205. The small hours

MAZARRÓN

Lovely catch up with Cousin Kay Livingston on the phone. She and John are in the process of sorting her Dad, Mac's house readying it for sale. It is a beautiful home in Prestwick that we stayed in twice while we were living in the UK. Prestwick is a gorgeous seaside town and Jacqueline and I came away thinking that we would happily live there. Also learned that Cousin Jonathan has just bought a F-Pace, oh, and their baby, Hannah, is doing well, now four months old.

Roman with English audience

Fyfe communicating with nature

List be damned, beautiful day and the pool beckoned. 

Sheena's (Mary & Stuff) birthday today and we found her in the pool so everyone in the pool got to enjoy the beautiful clear ringing tones (mine mostly) of Happy Birthday.

With so much to do the plan was to spend a short time at the pool then crack on, however, no plan survives the first contact intact. Following our swim, while we lolled on loungers, Sheena got to spend quality time in the pool with Roman and his birthday Playmobil boat. Turns out, as we discovered later, Romans character Joe left Sheena's Josephine sitting on the beach for a whole year waiting while Joe when for a zoom around in the speedboat. 

For Sheena's birthday I cooked dinner for everyone in the Giantavan. Fish-fingers and chips* (three batches) for the five children in the Giantavan and salmon, asparagus and chips in Mary & Stuff's camper-van for the adults. All was going well till I reached for the salmon and realised, in my indecision, in Aldi, I had failed to purchase either. Quick trip back to Mazarrón and a slightly delayed dinner. By eleven, after a great evening, I was falling asleep in the camper-van, blaming my travels, (actually this has been standard operating procedure my whole adult life) and left them to it. Jacqueline got into bed at five thirty. Apparently, Brian had nodded off after I left and Sheena and Jacqueline talked all night - duffers.

*Chips = fries/frits

204. List

Mazarrón

My ToDo list now has twenty seven items, none of them are for pleasure or sightseeing. I am still sleeping lightly as I have only been in the antipodes for two days and I wake, thinking of another, so I add it to the list. Yesterday was spent doing work, juggling accounts, effecting repairs etc. I collapse about nine into bed and wake at three but resist the temptation to get up and write this blog. Looking forward to my internal clock adjusting. Had hoped that the day by the pool on Roman's birthday would have done the trick. I am writing this blog Saturday morning - I am a slave to it! Hoping to write todays blog tonight, not falling asleep.

While away, Jacqueline set up a duties roster. While it is an admirable goal the reality is a continual bench full of dishes and new, unpleasant, task for us, coercing children. 

I grew up, till twelve, in a house of self making beds and meals that miraculously appeared then cleared*, much like living at Hogwarts. Then I went to boarding school which reinforced my beliefs. Jacqueline assures me that it all worked perfectly while I was away but I have my doubts. Will persevere - Kia Kaha

Today will be another day of administration. We are very keen to also catch up with the Phennas', in the south of France, mid month, but need to get organised.

*Apologies Mother

203. Roman Holiday

Mazarrón

The loot

No Vegetables was the order

The day started remarkably late with the children making breakfast in bed for Roman, for his eighth birthday.

Essential present opening was significantly delayed by a stream of family phoning for his special day. This involved multiple trips outside and to the pool to show off our fantastic location. Seemed very weird talking to distant Kiwis when I was so recently there.

Thermally heated, refilled daily,
twenty metres from Giantavan

Audrey and Mary off
with Roman's birthday present

Once presents were dispatched Jacqueline and I went over to say hi to Mary and Stuff (Brian & Sheena) while the Playmobil was constructed. I think they were wondering while I hadn't called earlier thinking that I had arrived the night before. Great to catch up.

The rest of the day we spent in, and around, the pool - a wonderful cure for jet lag and good to be back.

Good fishing round here

202. Returned

Madrid to Alicante to Camp

Breakfast was very welcome

Lovely machine

Alarm woken me from my stupor. The breakfast was spectacular, the bus on time, security a breeze, the flight on time. The Aircraft, a Bombadair CRJ-1000 a favorite with the engines at the back, making it spectacularly quiet. Not sure why more aren’t this configuration.

Summer again

Arriving at Alicante it was nice to be out of the one day of winter I experienced in the UK. Waited at the luggage carousel for an age then when it stopped I discovered I needed to be through at the Customs carousel as I have flown from 🇬🇧. Discovered that family yet to leave camp so no rush. After a long wait at the customs carousel I eventually found my bag at the baggage office.

