Healing well

Things are going along very well.

Eddie is feeling really good. He just has a bit of discomfort when his trousers dig into his scar.

We have just confirmed that it is all go for next week to have the brakes done on the caravan. As mentioned in an earlier post, we have had trouble getting the COF (certificate of fitness), because of the brakes. They are electric magnetic brakes. We have put on bigger magnets, had the wheels skimmed where the magnets run and put new brake shoes on. All to no avail. We have booked into a nice little unit  for the week the caravan will be away.

The weather has been very sunny over the last few days, but a cold wind has been blowing. There was a light frost last Saturday too. Today, however, it is blowing a gale and raining. The sea is roaring on to the beach. We are nice and cosy in our caravan.

Below is a photo I took in the evening of the storm. It was just before six and the rain had finally stopped. It was only the second time I had stepped outside all day. It was a very strange light. The photo came out really well. It's exactly as the sea looked.

Papamoa Beach after a storm

A walk in the Papamoa Hills

Last Sunday, a blustery and squally day, the tramping club came over for a walk in Papamoa They picked me up at the Papamoa Camping ground and we went up into the Papamoa hills, which are close by. It's not a long walk, but quite steep. On such a blustery day, it was probably just as well it wasn't a long walk! We had put our coats on in preparation for the rain that was likely to come, but half way up most of us took them off as we had got too hot. It did rain eventually, so coats back on and on up we went.

It used to be a pine forest, but the trees have all gone and it is farmed now. Native trees are being planted on the slopes. The first time I went was in the summer and it was very hot with no shade. This time of the year is a good time to go.

From the top we could see Domain Rd and the trees that are at the entrance of the camping ground. We can see the tree at the top on the hill from our camp site. Some of us took a longer route down a different path. The sheep we past weren't

the least bit disturbed by people walking by. Some of the time we were out of the wind, which made a pleasant change.

We ate our lunch in the domain next to the camping ground and then went for a walk on the beach. It wasn't too bad going as the wind was behind us. Coming back the wind and rain were in our faces. Back at the van, I left the group and went home to get dry and have a nice cup of tea.

A view from the top of the hill

We can see these trees from the camp ground

Just as an aside. Eddie is doing well and has had the catheter out. No leakage, so we are very pleased about that.