Joyce arrived, plane early. Of course I was awake at 3am so it wasn’t a problem. Had a dream trip to the airport –
Home-airport-load Joyce -home-unload Joyce 1 hour exactly – amazing.
Joyce came laden with gifts.
She unpacked
For me a pair of red sneakers and a T Shirt with a beautiful body in a bikini painted on. Wow I wish – I dream!!! Perfect outfit for the 7’s
Elderly Dorothy goes to Oz along the yellow brick road in her red slippers!!!!
Dale got a fab boat for his collection
Breakfast then a quick stock up for the next set of adventures and it was goodbye Joyce
Enjoy your stay and then off to Taupo. .
Got a talking book from the rather meager collection at the library…Val McDermid whose crime thrillers I enjoy. Turns out it was short stories with a definite Lesbian theme.
Interesting… Dale found the Lesbian sex scenes a little disconcerting but it certainly filled in the hours.
Little Maggie and Sue and John awaited us with drinks and lots of fab food.
Lemon risotto, steak salad and beautiful meringues flavoured with 5 spice and lemon, with cooled roasted strawberries and ice cream.
They thought Joyce was coming with us so there was great disappointment.
But great leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Took off about 9am, first a trip to windscreen people for possible fixing of crack in the windscreen but apparently it wouldn’t get any worse.
It seemed to take forever to get to Lower Hutt. The roads are a really good now a really easy drive BUT they are still working on them and working on them.
Finally arrived at Gerry’s…
his beautiful bougainvillea in full bloom
Gerry watched sport on TV (an unusual sight!!!) till we were ready to go and then off to the station to catch the train into town
Of course typical the ticket box was closed and we had to wait 30 minutes for the train. Some very weird people were gathering on the platform.
On arrival at Wellington station we were met by dear Ellen Vaughan who came into town to have this very brief meeting
The pub was full of wonderful creatures. Just a touch of what was to come. The Hooters, (in the background)… people ready for an orgy.Off down the concourse to the stadium.
The wonderful wide concourse…room for thousands. Gerry made some new
friends…,”Whip it Whip Good”
This is the first purpose built stadium in NZ I think and it is great. Every aisle has toilet very handy to the opening, bars food stalls all within easy reach. Even in a full stadium.
You didn’t have to wait long for anything. They serve all drinks in plastic, no dangerous missiles which is handy during the Mexican Wave which managed to go around 4 times on the first round but the next attempts were fizzers. I love the Mexican Wave so exhilarating.
Then there was the rugby!!!
16 teams. What handsome young athletes – Lucky us had them all warming up in front of us.
It was a plethora of eye candy for both men woman and gays. Strong lean athletes and lots of naughty schoolgirls in tight tight blouses and little tiny skirts. Complete with stockings
I think this tournament is the closest NZ gets to Carnival or Mardi Gras.
How about 70’s disco lads sitting next to Julius Caesar with a couple of jockeys chatting above people with wonderful beer stein hats?
How about these 2 doozies…Blokes too. The USA are doing their lap of dishonour having been eliminated from the tournament. But the crowd loved them. Don’t you love the Hooters Boys? Austin Powers made an appearance.
Behind us was a group of ex Otago students…”Say No More”…they had gone to a lot of trouble. Large baby boys and a gaggle of Ferry Captains. There were 65 of them in the group thank God not all together but I think we got to see all of them at some stage as they visited. They were having an exceptionally long weekend. Goodness the proverb “The Liver is Evil… It Must Be Punished!” would work for them.
Nothing like an Arab and a sexy policewoman chatting.
We left about 8 and trained home in time to watch the remainder on Telly.
Gerry called up his favourite Icheban Teppan yaki Take out sushi and sashimi. How healthy is that.
Saturday dawned after visits by Sharon and Anne…we took off again. My Bikini T shirt had its 2nd outing. Couple of wines at the Pavilion Bar.
How do you like my Super Stud friends? My T shirt obviously attracted quite the wrong group of new friends. And then when asked if those leopards changed their spots. What spots?
Then into the arena to start the day’s programme. We are now into the serious part of the programme. Gerry Dale and I fed ourselves up with baked spuds for lunch and we returned to the bar for little plastic wine and beers to keep the spirits up.
We got the to the semi finals the last of which was the home team against Fiji.
Whoops back a section…when the losing team from a semi did it’s lap of dishonour. The crowd went wild.
Particularly the Kenyans…everyone loved the Kenyans – Tall glowing – ebony-handsome young men.
Well after that digression our home team was dorked by the Fiji Warriors. So packed up our toys and left. Took off to the Icheban Teppan Yaki and were joined by Anne the best Teppan Yaki I have had for a while. I relished it all.
Their set menu was salad, miso, garlic croutons…(a little fusion here but tasty)
The prawns, fish, chicken, steak. Mixed vege…cabbage, carrots, freshly ground black pepper and the classic fried rice. What a taste delight. Very close to the yardstick. Benihana.
