Chapter Ten: 27 October, 2004
Kia Ora! Hello!
This weekend we went to Lake Taupo where Patrick was going to play in an Ultimate Tournament. He decided that we wouldn't leave on Friday night, but we'd leave at four oclock in the morning on Saturday. True enough, we got up at 3:30 AM (the alarm was set for three), packed our bags (he complained about my shoes and toiletries), and we were on the road at four thirty on Saturday morning! :P Lake Taupo is THE local hotspot (that and the Coromandel Peninsula - apparent from the traffic we encountered upon our return). We almost didn't go because EVERYWHERE was booked up totally and completely. Patrick phoned at least twenty different places trying to find us somewhere to stay that wasn't a backpacker's. He'd about given up all hope when a kindly Brian (or whatever his name was), the owner of 'Tui Glen' returned Patrick's phone call. Brian apparently rocked, was super sweet, caring and just wonderful over the phone. Tui Glen is a three thousand square foot hous
The reason we left so early was because the Ultimate sign up started at nine thirty in the morning.
We arrived in Taupo at seven thirty, stopped at the Super Loo (two twenty cent pieces to get in, I'm lucky to have had the change!) drove past the house, and found 'Flax' was open and served breakfast (it's a coffee joint - they were a bit disappointed that neither one of us ordered any caffinated or hot beverages). At Flax, hanging on the wall was the Sun - a little piece of home that makes me that much more not so homesick - going for a whopping two hundred sixty freakin dollars and painted by a local artist.
After breakfast, we went shopping at the local PaknSave (something like Superstore and Costco combined) as we weren't meeting up with the Mrs. until ten AM. Patrick decided he was too tired to go to the Ultimate sign up and said that he'd go on Sunday at twelve to the whatever game. I didn't get pictures of every room in the house or the beautiful gardens, but
Alfredo and Melizza showed up when Patrick decided he was going to have a nap. Alfredo works with Patrick and lived in North Vancouver in 2000 - taking the Animation course at Cap College. I love this small world stuff! Alfredo and Melizza are from Brazil where they have the luxury of maids and family. Poor Alfredo has a student stalker - a boy from Albania whose father has paid for everything - flight, school and living expenses - and the boy decided to skip classes and not turn in assignments. Now the boy (miguel) is harassing Alfredo frequently. He's found out their personal phone numbers, home address - and will stand in the rain for hours waiting around to talk to Alfredo in his desparate bid to pass before he goes home. It's freaky. Anyway, they've been stressed out, and this weekend has done them a world of stress free good - at least I hope it has.
I have the day off because I'm going to the dentist for a root canal. The car is in the shop and I have an appointment to see about a bank account. I still have to phone about my name with IRD and maybe I should check up on my NZQA.
We've been invited to some christmas get togethers already. I'm happy enough to decline and am looking forward to coming home for a visit.
Still missing you millions!
If you're not interested in these travel diary updates - let me know. One of Patrick's students was saying stuf about these damned things etc so if you want me to take you off the list, let me know.
xoxoxox
April (Mom)