Sunday morning and out and about in sunny Wanganui, the weather gods threw a glorious day at us.

While Wanganui is famous for its river, riverboats and railway history, it is actually on the Wild West coast! A short drive took Thelma and Louise to the beach; black sand, surf, driftwood and mountains!

The clear day provided a perfect view of Mt Taranaki, a couple of hundred kilometres north, reaching for the sky.

Castlecliff beach stretching south, dogs and humans enjoying the perfect morning.

Then it was off to visit the heads, where the sea meets the river. Cruising along the coast road we found….

The driftwood house and the owner out front planting daisys in his driftwood fence

We very politely asked if we could take a photo. “Are you from the council?” No T & L are from north of Auckland and Louise is a driftwood fan. New best friend, the entire property is decorated with driftwood, a physical therapy project after a broken back left the owner almost paralysed.

The fence on council berm, hence the council question. This is a snapshot of two houses, two sections, driveway and fences. We even got offered to take whatever piece we wanted, but we couldn’t destroy the artwork!

Back on the road, for a few minutes, and we parked up at the heads.

One way in and one way out through the break water as the rest of the shoreline had a 6-8 foot surf rolling in. So we had found the most popular spot for fishermen, surfers, wood collectors, dads and kids all out enjoying the still morning sunshine.

Even ditched the jeans and bared the winter whites.

A beach full of natural treasures…

Wetsuited surfers waiting for the big one…

And the breakwater; a perfect fishing spot for Kawhai, John Dory and Red cod, as we were informed by a local. We were wishing we had thrown in a couple of rods for the roadie!

It was back to the main beach for a quick bathroom stop.

Art Deco Wanganui at its best and across the road a quaint little Sunday market was opening up. Stalls with everything free, donation if you like, a few locals enjoying just a social Sunday event, selling stuff not a priority!

The afternoon was filled with washing, cooking for a birthday dinner, a bit of personal maintenance…like the first shower since leaving on Friday! And now my brother in law is playing with his new toy, a skillsaw to chop up firewood. No such thing as no power tools on a Sunday in Wanganui!

We now have the Sunday roast and chocolate birthday cake – made from scratch, just because we can!

Tomorrow the roadie begins, who knows where this will find T & L!

Charity shoppers delight, a five minute walk from our abode found the girls in the hospice charity shop at 10am.

The roadie outfits are sorted for Monday when we head out, this is just a little teaser!

Plan for the day was to walk into town and explore the riverside market. (yes Aucklanders markets are allowed) After an hour or so in the charity shop fending off the teamed up losers begging for money, who soon realised there was no point in taking on Thelma and Louise, we returned to the homestead laden with treasures! We packed light and an outfit is needed for each day to come (watch this space)

The team then walked and wheeled it into town (approx three kms) making new friends on the way….mainly dogs!

Not quite the superyacht waterfront of Birgu (Malta) but this old girl was for sale. An option for Thelma and Louise if they become homeless once again.

After the traffic chaos of Auckland a no car day was much needed and we soaked in the nature of the Wanganui river…devoid of humans, cars and actually most things!

Arriving at our destination with about 40 minutes to explore the market before the locals packed up and went home to enjoy the afternoon sunshine. Having devoured an ice cream on arrival there was one last treat that we couldn’t resist…

Hot dogs on a stick…..keto, healthy options not an option in the food truck area, well maybe it was but not in our line of vision.

Then a treat of all treats for the charity queens! My sister in law Brenda works in a charity shop in town which is closed on saturdays. She purloined the key and a private viewing (and shopping spree) was had by the tourists! Followed by a second hand book shop (another friend) visit and a bargain deal on old westerns for Al! Thes books are like hens teeth and he has at least a couple of weeks worth on our return!

One more stop, should have worn the track shoes, refreshments again and a couple of supplies for dinner. Thelma and Louise were getting thirsty for the 5pm drinks, left our hosts to visit the phone shop and footed it home, promising to get the washing off the line!

It seemed a long way back on tired feet carrying a bag of ice (for Louises wine) and two leeks. We will see what happens with them…all in all no fossil fuels used and damn near 15kms of T & L’s energy expended.

Actually I’m on my second Speights and our hosts are still not back, hope the wheelchair hasn’t run out of juice!

