Napier Friday 16th February
Back into car again The blue car this time.
Lunch at Taupo’s Villino Crumbed Chicken and Kumara salad for me. Joyce – Dale
Had porcini risotto - .
Good food we have been there a couple of times previously and really enjoyed it.
Stopping at Taupo is a nice break in the 5 hours to Napier. A little lunch, a beer to refresh. It really is a nice drive, Pity about the road works I wonder if they will ever finish. A road work free drive should be celebrated.
Arrived at the Heinzies, unloaded, settled in for drinks and nibbles. Lana had arrived before us. Dejau was around to greet us.
The photo I took of Ms Mary’s dish complete with fish was unfortunately a bit fuzzy but it looks pretty stunning at this stage.
Excellent blue nose cooked on a bed of potatoes and peppers. Served with corn salsa.
Then the cake (very nice too Ms Mary). Early bed.
Awoke to a cloudy and slightly chilly day.
After the Geriatric Gym Bunnies - Lana and Heinzie had finished their gym and then walk the dog marathon we toddled off into town.
Met the others at the Zig Zag Café for coffee. A perfect place to people watch and to assume the position for the parade of vintage cars. Led by a Bertie Wooster character.
Lots of people dressed up in fact the drop in temperature gave the ladies a chance to bring out the dead animals to wear around their necks. It would have been impossible in Napier’s normally very hot summer days. The lovely Lisa came out.
No parade is complete without the Marching Girls
Came home for a quick lunch then after a little rest, off into town to watch the bathing belle and beau contest.
Lana dressed up in her beautiful dress she was to join Lisa and family to promenade around the town
The girls looked stunning. We abstained promenading in town… we had excellent food and wine on our agenda.
A couple of punters overlooking the famous floral clock. The Marine Parade is gorgeous
So after the contest we looked at a few more cars and we retired home for nibbles and drinks in the Heinzies sunny deck. Very satisfying.
We drove to The Mission where we had a superb meal in a wonderful setting.
Heinzie and I had venison and black pudding for mains, Calamari to start for Mary and Me. Joyce had spinach feta and pancetta soup, (very good)
Dale and Heinzie started with bread and dips. Mary had beef for her main and Joyce had lamb and guess what Dale had salmon.
A delicious chocolate dessert served with raspberry and white chocolate icecream to finish off…
Sated and a bit worse for wear…we rushed home to hear about Lana’s adventures in town with the flappers.
Sunday
Heinzie and I got up at 5.45 to race into the Marine Parade to reserve our posi for the picnic. We found the perfect place and set up the gazebo and deck chairs. In this day of locking up everything, houses, cars etc what a refreshing change to be able to leave your possessions out in the open and walk away for 6 hours and know they will be there when you return.
So we returned home and we baked, we fried, we buttered, we sliced, the electric knife came out to cut the crust off the sandwiches Heinzie and Lana played tennis then walked the dog.
The picnic was complete, a veritable feast.
Bacon and Egg Pie
Courgette tomato and feta pie
Savoury Veal Escalopes
Smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches
Scones served with Mr Heinz Raspberry Jam and Crème Fraiche
Lana made a menu how exciting it all was.
A little aside Dale wore his T shirt that Joyce had brought from US of A down to the wine shop.
“I don’t want to, I don’t have to, You can’t make me. I’m Retired”Reads the shirt. When the young girl at the shop offered to carry the wine out to the car for him. Enormous offence was taken… The T shirt came off …I don’t know if it will ever be worn again.
As it turned out by chance we had pitched our gazebo right next to the band.
There was dancing, and singing. You could believe you back in the late 20’s early 30’s.
We mingled with the hoi polloi.
Ms Lana marinated a jug of Pimms and the food was a big hit…
Newt (on the left)was dressed up giving him the raffish look he was obviously seeking
Heinzie complete with monocle and Lana also paid homage.
Of course I wore the fabulous Daisy Mae T-Shirt and got once again lots of comments
There was a fabulous air show right above us
There was of course some drama. Poor Chris Jacobsen after seeing Heinzie having a wee doze, using Lana’s fox fur for a pillow.
He thought this was a great idea, put his deck chair in the shade sat down and it collapsed after the initial hilarity of the group (as you do when someone falls over) we soon sensed all was not well he had jammed his finger in the wood and the whole weight of his body was keeping it entrapped.Ooh it looked nasty luckily help came from the man next door who rolled him over on his side to release the weight and he was free but in terrible pain.. The ambulance man came and dressed it…it wasn’t broken thank God.
