Sunday
Once I'd turned off my alarm, I lifted up the curtains that were above my bed slightly to see if I could see sunshine or cloud. I could see neither. Just lots and lots of rain drops settled on the window. This was okay though today, because I didn't have to go out anywhere in the rain. I got a quick shower and threw on some clothes and before I knew it, it was time to go outside and meet Sandy. The wind was bitter and I instantly regretted not putting on a hoody, but she arrived in her red Ford KA almost as soon as I stepped out. I hopped in and we drove to her daughter's house which is on the way to the train station to pick up some things. Sandy then drove me right to the top of a hill that I'd been eyeing up and it was so high that I could feel my ears trying to pop. It was a breathtaking view though, and she told me that the island you'll see in all of my pictures I've taken from around here is called Mana Island, and it's got a flat top because the local monster jumped and misjudged his landing, smoothing the top. She pointed out various bits and pieces and explained their history and names before descending the hill and driving back passed Moana Lodge to her house.
I wouldn't fancy driving over here, even though I'm sure you get used to it. The roads up the hills are like the country roads you find near Keyston and Hargrave, but with sheer leafy cliff faces one side and a nice opportunity to fall down the other side. And a lot of places, there's only room for one car. It's a second gear all the way job.
We reached Sandy's house which was right at the top of a hill down in a cul de sac, but down a long driveway. She explained that she had three acres and two properties on it, hers and the one that they built for her Father. It was a very quirky building built into the hill. There was a garage and down some steps to the main bit of the house and from there you could go up a flight to some bedrooms or down into some more bedrooms that had been built into the hillside and the roof of this part made up part of the garden. The garden had a cute lawned area and a magnificent view over the sea and the rest of it was wild bush and trees. I met Miles, Sandy's husband who'd just gotten back from a two week motorbiking tour of the South Island. The three of us got chatting until Miles had to go out and begin cutting some firewood outside, so Sandy began preparing lunch and I helped her. Lunch was to be scrambled egg with smoked salmon on lovely seeded bread. She poured herself and I a glass of wine and we worked and talked until it was all ready, where we sat at the table and Miles joined us. They talked between themselves like I was a member of the family with one of them stopping every now and again to explain who this or that person was. She also gave me some presents that she'd bought me for my birthday, some New Zealand bits and pieces for travelling, which was so sweet that she'd remembered from our brief conversation we'd had the day before. After we'd finished eating, Sandy said that on Sunday evenings they all have a big family dinner and asked if I'd like to come. Mostly wanting to, and a little not wanting to be rude, I said yes straight away! The two of them had to go to a memorial service that afternoon so asked if it was okay to take me back to Moana Lodge, but said they'd pick me up at 4:45pm that afternoon for dinner. I said many many thank yous as they dropped me off and went back for a sleep.
At four o clock I woke up and decided to start getting ready for tea, and at quarter past, I heard a knocking on the door from one of the people who work here, saying I had a visitor. It was Sandy. I apologised for getting the times mixed up and she said that she'd just come early because she'd had to pick up her two twin grandsons early (they live in the house near the train station). I told her I'd be two minutes, slung on a hoody and headed out. In the car were the two twin boys, maybe 18 months old, and one of her daughters called Zoe. When we got to the house, I hung out with Zoe for a little while helping her to watch the two boys. She was 23 and just finished a four year degree in fashion design but couldn't find a job in that field that wasn't in Australia. Three more children soon arrived and these were the children of Sandy's eldest son and his wife. These were shortly followed by the middle daughter who was the mother of the twins, Claire, who is my age. I really loved the children's names. Sebastian and Alexander were the twins, then there was Beatrix, Verity and Harold. I played games with the girls and had a chat with everyone sat together who again just treated me like I was a member of the family. We ate blue New Zealand cheese and brie with biscuits and wine. This is what Kim was missing!!!
Dinner was fabulous. A big dressed salad and corn on the cob and baked macaroni cheese with onion and bacon, followed by a birthday cake and Sandy and Zoe had made for me with ice cream. The cake was chocolate with real passion fruit in it. They had a cat too, Shiva, a big black cat with ginger bits and so I had to take full advantage and give her a lot of loving to make up for how much I miss Stella. After attacking the cat and explaining that I was a cat woman in the making, we talked politics (although my tiny knowledge meant that I couldn't input too much into the conversation) and compared the prices of things before Sandy said she was going to go and help put the twins in bed at their house so did I want to have a lift back. I gladly accepted, and as I was leaving, Miles said that he would be glad to take me out tomorrow with it being my last day and show me all the things that I'd miss without having a car. I was running out of ways to say, "that is so unbelievably kind of you. I'd love to", so I agreed and he said he'd pick me up at 7:40 in the morning for coffee and to make a plan with Sandy before she went off to work. I said my farewells to everyone and gave Shiva the cat one last nudge before heading back with the cheese and biscuits and chocolate birthday cake that Sandy gave me to take home.
I can't stress how absolutely amazing and kind these people are and I really think that today and tomorrow will be one of the most memorable experiences that I bring back home from this entire trip. These guys owe me absolutely nothing and yet they have given so much to an absolute stranger. The amount of stories of abuse and unfriendliness between everyone back in England really makes you forget that there are genuinely lovely selfless people in this world still.
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