Friday
Another long flight which resulted in us reaching Auckland in the early hours of the morning. After going through customs and then getting a taxi we arrived at the hotel about 2am and fell into bed.
Later on Friday.
Got up reasonably early and went for a much needed breakfast. Ceri face timed us just as we got onto wifi in the cafe, to give us the good news of her confirmed pregnancy and to show us the scan. We spent the rest of the day on cloud 9 - helped by going up the Sky Tower to oversee the panoramic views of Auckland. We then spent some time on the waterfront until it was time to collect the car to travel to Gareth'.
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All went well traversing Auckland on highway 16 and we made good progress to Waimuru - only to discover that Gareth no longer lives there. Bit of a shock - miles from anywhere in the middle of nowhere and no idea where he lived. We found someone in the same road however who remembered the Jones and who sent us to his wife who he was sure would know more! Ieuan by this time was having a field day thinking about how he could tell this story to all and sundry.
It turns out that the Jones had moved about 12 years ago (I obviously had not noted it in my address book).
After much ringing around we eventually found out the new address and our 'new found friends, the Barnes' gave us directions on where to to. This was after they had also given us a cup of tea and some cake. Terrific hospitality to complete strangers.
Half an hour later, we arrived in Kaukapakapa, where we eventually found them - well sort of as it turned out they weren't expecting us until the Saturday. What a mix up. Luckily Sue was at home as she was preparing to go and get Gareth from the golf club where he plays every Friday evening and where they then both have a meal. So Gareth was surprised to see us with Sue.
All in all what could have been a disastrous start to our 1st weekend in NZ turned into a successful evening.
Saturday
Up reasonably early but Sue was already out riding her horse and Gareth was doing something around their beautiful home. Ieuan was very relieved to find that he was able to watch Wales playing rugby against Ireland and even more pleased when Wales won.
After a big breakfast, Gareth and Sue went off to rescue an escaped calf, then the lawns had to be cut before they took us to a place called Davonport where we met up with Carwyn. There were some great views over Auckland harbour from this peninsula to the north of the bay. But then it rained -and rained! This meant we had to unfortunately spend the rest of the afternoon in a pub. We also went to their 'local' pub later for a meal.
Sunday
We had planned to move on in the morning but as the Jones are in the process of selling their house and land, and looking for somewhere else to buy, we ended up driving to see their school and then on to an open viewing of a property they wanted to see.
After a lovely late Sunday dinner of 'home grown' lamb, we left to move on to visit Linda Warrington, another X Barnet headteacher
Saturday 5 March 2016
Wednesday 2 March 2016
Kuala Lumpur 2016
1st leg of our 2016 visit to NewZealand.
Stop off in KL
After a VERY long flight we reached KL. m
Met by a relaxed, healthy looking Mick Quigley. The journey to the Q apartment took an hour with all the hectic busy roads around KL. t
Their apartment is amazing, 20 floors up, balcony overlooking a golf course and KL in the background - including the Petronas Towers in the distance.
As bothMick and Eileen had to go to work, we decided to go to the Batu Caves in order to keep ourselves awake. The caves are very large limestone ones up on a cliff with well over 200 steps to get in. As Ieuan's foot is in a boot( due to partial tear of Achilles' tendon) he decided to stay at the bottom. The caves have been transformed into a Hindu temple/ shrine. Very impressive but I personally would have preferred to have them in their original state.
It was extremely hot and humid so the AC in the taxi into KL was very welcome- as was the 1st drink of Tiger beer in a bar under the Petronis towers
We later met up with Quigleys - and Eileen's mother who was also staying with them- took a few obligatory photos and then went for food. It turned out to be the last day of Chinese New Year so the area we went to was extremely busy but buzzing with activity. Fire crackers, dancing dragons and a host of other street entertainers kept us awake for the evening. Amazing entertainment.
Day 2
After a very welcome nights sleep, we had a lazy morning. Both M and E had to work but Eileen finished at lunchtime so she took us for the historical tour of KL ending up in The Majestic hotel, an old colonial hotel where we met up with Mick. We then went to eat in Bejong, a traditional Malaysian restaurant, followed by a few drinks an Rock Bottom, where the Quigleys and Clare were quite well known. We ended up drinking with a group of men who were all in the oil business and all had Indonesian wives who were out together somewhere else. Two of the group were from Scotland, and 3 from Australia. They decided to adopt Kathleen as their granny. She didn't know whether to be pleased or upset. All in all another very successful tiring day.
