Week 13 ORR

Back to Auckland on Friday to pick up Dannielle. Called in at New World, Warkworth to shop for supplies for the weekend. Danni does a paper round after school so we didn't leave her place until 4.30. I had been a bit concerned that the traffic would be heavy at that time but we were soon on state highway 1 returning north. We were home by 5.45 just before Rob arrived. The house was booked for the weekend and soon after we got back the guests, 6 adults and 6 children, arrived. They seemed pleased with the house so after welcoming them I left them to it.

I cooked chicken thighs, roast potatoes and stuffing balls for tea, Danni had never had stuffing before and really enjoyed it! After that I produced a belated birthday cake with candles. I was quite proud of the cake, a chocolate one, as cake making is not an attribute of mine. It was an easy recipe and had risen and turned out very moist. After all that food Danni then asked if she could have a couple of pieces of toast!!
Rob left at 8.30 and Danni settled in her room with a dvd before finishing off the day with Milo and biscuits!
On Saturday afternoon Danni and I went into Warkworth to get a couple of dvd's before going riding. Shannon advised Danni to try a different pony, Peppermint, as she has found Buzz rather lazy. Peppermint certainly was more forward going and we enjoyed several canters in the hills before arriving back in the paddock. Danni was keen to try some jumping and Shannon, who is a very good teacher spent time helping her. Unfortunately Danni fell off twice but didn't get hurt and was eager to get back on again. Shannon advised her to have a lesson next time to help her with her position and to do some more jumping. We made a reservation for Danni to have a lesson next Saturday and I will go out on the ride whilst she works in the paddock.  Bless her, she asked me if I would be OK on my own!
Rob was here when we arrived back and we had a pleasant evening and lots of laughs with Danni jumping around and singing "Peanut butter and Jelly" whatever that means. We were all in stitches!
Rob stayed overnight and took Danni, after a breakfast of cereal and pancakes, back home.
Later that morning I took Jess into Warkworth to do some shopping.
Monday was wet and miserable so we went to the cinema, in Matakana, in the afternoon to see a French film, The Kid on the Bicycle. A good film with subtitles but I was pleased that I still understood most of it despite not hearing or speaking French since we left home.
We had better weather on Tuesday so in the afternoon we went for a walk at Whangateau harbour just a couple of miles from home. The tide was in and it was so beautiful. On the way back we took the side road to Big Omaha Wharf, a road that I have driven past many times but never explored before. The old wharf has been renovated and the only other building there is the public toilets, a rather incongruous juxtaposition!

                                                    Whangateau Harbour

                                                       View to Ti Point

                                                                Oyster Catchers

                                                   Pohutakawa Tree

                                                   Big Omaha Wharf, toilets and our transport.

On Wednesday afternoon we went to Goat Island again. This time we walked up the cliff path, past the marine research laboratories of Auckland University, for a stunning view out to sea. Back down on the shore again we watched the oyster catchers bathing in the stream. It was was high tide and we watched the waves crashing against the beach and the rocks. Goat island is a very popular beach in the summer but today we were almost alone. I say almost as a young woman ran down from the university buildings dressed in a wet suit and carrying a surfboard. She ran along the beach and then into the sea. I don't know whether she was courageous or foolhardy surfing on a deserted beach but I did envy her.