The long awaited new adventures of the kiwi Thelma and Louise begins…

11.00am Friday 18th September 2020….five minutes up the road, first stop Wild Bean coffee and sausage roll for two. $24.00! Ok so it had been a busy morning but we didn’t need (or order) two coffees each, and after a complicated recount the teller eventually worked out he had overcharged by $10.00. So the journey resumed, coffee in hand, sausage roll in tummy’s, music blaring and torrential rain pelting down. Not ideal for two girls following the sun.

We soon realised the midday traffic, which was abnormally stationery, spelt something other than usual Friday congestion. Maybe the police with lights and sirens also raised alarm bells. Sure enough, ahead on the harbour bridge, a major incident was unfolding. None other than a rolled truck, closing off four of the eight lanes.

We finally crawled over the harbour bridge and got out of first gear. The rain was easing, so it was metal to the floor to put some miles behind us.

Four hours on the road found us at Otorohanga for a bathroom stop, a leg stretch and a sandwich.

A stroll through Edmund Hillary arcade, and kiwiana history, found us hanging out with “The Chicks”

The buzzy bee and the Kiwi!

The usually bustling town, which serves as a halfway stop for many travellers was almost deserted, shops closed and very few people. No one in the cafes or tourist trap shops, and most closing their doors before 3pm. The stark reality of covid economy collapse certainly evident in the small towns.

Back on the road, there were still mountains to climb and as the day was nearing its end, the sun did peak through in patches, but gave up as rain descended upon a grey late afternoon. We circled the Tongariro mountain range, sight unseen, and headed into the Paraparas, the final challenge of the day.

Stop-go one way stretches halted the journey a couple of times where slips had halved the road.

Natural car washes poured down onto the road sides and were evident along several sheer rock faces through the gorge, endorsing the large amount of recent rainfall in this area.

My minimal knowledge of this area, did flag the danger of slips! And then we rounded a corner…. only to be confronted by a large pile of rocks on our side of the road, actually across most of the narrow road. Luckily speed was not an issue, as corners were tight and I navigated my way through, bouncing over a few lumps and bumps.

The final stretch saw us driving into a ball of fire as the sun dropped down behind the Wanganui river banks and destination in view after 7 hours on the road. Even the warm Speights (and wine) tasted great! And a wonderful evening catching up with Russ’s brother Graeme and Brenda.

Living a weekend with friends and family, in my tiny house, makes the world seem a better place. Time alone, time to chat, time to smile and time to plan and dream of happy times.

Coffee and colour, sea and sand. A drive over the hill and searching for a secluded place to drink a coffee in the sunshine meant avoiding the crowded cafes and heading to the south end of Orewa beach at the mouth of the estuary.

White sand and clear blue water, sheltered from the cool September breeze fills the soul with warmth and peace.

After a breakfast of BLTs Dan and I left George to snooze after his night of camping a little further north.

Checking potential beach fishing spots and reinforcing our thoughts that we really do live in a beautiful place. A far cry from my weekly suburbia (which is only a stones throw away)

The afternoon provided time to be still and watch a mindless movie, until I was ready to wander up the road and sit on the building site with Dan and Floyd, catching the last of the afternoons rays.

Floyd followed the sun…and moved to the bottom step of Jax house as the sun dipped behind the hill around 3pm.

And the shadows lengthened. I wandered back from Dans to build a “Hello Fresh” for dinner, noting the visitors to Waiwera lined up along the road…

A mustang lovers delight.

Trudi arrived after work and we visited our lockdown friends from Tauranga, and wandered along the waterfront and the sun set on the glorious spring day.

The wind had dropped and the evening air chilled, reminding us that there is still a touch of winter in the air.

Reverse image of the sunset in the mirror of a waterfront home, capturing a loan walker and a clean car. With our water restrictions we are still unable to use the hose so most of us are sporting dirty cars so it is quite special to see a clean car.

This afternoon it’s back to suburbia and ready for a working week….yawn!

While the restless kiwis are exploring the far ends of New Zealand, a gentle reminder that paradise is just a stones throw away.

This restless kiwi has the weekend off, packed a bag, a box of Speights, emptied the fridge and jumped in the car and headed north….10ks over the hill and back to Waiwera for the weekend in my bach at the beach.

An evening of catching up with Dan and Jax and Steph, home made hamburgers and no TV! A Sleep in was planned but the body clock decided otherwise. Wide awake at 6am and not to waste a minute of my temporary freedom I lept out of bed to catch the sunrise.

