The weekend with my birthday party and a huge storm

 Hi,

It has been an epic, social few days. Then on top of that, most of Aotearoa got hammered (is still getting hammered) by a huge storm from a mighty low that is just stuck to the east of us. Looks great on the weather maps. Not so great to be inside the low itself. Like a washing machine, really.

Happy birthday today to John.

Thursday - gym and Haurangi Hut

Thursday saw me go to data brekkie and then the gym. Bit switched around because we were Quentin's only clients that morning. Mike took the early slot at 7.30 and while I was at brekkie, they finished up and came over. Hahahah.

I went back to the gym with Quentin after the brekkie and then headed to the airport to get Iona. She was arriving early for the birthday weekend and that meant she could come kiwi spotting with us.

Back home to pack for the tramp and we also convinced Karen and Scott to walk in with us. Great weather might have just been the ticket to them coming along. Maybe also the bakery promise for lunch at Whites Line East? Yum!

Andrew got dropped at Sunny Grove by Maureen and Iona and then the rest of us all met at the Catchpool car park to start our walk.

Gorgeous Thursday morning

Halfway for Karen and Scott

Turns out that what I think of as flat is not quite the same as people who walk a lot but live in Sydney. Scott read me the definition of the word "flat" at the midway bridge. Hahahah.

Toby tree

They got to the memorial at the top of the diversion and glimpsed the river and bridge through the trees. They headed back to drive our car home and entertain everyone until we got back Fri lunch time. Awesome to walk with them and chat away.

Two hours and 20 mins from the car we got to Haurangi Hut. So warm and not a breath of wind. Iona and Maureen and I had a nice cuppa and got our beds sorted. The hut was just visited by a DoC hut warden and it was so clean. Well-appointed, wrote Maureen in the Intentions book. Crockery. Gas (okay - really slow gas! Half an hour to boil water). Toilet paper (well - that is probably not always supplied), Aeroguard. Hand sanitiser. Those are probably not always there either.

Haurangi Hut

Fellow kiwi spotters

Later in the afternoon we walked out to the riverbed and tried to dam the entire river in one of the channels. It didn't really work but Iona managed to cross over and stay dry. Boots for the win. Trail runners? Not so much. I did not want wet feet.

Checking the riverbed

Dimp application necessary

Kitchen is "well appointed"

Back to the hut and with dusk came some mozzies and sandflies so we closed up the hut. Cooked our tea and at 9pm decided to go out kiwi spotting without Andrew.

And then he arrived as we departed. So back we went so he could have some miso. Then around 9.30pm we left again.

We had no luck at all. No calls heard. But we sat at the junction to the Whakanui track for about 30 mins in the darkness. Silence around us except for night noises. And one forlorn cicada that missed the memo about being diurnal. 

The 4 of us were sitting in a row on top of some new traps that had been stacked up by the junction. Quiet. Not talking. Then a possum gave a huge screeching grunt when he got surprised by us sitting there in the dark. And I leapt and might have squealed a bit. Pretty sure Maureen jumped (she was closest to the grunting animal that was right next to us!). Andrew flicked his head torch on and we saw the possum scurry up a tree trunk.

Phew. Time to go to bed after that.

Late sunset on the kiwi spotting trip

Attire for kiwi spotting

Cool vibes

Friday - a wet walk out and setup for my party

We woke up to a lovely morning and had our brekkie. As we tidied the hut, Maureen said: what is that noise? Is it rain?

Yes. Unexpected rain. A precursor to the change in weather. Our walk out was fast. I made it to the car in 1 hour 59 mins and 27 seconds. But we were so wet. Hahah. We had to sit on bags and things in Maureen's car.

Walk out was wet, wet, wet

I spent most of Friday washing and drying gear. But we did go over to Sally and Andrew's for tea and to assemble the marquee.

Scott surveys the marquee pieces

Laid out

Aidan is sorting it all out

Shelly Bay Baker iced latte

Saturday party!

Saturday saw no park run from me. Mike and I were in the office on our sleeping mats and it wasn't the easiest for a decent sleep. But we got pastries from Shelley Bay baker in Karori and had a nice brekkie.

I got flowers from Toby and Tessa

Paaaaarrttttaaaayyyy

Then it was party time. Got over to 40WLW and before too long the guests arrived. James and his family were first - fitting mine in before Esmee had hers.

So well set up - thank you

Cake for me

Cake for Mum

Catering was amazing

Aidan came over after the cake and said he counted 47 people at that time. And some had come and gone before that. So there was a lot of people.

Speeches

Sally and Andrew were amazing. As was Aidan and Janne, They just kept everything humming along. Iona MC'd when necessary and I just kinda tried to chat to everyone as much as possible. The Sampsons all got their socialising done in one day for their entire year, I reckon. I was a close second.

I got a huge tomato from someone - wow

What a huge day. It was chill. There were so many people that came from near and far. I do like a good reason to catch up. So thank you to everyone for making my special day (I do love birthdays - but I especially love my own!) even more special.

Tessa got whisked away to the airport by her Dad and we packed up not long after 6pm. Got the tent down and packed away. And I tell you what - lucky it was not a Sunday event.

Another trip to the airport - and very windy

Sunday - tidying, airport runs and epic bathroom mirror DIY

Sunday saw us tidying at home and taking Karen and Scott to the airport. I think their flight was one of the last to land, fill up and get off. From 5pm I think most flights were diverted and cancelled. Wow.

Getting the upstairs mirror up

Planning it

Aim here, Toby

Dad supervises

In place

Not sure it was going to work

And done!

Looks good

In the evening we had dinner (spag bol) and Mike and Toby (with Gramps supervising) put the upstairs mirror up. It looks so good. Not quite finished - but enough for now.

We watched the Bruce Springsteen movie and we all loved it. So good. Deliver me from nowhere. Yep - would recommend.

We battened down the hatches for the storm. Not sure I have seen wind like that. Just a constant white noise and everything is just shaking from the wind and rain.

Slept great mind you. And up to see no damage at all at our place. But there is plenty of damage elsewhere. No trains. No ferries. No planes. We're working from home.

I hope you are all safe. Take care. Thank you for an amazing weekend.

Love,
Angela