Flew via Emirates into Auckland and had a driver take us to Lyn and Andrew’s place at Bucklands Beach. Magic place which Lyn has had for years but it’s right on “The Parade” and across the road from the water.
Sitting relaxing here just watching the water traffic out the window is delightful!
19th – Wednesday
Slow start to the day but who cares! Nothing urgent to do. Headed off for a ‘Sunday drive’ and went north of Auckland to the Matakana region well known for it’s vineyards (ho hum – not again!) and lunches!!! As we do, Kemm and I plus Lyn and Andrew had a delightful lunch at Heron’s Flight – a delightful vineyard restaurant which grow it’s own Sangivese grapes. The wines were actually very nice so emptied one of their bottles of course between Kemm and I. Lyn and Andrew are beer drinkers so it was thanks to them for bringing us here and allowing us to have a delightful day.
Drive back through Orewa and Warkworth on the way home – and finish offed with dinner out at a city seafood restaurant – all in all a delightful day!
20th – Thursday – off to Tauranga. 2 days with Claire and Judy at Judy’s place. Walked around Mt Maunganui – a lovely walk and absolutely perfect weather for it. Had dinner at Judy’s with a couple of other friends as well.
22nd – Headed over to Hamilton and a wander around the X-Ray department which is still exactly the same as it was 20 years ago! Just a lot more cluttered. Met up with a couple of those who I trained with. All had a tour of the department – much of it now done with lots of high tech stuff that did not exist when I trained.
Headed over to our accomodation and function venue – “Narrow’s Landing”.
170 of us met for the evening function – lots of drinkies, past gossip and stories, and of course the ‘decade’ photos.
23rd – On down to Neryda and Peter’s – had dinner there that evening and were joined by Ken and Jenny Horner and Doreen so a pleasant evening all round.
24th – Back up to Mum’s for the day, drove via the coast road and stopped at Opunake for some lunch. Mum had invited 8 or 9 others over for drinks later who all stayed for something to eat as well.
25th – Headed off from Mum’s about 9am and had a good run through to Auckland arriving at the airport about 1.15pm. Another pleasant flight back to Brisbane.