Coffee in hand, takeaway cup courtesy of my Texas family…I climbed the gate and took us (my absent friends) to the beach to catch the suns first peep of what promises to be a glorious spring day!

The suns fingers reaching out to my toes as I sit on the sea wall sipping my coffee, birds calling, sea slapping on the sand and no humans! A cool sea breeze completing the morning wake up call.

Our little church catching the first rays

And the bench seat waiting for the old man that comes every day (with his walking frame) and sits there and reads his book for an hour or so.

Gate still locked, so another climb over the gate to sit in the sun (now streaming in my bach) and finish my still hot coffee!

My self managing garden looking pretty happy with the spring weather.

Appreciation of this magical place is compounded by absence. Covid enforced or circumstances enforced, but when one gets a moment and can return, it lifts the soul and warms the heart.

A friendly face, a smile and wave, the quacking ducks chirping birds and the sound waves of a seaside village, only 10 minutes out of suburbia, makes us realise that all is not lost! And then there comes a bus, empty as usual but routinely on the hour. Its going to be a great day in my happy place.

2020 has disrupted all our lives, our friends, our families and their friends and families. Everywhere you look, someone has a story to tell and we are hearing alot of unsettled humans in our new world.

House prices are soaring as Kiwis try to secure their forever home, and rentals are in high demand. Being a tradie at this time is a good profession to have, as the plans for building are popping up all over our country, New Zealand touted to be a safe place to live.

We are disposing of unneeded “things” and minimalising our lives to enjoy the more simple activities in our work life balance. While many are working from home, and disparing of stumbling from their beds to their computers on a daily basis, others are embracing change and making plans to action for a future in our godzone. As we have all been such a transient society, we have holes in our hearts where our overseas loved ones sit and memories return to us on a daily basis (facebook reminds us memory challenged humans). We tell ourselves it will not be forever and we focus on the summer in front of us with Spring providing sunshine and warmer days.

It is time for this old Girl to find a new home, she likes a roof over her head (garage) and who can drive two cars at once? Trade-me provided the perfect motivation on Saturday – gifting a free listing day and so I did….one test drive and a couple of lookers and bids later but no new home yet. She needs someone to care for her as Russ did and as I have a multitude of humans to care for, it can’t be me.

Days and weekends are littered with home tasks, work and, dare I say it, a slight boredom of looking out the window at suburbia (new subdivision – big houses on small sections) and the continuous banging of contractors working on the two mausoleums (bigger houses on smaller sections) behind Dads house in Silverdale.

Lawns are growing and plants need watering, windows need cleaning and cupboards need clearing. Jobs for a weekend, but by then its just block the world and do something unnecessary:

Two jigsaws in one day, Ok so only 300 piece ones, but an hour of mindless activity. I am looking forward to joining the ranks of the level 2.5 freedom campers….and getting some beach time or fishing time soon. This Kiwi likes the outdoors not the indoors and we still have lots to explore in this country of ours.

So my Wednesday ends with a medical appointment and building another “Hello Fresh”, although I am getting good at modifying these complicated instructions into very edible (and easy) concoctions…Dad has been baking himself in the afternoon sun in readiness for his appointment. Life is pretty simple really. We got through Fathers Day, not that well (sad face here), we now have the first year of Russ’s passing to navigate next week closely followed by his birthday (and anniversary of his funeral and the first game of the 2019 Rugby world cup). It is kind of hard to believe all this was pre Covid and we did not know that barring our losses what 2020 would bring for us. So long as we all stick together and spread a little kindness where ever we can we will all get ready to jump into 2021 with renewed vigour.

Spring is here, September is bringing sunshine to out closed doors, gates and borders. As covid lives in our community, we try to carry on with our lives and keep our heads above water.

We need to keep safe and designer masks are the new designer shoes. Gates keep us safe and our canines safe. Floyd has been hanging out in Silverdale while his house is a building site. Dan is cranking along with his renovations and a dog cannot understand why his home is being ripped apart.

I would actually like to fast forward September as I stare down the barrel of 60 years on this earth. I always said the 10 years from age 20-30 were the best of our lives, but on reflection 50-60 was pretty awesome! Russ and I had some great adventures until a year ago when September hit us. Now it’s only memories as I navigate Father’s Day, A year since Russ left me and his birthday in September. So I say roll on October and my next decade on earth and let’s see if the “time heals all” can take me to a new world!

