Moving, moving, moving
Most of you may be too young to remember the words to Raw Hide, but it started with Moving Moving Moving
I left Great Barrier Island three days ago, I thought I would be really sad but all is amazingly well, perhaps I’m growing up- at last.
On the five hour ferry trip across to Auckland I met a a one-man-band who plays loads of instruments at the same time, turns out his neighbours in Portugal are really good mates of mine - small world eh?
Moving on the Barrier got a bit beyond a joke. After I left Murdocks, because his daughter was turning up, I moved to Angela’s shed (which was the most beautiful shed anyone has ever seen) and apart from the massive invasion of rats, was a fabulous place to live with amazing views, but she had it rented out for Easter, so I had to move - again! Then moved into the ex’s for three days because I had absolutely nowhere else to go and I knew, if nothing else, he is always very generous and kind, but that could be nothing else but temporary as the energy between us just crackles. After three days with him I was told I could stay in the apartment next to The Outpost and general store, a very elderly and almost blind old guy had lived in there and I could have it for three weeks free of charge if I cleaned it up. Well………….. what a mess. It took eleven hours to clear one large room and kitchen bathroom. Suffice it to say I could not eat or drink anything in that eleven hours because I was gagging so much at the filth of the place. I’ll spare you the details!
So for my last three weeks I lived in what was a goldfish bowl, big windows and glass doors all around on three sides with a public walkway around each side,and the public to-ing and fro-ing from the shop and Cafe, gazing through my doors and windows. In the background all the time a massive generator making a helluva a racket.
But, I have also been enjoying myself- of course. My birthday was awesome (thats an NZ phrase, I promise I won’t use when I come back)
I hired an open topped car and went to look at the South of the Island where I’d never been. After a two hour drive I came to a big organic farm and picked herbs with the owner and bought small local bananas, tiny delicious tomatoes, some Kumari ( fabulous purple Moari potaotes) and the aubergines looked so good I bought some of those too, and I don’t even like aubergines. Later on down the road I stopped and bought some rocket and eggs from a freind of a freind.
Then on to the east side and Maybe’s Beach which is the site of the biggest shipwreck in NZ. Lovely rolling turquoise surf, where I found a small black stone in the shape of a fish, I’ll show it to you when I come home. Then I crossed to the west side and found an ancient Moari settlement with the most wonderful natural swimming pool at the end of the village, I rolled around in this very beautiful, clear deep pool for an hour, what an incredible atmosphere this place had! Then off again to catch the little shop in Port Fitzroy before it closed. A crowd were sitting outside with drinks celebrating St Patrick’s so of course I had to join in with a couple of glasses of champagne - somebody has to do it!
I left feeling very relaxed and drove along with the sun shining on my hat through all the little windy roads. Decided to get one more look at the sea before it got dark and stopped at another lovely beach, Whangapaua, where I walked out knee deep in water for an hour, when I turned around the sun was setting and I walked back through water which looked as if it was on fire towards the bright red mountains!
Back in the car to Tryphena, made a sumptuous meal with all the lovely fresh food, put the best frock on and off to the Irish Pub, the One-man-band I mentioned earlier was the very brilliant entertainment. Danced loads and loads and ended up on the beach at midnight, in the moonlight, kissing a man I’d never seen before or since. He came back to my place, did my feet and dissappeared - perfect.
The following weekend I was invited to a great wedding, Tim is an Australian Cartoonist and Indira the local headmistress here, and ex punk band lead guitarist. I arrived in style in the Pooh Wagon, a freind, Andy empties all the septic tanks and on his way home gave me a lift to the wedding.
The couple had organized a Hungi. A Hungi is a large pit dug into the ground, then hot coals are lain down, then baskets of meat and fish and then vegetables in separate baskets. All is covered up and slow-roasted. The effect is fabulous and each vegetable tastes exactly as it should without any taste of flesh or smoke. Great day, free bar for three hundred people and all assisted by the ever-present mosquitoes.
Talking of which, I still have problems with but its definetly getting better, the big lumps I have on my forehead don’t itch at all.
Staying in Auckland with a pal and off to Aitutake on Monday for a month. Going to buy snorkel and goggles - even though the prospect of getting in with those whales and sharks absolutely terrifies me. . . . . watch this space! A woman diver on the Barrier was recently nudged by a shark which came up behind her………can you imagine? I think I’d have poohed my pants.
Here is my address for Aitutaki from 1st -29th April
Sonja and Tauona Rael
P.O. Box I
Aitutaki
Cook Islands
While I’m there I’ll get a boat to One Foot Island which is said to have one of the most remote Post Offices in the world and send you all a card - DO NOT THROW THE STAMP AWAY the guide book says they are valuable.
Then after a few more days in Auckland and three in Singapore be back home ready to start a new term
Love to all of you - this computer I’m on can’t seem to let me respond to emails or access anyones address - so I’m going to try and tell you “blogs up” but maybe you’ll just have to find out for yourselves if I can’t manage it. Grace x x