Long wait at a café as the family had lost their excitement on my return and arrived two and half hours after me which is completely understandable.

At it was now after four we decided to stop en route for camp for some Maccas or similar. Ended up in a mall to my horror which ended up in shops buying shoes and bits for the children. I did mean that I was able to clean the Disco in the Mall carpark.

Home by ten by which time I was bouncing off the walls.

Notebooks from Auntie Stephanie & Uncle Ian

From Auntie Anna-Marie

201. Three days, five flights

LAX to Holyport to Madrid

Actually via LA, the other way round

Uneventful trip to LHR. Normal non/partial conversations with fellow passengers. Watched movies I can’t remember* and got half way through the latest Blade Runner which is excellent but disturbing**

Met off the plane by Jennifer which was lovely. We returned to Oakley Court for hot chocolates, could hang around there much. 

To Elizabeth’s to be met doubtful Amelia (2) and enthusiastic Holly and Theo and Tony. A daunting pile of stuff to be taken back including birthday presents for Roman and steering arms (again) for the Disco also greeted me. 

Lovely afternoon with our UK family and sorry I wasn’t able to catch up with the lads but with Roman’s birthday tomorrow I want to get back. 

Six forty flight to Madrid from LHR then connecting flight to Alicante. Feeling shattered as it has been a long trip. Fell asleep at the gate but a fellow passenger that I had chatted to woke me for boarding. 

Slept the whole flight, including take-off. Taxiing into MAD I looked at my phone and realised that my connecting flight had already departed. Referring to my Expedia App I discovered my flight out of LHR had been delayed one hour and twenty minutes. No wonder I now felt a bit fresher. 

Messaged Jacqueline and she was, with the children, already waiting at Alicante for my flight, on time, arriving at 0020. 

Queue for Iberia desk

Perfec (referencing pop Larkin)

Walked through a deserted MAD terminal and found an Iberia desk that organised a hotel / bus and a 0715 flight. This would have meant a very early start for the family. The obliging Clark changed me to 1145 and I am glad he did. 

After a wait for the bus and a queue at a lovely five star hotel the Meliã Castella I was in. The bath was heaven. 

*Not admitting to certain movies 1-3 featuring Fat Amy

** I can imagine Kendall rolling his eyes and saying HTFU if he reads this

200. Getting Lax

Christchurch

Realised that I had left my flash cap that Jacqueline bought me in Asteroyds so popped over to Lyttelton to retrieve it. It was very tempting to launch but uncharacteristically, sense prevailed and I returned to spend the afternoon with Das and AM. 

The AP* was suffering guilt at her being away in Queenstown, not able to drop her precious (me) off at Harewood Aerodrome but is thinking that she would like to join us again, mid year, somewhere in Europe which is exciting. 

Dropped the Type R, flying bag and detritus off at Uncle Richard’s then Stephanie and Ian met us at Spitfire Centre near the airport which was very good of them. Also gave Das and me the chance to admire the Spitfire replica which is very impressive. 

Sitting waiting for departure I had time to reflect that Christchurch is indeed a good place and I look forward to returning when this trip is done. 

*Aged Parent

199. Wilberforce

Ashburton

NZ ToDo list complete, a clear day, looks like a flying day. 

Lunch with John and Jill and Angeline at Das’ then off flying in PAA. Uneventful trip to Ashburton this time. Offered Das the option of local rubber necking or mountain flying and he chose the latter. 

Entered the north branch of the Ashburton river at three and a half as I am still feeling rusty and there was a decent puff from the east. Beautiful round the back of Mt. Hutt and descended down into the Rakaia River passing over Glenrock Station where we stayed, as a family, before our Dad died seven years ago. 

Looked inviting toward the main divide and Das had not been up the Wilberforce, I was keen as it is fabulous country. Most of the huts had four wheel drives present and as it was fourish there were Good kiwi blokes looking back at us in return from most of the huts. At the head of the Wilberforce we got knocked around a bit so we scooted back downstreamwith a good push on the tail. 

Poked around the back of Coleridge and Das pointed out the Red Lakes which were a favorite hiking destination of Mar, our paternal grandmother. 

Lovely evening flight back to NZAS with two hours on the Hobbs Meter so a good day out.