Not Enough Hours

It has been another busy week.  There were all the usual things to keep us busy such as walking Sophie and visiting Max as well as the usual household and garden chores for both my property and Dougs.

Among other things, on Tuesday we tried to go to the Summer Show put on by the Northland Youth Theatre group although all tickets were sold, there was a possibility of getting in.  Unfortunately, we just missed out and put our names down for the following and final night when we were successful.

It was based on the fact that the young people of Whangarei (and many other towns worldwide) leave home to go to uni or obtain work entwined with  the story of the Pied Piper.

The young people had done everything from writing the story, acting etc., etc.  We will definitely be going to any of their future productions - it was thoroughly enjoyable.

On Friday we went to a lunch for members of the local Parkinson society and enjoyed an exhibition of Scottish Country Dancing.  Yesterday, Saturday, after walking Sophie along the usual Hatea River walk Doug suggested it would do me good to walk up Parahiki so after taking Sophie home and having a cuppa we went back and walked the same river track and then walked up Parihaka.  We think we walked about 10 kms with a part of it very steep.  Although I was quite tired afterwards I feel surprisingly good today.

Today we walked Sophie down at the Town Basin and looked at the sculptures in the third Whangarei Sculpture Symposium.  It started on Tuesday and finishes with an auction next Saturday.

On one of our walks this week I spied another Giant Dragonfly which seemed to be caught on something up a bank.  They are beautiful.

No photos of the Northland Youth Theatre play as I was too engrossed in it.

We walked up the Ponga track which is quite narrow in parts.

The following is a selection of the early stages of the sculptures - there are 30 in all.  We hope to get back later in the week to see how they turn out.

Time Flies

I am trying to remember what I have done since my last post.  Doug and I have walked Sophie most days (unless I have been on the Parkinson Walk).

I have, of course, been visiting Max who varies on a daily basis.  He is still at the stage of recognising me but not being sure who I am.

Doug has been busy doing various jobs around my house that have needed doing for a while and comes here for his evening meal - great not eating on ones own.  He made and installed a couple of Tui Feeders for me one of which also has a little bird table attached.

On Friday we also walked to the top of Parihaka (without Sophie).  We parked in Whareora Road and first walked along the Hatea River then took  the Ponga track - a dirt path with a lot of roots to negotiate - and on to the Dobbie track.   This was a path I had not been on before and, according to the Whangarei walks leaflet is 2.2km and 60 minutes plus the walk along the river.  We went on up to the lookout and came down the  easier and shorter Drummond Track at 1.4 km and 40min and a longer walk along the river back to the car.  No pics as I didn't take my camera this time.

On the way up I had lots of stops to look at the forest and get my breath but was very pleased with my effort.  I know Doug was surprised at how well I managed it.  He does it as a fast walk and has managed 1 hour and five minutes for the whole walk without doing the little extra to the lookout.  This is about five months since he had quadruple bypass surgery.

We are planning many more walks and it is great to have someone to share walking with.

On Saturday I went into town to pick up two pairs of shoes - I hate buying shoes but have a pair of Arcipedico shoes in black and the soles have perished.  I asked the shop if they were able to get me another pair but they phoned back to say they were only able to get cherry and  beige so I decided to get both.  They are a lovely soft leather and the black pair are really comfortable.  Comfort is what I look for in shoes nowadays!!!!

Yesterday Doug's grand-daughter visited with her partner - they are due to get married in March and had come up from Warkworth to see to arrangements.

Last night I went to Alan Davies show "Life is Pain" with my friend, Marjorie.  It was a laugh a minute.  The show started at 8 p.m. and went till about 10.20 with a 15 minute break.

Mt Parihaka

Today dawned bright and cheerful.  I had arranged to meet the two ladies that pre-walk our Monday walks and walk up Mt Parihaka.

 Mt Parihaka is a volcanic dome rising 241 m to the northeast of Whangarei city centre.  It is about 20 Million years old and part of the harbour Fault which also includes Parakiore near Kamo.


Although it was bright and sunny it was quite cool in the shade but perfect for walking.  It was a nice gentle track to start with until we came to the waterfall where steps had been constructed.  After that it eased off again.  The sign says it is a 40 minute walk and the other ladies had done it in slightly less than that but I timed us at 45 minutes when we still had another couple or so to go to the top.  


I hadn't been to the top even though you can drive to it and the view was magnificient.  My camera didn't do it justice.

                                           A small waterfall on the first part of the track

                                           Three photos of small plants at the side of the track

                                         The view from the top

 The War Memorial.  I understand that at 9 p.m. the floodlights go off and the  red cross is lit.

                                            The track going back down

 In the above photo if you look carefully you can see the stairs going up alongside the waterfall.

I am very pleased with myself.  I did get a bit out of breath but I always do when going uphill but thoroughly enjoyed it.  On the way home I did a large supermarket shop and not much else.