This covid thing has become a drag for many… We are starting to accept that our freedom of choice is somewhat changed. Never having held on to things and a forever home(house), the focus is on making a nest where we can be happy seems to be the thing now.

George gave up on returning to the UK and started a kiwi work life this week, a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 working week. After working from home for 10 months, unsociable hours, afternoon naps and random gym visits, it’s welcome to the real world and a welcome change!

Dad is chugging along, walking laps of the house and bossing me around as I try to work in my world of selling bags and boxes! The covid world has crushed the retail trade but boosted the online shopping craze and I dream of box sales! Kiwis now shop from the safety of their home and our boxes are in big demand.

I kind of feel like a spider with eight arms as I try to keep my lot happy adjusting to a changed world. Sometimes one gets ripped off and another one grows in its place to reach out and pick up the pieces!

I never liked closed doors, but this is now the new norm and so long as we shut the gate the humans and canines will be safe!

So a packet of chocolate peanuts is $2.00 from the supermarket. Ok, rubbish food is cheap! But if it makes you happy why not? Happiness is in short supply in 2020.

This story is dedicated to my friends and family in Texas as hurricane Laura bears down on them on top of the Beastly covid 19! In the middle of summer it should be pool parties and cold Coors (my Texas drink of choice) but NO….they are hunkering down, praying that the wind and water will keep away from their homes!

The week has passed and a search for dads phone has produced nothing, we can only assume that it is now part of the road (having dropped from his pocket and yours truly running it over)

Sunday saw me take a big chunk of time out from jobs of any kind and dedicate my day to a jigsaw, kindly donated from my cousin (who has canine babies). The end result was two chewed pieces and four pieces missing ( presumably more than chewed!)

This flowed over to my evenings after my work day and “voila”….

Puzzle number two complete by Wednesday evening. My addictive nature has seen me sitting at the kitchen table well into the evening – while the Sky Australian news blasts away in the background (dads entertainment of choice).

Another week of hello fresh meals with a twist! Some distributed to the workers at dans house, a leftover meal for Al and Sue, and tonight, Jax cleaned up the last one cooking at ours for Steph and I (a vege risotto) while dad and he enjoyed a blokes dinner of sausages, mashed spud and greens!

August has presented its usual mix of winter weather: sunshine, rain and chills!

My friend at Waiwera sends me daily images of dawn, storms and dusk…this one plagiarised from his library, promising one thing and delivering another. So it is winter; we always expect the unexpected.

And as we roll into the last quarter of 2020, it seems isolation, jigsaws, face masks and family only are our future (at least for the next few months). We all have places we want to be, people we want to hug and adventures we want to have. Sorry guys it’s all chocolate peanuts and jigsaws….at least for a while. Even if we move to a restrictive level 2 we are looking at period of rolling in and out of lockdown, and parties of 10! Not looking promising for a couple of 60ths on the horizon!

In the meantime we all pray for our friends in Texas, Russ’s second home and one I have come to love!

For all you humans who took the last lockdown to clean out the clutter and can now enjoy each other’s company and smell the roses, consider yourselves lucky.

At my new abode, I find myself knee deep in sorting and cleaning and clearing out (and sharing out) loved ones belongings.

Dad and I spend my weekend doing all the jobs he thinks up during the week. Yesterday (Saturday) was huge with boxing and bagging and putting names on stuff to go here, there and everywhere. Dad got on my tail at every step, sans hearing aids…as all day (probably on the hour) I mentioned to go put his ears in! Finally (after 8 hours of repeating everything three times, and getting rather short on voice and patience) at around 3pm I was a little more vocal and forceful and got told I sounded like Sandy. Obviously I am not attacking the situation correctly – be a bit ruder and I get a reaction.

George tidied up the last of his UK work in the morning and then went and helped Dan shovel metal as, renovations progress in winter, he was knee deep in mud and a metal spread was much needed.

I did get a quick trip to drop bags at doors and pick up prescriptions (for dad) from the chemist, but not before the realisation that Dad had misplaced his phone (you know the $20 old Nokia little black type). A call ensured it was going straight to answer phone, so a thorough phone hunt got underway. In car (we went to doctors and xray on friday), under chairs and at all the Allan hot spots and not so hot spots around the house. Concluded (me quickly, dad eventually) that it must have fallen out of his pocket either at doctors or radiologist, I can check these places on Monday. Or maybe out of his pocket on the road as he was getting into car and I’ve run it over! Replaceable…but stressful!