Day 3
A day for the Ho Ho bus. Just as we were about to set off I realised that I had lost my camera! What a bummer. Luckily for me, Clare, took on the mission of tracking it down for me so Ieuan and I set off with second camera in bag. Things were going well when we reached the skytower until I realised that the battery for camera 2 was flat. All not lost I thought as I could use my new, second hand IPhone. Unfortunately taking photos was rapidly using up the battery on that and I needed it in case Clare contacted me. What a disastrous dilemma. We also needed to know where to meet up for the evening. In the meantime, we finished the bus tour having only got off to look at the craft market, and the final stopping place - the Petronis towers which we did the organised tour of. By the time we finished that, Ieuan had managed to contact Mick who was able to tell me that my camera had been found at the Majestic hotel in the ladies toilets no less. It took an hour by taxi to get there during the very busy peak time in KL. Mick then sent an Uber taxi to pick us up and take to meet them in Bangsar. Eileen had planned for us to have a quiet night in as we all had to be at the airport early on the Thursday. However Clare decided to come out that evening so we ate out instead. She had apparently spent a lot of time chasing up all the places we had been to the day before until she finally found it for me. I was verrrry grateful to her. After a lovely meal we returned to the apartment where a few bottles of wine were consumed - not the early quiet night that had been planned!! The 5.30 start the next morning was a bit of a shock.
Day 4
A very quiet journey to the airport but what a fabulous few days we had with the Quigleys.
Off on the next lap of our journey
Stop off in KL
After a VERY long flight we reached KL. m
Met by a relaxed, healthy looking Mick Quigley. The journey to the Q apartment took an hour with all the hectic busy roads around KL. t
Their apartment is amazing, 20 floors up, balcony overlooking a golf course and KL in the background - including the Petronas Towers in the distance.
As bothMick and Eileen had to go to work, we decided to go to the Batu Caves in order to keep ourselves awake. The caves are very large limestone ones up on a cliff with well over 200 steps to get in. As Ieuan's foot is in a boot( due to partial tear of Achilles' tendon) he decided to stay at the bottom. The caves have been transformed into a Hindu temple/ shrine. Very impressive but I personally would have preferred to have them in their original state.
It was extremely hot and humid so the AC in the taxi into KL was very welcome- as was the 1st drink of Tiger beer in a bar under the Petronis towers
We later met up with Quigleys - and Eileen's mother who was also staying with them- took a few obligatory photos and then went for food. It turned out to be the last day of Chinese New Year so the area we went to was extremely busy but buzzing with activity. Fire crackers, dancing dragons and a host of other street entertainers kept us awake for the evening. Amazing entertainment.
Day 2
After a very welcome nights sleep, we had a lazy morning. Both M and E had to work but Eileen finished at lunchtime so she took us for the historical tour of KL ending up in The Majestic hotel, an old colonial hotel where we met up with Mick. We then went to eat in Bejong, a traditional Malaysian restaurant, followed by a few drinks an Rock Bottom, where the Quigleys and Clare were quite well known. We ended up drinking with a group of men who were all in the oil business and all had Indonesian wives who were out together somewhere else. Two of the group were from Scotland, and 3 from Australia. They decided to adopt Kathleen as their granny. She didn't know whether to be pleased or upset. All in all another very successful tiring day.
Day 3
A day for the Ho Ho bus. Just as we were about to set off I realised that I had lost my camera! What a bummer. Luckily for me, Clare, took on the mission of tracking it down for me so Ieuan and I set off with second camera in bag. Things were going well when we reached the skytower until I realised that the battery for camera 2 was flat. All not lost I thought as I could use my new, second hand IPhone. Unfortunately taking photos was rapidly using up the battery on that and I needed it in case Clare contacted me. What a disastrous dilemma. We also needed to know where to meet up for the evening. In the meantime, we finished the bus tour having only got off to look at the craft market, and the final stopping place - the Petronis towers which we did the organised tour of. By the time we finished that, Ieuan had managed to contact Mick who was able to tell me that my camera had been found at the Majestic hotel in the ladies toilets no less. It took an hour by taxi to get there during the very busy peak time in KL. Mick then sent an Uber taxi to pick us up and take to meet them in Bangsar. Eileen had planned for us to have a quiet night in as we all had to be at the airport early on the Thursday. However Clare decided to come out that evening so we ate out instead. She had apparently spent a lot of time chasing up all the places we had been to the day before until she finally found it for me. I was verrrry grateful to her. After a lovely meal we returned to the apartment where a few bottles of wine were consumed - not the early quiet night that had been planned!! The 5.30 start the next morning was a bit of a shock.
Day 4
A very quiet journey to the airport but what a fabulous few days we had with the Quigleys.
Off on the next lap of our journey
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