As Christmas approached, so did a flurry of visitors! Love <3
The Vink clan arrived mid-dec, or rather they slowly trickled in... Mainly, it was a beach oriented time and who would have it any other way hmmm? With barbeques and walks, it was a very Kiwiana Christmas. Fish and chips, wood-fired pizza by the beach and pavlova... Doneskies!
Vivacious Mama K then arrived and so some nonchalant plans were made and carried through. 10 days together and still, we get along hoorahhh! (more on that laterrr)
Well, on a slightly overcast Saturday, I overpacked and drove to pick up B from the airport. Waiting already were H and the chillun' (yay! as I got to pass them their terrariums for Christmas. Was terrified I'd kill them before Christmas- they loved it and so did the kids... woohoo). After a quick detour, we were off to Pauanui! Honestly, I was not enthused about the drive with all those hills and our car hehe but we made it.
To break the journey, we stopped at B's favourite cafe: The Coro-Gate Cafe. Quirky with all sorts of well... you can see. Even the toilets were decked out with pictures of the Queen and erm, Winston Churchill staring at you as you go weeeez. Uhuh, a little disconcerting but I appreciate its' quirks. A lovely couple keeps this place going and if you're on your way to the Coromandel, I'd recommend it.
While it was a nice breather, we had to get going.. were a tinny bit late....
Pauanui has always been a place of respite for me. Not to say that it is without its happenings (small towns, if you get my drift hehe), but yeah it doesn't quite affect you the way it would if you were a resident. A real pleasure it is, when you can transition between worlds with ease.
I've never mentioned this but a creature lurks on the Vink driveway by a somewhat handsome nondescript tree. Wanting to capture Mr. Troll for ages, I finally did. Made by baby Vink eons ago...I've always adored the way they placed him out to the elements of this earth to live.
Pretty awesome, no?
I spent two nights there before Christmas with other Vink members and friends. I tagged along, read and walked. Yes, simple like that. And here, Mt. Paku continues to make an appearance. One day I'll conquer the left boob! (doesn't Mt. Paku look like boobs? heheh)
As mentioned, barbeques galore!
I'm an apricot-a-reading.
By the beach, we received gifts from the sea. Okay, not quite but that's what it felt like. Sea breeze, chillun' running and wood-fire pizzas. Simple.
With our greediness satisfied, we walked and some of us chatted, some of us got distracted and captured. We stopped here to snap some pussy willows in the wind and lost the rest of our company. Or rather, we sneaked off home for some 'make shift G&T's' and walked to another part of the beach to watch the sunset. We found a spot and to a little pleasure, cheesy 1980's music seeped into our atmosphere. Laughing at our sneakiness, I asked the Vink brothers about their childhood and all the shenanigans they got up to. Rabbit hunting, falling in love and Catholic school. You get the mix. I listening and they reminisced in words... All the while, looking behind our shoulders for a hint of cross wives.
At times and rarely, happiness is effortless and I must remember to cherish that.
Going, going... almost gone.
Having managed to avoid the consequences of sneaking off, we traipsied on home. Behold! The sky and all her beauty.
Then, in the morrow, we packed up and went over the hills again. I didn't know when I'd be back but I sure felt its goodness for my soul. Missing my family, I took comfort with other families and waited in growing anticipation for Kirst to arrive! But before... we were off to Pukekohe.