Day over, time to build one of these, yes we’ve been religiously ploughing through another week of hello fresh. Friday night Dad decided – let’s have a break, fish and chips-didn’t need asking twice! And last night, after my hectic day, I modified some wrappy, mincey, cheesy, spicy Mexican thing into “spaghetti bolognase” and salad! Five minute preparation and I only had to supply the pasta. A great success and less stress.

It’s hard to be happy sometimes, when our world is so uncertain. In my case, keeping busy throws all thoughts to the bottom shelf to creep out in the middle of the night to keep me awake.

Tensions and tempers and personalities clash in times of stress (and a second lockdown is certainly this) For some it is easier to walk away, for some just carry on, for others stuck in the middle, you just try to keep calm and keep the peace.

Just be kind to each other and kind to our canine babies. Smiles and waves (the social distance way) and virtual hugs are paramount to our sanity!

A lockdown weekend of overnight single digit temperatures and inland frosts, daytime blue skies, sunshine and sea swims!

Saturday was planned but took a few detours with some “sorting out” jobs, while George got behind the vacuum and mop. I almost got an afternoon nap in the sun, but the gardening jobs were calling (and so was dad).

The compost got shoveled around the mandarin and lemon trees providing a perfect platform to poke the alyssum in “wherever I felt like it” …. as per Sandys instructions! The pots with dead plants on the deck got hauled by George around the back – another direction from Sandy and random dead plants and live weeds got disposed of, Sue, Al and George tag teaming!

Trudi arrived around 4pm, being alone, she is our bubble extension in level 3, and assisted with round two of the “Hello Fresh” production…Keeping me company while I chopped, diced and prepared (an hourish) for a Sri Lanken chicken curry! George had taken a run around the estuary (11ks) followed by a bath (and a nap would have been in there somewhere) but he was on cooking duties!

Easy Mum! Yes George the hard bit is done…just tip the (already prepared 20 ingredients) into the pan in order! Actually, while I had my doubts that dad could stomach two Asian type meals in a row, we “all” enjoyed this one!

Sunday broke in more of the same glorious weather and our mission today was to wash (by hand) all the cars…so right now that is four! Dads big SUV, the Hyundai i30, the old Punto and the older Merc (who is destined for a new home). So Dads car got moved onto the road, the Hyundai had a good inside vacuum and clean out, then the target of our mission got attacked – the Merc! Vacuum, sugarsoap upholstery and vinyl and pretty much everything – dad bars bugged the windows.  Hand washed the outside paintwork, polished the chrome, tyre shined the bumpers, toothbrushed the rims and rinsed with a sponge and dryed with a beach towel! Let me explain: as many will be asking where is the hose in this equation. Aucklanders will, the rest of the world won’t, understand that we are still on water restrictions from the summer and using a hose is a no-no. Nearly through winter – this does not bode well for summer garden watering. (p.s on the car cleaning….the Punto got an inside clean)

Dad sat in the sun and George and I dropped the old girl (with for sale signs on) down to the roadside, on the busy walkway, to see if there were any bites. Ok, my friends, we are talking about the Merc not me! By this time the Merc was a much more attractive proposition.

Next stop some drop offs to the boys at Waiwera and a mid winter summer day swim….

For George ….. while I took a moment and a social distance coffee with my friend John gazing at the sea!

John is the caretaker of Russell Rose, who is blooming in his spa area. I have so many plants to look after in my current residence and cannot provide the TLC that John can at this time!

After a (very) quick ocean dip and a moment at the beach, we returned to Dad and some interest in the Merc. We collected her off the streets and brought her home in readiness for a social distance viewing. A couple of young chaps, quite keen, but want to swap their car and flick in a bit of cash.. the days of deals are long gone.  I am wanting to reduce car numbers not add to them! We’ll see, we plan to send her out on the streets again today and see if she generates some more lucrative interest!

A glorious (and busy) winter summer weekend ended with a dry pork fillet, mashed potato, baked carrot and beetroot and probably the least tasty “Hello Fresh” so far! But not without the fiddling around beforehand to get it all ready! Three down two to go! Looking forward to “breakfast for dinner”…… eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomato and toast!