North of the North - Part 2

 I was eagerly awaiting the Fullers Hole in the Rock cruise.  It was just a short 5 minute walk from the hotel down to the wharf.  There was our boat ready  and waiting for us.  We were advised to take warm clothes, water, sun block and a sun hat.  There was no hat in my luggage but I ticked off all the other requirements.  

Waiting for our next adventure

I opted to sit inside the cabin, while a group of hardier folks settled down in the open at the top of the boat.  That would have been much too cold and windy for me.  I has a window seat, couldn't be better.  The captain gave us a running commentary, so I peeked around the corner to snap his photo.

He is very high up there

We skirted past Russell, the former Hell Hole of the Pacific, which was a base for the whaling industry in the 1830s.  Then on past several of the islands, reaching open sea as we headed towards Cape Brett Peninsular to catch a glimpse of Cape Brett Lighthouse.  The lighthouse was barged up the coast and winched into place, what a job that must have been.  Lighthouse keepers lived here from 1910 to 1978 when a new automated lighthouse went into service.

Cape Brett Lighthouse

Then we traveled to the end of the Cape to Motukokako, which Captain Cook named Piercy  Island.  It is commonly known as the "Hole in the Rock", due to the impressive 18 metre (60 foot) passage running through the island at one end.  Good news, the captain informed us, the calm conditions will allow us to take the boat though the hole.  And he did, in and out, and turning around inside, such fun.

The Hole in the Rock

Leaving the Hole in the Rock we came across a huge number of sea birds in a feeding frenzy so we slowed down to get a good look.  They were mainly Shearwaters we were told, feeding on a large shoal of fish.  The birds weren't at all bothered by the boat, they had their minds set on one thing, getting as many of those fish as they could!

Shearwaters in a feeding frenzy

Our trip included a BBQ lunch at Otehei Bay, on Urupukapuka Island.  Otehei Bay is famous for being 

the home of the Sporting Club, established after author Zane Grey visited the island in 1927.

Our lunch was served in a light airy building, hot meat and salads, very tasty indeed.  I decided I really needed a hot coffee to finish after my time on the high seas, so queued up to order one.  

The cafe

It was such a lovely day and plenty of time to spare so everyone headed outside to relax.  Family groups pounced on the selection of bean bags available and dragged them down to the water's edge.  I made use of the comfy seating on the verandah.

Boarding the boat once again, it was a short trip  back to Paihia.  What an exciting day.  But is wasn't over, we were dining that evening at Zane Grey's Restaurant, on the water's edge at Paihia.  Zane Grey was really impressed by the area and  and wrote his book "Tales of the Anglers Eldorado, New Zealand", about the deep sea fishing available here.  He certainly put Paihia on the map.

Zane Grey's Restaurant

Of course, I had to have fish didn't I.  Beer battered fish and chips, and a chocolate mud cake for dessert.  It was a great finale to a fabulous day.

My Birthday Week

Happy Birthday hand made card from Dot

My birthday week started well.  I'd just returned home on Sunday from my 10 day coach trip up to the Far North, avoiding all those coughs and sneezes  I could hear on the coach most days.  Or so I thought!  By Monday afternoon I was coughing and sneezing too, my throat was burning, I had headaches, and I didn't feel at all well.  So much so that I told my Sew Wot friends that I wouldn't be joining them the next morning.  So I stayed tucked up in bed, sipping lemon and honey drinks, and taking Panadol for my sore head.  This was not the way I wanted to spend my birthday week at all.

I felt a little better on Wednesday, so pleased as my granddaughter Emma was coming down to see me.  It was her birthday week too, and she had taken the week off work to celebrate.  And why not, I'd never thought of that when I was a working girl.  Emma is a very keen baker and brough some goodies down for me, that was very much appreciated.  Then we went off for brunch to The George.  Emma adores Eggs Benny and she told me she had checked the cafe menu online so she knew they were available.  I chose a rosti stack with eggs, avocado and salmon, yummy indeed.

She has to share her brunch with family and friends

My brunch

We had coffee to finish, then she dropped me home to go Op Shopping, calling back later in the morning to show me her bargains.  She bought some baking tins, plastic containers, and  a few more bits and pieces, so she was happy with her haul.

The next day, my actual birthday,  I was feeling a little better, but had lost my voice.  The weather was terrible but I really wanted to go out and attend "Cup Cakes and Mocktails" a fund raising afternoon for patients with terminal breast cancer.  Being  a breast cancer survivor myself, there was no way I was going to miss this, so met up with our group of  Menz Shed Ladies.  What a delight greeted us, pretty cupcakes, cheese and biscuits nicely laid out and a trolly full of mocktails.  This was the first time I'd ever had a drink decorated with one of those fancy little umbrellas.  Such a nice way to share my birthday too with these lovely ladies.