Back to Gerry’s and to watch the final. Well quite a surprise. Samoa beat South Africa in the semis and then went onto to beat Fiji. That was one for the books.
Re our neighbourly participants in this event I was disappointed that the “International Rescue. Thunderbirds are Go” team didn’t walk like Marionettes…bit boring really but the ex Otago students did us proud they were very boisterous. Got a shot of dancing Musketeers. Supporting France….These chefs were naked under the aprons but it was obviously getting a little parky so they dressed. A very fetching nurse.
Some of Bin Laden’s cohorts, a couple of Smurfs and some bar people.
People spent small fortunes on their gear. All in all a wonderful experience.
People spent small fortunes on their gear. All in all a wonderful experience.
Sunday
After a cooked breakfast we took of in convoy with Gerry for our trip to the farm... It’s been years since we have been to this part of the world and what a change.
Greytown is reminiscent of Breckenridge in USA also Arrowtown in the South Island – Pretty little houses all rejuvenated….Banks turned into cafes and exciting little gifts shops…Old pubs gone gastro. Bought some excellent baguettes at the French Bakery.
Our new Farmers Dave and Diana greeted us at their beautiful cottage just out of Masterton, surrounded by olive trees and grape vines. They have been monstrously neglected but our erstwhile farmers intend to give them lots of love sand attention and want to make wine and olive oil.
Tranquil sunny gorgeous. The cottage and the olive grove in the background, the vege garden
Diana made excellent aubergine and tomato bake for lunch along with a homegrown salad dressed with citrus zest and Colonna Lemon infused oil joined by Forum Chardonnay vinegar. Delicious. The bread was consumed rapidly everyone grabbing their fair share – A nap was necessary of course the first for many days. While we slept Gerry took off back to town…he had golf in the morning.
The neighbours came over for drinks, Paul Margurite and their son Ben (7).
A very entertaining cocktail hour running through into dinner.
Diana and Dave made lamb racks and salmon on the BBQ, cauliflower cheese, jersey bennes, tomatoes, beans…Loverly. The neighbours departed, the men seranaded the girls with their guitars while we dozed off in bed. It was a 14 bottles day into “The Bin of Shame” but not too bad considering.
Mon
A superb day in the country, we took a trip off he farm to Murdock James Vineyard for Lunch. The Riverview Restaurant
I had homemade spaghetti tossed in oil, chili, lemon & served with prawns. Dale had salmon with corm fritters. Dave had the antipasto platter, lots of interesting bits and pieces. Bread supplied by the wonderful Greytown French Bakery.
Diana had an avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato etc salad. All very tasty.
We piled into the car and just 3 miles south of Pohutaki School ( we got to know the school well) we broke down. – No-one had a cell phone could you believe it.
We flagged down a passing car to use their phone to call the AA. No problem – be about an hour – It was hot, little midgies covered our legs as as it turned out we were stopped very close to the most dangerous corner on the area. We play with death! Oh well we settled in. Sat on fences sat on posts it was becoming very boring
After an hour we rang again from yet another passing car and were told won’t be long!!!
Our trusty driver with the phone Gerry kindly offered to drive Diana and me to the house to pick up the other car. So the girls toddled off – another 30-40 kms past the school.
Picked up the car and drove to the garage arranged as a meeting place in Masterton BUT no car – no men.
Diana rang the AA getting pretty irate now
They gave us the phone number of the truckie. He was miles away had been given the entirely wrong instructions – we arranged to meet him so we drove back 30kms past the school.
Guess what there was the tow truck but no boys – just a sad car all locked up and
No way for the truckie to load it onto his truck.. SO it seemed logical to ring the garage and sure enough there were the guys. SO we trucked off back into town another 30 kms past the school, picked them up. The car was loaded and then we drove the 40 kms past the school home. Phew.
5 hours wasted but not one cross word between any of us but certainly quite a few
well-chosen to the AA.
A nice little poached filet with the mashed kumara and leeks becoming a bit of a habit with me I guess, but pretty nice. –some beautiful grilled stone fruit and ice cream – some wine of course to add to “The Bin of Shame”
Dave & I for the first time in 40 years of late night talking discovered mutual friends from our early days in Petone - and off to bed..
The decision to get up early and drive direct to Auckland was deferred and a diversion to Mt Maunganui was planned.
Tuesday
After a good night’s sleep we packed the little red car
Photographed “Masterton Gothic”
A new Classic who needs Grant Wood when you can have the Wrightson trusty camera.
Off to the Mount and George and Marianne.
I think George and Marianne would be thrilled that they got a watered down version of
The Traveling Wrightsons. But of course we drank more wine. George has become very adroit on the BBQ…steak, fish, chili potatoes – salad. Excellent night again.
