New Years

After a few more days hanging out at the Bach, Carol drove Beth and I back to Auckland where we did some shopping in the Christmas sales then caught a bus to the airport where we met Anne who drove us back to Wiakaretu. Didn't take long for me to fall back into the flow of the cafe. A really good gang of us staying at the farm. There is German Lina from the Wellington business school, she is a whiz in the kitchen, always a step ahead. There is Crazy Czech Martin who just does the dishes and laughs (at everything!). There's Grant barrister and cave guide completes A team in the Cafe (Plus Anne and Phillip , of course). Pauline is also around and about, Thebault from Reunion Island and Sara the vet, we all stayed up very late playing Mafia ("villagers against killer!") and laughed most nights!

We had an awesome time for Beth's birthday on the 30th. Beth, Sara, Lina, Thebault and I all went to the beech. we had a very competitive game of ultimate Frisbee and paddled in the surf. Abbi joined us for dinner and we popped a bottle, lots of people round the dinner table, great fun.

For New Years Eve we went down to the campsite and joined the Wrights who were camping also joined by most of the Woodward whanau and other guys known through stepping stones. We had a lamb on a spit, crazy wigs, dancing with sparklers and this laser light thing. An awesome night with the stars shining and still hot late into the night.

The following days we had some really hot days, really busy days in the cafe and alot of BBQs down with the campers.

One night, Thebault and I spent it sleeping on the lawn, just so stunning the stars are so clear, amazing waking up at different times in the night and seeing the stars shifting. Although had a very scary experience with a possum that doesn't make me want to camp out again very soon. We went to Emily and Sam's one evening dressed up as farmers to pick up bales, so much fun. Also went to the beech quite a bit great cooling off in the sea after such hot days.

Pauline, Philip and I got a chance to fishing where we didn't catch much but it was just amazing sitting on a rock in the middle of nowhere watching the sun set, magical.