drive home

Instead of turning left off Wainui Road to go the final 2 blocks home, I turned right, into the parking area of the Lysnar Domain beach.

7:30 am, Wainui after a brief rain.

Moved in!

Friday was a busy day.  Packed in the morning, got a call
from a friend of a friend and 2 hours later I'm the owner of a '96 Nissan Primera! It's silver and shows it's age but feels good.  I'll take it in for a full tune up soon, but it's up to date on inspection and registration.  Moved in to the Shepherd's cottage.

28A Lysnar Street, Okitu, Gisborne, 4010
New Zealand

Inside photos to come once I've tidied up a bit.  Instead I'll show you a bit of my surroundings.


morning tea on the porch

babbling brook out back

Friendly neighbors

'Scout'

Fantail showing off

Black-headed jumping spider snacking on pesky flying insect

Lots of wind and rain over the weekend, which made for great wave action!

Wainui, now my home beach

Kite surfer at Wainui

Heading to work in a few hours, on for 2 nights in a row, then flying to Auckland for 3 days of big city excitement---Bikram, tango, trapeze---here I come!

Mahia

Went to Mahia, which is down the coast, on the road to Napier and Hastings.  Actually was there twice in 10 days---once with S, for a book club/exchange, where I got a couple of thrillers to read, and once with B, for a hike close to the ridge and through the bush.  Some very unusual flora and fauna here. Another item on the to do list--- join library and take out books on trees, bushes, flowers, and birds.

 

Mahia view

more Mahia

Koru, beautiful plant/bush---these large curled sections are made up of a whole bunch of smaller curled sections, see below

In NZ, the koru is symbolic of new beginnings, fresh starts---similar to the lotus in eastern thought.  Appropriate for recent changes in my life, I'm thinking.

More of the bush---

Path

Hairy tree with shade

Log---new tattoo design, perhaps?

Not so much going on this weekend--worked nights all week and though I like them, it will take some getting used to.  Had a lovely walk on the town beach and yet another sunset.  Still not tired of it.

Stay tuned for next weekend: the move to Wainui!

BTW, new address is 28A Lysnar (not Lysnard) Rd.  Can't wait to settle into the bach!

home to be

The Shepherd's Cottage it is! Ceilings are higher than look outside, it's cozy, sweet and rustic, the plums are ripe and the figs are growing.
fyi I can't tell if I'm getting through to people who've sent messages through this blog, specifically DM. Email me at eab107cnm@gmail.com :)

Future home? Future car?

Have looked at a few apartments but am holding out until I see the inside of this one.  Located in Wainui, about 11K from hospital and 7K from town, it's part of a larger property.  Used to be the shepherd's cottage and though it may be more suitable for Frodo I've already fallen in love.

26a, Lysnard Rd, Wainui

Plus it seems all that waiting around at the airport wasn't completely unproductive as one of the pilots, Sam, is looking to sell his car.  It's a 1996 Nissan Primera, which translates to an Infiniti in US, in good shape with only 121,000K on it (about 75,000 miles). He's going to have it checked out by the Auto Club guys.  He's asking 5000$ NZ which at the moment translates to 4150$ US.  Seems a bit pricey, but again if it's in good condition maybe there's a bit of wiggle room.  I'll see a few more cars this week to compare, but I drove this around the hospital grounds and it's got a good feel to it.

'96 Nissan Primera.....but can it fit a 9' longboard?

Flight to Hamilton

Thursday we needed to pick up a maternity patient from the hospital in Hamilton and return her home to Gisborne.  As I'm on orientation and extra on the schedule, I went along for the experience, which consisted of waiting around---first at Gisborne airport for 2+ hours for the ambulance to pick up 2 patients at Gisborne hospital, load them onto the plane along with us, fly to Hamilton and wait another 2 hours or so while they dropped off those patients and picked up our lady--who was medically stable but a bleeding risk---(for some strange reason Waikato hospital removed her IV access right before they handed her over--what's that about?), load her and her partner on plane and head back to Gizzy.

Sandra and I looking official, before we returned to the terminal and drank tea for 2 hours, waiting on ambulance.

Our pilots, Sam and Will

Sunset view from the plane



Did I mention how beautiful it is here?

Weekend retreat 3/2-5/2 (day on the left, just like drive on the left)

Last weekend drove 1 1/2 hrs to the Haurata, a holiday rental near Otoko, off Makaretu Road.  The koru (aka giant fiddleheads) were out in force--

View from our porch

Heading out for a hike

Through pastures,

countryside,

and into the bush.

Heading home for a catered dinner,

a dip in the hot tub,

and, of course, dessert!