A sympathetic comment was heard “Bloody Jakes that’s the another chair he has broken!!!”
Lana took off for Auckland with Lisa and after a respectable time of promenading we also packed up and went home. Isn’t packing up a bore.
But the cleverly parked car close to the site was a real bonus.
All pretty tired a long day. Sausages in the oven with white death bread. An excellent ending to and excellent weekend.
All pretty tired a long day. Sausages in the oven with white death bread. An excellent ending to and excellent weekend.
Monday dawned
It was yet another beautiful day in Napier. We are going to catch up with the lovely Annie, Merry Clare and Brigid for a nice little lunch at Brigid and Gary’s base here in New Zealand.
We took off and of course, as seems to be the case more and more, (is this what aging does to you?) we went the wrong way. This was not too big of a trial as it really is gorgeous in Hawkes Bay even though we traveled about 20 extra kilometerage...
Of course once we had arrived at the beautiful Waiana all worries and tribulations disappeared. What else does one expect when you arrive at such a lovely house?
It was so exciting to see” The Girls”…it’s been a while. Once inside of course it was time for drinks
An excellent Bloody Mary for me, Dale went straight onto the wine and we went out to the patio overlooking the pool…
Unfortunately everyone had to put up with my phone frantically ringing. There were documents to be signed and it was all too boring but necessary.
Lunch was served out in the courtyard and by this time we had been joined by Gary.
(Our first meeting ever, we have known Brigid for over 20 years and in while both in UK and NZ Gary has always been in Hong Kong working. So this is a delight.)
Also Harriet and Ronnie guests of Brigid and Gary (who are touring around the world) gave up precious time by the pool to join us for the drinks and then lunch.
Ahhhhhh lunch. Beautiful rare beef, little roast potatoes, sausages (oh I must digress for a second…a South American staying with friends saw a menu and ordered “sos-are-gees” to the delight of the café owner. I think they almost must be “sos-are-gees” from now on)
A very pretty salad, a variety of condiments and some foccacio.
Didn’t take long to demolish all this food and it was time to work our way through the
wine
Merry Clare took me for a little tour round the property.
The walled garden, the chapel, the view. Magnificent.
Meanwhile back at the ranch things were falling apart.
I would suspect the “Bin of Shame” was quite full.
I would suspect the “Bin of Shame” was quite full.
Of course there was the drive home so the pious driver (moi) had to take things in hand and get on the road.
So it was Goodbye to Waiana and the lovely friends.
On the right road this time and of course half of the driving time.
What a fun day
Meanwhile back at the ranch. Mary and Joyce had had a nice day catching up with friends and Heinzie went to work.
The Jakes Chris (of the sore finger) and the lovely Trisha came for drinks and dinner
The Racing Grannies were a highlight of the day.
Mary prepared a fab roast chicken dinner
And we polished off the rest of her great cake.
Chris once going...told jokes. The best line in limericks we have heard in years… It was so good I had to ring Jeannie who has quite a talent in this field herself. We roared for what seemed like hours. Nothing like a good laugh to inhance an evening.
As luck would have it the sore finger hadn’t ruined his sense of humour.
Tuesday
Up at the crack of dawn for the drive home. Farewelled the tired Heinzies it had been a big one. And off we went. Had breakfast at the Helipad Café in Taupo. Average but OK.
But we a Tiki tour again for Joyce. The beautiful Huka Falls
So it was Goodbye to Waiana and the lovely friends.
On the right road this time and of course half of the driving time.
What a fun day
Meanwhile back at the ranch. Mary and Joyce had had a nice day catching up with friends and Heinzie went to work.
The Jakes Chris (of the sore finger) and the lovely Trisha came for drinks and dinner
The Racing Grannies were a highlight of the day.
Mary prepared a fab roast chicken dinner
And we polished off the rest of her great cake.
Chris once going...told jokes. The best line in limericks we have heard in years… It was so good I had to ring Jeannie who has quite a talent in this field herself. We roared for what seemed like hours. Nothing like a good laugh to inhance an evening.
As luck would have it the sore finger hadn’t ruined his sense of humour.
Tuesday
Up at the crack of dawn for the drive home. Farewelled the tired Heinzies it had been a big one. And off we went. Had breakfast at the Helipad Café in Taupo. Average but OK.
But we a Tiki tour again for Joyce. The beautiful Huka Falls
An excellent end to a great trip.
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