Aotearoa

Aotearoa
New Zealand
Auckland," City of Sails

I've started many paragraphs here in NewZealand as a beginning for an overdue blog entry.Over the last week the awareness of time has shocked me,I'm shocked that we have been here for four months,I am shocked that the dentist enlightened me,we do not have the time left here to complete my implant/ crown dreaded procedure....!!! We've discussed a lot about June,the month we plan on leaving this island of the long white cloud and the keen cool interesting young adults who want to join us for the journey to Fiji.Where will we go after that?What do we need to do to make sure Rhythm is ready like a debutant? Will Olivia be launched and confident to stay here until her school year is completed? Will we have explored and experienced these beautiful islands with contented hearts?

What have we experienced?

We loved staying at the hot spot Viaduct Basin Marina downtown Auckland when we first arrived from Opua. Thats north of here,where we checked into the country after six harried days at sea from Fiji.
When Philippa and then Jeremy with Kate arrived before Christmas,David had already been back to Toronto for a month and Olivia and I had found two schools to choose between for the February start.I had also succeeded in the daunting task of choosing and preparing for the preXmas " tramp" the 7 of us would experience together. We had reservation for Christmas eve,the night we would return and an invitation to share Christmas with our new friends,the Romaros at their home on the north shore. We had Kelly Cathcart and her partner,John coming up from south island travels and adventures and Wendy Lyons to celebrate with us when we returned.
The tramp was a highlight,we did the Northern Tongariro Circuit ,stayed in huts four nights and experienced the very typical weather personality here,variable daily- we had hail and rain and cold parts of the first two days,sun and warmth for the last. Philippa had blisters from new boots that were so bad she wore bare feet over the black volcanic stones,as we brushed past" mT Doom ",partially visible,partially cloudy and ominous. I just LOVE the memory of that comfortable,scenic,precious family jaunt.A very special NewZealand souvenir.
Too bad the now infamous horrid summer weather kept us prisoners ,docked with hatches closed and a sense of panic perpetuating confinement....however,Jeremy and Kate energized and hopped on a daily ferry to the pretty waihiki island where they biked and wined at the local vineyards.Looking back,we were9 crowded aboard but everyone pitched in and we really had fun.Now,Rhythm is eerily quiet,be careful what you wish for.
I miss my Mum!DAD!SIS! BRO! friendsssss
Olivia and Joey had lots of friends,many foreign students they met through our school scouring days. The viaduct was central and I personally walked and began to run again. I enjoyed the newly restored Art Gallery,the Auckland Domain( park) and the liberating feeling of just stepping off Rhythm,no dingy coordinations,crew corral,hand held radios to tote...
Then they left.All separately,first Joey,then Philippa and then on NYday,Jem and Kate. Oh,BooHoo....Very sad to see my babies fly away..Olivia an only child,on a trajectory of more change,exciting and challenging.
Happy NewYear NZ and 2012

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