Doesn't it all look nice

The organisor welcomed us all for coming out in such nasty weather, and told us how the charity Sweet Louise started.  Then we spent a very pleasant time chatting away, nibbling cupcakes and cheese and crackers, and indulging in a mocktail or two.  No worry about driving home later after consuming these non alcohol drinks.

Menz Shed Ladies - Jan, Lyn, Dot, Jenny, Sally

I stayed close to home the next couple of days, trying to shake what ever it was which ailed me.  The days weren't quite so bad, but once lying in down in bed the coughing started up again, and I spent a good part of the night propped up on pillows,  not at all a comfortable sleeping position.  This cough and sore throat of mine was really hanging around.

Sunday was a birthday celebration with family, and I had planned a High Tea at Tatum Park, because that was what I really wanted to do.  Imagine my shock and horror when I phoned through to confirm the exact numbers attending, and I was told that the restaurant had suddenly closed!  Oh my goodness, what do I do now?  I needed a booking for 10 people in just a few days time.  So I contacted The George, where I had earlier enjoyed brunch with Emma, and luckily they could fit my group in at Sunday lunch time.  Whew, crisis avoided.

The restaurant filled up quickly and I thanked my lucky stars that I had managed to secure a table for the guests at such short notice.  A kind young waitress too a photo of us all after the meals were served.  Pork belly, fried fish, burgers, salads, they were all delicious.  

Here we all are

My niece Lisa and her daughter Kate drove down from Hastings for the weekend.  They say they love meeting up with me, as I look so much like their Mum and Nana Kathleen, my elder sister who is no longer with us.

Great niece Kate and niece Lisa

My younger sister Karla and her partner Murray.  It's hard to believe that Karla is now an OAP like me!

Murray and my sister Karla

Grand daughter Emma, daughter Nicky and son in law Robert.  He always insists that he is my favourite son in law, guess he must be as he is the only one I've got!

Emma, Nicky and Robert

Grand daughter Megan and her partner Michael, such a hard working young couple.

Megan and Michael

And we mustn't forget the birthday girl, here's a snap of me with great niece Kate.

Me with Kate

I was so pleased that they could come and share my 80th (gulp, how old?) birthday lunch with me.  Sadly, my son Michael couldn't make it.  I was really spoilt with some wonderful gifts, flowers, chocolates, a voucher to spend at my favourite quilt shop, and an air fryer from the two grand daughters, they swear by them.  Guess I might need to go to the library and find a couple of air fryer cook books.

Yes indeed, I really did have a lovely time, but once again shed a few tears without Robin here to celebrate with me.  I really do try not to make a big thing when these sad thoughts overtake me, but one of the girls noticed, came up to me and said "you need a hug".  I'm off to put my goodies away now, find a place on the bench for the air fryer, hang the cards up, and settle down for an early night.  I've had a big day!

North of the North - Part 1

After waiting in anticipation for some months, Bay Tours North of the North tour rolled around.  My case was packed, and Gemma was dropped around the the cattery the previous day.  Remember, she was a bit hissy last time, I reminded Carole, the owner.  No trouble, she said, I like a challenge.  

All packed a ready to go

The tour  was departing from Napier. so I took the Intercity bus from Levin to Napier, so much easier for me than driving.  And then we were off.  30 passengers, the driver and the hostess.

We're on our way

The first day was spent, with a morning tea and lunch stop, driving to Auckland, where we checked into our hotel.  And what a beauty it was, such a lovely room, so different than staying in the caravan.  In fact, it was the nicest hotel of the trip, I decided, at the end of the tour.

Waipuna Hotel, Auckland

Moving on the next morning, Whangarei was our lunch stop and a visit to the Hundertwasser Art Centre.  Austrian artist Friedensretch Hundertwasser designed the famous public toilets in Kawakawa, the main attraction of the town and the most photographed toilets in New Zealand.  The tour didn't visit the toilets this time, but we had time to look around the Art Centre, designed by Hundertwasser and finally completed in 2019 in his well known flamboyant style.

Art Centre, Whangarei

Inside the gift shop I was delighted to see a collection of Opal sock wool, manufactured to reflect the colours of Hundertwasser's work.   What to choose?  A ball of shades of blue, with touches of green and yellow,  I decided, boring I know, but then, I love blue!

