Run away with me

Last week I ran away with my lover... I can't remember the last time Traveler and I ran away together. And then we FLEW back together ON THE SAME plane. Traveler and I have piloted planes. We've traveled. We've even been in the same small plane together. But I can't think of the last time we flew on the same jet and sat next to each other - we have this habit of flying separately and going our separate ways until we reunite.

Anyway, the coromandel is an amazing place.
This is at least my 3rd trip and if I lived closer I'd go every month.
I just love walking the beaches and seeing the views and exploring the bits that are forest.


THE DRIVE:
NEARBY BEACH



with a lady walking her dog and using the leash as a way to drag her sandals behind her!

Then we walked up a hill in a town which I think started with a T. Yes, it was that kind of weekend. We just drove around chatting until it was decided that we should stop to explore. I have next to no idea where I was most of the time.



And of course more driving
And the obligatory trip down to cathedral cove

Mother's Day

This Sunday Traveler got me out of bed... and took me to the water. It was such a gorgeous day with the full moon still above the horizon and the water as still as it could be. By 9 am the winds had turned southerly and all hope of rowing was shot for the next few days, but just before then Traveler and I rowed round and round in circles while the getting was good.

The Hill Road

There is an infamous road near here. It is one of my favourite spots. I never miss an opportunity to drive it. Today our friends ventured on it for the first time .... perfect timing as the sun was setting over the South Island and illuminating Kapiti Coast with that magical light the occurs just before sunset.


It is a place begging for proposals, tourist photo opps, date night drives, and in this case a bit of stand up comedy.
But this is the photo that captures my world at the moment.
There is a possibility of a move in my future and it is weighing me down. I can barely look forward into the future. I just want to stay here in the home that I am building for myself. But everywhere I look, all the people I love here are eagerly looking toward their own futures.. they are growing up, shifting house, changing jobs, building families, moving on... I know that staying still won't allow me to have any extra time with them or here, because it all will change. It always does. But I am just not yet ready to shake up my world at this moment. I just want to quietly be in it for awhile, a good long while, after all it took to get myself here. But the future freaks me out so much that I can barely even experience the moment any more.

wainuiomata day

This week I was greeted on my drive to town by a rainbow arcing into Somes Island. My camera is broken so I was only able to capture it with my phone camera - but look closely and you can just make out the rainbow. What a treat after a week of storms - in the sea, in my heart, and in my head.

We were driving to Wainuiomata to buy some chicken feed. People often put down this area of Wellington... but it reminds me of home. There is just something very 'grove' like about this valley. I mean really, we pulled over to text the friend who told us about the animal feed shop and a lady pulls over to ask if we're okay. We say what is happening, and she has us follow her to a nearby shop taht sells chicken feed. Not only that but the shop hands open the store 5 minutes early because they see us waiting outside. So cool! Then on the way back we paused to take in the view from the lookout.

Weekend moments

I'll keep it simple...

I drove down my hill


I bought $35 worth of fruit and veg and the new local market


I went to a party on a farm with alpacas just outside the city.


At the party I discovered that I like archery. 

It was a good, albeit short, weekend.

Waiheke Island - part 2: the island

The island was lovely. I took the bus down to this lovely beach. I even tried to take a nice nap, but the construction crew seemed to start packing the dirt on the shoreline road where ever I tried to sleep. Even though my bed of sand was a ways from it, the pounding and vibration was intense. I began to wonder about the impact on any sand life forms..... when I notice that sand fleas were biting me all over. I guess I was nicer than the trama of the sand vibrations.
Here is a friendly sign reminding drivers "cement splashes, wash car today"
I just loved this wall... but fear that my mother will try to create one if I show it to her:)

This is the second beach I went to and had a very lovely coffee on that very bench. Ah, it was a nice moment.
I ended up walking back to the ferry from town through the Atawhai Whenua Reserve. It is slowly regenerating. It was quiet though and not too hard on my weak ankles.

I did find this sign amusing... Perhaps this bridge is unsafe, but the small creak was very leapable.

Regardless I made my way down the path to the 'safer' bridge, which turned out to be a sticked laid across the stream!But my very favourite part was getting off the ferry and watching this man roll his semi-portable heater down the city streets... I can only wonder where he was planning to take it!
And my favourite accidental shot of the day while I was out exploring the city streets of Auckland!

Moving to the country....

This may have been the easiest move on record for me. Traveler did nearly all the packing and moving while I was away at fiddle camp. I'll have to stop telling the tale about the move from Salem to Jay Street that I did nearly by myself now.

Then when I returned from camp sick as a dog, he finished the move and final clean up for me as well. Best yet I did not have to go back to the old flat and see it all empty and devoid of us. As excited as I am about our new flat, it will be awhile before it feels like our space. It comes with some furnishings, which is wonderful, but also means that its not the normal completely blank slate with white walls that I am used to in America. White walls I hear are a very rare thing in New Zealand.

A week before hand, some friends and I walked through a local park and took this photo of our flat... I looked at the digital image through out fiddle camp to try to get my head around the fact that I really truly was moving.
I am having a hard time with change at the moment. I think my sense of identy is a bit lost with all the medical things going on, being in a new country for so long now, having a job that is so far removed from direct hands on teaching/clinical work.... Don't get me wrong I love it here, and I am learning lots and growing a bunch too -- but its not the easiest phase of my life as I get it all sorted. I am needed to do lots of self talk and visualization to get myself to believe basic things like 'shannon you are leaving flat A and moving to cottage B next week.' Perhaps some video social stories are in order:)

Once we moved in, it all becomes easier. I mean with a view like this off your deck, its hard to struggle too much!
The walk home from the bus is a highlight as well. Traveler jokes that I now ride the short bus. I only allow this because I have been riding the 'short' bus with wonderful kids for many many years. I love my short bus as it slowly winds it way up past the harbour views and to the end of our narrow winding road to our new rental.


I am thinking that a portable barbque is in order now that we have a deck. Winter and its rains have arrived, but that might mean that I can get a good deal on this 'suitcase' griller!