Busy Weekend

I see it is a number of days since I last had the chance to sit down and write anything. On Friday, when we look after Logan, there is no time to do so anyway, as he is a busy little body. Last Friday evening we went for a drive as we wanted to buy fish and chips and have it at one of the yacht clubs nearby, but we could not find a F & C shop on the shore, so the plans changed midway and we went to a chinese place where Andy and Margi have always enjoyed the dumplings, only to find that that place had changed hands and they no longer specialised in them. Anyway we went in there, and had two types of dumplings, a plate of beef pancakes, and some mutton  kebabs. It was very unlike chinese restaurants in SA, being a local eating house for the local chinese, who evidently don't cook at home, but go out each evening to have a 'home cooked meal' at any of the hundreds of restaurants around.

On Saturday Margi took us to a bank so that we could sort out our money, as our card had refused to pay out when we had swiped it at various stores, even though we had organised all before leaving home. But we just drew a whole lot of cash, and will work with cash. I haven't tried to swipe my card yet, so will try soon to see how that goes. We also went to Margi's friend Grace's house to drop off a huge gift and two chairs for them to take into town for us. We then caught the local train in to Auckland, walked about 2kms to meet Andrew and Antonio at the Fish Market at the harbour, where they wanted to buy fish for us all. As we would not all have fitted into their car, Margi, Father and I caught the local circular bus which dropped us off just a block away from A & A's apartment. They have a stunning view over the harbour from their balcony!

Scott and Grace arrived a little later with M & Andy's birthday gift for Antonio and he was very chuffed with the de longi coffee machine they had got him. Antonio cooked a superb paella on the balcony for us all which served as a late lunch / early supper, together with a lots of drinks and snacks. Afterwards Scott and Grace dropped Linsley and I off at the top of the hill where we waited for the others to walk up to go to Christmas in the Park, where about 5000+ people were milling around. Notably they were mostly 18 to 25 year olds and we saw very few families as we normally see at Somerset West. So this is hugely bigger, but not as characterful. Just after half time A & A walked back home down the hill, and we walked in the opposite direction to get a taxi to take us home again.

On Sunday we went to Andy's parents home to take Logan to them for the night, as we were going to Antonio's surprise 40th birthday party later. It was amazing to see the smile on Logan's face when he saw Brent and Cheryl! We had tea and half a hundred cakes there on their patio, which has stunning views down towards Auckland. They live on a smallholding about 30 minutes drive away from M & A's home.

After much planning Andrew came to fetch us at about 5pm and dropped us at the venue for the party where we put up balloons and decorations all in red and yellow to match the Spanish flag we had up on the flagpole. Other guests started arriving before 6 so when Andrew brought Antonio up 'just for a drink' he really did get a huge surprise. Later in the evening a Spanish dancer (who was actually a Dutch woman!) came to dance for us, and it was really good to see Antonio dance with her for a while. We caught a taxi back home again afterwards as everyone had had plenty to drink.

Tuesday morning now, and we are off for a harbour ferry ride which Andy organised for us. Cheers.