| So, of course it just wouldn't be natural for our night away NOT to go without a hitch. But this one was funny - for me anyway. I have this notorious capacity for booking the WORST accommodation. The first time Steve and I met again in Tonga, I had read about this authentic, amazing accommodation, by the pictures, beautiful fale's with all the luxury. In reality, it was amongst five other 'sheds,' the 'incredible' breakfast consisted of a slice of coconut, one piece of toast and a tiny blob of jam!! And for this I paid top dollar. Since Steve and I have been together he has never failed to be amazed at my dreadful ability to book lousy accommodation no matter whether its top dollar or budget. If its got a creepy owner, dirty linen and a few fleas thrown in for good measure - I'll be there! So when the girls' and I arrived at our motel yesterday, it didn't really surprise me. It was made from the same blocks that are usually used to make toilet blocks. The one bedroom unit was SOOOO cold and so poorly decorated! There was a huge 'chicken' clock - with the wrong time. The bathroom was so old and cold, and it was exactly like a public bathroom. I can't explain it, but it really took me back to my backpacking days. All the cupboards were grimy and misfitted and I found the heater in the main room, a small brown box that might have been state of the art in the early 70s, I thought, 'right, lets get this baby on,' but the thermostat was blocked at 19 and the bloody thing was controlled by a timer on the wall!! Literally after 60 mins, it went out!! I had to keep cranking it up! The girls didn't get any of the warmth, their room was freezing. I had to ask for an oil heater - which the owner was quite put out about. I had booked for two nights, but after a freezing night where I had to keep racing out of bed to the damn timer every 60 mins, holding my breath when I went to the loo to stop from squealing in the cold and inhaling some guy's aftershave left on the bedding, I decided that one night was quite simply enough! As I stood under the 'shower' - I use the term loosely, it was more like a leaky tap, I tried to concoct some feesible story to explain why I had to leave early - but still get a refund! The truth just wasn't going to cut it! I ended up saying I'd had a call to say that my dog was sick back in Auckland! I'd usually blame the kids, but as they were with me, I had little choice! Despite my little experience with the motel, the actual break was awesome and much needed. Driving to Rotorua was awesome. The sun was shining and the roads were relatlvely empty - when I'd finally gotten out of Auckland - what is it with trucks overtaking in the fast lane and clogging up the motorway? The scenery was beautiful, rolling hills huge expanse of land with not a house in sight. It really boosted me as to why we came to NZ in the first time. When the sun is shining, its easy to believe that all is right with the world. Once in Rotorua we visited the Rainbow Springs - not my cup of tea - loads of fish, which I'd rather be eating than paying to see swimming around, but once you have kids, this is the kind of crap stuff you have to endure for them!!! Unfortunatly they're not old enough for me to drag along to places like Alton Towers and Disney world and claim its 'for the kids!' Later on we got a gondola ride up the restuarant, now this was awesome. Considering how ill they've been, they were so awesome and fun to be with. At the restuarant there was an Asian tour group that treated us like celebrities! They couldn't get enough of the girls. Otherwise it was couples and families - I was the only crazy single Mum up there! Moons and I sat to a candlelit table, Pip sat at her highchair chomping on bread rolls looking around. The buffet was a bit tricky, leaving them both as I headed off to fill up plates, but they were giving me their best behaviour. I really was proud of them, but god I missed Steve. We're together all the time and often bicker like an old married couple. Most recently he's had this annoying hacking cough and he's been complaining of the plague or a cold or whatever, and I couldn't help but start to think, god its going to peaceful when he's in Australia! This week has shown me that I simply couldn't live without him, he's my buddy. My drinking buddy, the guy that I share private jokes with, my husband that I feel safe with and cuddle up to, and the Father of my children that carries them when they're tired, that tickles them and makes them laugh. I'm really looking forward to picking him up tomorrow afternoon. |