It was a really beautiful morning and the sun was shining as we set about preparing for the BBQ later in the day. Friends of ours in Reading, Roger and Sue had suggested we get in contact with a couple who have lived here for many years and worked with Roger for a while.So early afternoon, and an hour earlier than they planned, Chris & Jan arrived and it was good to chew the cud over the past and we knew many of the same people but we ourselves had not met. Jan works in a senior position in the Kerikeri Makana Chocolate Shop and Chris works for the local council. Chris and Jan when they first arrived in New Zealand opened a restaurant in Pahia called Tides and with no experience in the restaurant world it was a bit challenging but it lasted twenty years and then it was time for a change.
Later in the day Robin and Lorraine arrived and also Steve and Mary and then Noel set about doing a BBQ on a Gas BBQ which he has not used before but the result was fine thank heavens. The meat from the local butchers is really outstanding and the steaks, leg of lamb (boned, flattened out and marinated) and pork sausages were great. We also bought some pork spare ribs in New World in Kerikeri so it was a good spread and enjoyed by all. The wine flowed and so did the beer as we sat on the balcony watching the boats float past and people cooked food on the beach.
The conversation covered many things from travel to golf and Mary and Jan are planning to meet up for a game sometime.
As the dishwasher has broken down it was nice that help was at hand with washing the dishes, see photo.Everybody left about nine pm with Chris and Jan facing a journey of at least an hour back to where they live.
It was still a warm night and tomorrow the weather forecast is also positive whilst we have plenty of salads to finish up and also a bit of meat as well, no shopping for us for a while then
And so to bed and now the Christmas and New Year events are over we go back to a much quieter life and perhaps it’s now getting warm enough for some sea swimming, but it has to be very warm for Jennifer to venture into the sea.
Today started the New Year very well and let’s hope we can see an improvement in the coming year over the finance disaster of 2008
