I have been one of the luckiest people on this planet in so many ways. Today I was reminded of one of the things which makes that true for me. My life in New Zealand and the wonderful friendships I made there: many of which endure today albeit, for most of them, at a distance.
I started a New Zealand blog because my UK friends and family kept wanting to know what I was up to. The blog was more a diary than anything else. Which, in many ways was how this blog started off.
One day (I can't remember the details) because I had never been up to Northland a fellow blogger suggested that if I went up there she would show me around. It sounded like an opportunity far too good to miss. So on 11 December 2009 I pitched up at Whangerei Airport having made absolutely no arrangements apart from a return flight. I was sure that my fellow blogger would know the most appropriate hotel etc where I could stay.
The person concerned turned out to be both a superb tour guide and real 'people person' so my natural shyness which can manifest itself in so many different ways completely evaporated.
We drove out to the Whangerei Heads and I saw a New Zealand that I'd never seen before. It is a country of many many different geographical, geophysical and human personas. I was loving the new sights and the commentary and the company.
By the time we got back to Whangerei it was getting on a bit and I wondered about accommodation. But my hostess just kept on driving....and driving... into the wilds of Northland. Until we reached her home. Just as it had never occurred to me that someone I had never met except via our mutual blog comments was going to house me for the stay it had obviously never occurred to her that she wouldn't be offering hospitality.
And so started a truly wonderful friendship with a number of safaris in Northland, Hawkes Bay, Lewis and Harris and the Scottish Highlands.
What made me think of this today? Pauline's post here.
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| My first view from the plane of the 'Uppity Downities' although I didn't know that at the time |
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| Whangerei Heads |
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| My first Northland Coffee at Reva's in Whangerei |
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| Reva's Café, Whangerei |
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| The Vodafone Mast on The Uppity Downities - the locator beacon so I knew where I was. |
It is a wonderful country. During our last visit four years ago, I couldn't believe the green and dampness of most of where we travelled yet the staark dryness in the Taieri Gorge north of Dunedin.
ReplyDeleteWith one exception that I kind of foresaw, all my meet up with blogmates have been successful and some have gone on to be true personal friends. It seems your meeting was really one out of the box. If you had not been liked, she could have easily helped you find accommodation and not taken you into her home.
Absolutely, Andrew, but fortunately we got on very well. To be honest it would be difficult not to get on with Pauline. As you implied it's probable that we can tell people whom we are not likely to bond with.
DeleteHow marvellous that you and Pauline became such good friends via blogging. I looked at her profile over at her blog - she has a very kind face. Shirley and I visited Whangerei Heads in 2012. Was it really eleven years ago?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, YP, Pauline has a kind face and she is a real 'people person'. She is also a superb 'face' photographer because she can put even the crustiest and most reluctant subject at ease and capture them at their most interesting.
DeleteThat's where my sister used to live, she's now a bit further south.
ReplyDeleteCro, given the size of New Zealand and of Whangerei, I never cease to be amazed how many people I 'know' indirectly who live or have lived there.
DeleteA beautiful area, and a beautiful tribute to a wonderful friendship.
ReplyDeleteIf any of my friends here on blogger should ever choose to visit Ludwigsburg, I would be more than happy to show them around, take them on a tour of the palace and the palace grounds, and either cook for them at my home or - if they weren't sure about my cooking - invite them for a meal at "my" pub.
As for offering them to spend the night, my flat does not easily lend itself to that, but my Third Room has a perfectly fine single bed. My bathroom has a sliding door made of opaque glass; you can see if someone is in but you can't see through - you can hear everything, though, and not everyone is comfortable with that.
Meike one thing of which I am certain and that is that you must be a superb at showing people around because you know your area minutely as we can tell from your posts.
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute to your friend and your lasting friendship.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice (if I'm permitted to be so familiar).
DeleteMy BF here in Lancashire has been with her late husband to see family 'out' in NZ.. Their nearest town is Whangerei and they have visited Reva's café. In fact, I believe that a small portion of John's ashes were posted and have been spread over the Heads. Lesley
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lesley. It's a very small world we live in!
DeleteI have enjoyed Paulines blog after discovering it through you GB - particularly after living in Whangarei for 14 years - I still use Mt Manaia as my mountain for my "Pepaha" - and for a long time Loch Faskally as my water, as I have fond memories of rowing on it after my father helped to build the Pitlochry dam.... probably more accurate to use Horseshoe Lake here these days as it is home! Anyway - interesting to see Reva's. We thought of it as a pizza place for dinner in "the old days" but I rememebr being shocked when it was revealed that the Rainbow Warrior bombers used to eat there while planning their strategy from Whangarei.
ReplyDeleteHello Fi! Are you still blogging? Somehow your blog does not show up in my reading list anymore. I hope you have not moved to a different platform!
DeletePS: I have just checked and seen that your last post was back in May. No idea why I never spotted it.
I have been very slack with blogging Mieke - but it is still there - ready for a return one day! Retirement might help....:)
DeleteIt is very obvious, Graham, that your time in new Zealand has made an indelible mark on your life, never to be erased, and perhaps even ingrained deeper with the passage of time. We should all be so lucky!
ReplyDeleteDavid, I've been fortunate to have had a reasonably happy life although the earliest days of this century were pretty crap and I could never have imagined that the happiest days of my life were still ahead of me,
DeleteThat fretwork on the cafe is gorgeous, isn't it? I enjoy reading of other people's travels, and this sounds like a marvelous one.
ReplyDeleteDebby, Reva's is a legend in Whangerei. It's still there although the original Reva whose name it still bears has not run it since 2016.
DeleteToday 10/9: I've been told the locals still call it Reva's but it is now The Quay and it has been refurbished! Lesley
DeleteWhat a wonderful way to make friends, and real friends too.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much of New Zealand that I missed on my one and only brief visit. It is too far for me to think about returning now so your photos and descriptions will help me to enjoy it vicariously.
JayCee, New Zealand is a very large country to cover in one visit.
DeleteA travel time to remember, sounds beautiful for the land and the spirit of your host's soul.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn, how beautifully expressed.
DeleteThat was an opportunity I also would jump at and didn't it work out so very, very well? I just love the adventure in that story and I love the way Pauline put you at ease.
ReplyDeleteI currently have a blogmate in Oregon who has invited me there, the time is undecided as he's invited a couple of us and one is waiting for a senior pet to leave this world. I hope I can go when the time comes.
I haven't been to NZ since I was a girl of 12, my grandfather was in Hastings at that time and I have cousins all over.
Kylie, I know Hastings very well indeed and The Family's dental practice is there.
DeleteThanks for the compliments, Graham. That was a terrific first safari for us, wasn't it? I never suspected it would result in such a wonderful friendship. I can never go around the north again and not remember those good times. Pauline
ReplyDeletePauline, that first safari really enhanced my life and it and future safaris extended my view of New Zealand as well. Thank you.
DeleteWhat a terrific adventure, Graham! I've checked out Pauline's blog and have added it to my list of blogs to visit. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed, Ellen, the first of many. Pauline's blog goes back a long time with many memories.
DeleteWhat awesome happy memories :) xx
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