DeeKnow’s Grotto

Well its almost over for another year. Xmas has come and gone and turned out to be a little more bloody tiring than usual, mostly coz we seemed to only stop anywhere for half a day before having to drive somewhere else, dodging check-points along the way.

Had a nice relaxing xmas eve night out at Mawzies. Dinner and a few drinks then a relatively early retirement to get up at a sensible adult like time in the morning to open presents. Funniest moments of the morning were mawzies cat tearing open his catnip present and Kym giving me a great big box of rasberrry liquorice (I cant stand the black stuff) which I had a few out of before leaving the room which gave mawzies dog Dusty the chance to polish the whole box off. Jesus she woulda had a guts-ache the next day.

The middle portion of the cop-dodging day was spent out at Marks with Kymbo's whanau. They've got a great spot up on a hill lookin out towards the west. Was nice to have a few beers out in the westerly breeze. Mark, Dennis and I went for a bush bash around the pond on their property and reminicsed about how much fun we each used to have playing in gulleys and the backs of farms when we were kids, and how little of that the lazy fear-laden youngsters get up to these days.  Its all too dangerous dont you know.

Late afternoon we were back in the car and hi-tailing it over the Kaimais to Don and Lorraines for evening dinner and a few more drinks, this time we were staying the night thank god. Was another cruisy affair, with Kiotie entertaining us on the squeeze-box bashing out lots of golden-oldies. Its always so cool hearing live music. We talked for a bit afterwards about how the extended Stringer family used to gather round the Piano and sing and play and about how my grand Father used to be in a band with his siblings. I've got lots of neat strong memories of old great-Aunties and Uncles singing their hearts out to old classics. Its a shame none of the talent has made it down the tree to us kids.

Hot topic of the Papamoa visit was the tales about the Muscovy ducklings Kiotie and Lorraine have rescued from the rampaging evil inhabitants of the creek island, the Pukeko's. While we were there one of the Puke's came running past grabbed a duckling and returned to death-island tearing the duckling apart and serving it to its own chicks. Bloody terrifying. Its a tough old world out there.

[more photos]

1:18:07 PM