March 10 - 13
Wellington, Porirua and Plimmerton
March 10
Wellington to Porirua
A morning of organising motels, packing and breakfasting. Then a rapid dash to the station, just missing one bus and waiting ages (or so it seemed) for the next one to arrive. I just made it in time to catch the train that I intended as far as Paremata.
Doug collected me from the station and drove me along familiar roads to Whitby. There have been changes there and the café has been completely re-built since my last visit. Jim and Dianne joined us and we had a reasonable lunch and lots of gossip.
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I went home with Jim & Dianne and watched through their windows as the wind gradually increased across the inlet.
Towards teatime, I was driven a mile across Whitby to Margaret's. We almost immediately departed on a half hour walk to look at the massive amount of building work that is under way. The golf course wasn't a success so it was ploughed up.The surrounding hills were not able to save themselves either and the trees on them were being bulldozed and the slopes graded. Whitby will grow and grow but will never be a place that I warm to. |
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We spent the evening looking at photos and chatting.
March 11
Porirua
It was cold and windy overnight. It had been about 35 degrees when I left Adelaide and it had been hotter. Over here, it was about 14 degrees. Quite a shock to the system. In spite of that, I slept well.
Margaret dropped me at the station and I caught the train one stop to Porirua. Standing on the Paremata Station platform reminded me of the lovely views but also of the biting wind.
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Once in the "big" city, I settled into a busy café with coffee, a bun and the morning paper.
I walked through the Megacentre, an unlovely collection of tin shed warehouses, but which contains a number of useful shops. There was an unusual and exciting ornamental rhinoceros. Life size I should think.
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I noticed that the garage where I bought two cars had become a furniture warehouse but was later told that the garage had moved round the corner and was still in business. I did some shopping and then made my way into the central mall.
This had nothing exciting to offer so I returned to the café where I had had elevenses for a leisurely and unhealthy lunch.
I decided to walk all the way back to my old home, with the biting wind blasting into my back. I crossed the bridge over the stream, railway and motorway, and entered the new suburb of Aotea.Houses are growing like rabbits and more hillside is vanishing. I alternatively donned and removed my waterproof as I got too hot and then too cold. |
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I reached Doon Grove safely and settled in for an afternoon of tea and chat with several old neighbours. A nice way to spend some time.
I rushed down the 213 steps too fast to permit photos - a shame - but caught the bus with a few minutes to spare. This took me back to Whitby in no time at all.In the evening, we drove into Plimmerton to an exhibition at the local gallery, followed by a curry at the Plimmerton Taj.Margaret spotted some arty photographic opportunities to be had through the window. |
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We returned home and I managed a partial repair to my faulty email system.
March 12
Porirua
It was cloudy when I woke, that cleared a little while we breakfasted and, when we eventually departed, it looked OK. Once we had crossed the hill and were heading along the Kapiti Coast, it looked glorious.
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We stopped at Kapiti Arts and Crafts, where Margaret and Valerie were pastelling and, after abandoning my waterproof in the car and removing my tracksuit trousers - such a change from yesterday, I set off on a walk.
The Arts Centre has a magnificent tree which I have tried to photograph before. I'm sure this one will be no more artistic than usual.
Raumati village was reasonably busy with people exploring the shops. A small white fluffy dog was guarding one of the antique shops but it fled back inside as I was contemplating taking its photo.
As I walked down the path to the beach, I came upon three "mature" gentlemen ruminating on the working of a large steam engine. They were discussing valves and pistons and seemed quite oblivious to my presence. They eventually passed the time of day and I took a couple of photos. This was more than a hobby to them. The beach looked lovely. Lots of birds, waves and sun. I wandered slowly, trying not to trip over the rocks, met a nice doggie and enjoyed the peace. Such a change from yesterday.
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I eventually re-joined the road and, realising that I wasn't going to make it all the way to Raumati South, I stopped at the Rosetta Café for a light lunch.This was aided by the elderly, one eyed, chocolate Labrador, who scoured the floor for any abandoned crumbs. |
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With time running out, I walked quickly back along the road to the main village, had a quick look around the Arts Centre gallery and re-joined Margaret and Valerie. Margaret and I did a little shopping and then returned home.
I packed my bags and she drove me to Sue and Wayne's in Plimmerton. Several others joined us for an excellent dinner with amazing wine. It was a late night.
March 13
Plimmerton
A reasonably late start. Sue set off on her bike while Wayne, Harry and I walked down the 250 + steps to the waterfront. There was some sun and some cloud in evidence. It was difficult to assess which would win.
We walked along the promenade into the centre of Plimmerton, had coffees at the café and returned home via the road. The weather remained undecided.
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A little later we set off by car to take Harry to his place of imprisonment while his family went to Australia. There were spots of rain as we drove North but also signs of sun. It remained reasonably warm.
Once our task had been completed and Harry had joined his friends in a rather remarkable holiday home for doggies, we stopped at Ruth Pretty’s cookery school for coffee and cake before returning home.
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Lunch was leftovers from last night. Just as good now as it was then. With all of us flying away tomorrow, packing was the order of the afternoon.
After 4.30 we walked down the numerous steps and along the waterfront. At the yacht club there was a reasonable crowd assembled for the fish auction. The club organises a fishing competition and the catch is then auctioned off in the car park for charity. We bid for and acquired two lots.
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Once they had been gutted and filleted we had more than enough for tea and plenty left over for the freezer. We staggered back up the steps again, weighed down by several kilos of fish. It was cooked and eaten in no time at all, although my digestion was upset by several small earthquakes. |
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