Wednesday 25 November 2015

Gotcha for once!

IMG_0481_thumb1Surprise, surprise who’s 70 then?

Derek had ideas of quietly having a birthday and nobody knowing. I had other ideas and together with Sandra we had been scheming for weeks. Invitations were sent out via email with the venue at Sandra and Dons home.

PB2100172_thumb1On arrival Jenny caught the surprised look on Derek’s face.

Sandra had invited us for dinner and Derek thought nothing of the invitation although 6pm would have been later than usual.  I opted to travel on an alternative route with an excuse I wanted to check out a future rally venue.  I knew that if we travelled straight there Derek would see all the caravans on the front lawn and would smell a rat immediately. 

IMG_0484_thumb1Sandra explaining how she first met Derek 21 years ago.

It took a while for it to sink in with friends from the Caravan club and Menzshed already there. I don’t think I have ever seen him so stuck for words.  But he soon settled down and we had a great evening.

IMG_0487_thumb1Cutting the cake.

Thursday 19 November 2015

Out with the old!

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New Zealand Reserve Bank is gradually issuing new banknotes. There are slight differences but more security issues built in.

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Brookfield Scout Camp

We arrived around lunchtime to find two of our members already in attendance, the others arriving shortly after. We were located in what they call the paddock, close to toilets and showers.

Brookfeld Scout Camp.Lined up on the paddock at Brookfield Scout Camp, Wainuiomata.Two members from Wararapa on the other side.All on their lonesome, well not quite, the others are just out of the picture.

Settling in we were watching the weather as to whether we needed to change our plans to visit Wellington tomorrow via the Dominion Post East West Ferry compliments of our Gold Cards. As all our members are now over the official retirement age we all have cards compliments of the Government for free travel concessions.(conditions do apply with restricted hours but not on weekends).

After the usual 4zz’s we had a get together in the hall after dinner for the usual catch-up and jokes before discussing our plans for the following day. We opted to give morning tea a miss and head straight for Days Bay Wharf at 10am in three vehicles to catch the 10.30am ferry crossing to Wellington. The day looked brilliant although the wind was forecast to rise later in the day.

Dominion Post Ferry TicketsOur Ferry Tickets.

IMG_0437-001Turning to pull alongside the wharf at Days Bay.

IMG_0440-001Here we are all set for embarkation.

Sommes IslandA quick drop off at Matui (Sommes Island) and we were off.

Oriental Bay from WellingtonOne side of Wellington’s picturesque harbour to the other.

Moored up at Wellington Wharf.Alongside the Ferry Terminal in Wellington.

Breaking up into several groups we headed off to check out the Wellington waterfront. Some of us to the Maritime Museum in one of the old wharf buildings. We planned to return around 2.30pm to be back for the compulsory 4zz’s and hopefully to miss the stronger winds on the harbour. A great Lunch was had by all in various restaurants before meeting back at the ferry for our return. The harbour was decidedly more choppy this time around as we headed out towards the heads to Seatoun Wharf, although we never stopped, before heading straight back to Days Bay. A couple had opted for the later ferry so that they could take in Petone Wharf and Matui again on the way back.

Wellington Maritime Museum in the background behind the Fire Brigade display.Wellington Maritime Museum in the background behind the Fire Brigade display.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Eat your heart out Geoff!

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Where else do you get beauties like this? But the Chocolate Éclair shop in Ohakune.  A shop that is only open to catch the snow trade in the winter, closed now until next year. We had to visit it on Friday going up to Tongariro and then on our way home on Monday before it closes for the season this week.

IMG_0405Must keep an eye on his driving now.

IMG_0279Of course I go everywhere too, I love this travelling lark.

This weekend we are at home catching up on chores after being away the last two weekends and before we head off again.

What a life this retirement is. Brookfield here we come.