Sock wool

Driving on to Paihia, we were finally in the far north.  There was lots to do up this way, and we stayed for 4 nights.  We took the ferry across to Russell, such an interesting place.  Formerly known as "The Hell Hole of the Pacific" the town started life populated with whalers, sealers, and prostitutes.  The main street was lined with grog shops and brothels, and it was a very lawless place indeed.  The town was burnt to the ground, so there are no original buildings standing.  Believe it or not, Russell was the capitol of New Zealand in 1840-41, and then the capitol moved to Auckland in 1841-65, finally moving to Wellington in 1865.

Welcome to Russell

We took a mini bus tour around Russell, quite a hilly little place, and were driven up to Flag Staff Hill, where Hone Heke cut down the the flag pole four times in quick succession.  The flag pole was gifted by Heke to fly the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand.  But after the Treaty of Waitangi the flag  was replaced with the Union Jack, which symbolized the loss of Maori mana for Heke and his followers, escalated tensions and ultimately lead to the Northern Wars. 

Russell Mini Tour bus

We returned for an evening ferry ride a couple of days later to dine at the fabulous Duke of Marlborough Hotel, such a wonderful historic place.  A real grand old lady of a building, and full of charm.

Duke of Marlborough Hotel.

Our group was ushered into the dining room, complete with beautifully upholstered chairs in floral fabrics and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  I spotted an embroidered fire screen so just had to take a photo of that too.

Inside the hotel

While I was wandering around taking photos a nice young man approached me and offered to take one of my table.  How kind of him, he probably felt sorry for the old lady!

All ladies at our table

I remember I had roast belly pork, and apple tart for my meal.  Service was a little slow so we had to devour our desserts in double quick time, then hurry to the wharf to catch the 10.00pm ferry back.  Luckily we all made it.  It was a delightful venue and a lovely finish to our day's sightseeing.

Blogging break

 I'm taking a blogging break as I'm off on a coach holiday for the next couple of weeks.  I write the blog on my lap top, but don't want to have to carry it around with me.  But I will be able to keep up with my blog reading on my small tablet. which will be packed away in my suit case.

And talking about packing - this was never an issue when we traveled by  by caravan, there was room for everything, and more.  I always used to pack a pile of books, my knitting bag and stitchery bag.  Several wooly jumpers, just in case, and more clothes than I ever needed.  This time I have to be much more organised, and take only what I can fit into my suitcase.  

What I am taking as an extra, it a set of blocks to make another traveling memory tablecloth, made with New Zealand designed fabrics, plus the marking pen.  Some batiks and some prints, with a centre white square to mark the places I'll be staying at, and the attractions visited.

Packed and ready 

I'm traveling right up to the very top of the North Island, Cape Reinga, haven't been up that way for about 30 years or so!  Cape Reinga is a very spiritual place, as the Maori people believe that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld.

Gemma is in the cattery having her own holiday, and I'm on my way, bag packed and ready to go.  This coach trips seems quite fortuitous as Robin and I had planned to go on a caravan trip up to Cape Reinga next summer.  That can't happen now of course, since he has passed away, but he will certainly be with me in spirit as I travel around.  I'll certainly be blogging all about it on my return.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 Heather was the hostess today, and all the Sew Wots were there.  Jude had a special welcome as she had not been well lately.  We were so pleased that she arrived today as there was a pile of belated birthday gifts for her to open.  

Happy Birthday Jude

We all get just as much fun as the birthday girl as we watched her open the parcels.  Mmm, lovely lavender soaps, fabrics, a set of coffee mugs, chocolate, and a gorgeous fabric covered journal too.  Plus some pretty hand made cards.  Didn't she do well!

Of course there was show and tell, but only two of us had anything to show this time.  Carol had made another selection of teddies, and Heather showed a pair of cozy dark pink socks.

Toys from Carol, socks from Heather

In fact Heather's show and tell just kept coming, she obviously had been very productive lately.  She showed us a cape she had just finished sewing, patchwork on the front and lined with pretty pale teal fleece.  These would be good for people in a wheelchair, she declared.

Heather's cape

Thinking ahead, Heather had made motor bike pillowcases for her great grandsons for when they are in their big boy beds, not for a while yet, but they can be tucked away until that happens.

Motorbike pillowcases

And lastly, Heather had finished a lovely little girl's cardy using some wool she received for her birthday.  There was not quite enough to finish the job, so she added a white collar.  This is such a pretty design.