There was an addition to George’s “Bin of Shame”. Luckily for George they live in a lovely apartment and he can take his little plastic bag down and disperse amongst everyone elses bins. You would have to fingerprint them to find the owners.
After a cooked breakfast we took of in convoy with Gerry for our trip to the farm... It’s been years since we have been to this part of the world and what a change.
Greytown is reminiscent of Breckenridge in USA also Arrowtown in the South Island – Pretty little houses all rejuvenated….Banks turned into cafes and exciting little gifts shops…Old pubs gone gastro. Bought some excellent baguettes at the French Bakery.
Our new Farmers Dave and Diana greeted us at their beautiful cottage just out of Masterton, surrounded by olive trees and grape vines. They have been monstrously neglected but our erstwhile farmers intend to give them lots of love sand attention and want to make wine and olive oil.
Tranquil sunny gorgeous. The cottage and the olive grove in the background, the vege garden
Diana made excellent aubergine and tomato bake for lunch along with a homegrown salad dressed with citrus zest and Colonna Lemon infused oil joined by Forum Chardonnay vinegar. Delicious. The bread was consumed rapidly everyone grabbing their fair share – A nap was necessary of course the first for many days. While we slept Gerry took off back to town…he had golf in the morning.
The neighbours came over for drinks, Paul Margurite and their son Ben (7).
A very entertaining cocktail hour running through into dinner.Diana and Dave made lamb racks and salmon on the BBQ, cauliflower cheese, jersey bennes, tomatoes, beans…Loverly. The neighbours departed, the men seranaded the girls with their guitars while we dozed off in bed. It was a 14 bottles day into “The Bin of Shame” but not too bad considering.
Mon
A superb day in the country, we took a trip off he farm to Murdock James Vineyard for Lunch. The Riverview Restaurant
I had homemade spaghetti tossed in oil, chili, lemon & served with prawns. Dale had salmon with corm fritters. Dave had the antipasto platter, lots of interesting bits and pieces. Bread supplied by the wonderful Greytown French Bakery.
Diana had an avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato etc salad. All very tasty.
We piled into the car and just 3 miles south of Pohutaki School ( we got to know the school well) we broke down. – No-one had a cell phone could you believe it.
We flagged down a passing car to use their phone to call the AA. No problem – be about an hour – It was hot, little midgies covered our legs as as it turned out we were stopped very close to the most dangerous corner on the area. We play with death! Oh well we settled in. Sat on fences sat on posts it was becoming very boring
After an hour we rang again from yet another passing car and were told won’t be long!!!
Our trusty driver with the phone Gerry kindly offered to drive Diana and me to the house to pick up the other car. So the girls toddled off – another 30-40 kms past the school.
Picked up the car and drove to the garage arranged as a meeting place in Masterton BUT no car – no men.
Diana rang the AA getting pretty irate now
They gave us the phone number of the truckie. He was miles away had been given the entirely wrong instructions – we arranged to meet him so we drove back 30kms past the school.Guess what there was the tow truck but no boys – just a sad car all locked up and
No way for the truckie to load it onto his truck.. SO it seemed logical to ring the garage and sure enough there were the guys. SO we trucked off back into town another 30 kms past the school, picked them up. The car was loaded and then we drove the 40 kms past the school home. Phew.
5 hours wasted but not one cross word between any of us but certainly quite a few
well-chosen to the AA.
A nice little poached filet with the mashed kumara and leeks becoming a bit of a habit with me I guess, but pretty nice. –some beautiful grilled stone fruit and ice cream – some wine of course to add to “The Bin of Shame”
Dave & I for the first time in 40 years of late night talking discovered mutual friends from our early days in Petone - and off to bed..
The decision to get up early and drive direct to Auckland was deferred and a diversion to Mt Maunganui was planned.
Tuesday
After a good night’s sleep we packed the little red car
Photographed “Masterton Gothic”
A new Classic who needs Grant Wood when you can have the Wrightson trusty camera.
Off to the Mount and George and Marianne.
I think George and Marianne would be thrilled that they got a watered down version of
The Traveling Wrightsons. But of course we drank more wine. George has become very adroit on the BBQ…steak, fish, chili potatoes – salad. Excellent night again.
There was an addition to George’s “Bin of Shame”. Luckily for George they live in a lovely apartment and he can take his little plastic bag down and disperse amongst everyone elses bins. You would have to fingerprint them to find the owners.
Wed
Marianne was up at the crack of dawn and off to work. After breakfast we were
up and at them. We have been listening on the return trip ( no lesbians) to Harlen Coben’s “Tell No One”. Excellent story and it took us all the way home.
We have traveled 1600 kms since last Thursday. A marathon indeed.
Marianne was up at the crack of dawn and off to work. After breakfast we were
up and at them. We have been listening on the return trip ( no lesbians) to Harlen Coben’s “Tell No One”. Excellent story and it took us all the way home.
We have traveled 1600 kms since last Thursday. A marathon indeed.
