Much has been happening, while nothing has been happening!
Nothing in the sense that our lives are settling and that our news, for now at least, is pretty mundane. I am proud of what we have achieved in such a short time and that within just 5 months of leaving South Africa, I am experiencing “writers block”! No fun in just providing the weekends sports results, again, the weather update, again, the …………. you get the idea.
That said, much HAS been happening:
Des and I took a night off. We booked into the West Plaza Hotel, in central Wellington last Sunday afternoon on a package deal which included a suite, dinner, breakfast and champagne as a welcome. The champers never materialised and we didn’t much care.
The idea was to get away, take in a show, a good meal and sleep in a little on the Monday morning, a public holiday here celebrating the Queen’s birthday.
The suite was not that well appointed, but Des appreciated the gown laid out on the bed and a steaming hot bath before we dashed to the Circa Theatre, two blocks down. We arrived in time to enjoy a glass of wine and then discovered we were welcome to take a glass into the theatre. I took full advantage and ordered another glass of the kiwi red and proceeded to what is an intimate venue, seating no more than 200.
We were entertained by lively performances, good humour and a reasonably responsive audience. “The Underpants” proved a good tonic and we left feeling that our $70 had been well spent.
A dash back up the 2 blocks to the hotel, in a biting southerly carrying buckets of water, saw us back at the hotel for an early dinner. One of those dinners were the plates are huge, the helpings small and an artist is employed to decorate ornately the vast open spaces of porcelain, with splashes of colour and sprigs of things. The food was good! The combinations worked well and the flavours were what the taste buds had expected having been primed by lavish descriptions on the menu.
A bottle of white wine to the good and our tummies satisfied, we opted to retire to the bar in the hotel for night caps. The weather had turned sour and the southerly ensured we did not want to go dashing off to the nightlife spots some 4 blocks away. Dom Benedictine and Johnny Walker Black ensured we were “well oiled” for bed time
Only needing to check out at 1PM and with breakfast being served until 10:30, we took advantage and only rose around 9:30. Quick shower and off to breakfast. The usual fare of fruit and yoghurt and juice and eggs and toast and bacon and, and, and washed down with good black coffee.
We lazed around the room a little after breakfast and checked out. We had not made plans and the weather was still unpleasant with gusting icy southerlies, though no rain. A little retail therapy! We had been putting off making a few required purchases, so set about the shopping precinct.
Puffer jackets for the children, a strip plug for me, insulation tape for Travis, a few goodies from the $2 Store and a toaster.
We snacked-for-lunch at a Cafe on Cuba Street, which could just as well have been Long Street in Cape Town. Our day was done and we headed back to Kapiti and our children, a DVD and Pizza for supper.
I had put in for leave on the Tuesday, so had an extra day to myself to potter around the house catch my breath and just relax, given that Des was at work and the kids at school for most of the day.
On the sporting front the KCU “Hair on Rosetta” 3rds remain unbeaten and we are track to win the league with 3 games remaining. The ladies team recorded a good win and Desiree scored on of the four goals. Kapiti college rugby bounced back from their loss to Newlands with a good win against Tawa College and slipped to a draw this weekend against Hereatanga College (17-17). Travis scored a nice try against Tawa but the big improvement in his game is his defence. The boy is missing very little and is effectively intimidating his opposite number with thumping tackles and very aggressive running with ball in hand.
The netball team are really struggling though, especially when faced with teams comprising adults. These mismatches are soul destroying for the girls, though when they are faced with teams from the colleges, more age and skill related, they compete eagerly and have acquitted themselves well. They still seek their first win and I hope it comes soon, as the girls train hard and deserve a little success for their efforts.
The horse lease is going really well and Melba is proving to be a good fit for Meghan. I call her Granny Melba, which Megs finds less than amusing and retorts with “you are not so young yourself, grandpa Alan” type comments.
Travis was invited to the New Zealand Cross Country Championships, to be contested at Welcome Bay near Mt Manganui. He decided that the 10 days notice he was given was not sufficient to prepare properly and give himself the opportunity to compete. It is a long drive from Wellington and I think he did not want to miss his rugby.
More Travis news: He started a job on Sunday at a local fish and chips shop. Yip, Travis working! Who would have thought? I expected Sherrie to lead the way on that one. He has been frequenting the take out, near Kapiti College for some time now and when he spotted a vacancy advertised in the window, he applied. He was started on the till and wrapping the food fare and came home smelling of fish-and-chips-cooking-oil and eyes wide at what it takes to run a busy food outlet. He seems keen, so we wait to see.
Desiree’s work continues to interest her and she is receiving great feedback from both her clients and her employer.
For the record, I am tipping the
NETHERLANDS FOR THE WORLD CUP!