Last of the 59ers
Blue skies, fabulous warm weather and always much to do on Great Barrier Island. Over the weekend torrential rain - so good- we really needed it for the gardens and water tanks as its ages since we had any rain.
My friend Stessie and I went to the Brockie Horror Show at the local Irish Pub (named such because the landlord is John Brock) Stess won the best dressed, I brushed my hair really hard and ended up with it sticking out at least 12″ all around my head , I looked really horrible! One of the particpants got so drunk that he came out of the pub into his car and just kept driving, crashed into a large Pahutakawa tree, flew out the door and bashed his skull far below on a large rock on the beach, poor Harry. This time last year he was dressed up as Peter Pan and “flew” out of a high tree and broke his rib cage, shoulder and pelvis. There are some benefits to having hardly any policing on the island but stopping people drunken-driving would definitely be a plus.
Once a year the Armed Defenders turn up with helicopters checking for marijuna, they always find some and the next thing you know they are pouring poison on to the land out of buckets from the helicopters, this may seem a good plan to get rid of the drugs, but as most people get their water from the roof and grow vegetables in their gardens its a disastrous plan for the locals, particularly on such a beautiful, pristine Island as this.
I swam across the bay last week, not a huge swim but it took 25 minutes one way and was a huge challenge to me, only this time last year I wouldn’t have gone out of my depth in sea water because of sharks, stingrays and whales. I generally swim off the boat ramp because it has a lovely deep entry into the bright turquoise sea, most of the beaches here have really shallow water and you can go out for ages and only be knee high. So, I was sitting on the ramp with two other women saying that I’d always wanted to swim across the bay, they stood up and said “come on then”. So off I went, with a caring woman either side and giving me a nudge whenever I was going off in the wrong direction (I had to have snorkel and mask so that I could look out for the monsters of the deep). I thought my arms would give out but eventually we landed on the other beach and had a big hug. Back on the ramp and tired we watched as a HUGE stingray (the width of the 8ft wide ramp) sat under the water, shimmered there for a moment and floated off like a cloud moving slowly - so beautiful.
Was feeling very strange about my impending 60th birthday (March 17th) , uninspired and kind of lack luster, I didnt think it had to do with my age, as the older I get the more I like it. (This seems to be the one ‘problem’ with doing the 5 Tibetians every day, as they reverse signs of aging, even down to darkening grey hair, what a shame I was so looking forward to grey hair, think of the amazing colours it could be dyed once it was all white! Anyway couldn’t suss out myself what was wrong and went to see a fabulous Homeopath here on the Island, I do love Homeopathy it always does the business for me, so I’m taking a mixture for my heart, which was quite sealed up against all-comers, and we’ll see what happens. Feeling so much better today, laughing and enjoying life and being my usual sociable self again.
So far in the birthday plans - my brother may come from Madrid, which will be fabulous, he’s such a dag! Elaine and Richard are coming from Lancaster, but I’ve done nothing apart from ordering a marquee for the front garden (£18) a huge one that will cover the whole of the front of Ollie’s Cottage and lots of solar-powered fairy lights coming from friends, and absolutely nothing else, no invites gone out and no plans- feels very different to my usual organizing of events. But of course if anyone wants to send card, cheques or presents my address is The Outpost Tryphena Great Barrier Island New Zealand.
Let me know how you all are and what you’re up to, can’t say I miss U.K very much but I definitely miss my pals. lots and lots of love Grace