That night JD and I dined at Divo in Havelock North: he had steak and I had a salmon salad. It is nice to eat familiar food again, and feel that we’ve adjusted to being back in some respects.
Sunday night wasn’t so good, but we went into Napier and had coffee and a mini-donut at Adoro, after buying a copy of the Post. We went back to Havelock North, and I had more scrambled eggs at a different local café. It seemed they’d been busy, since there was hardly any cabinet food left! After this I looked at some lovely dress shops in Havelock North. The one that was for sale in the Annah Stretton shop was now sold (probably just as well!) but I did buy a skirt with price reduced at another shop, and it matches a blouse I have that I like very much.
The weekly Covid report was published. It reads as follows: there were 14,371 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa in the week to midnight on Sunday, and a further 49 deaths attributed to the virus. The total number of deaths from the disease is now 2942. In addition, there were 248 cases in hospital at midnight Sunday, with eight in intensive care.
The seven-day rolling average of cases was 1982. Last week 14,657 new cases were reported and further 43 deaths attributed to the virus. It’s still very much with us, with people that had avoided it until now catching the virus, and others getting it again.
That evening we took our daughter to dinner at Lone Star in Napier (her choice!) We haven’t braved Lone Star since the Before Times (as in Before Covid); they were a tad disorganised, but the food was very good: our daughter chose the venison dish – we wondered about her choice, since she usually has fish there, but she ate it all and seemed to enjoy it. I enjoyed my “mocktail”, and some of my lamb shoulder with mashed potato and vegetables. Afterwards she had some cheesecake, and then we took her to her home.
Last night we both slept well. I woke at 3:36 am, but went back to sleep till 7:30 am, a good night for me. We packed up, and checked out before 10 am.
The weather was all right, not really raining till just north of Otaki. We stopped for lunch at the Wind Farm Café in Woodville; I had never been there before,; it looked a bit gloomy but there is a nicer seating area inside, not visible from the road. We had – again – scrambled eggs!
Now we are at home, back in the “wooden tent”, where it is rather colder than Hawkes Bay; I rang my bank, who allowed online banking again (I had been closed out in Taiwan, and even back here last Friday); I left a message for Access (they haven’t rung back yet); and I did some hand washing.
It’s the Memorial Day holiday in the US, so there’ve been none of the usual Tuesday (their Monday) shows: Rachel Maddow, Charlie Sykes, or Chris Hayes.
I eventually got hold of Access, who told me that my contract has ended; I have to see my GP to have my needs assessed again. I can’t see her until mid June! That is just so frustrating. I would like some help now. In fact I was counting on this.
Next Monday is a Public Holiday – for King’s Birthday (formerly Queen’s Birthday Weekend). We are gradually getting back to normal again. Slava Ukraini! Ngā mihi nui.
Classic Barbarian 