Vanishing Number Plates

 After a pleasant walk with Mary yesterday I thought there was something odd about my car as I approached it parked on the road below her house. It took me a couple of seconds to figure it out but then I realised the rear number plate was missing. I walked around the car and the front plate was also missing!

Some lowlife ratbag had stolen the plates during the hour we were out walking. It was broad daylight between 5.20 and 6.30pm so it was a very cheeky heist. I was disgusted that someone would steal my number plates to use in some sort of criminal activity. 

It was also a real hassle because I had to go through the process of sorting it all out. I was on hold with the police 105 call centre for an hour before I could make a report yesterday evening, today I had to visit the AA office to organise new plates, then it took me a while to track down where I could purchase anti theft screws. I bought a packet of screws from Repco on the way to squash then couldn't figure out how on earth to attach the plates to the car. The screw holes on the plate don't match the holes in the car. Ahhhh! I will leave that problem until tomorrow. Meanwhile I am driving around without number plates and with the police report in my car in case I am stopped. 

Mount Taranaki

My weekend in Egmont National Park was both awesome and disappointing. It was disappointing not to make it to the summit of Mt Taranaki but still an awesome walk, despite the awful weather, with a great group of people. 

I joined a Parawai Tramping Club trip to Mt Taranaki. We travelled up to Stratford on Friday and stayed at the lodge at the Stratford Holiday Park. We popped down to the main street to find takeaway dinner in the evening and Mt Taranaki was clearly visible against a bright blue sky. However the next morning it was cloudy with a mixed weather forecast. We set off from the North Egmont Visitor Centre at about 8.30am and began the slog - up a steep four wheel drive track to Tahurangi Alpine Lodge, then up a rocky gorge, a long flight of stairs and onto the scree slope. The scree didn't seem too bad to start with but after a while it got thicker and looser and it was difficult to take a step without also sliding backwards. Unfortunately the weather was wet and became much windier and colder the higher we went. After climbing about 1000 metres we decided the only safe thing to do was turn back. We were all wet, the wind was strong and as soon as we stopped moving we felt cold. The loose scree wasn't much easier going down. I fell backwards a couple of times but didn't do any damage. A couple of others had scrapes and bumps. The rough scoria could easily graze skin but I had so many layers of clothes on that I didn't get scratched. Next time I would take better gloves - someone suggested gardening gloves which sounds like a great idea. 

We made it back down to Tahurangi Lodge and instead of going directly down the four wheel drive track we took a side route to Maketawa Hut. The track consisted mostly of puddles but our socks and boots were already soaking wet (they squelched as I walked) so it was easier to walk straight through the puddles than try to manoeuvre around them. We had a lucky break at lunch, the sun came out as we sat on the deck so we warmed up and filled up at the same time. The best thing about the Maketawa walk was the lush and beautiful vegetation. It started with shrubs on the higher part of the track then from the hut back to the visitor centre it was dense rainforest, dripping with moisture from the misty rain. 

 

Extreme Weather

It rained all last weekend and it has rained most of this weekend. Both Sunday temperatures plunged to 15°C and were windy as well. Today the whole North Island copped the remnants of Cyclone Dovi with flooding, wind damage and cool temperatures. But it hasn't been too depressing for me because I have been on annual leave and enjoyed the sunshine and being outdoors during the week. I was productive during the rain and made two skirts. I was productive during the fine weather and tackled several garden jobs. I did the Nikau Reserve up and down twice on Wednesday morning and sweated buckets. The temperature reached 28°C that day but the view from the top was excellent (twice). 

The wait for Omicron to dig its claws into the country seems to be coming to an end. In the past few days the number of cases has risen sharply from 200 to 810 daily cases (a week later on 20/2 there are 2522 cases). Café Lane and a Thai restaurant have been named as the first locations of interest in Kapiti. Fortunately Alison finished working at Café Lane a few weeks ago. The protestors outside Parliament are living in a sea of mud after the weekend rain (photo from Stuff below). It would be ironic if Covid spread through that unmasked, unvaccinated group but I guess that's a risk they are willing to take.    

 

 

Castlepoint

Making the most of another perfect January day to visit another spot on the Wairarapa Coast - Castlepoint. It's not the first time I've visited. The first was on a family camping trip but my main memory of that trip is the awning ripping in fierce wind and we retreated to the Patrick's farm at Gladstone. My second visit was with a group of colleagues from Mt Ruapehu and we visited to watch the annual horse race along the beach. This time it was to explore the area and enjoy the fabulous scenery. There are lots of interesting rock formations and we climbed Castle Rock for wonderful views north and south along the coast. A first for me on this trip was travelling via the Akatarawas. It's a single lane, winding road with blind corners. I'm glad Simon was driving while I enjoyed the forest view and tried not to look at each upcoming corner. 

A Winning Day

 A routine day today that finished with a little flourish. Sometimes you have to enjoy the wins when you can get them, no matter how small, and today the stars were aligned for a run of small wins. 

• A 3/1 win against Gill at squash today. I'm slowing down against her as time goes by but today I proved I can still enjoy a good win if I follow a couple of basic rules - play long and tight, and get back to the T.
• No strikes needed to win Stuff's three strike trivia test. All correct on the first attempt.
• Solved Wordle on the second word even with only one correct letter (and not in the correct place) on the first line.
• 15/15 for the Stuff Quiz. Woohoo!

I'm on a roll. Maybe I should buy a Lotto ticket.

Omicron and Covid Red Light

Following the confirmation of several Omicron cases in Motueka the whole country has moved the the Red Traffic Light setting today. We were warned it was just a matter of time. I'm glad I visited the supermarket about an hour before the Prime Minister's announcement yesterday. It was quiet at Pak 'n Save at 9.30am but apparently people felt the need to stock up on supplies (despite the PM saying 'do not panic buy') and it was very busy later in the day. 

Today is Wellington Anniversary Day and I love these three day weekends. Sue and I went to see the new movie version of Westside Story today and the film was very good. I was surprised how much Spanish was spoken, but it was easy for me to follow all the dialogue. The picture below gives the impression of fun and dancing but actually the story is a rather violent and tragic version of Romeo & Juliet. The only problem was the theatre felt like a sauna. I was in the top back corner furthest from the door but I crept past everyone to go out and ask a staff member to put the air-conditioning on.  

South Wairarapa Coast

 A fabulous day out with Nisa & Simon. We visited the South Wairarapa Coast - Cape Palliser Lighthouse, seal colony (so many seals!), Putangirua Pinnacles and Lake Ferry Hotel. We really needed a cold drink after a hot slog up through the bush to the pinnacles and back down following the stream bed in the intense afternoon sun. My new boots got a work out clambering up and down rocks and I think they will be just fine.