With a lovely bathroom available to us and a reason to get dressed up a bit Yvonne took the opportunity to give her hair some attention and then it was off to the far reaches of west Auckland to the house of James's mother - James is the guy Glenn worked with a while ago and who collected us from the airport on our arrival.
She lives in a very large old house in a large plot on the side of a hillside. Her partner and her moved in 5 yrs ago and have transformed the garden into something the National Trust would be proud of. Terraces down the hillside, ponds, bridges, woodland walks and plants of every description. Yvonne spent a long while walking around identifying various flowers, marvelling at the way some of them grew in the fairer climate here.
After the garden tour we were introduced to all the family, James has 4 sisters - 3 of them here with there families, 18 people in all - before sitting on the patio with tea and Christmas cake retelling all our adventures. Soon it was time for a traditional turkey dinner with a host of vegs and salads prepared by the three sisters. With kids at one table and adults at another it was a brilliant family affair with great conversation - even the cracker jokes were funny.
We were having such a good time we really didn't want to leave but packing for an early departure in the morning forced us away. Back at the hotel we crammed all our stuff back into just the rucsacks in preparation for tomorrow's flight to Christchurch and the south island.
We have been so lucky to meet such lovely people here in the north and we leave with a tinge a sadness and a determination to return.
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| The amazing garden. Before they arrived it was just a grassy slope. |
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| Yvonne admires the flowers |
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| Glenn recounts adventures to Sandy and James |
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| The adults table - kids were in the room behind. |
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| Yes, even flaming Christmas pudding! |
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| Lily (James and Sandy's daughter) making marzipan fruit with her cousin. |
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