A sleepless night but a less ill one. I felt strong enough in the morning that I accommpanied the Gentleman Friend on a 5km walk to Ostend, the nearest town, there to buy some groceries. It was a plesaant walk past fields and vieyards and hills and bays and marshes. Along the way we saw, […]
Leaving, finally
Tonight I fly back to New Zealand. Yesterday my sister’s new in-laws came over for a final goodbye, and then I went off with them to Zainab Market, once the go-to place – the only place, really – for clothing meant for export. Back in the day I stocked up on trousers and t-shirts and […]
Cold wind
Yesterday was a restful sort of day except in the afternoon my father and aunt insisted I join the latter to attend a tea party hosted by the groom’s aunt. I had originally said I wouldn’t, but the social pressure was strong, and I felt obliged for my sister’s sake, so I went along. We […]
In Karachi
The morning was frantic. I woke up at 5 to finish up some work which had to be sent to a higher office for comment and having lost all of Monday to busy-ness I was far behind; moreover, materials I had requested had not come in before so there was a constant stream of emails […]
No rest for the weary
Today was a day to unwind, or so we thought. Well, I had plenty of work planned and my sister had to study for exams, but we all happily settled in comfortable clothes (in my father’s case those full of little holes from dropping cigarette ash) and set about non-wedding business. The only wedding obligation […]
Wedding party
A pleasant enough affair. It was hosted by friends, a French couple with a large garden, of whom the husband was particularly friendly, though both were nice. Met a few old acquaintances, and chatted to a few newer ones, and then wisely left around 11 pleading jetlag but actually just glad to leave when I […]
On the spirit way
An early start this morning, as there was a long drive north and a tide to catch. The Hilux was loaded and we left; Lady Bright and her son in front, the Gentleman Friend and I behind. We caught the ferry to Opua in good time, then drove back along the coast to Paiha (of […]
Tapeka point
Last night the music continued at the pub nearby till past midnight. Execrable rock covers, with a really unnecessary bass. It kept us up, so that we ended by sleeping through what we were told was a fire alarm, with sirens blaring. There was no work today and the two new visitors had gone sport […]
New arrivals
Two new arrivals today: Lady Bright’s son and his partner. Not my preferred company by any means (they are the ones previously described as ‘insalubrious’, but there it is. It also meant that dinner was ham so I ate salad instead. Fortunately there was chocolate mousse afterwards. Work all day.
Nation building
This bright morning we took the ferry over to Waitangi Treaty Ground, the place where a key treaty between the Crown and the Maori chiefs was signed, and which is considered the foundation of modern New Zealand (though it would not have been considered so a few decades ago). It was fascinating to see the […]