Photos of our new home

Graham offered us the van before we have paid for it. We said no at first and then Eddie rang back last Wednesday and said we would have the van if that was still ok. He delivered it last Thursday morning at about 10: 30. We spent the day putting things into it. I have been filling up the laundry basket and carrying it across. I had to clean the cupboards in the kitchen as they were pretty dirty before I could put in things into them. I am not sure how it’s all going to fit, but we will just have to do the best we can. We can't take as much as before weight wise either. So it's not just available space we have to think about. 

We slept in the van for the first time on Sunday night. Eddie’s feet go over the end of the bed, but he was comfortable enough as he curls up a bit. 

We have got the van looking quite cosy and comfortable and like home.

We have spent time every day putting things across. Most of it is done now.

On Saturday, we went into Bunnings and bought some plastic boxes to put under the bed to put things into that won’t go in the cupboards. I have the electronic panels and 2 wheel arches inside the cupboards I am using, which is a bit annoying as it makes the available space less. 

All the finances should be done and dusted by the end of next week. We will be pleased to get that over and done with after all this time.

Bike Ride

The Rangataiki River can have many moods. Below are 2 photos I took one day after the other. It's amazing a bit of sunshine and blue sky can make. The top photo was taken from the stop bank they have just repaired and strengthened on our road. The second one is, also on a stop bank on the other side of the bridge looking up stream towards Edgecumbe.

On Wednesday we went for a bike ride along the Whakatane River bike and walking path. It is all concreted and a nice easy bike ride. It goes from the bridge as you drive into Whakatane to the Whakatane Heads.

We had to duck around where they were doing roadworks along the stop bank. I think they are making it stronger in case of flooding in the future. They have been doing it for ages. We went to Gibbos Fish and Chip shop for lunch on our way home. We had some scallops too. It was all very delicious. The fish comes fresh off a boat, so you can’t get better than that. 

A man with a fishing charter boat moored to the wharf by the fish and chip shop spent about 20 minutes getting fishing rods off of his boat. He must have had about 30. He said he was taking them home for maintenance. We didn't think he was going to stop bringing them out.

This is a statue of Wairaka and the Whakatane Heads. She is wearing a seagull crown in this photo. I think she wears them a lot. She was one of the people who came on the first waka to the area. When the men left the boat to do some exploring it started to float back out to sea. Women were not allowed to handle the waka, but she was able to stop it floating away and saved all the lives on board. The name Whakatane is from her actions. She "acted like a man."

Two waka in a shed at the Whakatane Heads.

Eddie at the heads. Whale Island in the background.

Our bikes resting from their ride.

Spring cleaning

We have had some lovely days over the past week. Frosty mornings and sunshine. There isn't a lot of wind either, so it makes is seem very warm. We wore shorts on Saturday.

Eddie took the vents down from the ceilings last week and we got them all cleaned, and on Monday we pulled out the couch so I could clean the wall behind it and vacuum the carpet. Now the van is already for its new owner, but we are still waiting, waiting, waiting. All a bit frustrating. The man we are buying from is also wanting to purchase a new vehicle.

We have sold the Ducati. With hind sight it should never have been bought, but we live and learn. Hopefully.

On my walk the other day I took a picture of a lovely magnolia tree.

We had some surprise visitors from Matamata at the weekend. She tried to sneak in, but I heard the car entering the camp and looked up. She has a personalized plate and the name of her hair salon on the side of her car, so I knew who it was immediately. She was a bit gutted, but we had a nice weekend with her and her daughters. We went for a walk on the beach on Sunday morning.