Wellington weekend

Posted on Fri 20 April 2007 at 11:41

Last weekend, we headed off to Wellington - actually, we went to Porirua, but not everyone knows it is close to Welly, so that's what I will leave it as. 

We stayed at the Marina Motel and would thoroughly reccomend it to any who are passing through.  Clean, well managed, helpful and generally nice people.  They have their own bar and restaurant - we ate there the first night.  As we slurped our wonderful seafood chowder, the chef came out to talk to us.  Broad Scots even though he has been in NZ for many years.  I think he just wanted to listen to another Scot for a change.  We swapped stories - he spent holidays in our area as a kid. 

They had the BIGGEST cat I have seen for years - and they named him Small One when he was a kitten because he was the runt of the litter - can you IMAGINE what the rest of them looked like....

 Well, we met up with several people from the Britishexpat web site.  It's funny (I know I have mentioned this before) meeting fellow forum members for the first time.  You may have spent hours on line together,possibly  told them your life story before coming here, given your opinion on everything under the sun but to actually arrange to meet can be a bit daunting.  We stopped in to see Poppets in her new home first.  That was really good.  we had met on our whirlwind tour earlier in the year so it felt like long lost buddies meeting up, really relaxed and laid back.  Good to see you again Rachael, your turn to come visit us next! 

Next we met Donna and Danny and their kids.  We all started on BE at much the same time but we actually got to NZ first.  I personally felt we were coming from from pretty much the same place and had the same values and expectations.  I anticipated we would all get along well. Nice to be right now and again!  It was so lovely to finally meet up.  Donna, Danny and children - it was a pleasure to meet you.  You  made us feel at home from the word go.  Thank-you so much for your hospitality and good humour.  And again, thank you for offering to have Melissa to stay: she really enjoyed it too!

THEN, we headed off to meet up with other ex-pats at the Sandbar in Porirua.  Never has so much drinking been done by so many Brits in such a short space of time.  Lovely to have met you all: Winnie (& daughter & friend), Kerry and Dirk, Poppets again, Wilma, Amanda and Jez, Sue and anyone else I may have inadvertently left out.  (We also met Boopy the the next evening - Good to see you too!)

The next day we were taken on a guided tour by D&D.  It was really good to be shown the city and evirons by people who enjoy where they live.  We would never have found so much without guides so really appreciative of their time and effort to take us out and about.  We went to the Chocolate Fish Cafe for the biggest fry-up known to man - and most excellent it was too.  It shook off the hangovers of those who had them.  The plates were so full, you didn't know whether to climb it or eat it!  Beautiful view from just along the road.

I was a bit taken aback by the public toilet on the beach there................how did it know I was finished when it started flushing itself???? Is there a camera in there?? Am I  paranoid?? Do you care?!

The off to Mount Victoria.  Not sure that is right - I know it is Victoria something but too busy goggling at the views to take in the name properly.  Absolutely stunning views of the city in every direction.

Then off to the cable car in the city itself.  We stopped for coffee and cake at the top and let the kids go to the play park on their own.  If you had suggested to me that I let my 11 year-old daughter wander loose in a strange city prior to moving here, I would either have laughed dismissively or been really annoyed that people could have thought I would be such a lax parent.  The same rules don't seem to apply here.  I am well aware that crime does happen in this country - I am not so naive as to think that Britain is the only place place that harbours criminal intent.  But there is a feeling of freedom and security here that is sadly lacking in most UK inner cities today.  It yet again validates the move we have made. 

On Sunday we went to the Zoo with Danny and his children (Beth 10, Daniel 8 and Joe3).  We had a lovely lazy wander about.  One of those days you don't have a care in the world or a plan to stick to and you can suit yourself  how long you take.  I think Melissa intends to put some Zoo pictures on at some point so I will leave that for the moment.

In the evening we went to Plimmerton beach to watch the sunset,  which as you can see  was spectacular.  Apparently the sting-rays come right to the edge of the water to feed sometimes but sadly not that night.  But to make up for it, we all tucked into the most enormous fish supper, washed down by a box of wine - good call Danny!

I think the photo of the girls is beautiful.  I know it's not a great composition or anything like that, It just seems to capture their innocence and friendship.  The girls had never met before the weekend but got on really well.  Not a gadget in sight, no music, no phone, no games console: just kids being kids.  I love the way the setting sun catches their hair.  Beth (dark shorts) has auburn hair but you would think they both had in this!

That's it really, had a great time, brilliant city, brilliant people: hope to do it again sometime!

I know, there was one final thing!

On the way home, we passed a chap wearing a pith helmet, riding a a penny farthing.  I reckoned he had to be English in that get up!  You know, mad dogs and Englishmen and all that.  Turns out he IS English and is raising money for the Born Free charity.  Got to applaud the drive to get off your arse and do something that makes a difference.  Wll done that man!