New Zealand

Friday 9 December 2005

The last night of our trip! We drove to Auckland booked into a Motel near the airport and then drove to the other side of the city across the Auckland Harbour Bridge to spend the evening with Rod (Jim) and Alison and their tremendous kids Megan and Duncan. Once again a night remembering and updating, giving Jim news, right up to date, about many of the people we met on this trip who are mutual friends. We have had a ball. We have often been asked "What was the highlight?" and every time the answer was the same - "Re-uniting with old friends." We are all scattered now but within a few minutes of reunion it is as if we were never parted. We all have new and productive lives but fondly remember the past. We fly back to Brisbane tomorrow to be met by our daughter Tertia and our grandson David and are looking forward to a restful Christmas and a good 2006.

Duncan, Alison, Megan and Ron (Jim) West

Thursday 8 December 2005

Drove to Cambridge and met Michael, Mary and Kate Fleming at St Peter's School. It was great to see them and we enjoyed a lovely light lunch together. Kate then showed us around this very impressive and beautiful school. We drove on to Hamilton, a much larger but just as beautiful, city. We spent a lovely evening with Peter and Mary West, remembering old friends and people from the past. We really enjoyed their company.

Mary, Mike and Kate Fleming

Peter and Mary West

Wednesday 7 December 2005

Sandy went with Graham Longhurst at 5 am in his boat out to sea to Whale Island. Graham is still an expert fanatic and they caught some beautiful snapper with a long (Hurst) line. They survived big swells and really enjoyed the sea outing. Joan and Patsy had a 'girl's' morning in town which was great fun. We ended the day with a good walk in this beautiful countryside and a home cooked snapper dinner.

Joan and Graham Longhurst

Graham Longhurst's boat

Rusty rides the waves and catches two snapper

Goof Longhurst wanted to throw these two back because they were too small

Tuesday 6 December 2005

Drove into town and met ex PE pupils Grant Robertson and his wife Philippa and also Andre Buitendag who are now running their own businesses in Papamoa. We had coffee together and enjoyed talking about PE and old boys and teachers. It was great meeting them and they have promised to keep in touch. We then traveled through some fantastic countryside to Whakatane to stay with Graham and Joan Longhurst. They are very happy living in a lovely downstairs apartment attached to their daughter (Wendy) and son in law (Roy) 's house. Graham is close to the sea so they love it here. We were taken for a drive around the area and a walk to Otawere Bay.

Phillipa Robertson, Andre Buitendag and Grunter Robertson in Papamoa

Whakatane Falls

Monday 5 December 2005

Hired a little colt car from Budget at Auckland airport and traveled to Papamoa. NZ is so beautiful. We were going to camp but found that it was only $9 more to hire a hut with a bed in it and a kettle for coffee. As it was raining we decided to camp in comfort and took the hut. We were right on a beautiful white beach that stretched for miles and we walked along it before sitting on the steps of our hut to watch the sun disappear. We went and had dinner with ex PE pupil Murray Dykes and his wife Kathy, and met their two lovely kids Michelle and Sean. It was another lovely evening of reminiscing and we enjoyed being with them.

The Dykes in Papamoa Tauranoa