Knitted by Heather

Then it was morning tea time and we sat around the large table.  Jude, as the birthday girl, was handed a tiara to wear, and there was a sponge cake with candle in honour of her special day.  Morning tea was very tasty, as usual, and we sat, drank our cuppas, nibbled away, and chatted even more.

Jude and Heather

Morning tea is served

We had all taken our knitting to work on during the morning, socks, baby singlets, even a man's jumper.  Clickity clack went the needles as we put the world to rights.  Thanks so much to Heather for giving us such a lovely morning, and we will do it all again in two weeks time.

One bag missing and two found

 The RSC colour for this month is black or brown.  Great, I'll get on with stitching the last of my selvedge strips and make a final two handed oven mitt for the year.  You may remember that I have been on a quest to use up my remaining selvedges.   But where was the bag with the selvedges and the hessian for the backing?  It should have been hanging up on the coat rack with various other bags of stuff, but no, it wasn't anywhere to be found.  Perhaps it was in the crates in the wardrobe, where I had repacked stalled projects after my wardrobe malfunction a couple of months ago.   Pulling them both out, I diligently checked through, and no, not there.  Surely I wouldn't have discarded this bag?  

So the crates went back into the wardrobe and I checked every bag hanging on the coat rack.  Several  were empty and used for shopping or to take projects away on Sew Wot days or quilt club nights.  But there were a couple of forgotten surprises found.  One bag contained an assortment of 5inch squares which I had received from my neighbor Dorothy's stash, all packed up by her in little bags.  They will be handy for future RSC projects.

Lots of squares rediscovered

The other found bag was even more exciting.  There was a cot sized quilt top in blue and yellow, which I added to the pile of tops in the sewing room to be layered and quilted sometime.  Then there were two lots of nine patch blocks all stitched up and with their respective fabrics to complete the projects, another blue and yellow project, and another in pink and blue.  Yes, it's all coming back to me now, I remember stitching these quite some time ago.    These two nine patch projects were added to the crates in the wardrobe to be completed in due cause.

One quilt top, two tops in the making

So.... I didn't find my bag of remaining selvedges and I've checked all sorts of places where it could have ended up.  But I did find these other unexpected projects which I had long forgotten.  As I used to tell Robin, I'll never run out of things to do!

This week has been rather social, going out and about.  First was a trip down to Tatum Park with my friend Dot, where we enjoyed a Devonshire Tea.  The main reason for going to this establishment was to confirm the booking and details of my upcoming BIG birthday family lunch later in the month.  The day was cold and miserable outside, but we were  toasty warm inside.

Dot and Jenny enjoying Devonshire Tea, actually coffee,  on a chilly morning

And then the following day I had lunch with two friends at Otaki, sadly our fourth friend was unwell and could not attend.  This cafe is so busy, and we were amazed by the queues of customers which kept streaming in.  Just as well we had booked a table, I thought.  There was plenty to chat about with these ladies, we go back a long time and there are many memories of earlier years.

Trish, Robyn and Jenny

So it's been a busy old week, but still no sign of the missing bag with the last of my selvedges.  I'm hoping  it will turn up sooner or later.

A Morning at the Movies

Three friends and I attended the Thursday  morning screening of the film "Downton Abbey the Grand Finale".  When we arrived we were told that the credit card system wasn't working, so sales were cash only.  Luckily we all had some cash in our purses, so movie tickets were purchased, and a coffee too, as we were there in plenty of time.  I was so looking forward to the film, as I had watched all the TV series, and knew all the characters.  The scandal of divorce raised it's ugly head, as no divorced woman (at the time) could take part in polite society and were ostracized.   There was no mention however that divorced men were so treated and shunned.  I loved the film, the story line, and the gorgeous costumes - if you are a Downton Abbey fan, you will love it too.

On Saturday morning the local Community Patrol team was hosting their Safer Plates campaign and I drove down to check it out.  They advise that the first thing a criminal does when they attempt to steal your car is to cut the screws off your number plates to change them and make it easier to commit offences.  For a $5 donation to Community Patrol, the team will replace the plate screws with stainless steel star shaped heads which are much more difficult to remove.  That sounded a good idea to me, so I went and happily paid my $5.00 for the service.

There was a wee bit of a wait as many other car owners had the same idea, and then my car was attended to.  It hardly took any time at all.  

Started in 2002, the Community Patrol is active at night and covers about 100km a night in our area in their distinctive vehicles, working as a set of extra eyes and ears for the Police and report suspicious or criminal activity.  The volunteers  do a great job in helping to keep our community safer.