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27 Feb |
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HELLO! HELLO! HELLO!
We're back in the USA after a bit of a whirlwind visit to Auckland, Putaruru, Taupo and San Francisco (you know the list: Paris, London, Putaruru, Taupo). We went back to NZ to attend Brent and Miranda's lovely wedding (Murray's son and new daughter-in-law). As you can see from the photos, it was a garden wedding held at Miranda's parent's property at Putaruru. The entire setting was delightful and even the weather was accomodating with gorgeous sun and a light breeze. It was great to get to experience just a bit of the NZ summer that we left behind.
We flew into Auckland on Friday the 1st of February and drove straight to the US consulate there to revise Murray's US work visa. We did quite a bit of walking up and down Queen street and then off to Putaruru. It was on the drive that the reality of summer began to sink in. It was a lovely hot, sunny day and everyone around was in shorts and flipflops. How funny to see all this after all the winter gear we've been looking at and wearing ourselves (until just a matter of hours prior). Putaruru, if you've not visited, is a charming town between Hamilton and Rotorua. We stayed at an absolutely beautiful B & B. Swimming pool, tennis court, chooks, sheep and a damn fine breakkie!) I believe it was called "Springfield B & B" owned/run by a marvelous, energetic and lively woman named Barbara. (Any of you headed that way, let us know and we'll get her details for you - highly recommended!) Barbara has lived quite a life, her stories alone are worth the visit.
The wedding was the next day. And everything was so well organized we had nothing to do but relax around Miranda's parents garden until then. As mentioned before, all went beautifully. A lovely crowd of about 120 people attended from far and wide around the globe. There were some very touching and funny talks given and what used to be the spacious apple cool-store cement-brick building had been completely re-designed into a modern and very attractive function centre complete with dining and buffet tables, a rest room and a dance floor area. It was all really lovely. (Kudos to Helen and David and Jacinta, et al!! But while we're on the subject, Murray's daughter's wedding was also a stunner last year - Kudos to the enitre Goddard family and Betty the seamstress!! Aren't we lucky there aren't any more to worry about!!!)
The next morning a brunch was held at "the function centre" from where we all had one last chat and hug before Murray, myself and Murray's best friend, Geoff Cotton (on red Honda motorbike) all headed down to Taupo. Murray and I stayed at "Caboose" in Taupo which has an African Safari theme within and without. (Funny this seems to also be a theme in our lives - hmmmm.) Anyway, they have a great bar with a great view of the lake, you could almost think you were actually in Africa gazing across lake Tanganyika (well, after a just few of their very delicious and very potent cocktails you could "be" anywhere-or anyone- you like! And by the way, the hotel is desperately looking for another chef-pass it on.) So after a very short pub crawl that evening (there really aren't that many pubs to crawl between in Taupo, it IS pretty small) we called it a night so we would be ready to go in the morn. Next morning it was up and go to Oraki Korako thermal area and tourist spot (about an hour north). It is quite nice as you have to take a very brief ferry ride across the river to the site. There are some pink and white terraces there, lots of bubbling water and mud, beautifully coloured rocks/earth/minerals, a hot pool cave, etc. Worth seeing if in the vicinity.
Then it was off to Auckland airpot for the flight to San Francisco. I don't know when I've last seen so many movies! Between the domestic flights getting us to and from California and then the long hauls to and from NZ I think I may have actually watched ten! Anyway, as neither Murray nor I suffer much at all from jet lag, it was "hit the ground running" in San Francisco. What a great (albeit short) visit! We walked through Chinatown, Pier 39, Fishermans Wharf, took the ferry around Alcatraz, did just a tiny bit of shopping at Union Square, took a few cable car rides, enjoyed cocktails from "Top of the Mark" at our hotel-The Mark Hopkins, found a fun young cabbie who took us on a city tour including Sausalito and experienced "indoor rain" in "The Tonga Room" at The Fairmont. "The Tonga Room" is a bar/dining room completely decked out in the antiquated sailing vessel parts of a wooden ship that actually used to sail to Tonga and also some Polynesian items such as large carved tiki and grass huts. In the center of the room is a good size pool over which are some well camoflaged pipes from which (along with some strobe light "lightening" and recorded thunder) it rains every 15 minutes during happy hour and beyond. It really is a fun place!
Then of course, it was back to our little truck abode - and it seems we hit the ground running here too! No sooner had we unpacked and reorganized than we were asked to drive to Atlanta Georgia, Coco Beach Florida (palm trees and 31 degrees in the winter - far out!!), then up through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Mountains to Rochester New York (Drove through a beautiful thick snow fall but luckily no ice, crawling at a snails pace of 25 mph.) and on to Dallas (also around 23 degrees).
We are now back at company headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas enjoying the company of the incredible range of Kiwi and Ozzie characters that we work with until our next assignment.
As always, we hope all is well for all of you and those you love. While we are having a great time here, as we observe the "rat race" all around us we are ever so glad that our home is in Nelson and that we will be returning to it and all of you in the not too distant future.
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Non club trips 
