Waipu Cove

Well, I'm really just using this as a web page to test what happens when it updates.  So.....

Have discovered a great new place for short breaks away from Auckland.  It's Waipu Cove Cottages  and Camping.  We stay in one of the two cottages on the rise that have panoramic views out over Bream Bay and a pontoon to take you over the creek to a wonderful dune wilderness and fabulous empty beach.

It's always tricky finding places that a disabled person can handle.  These Cottages and Camping do have one disabled cottage but so far it has always been booked.  (I think it has the most panoramic view of all).  That's not a complaint. We're last minute artists.However, since the stairs are plentiful but solid and not too steep and there's a sturdy handrail, my disabled one can get in and out.  Once inside, it's really easy access about the cottage (though the wider corridors etc of the disabled unit would make it easier with the walker) and it's a doddle to get out on to the covered deck to luxuriate in the view and the fresh air.

Sunday afternoon

Sunday sunday
What an up-and-down day
Best to stay up I reckon.

A good night out.

Last night I went with a friend to one of the "Late" nights at the Auckland museum. The night included a panel discussion in the dome with splendiferous views, a jazz band, another band, a fashion show, and access to the whole museum.

Started off with yakatori at Ken's. (The link goes to a different restaurant but it's much the same). Unfortunately their wine selection by the glass wasn't huge so we ended up sharing a bottle between two before we even started. Then when we finally arrived at the museum, they had this great system where you could buy a drink but then you couldn't go anywhere with it so you had to knock it back double quick to get to the next event. Fortunately by that stage my glass was having difficulty finding my mouth which prevented me imbibing too much more which could have led to worse incidents. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to be in that beautiful building at night and wandering dazedly among the exhibits. Afterwards we WALKED back to K Road through the domain in the dark. By then we needed sugar, liquid and a sit-down. Ended up at the Wine Cellar in St Kevin's Arcade ... a fabulous and different sort of a place.... obviously somebody else has also very much enjoyed a drink there because although I didn't think this lampshade was that exciting, I like the state of mind I think the photo represents . (Personally I was a bit blotto to take many photos and am too hungover to face the complications of seeing whether I took any and how they worked out.) It was a good night!

Walks

It's brilliant to be able to go for evening walks without too much pain. I don't know why I don't do it all the time. First of all this hibiscus popped out and said hello as it lounged around a letterbox.



It's inorganic rubbish time and the weather's great. It's fun looking at people's rubbish. So far I've scored Victorian garden tiles (poozled from the inorganic by sharp-eyed friends), some wood to help fix the mess down the side path, and a giant pot.




I discovered a beautiful mural opposite the Red Baron motor bike shop. I'm having a bit of bother getting the photos up. Maybe later.

Mamaku Project

We love the Mamaku Project's music. I really wanted to see them at the Spiegeltent (which I also love) but 11.30 pm is just too late for a school night. Found that they were playing at the Titirangi Music Festival so we headed out west. Parking was easy and there were loads of seats so it was great for Jim who could move around, have a smoke and find a good vantage point.

This is the band. There was an electric bass too.

As if that wasn't exciting enough, along came some stilt walkers.

They were very good!

Check out those boots!

the kids loved them

Danced through a St Clements arch and ran between their legs.

And it wasn't just the kids that loved them!!!

British Rail

Before leaving, I'd seen that British Rail do "Advance Bookings" that make rail travel really affordable. (They also do cheap fares for the disabled and the person accompanying them, but those are only seem to be available to British residents. ) So.... we hired a car and went to Brighton (INSERT slideshow), The New Forest, Bath (INSERT slideshow), and Bristol, thus popping in on most of our friends and having a couple of nights independently in hotels. The plan was to leave the car in Bristol and then get a train back to London in time for a fancy dress party.

From Brighton onwards, I tried to book 'advance' tickets on the internet - an extremely frustrating experience!! At first I tried from a friend's computer and ended up feeling VERY rude since it took for ever but got nowhere and every time I looked the fare had risen. Then at Lyndhurst in the New Forest, I wandered as directed over into the library which was tiny but had a couple of computers where I was allowed to fail to book an advance seat yet again. (I'm not sure if this is the local library but it looked like this.

Eventually, on the road to Bath, I used my new mobile and phoned:

08457484950

It worked!!! Somebody answered before TOO long! I really recommend using the telephone when trying to book seats on British Rail!

Also recommend (from a broad database of two occasions) using the libraries to access the internet as the librarians were VERY friendly and helpful. The internet cafes can be quite hard to find now that so many people have laptops or internet access from home.

Home again

So much for holiday blogging! Didn't have time for that! Think it's quite a good sign in a way. Did get to upload lots of pix to facebook as lots of the English rellies (and NZ ones too now) use it regularly.

So here goes with some retrospective blogging!

Singapore

Hotel Number 1:

Turned out the hotel I booked online tested my assertions that "I'm not fussy" and that "the people who complain in the reviews are probably more used to your corporate-style hotel". A windowless room with inefficient/non-existent air-conditioning reached via a corridor with walls and ceiling secreting mould and a tattered and torn carpet was not quite what I'd expected for NZD 146 per night. Turns out I've got a bit fussier since I first headed off in the early 70's, when I found windowless rooms in need of decoration perfectly acceptable... but then in those days they were far far cheaper!

Click the photo to the left to see pix accompanying the following:
Who'd have believed what a difference a floor could make even if it is in an absolutely magic lift!!! We got an upgrade and lo and behold, moving one floor down from a 'standard' to 'superior' room (next floor down) vastly improved matters and we were happy once solved all our problems once 'maintenance' had stopped the water exuding from the light and dripping onto the bed. It felt positively sumptuous in comparison and the view of Hotel 1929 out the window was easy on the eye.

We went to a small coffee house across the street where a very friendly Singaporean woman saw us eyeing her plate and explained what she was eating so we could order the same - very delicious it was too though of course I can't remember what it was called! Gawd but it was hot!!

Clicking on this picture of a game of draughts should show more shots from our walk.