Day 7, Level 2: Rivers, bars, vines

Another beautiful day - the weather just goes on and on being utterly stunning. I think we'll forever remember Covid days as being the longest run of best weather ever - in Auckland anyway. The drought is testament to that.

Today I visited two prospective accommodation options for my "Marvellous Matakana" trip I'm putting the final touches to. Both very nice and ideal, with lovely rural outlooks. They're different and one will work perfectly for the "Gentle" option and the other for the "Active" option. There are some important elements that I will not compromise on for my trips, and both options tick those boxes. No further research required. Excellent.

One place is set amongst vineyards and one is a little more remote and on the river - and so today's photos are of river rather than ocean. It was so quiet and peaceful - being by a river, with no one around, on a stunning day like this, is the epitome of the word 'solitude'. The Matakana area is full of little rivers and creeks and inlets and harbours and spots to sit and contemplate life. However, in 50 years of coming up here, I'd never actually seen these views! 

Look at the blue on blue tones with a band of green and a sliver of river pebbles thrown in ...

Sandspit over yonder

So I have a bit more fine tuning to do on a few elements of these Small-Group Tours - there are so many elements. Tweak tweak, I'm getting there ... 

It feels both scary and exciting to be so close to shouting out about an innovative new way of travel for seniors/singles! As far as I know, offering a travel experience in the way I will be hasn't been done before. Or at least is not common. I'm taking a whole new approach. It took Covid for me to find it. Yahoo for isolation and focus! Shit I hope it works! But feedback from the industry is positive so that's a great start.

I called into Matakana on my way home to get a few supplies - the village was surprisingly and eerily quiet. Even more so than in Levels 3 or 4. 

I still haven't been to a supermarket since lockdown - only the Matakana 4 Square and Omaha Superette. Works for me. Actually, the very thought of a supermarket fills me with horror! The smaller stores have always been about convenience in the past, and slightly higher prices - but now I hold them in much higher regard and I think they understand their own unique offering better. 

I've always preferred the little guy to the big beast, in whatever form that may be, so big shout out to the small stores who have offered superb service.

Having said that, the Omaha Superette is far from perfect. While they stock some unusual products that I struggle to find in Auckland or have never even noticed before (it's run by Indians so there are some great options for ethnic cuisine) - there are some things they could do better. Some prices are really good, others are highly questionable. Some "specials" are for products that are well out of date. The produce is generally good quality. And they sell just about everything you can imagine. If you need it, they probably have it. 

A negative is that every time I've been at the counter purchasing stuff, the young guy on the till has been talking into his mask the whole time. No eye contact, just this constant babble. At first I thought he was talking to me but, realising he wasn't talking English, I quickly got that he was obviously on the phone to a mate. That might have made his day easier, but it's just wrong and rude. And it was every time I went in there over the past weeks. 

They've now installed big plastic shields at the checkout point - in Level 2 when it's not quite so vital! Good god, they must have creamed it through Covid. Much of my wine was purchased from there so there's a bonus for them, haha!!! I have to say they have a jolly good selection, and reasonably priced. Much better than the selection at Matakana 4 Square. But of course most people in Matakana purchase their booze from the Matakana Liquor store - which is now open again. We know the owner so one must pop in and stock up supplies in support ...! On a whim, I got some port as we actually don't have any spirits or "hard" liquor up here apart from gin - which I drink only rarely. Believe it or not, I've had just one G&T all through Covid. And no other spirit because there isn't any. I tasted the port the other night, not bad. Apparently the highest selling item during Covid has been cask wine ... I can confirm I have not contributed to those stats!

I also called in to The Green Shed to get some oysters. It's such a cheery place, love it. They are quirky and their boho/indi/alt ethos is befitting of their delicious local oysters. Having been "Covidly Closed" - as their sign over lockdown sadly told us for too many weeks - they are revelling being back in business and people are loving popping in to get a dose of yum. And lots of yarn. They're busy as.

So all in all it was a cruisy, productive and enlightening afternoon outing, without hardship. I now have more clarity and info, and got back on my computer with enthusiasm to continue work on shaping up travel things. Slowly but surely, it's really coming together. It's been very hard to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, but I always saw a glimmer and now that glimmer is brighter. 

As I drove back into Omaha around 4.15pm, I heard on the radio that there was traffic chaos all over Auckland due to a crash and heavy traffic. Sigh. Add to that the horrendous trip home from here that Brett (and others I've spoken to) had on Sunday ... and my high hopes for happier friendlier roads are dashed already, and so quickly. Thank god I'm not in Auckland. But I'll be heading back to the city next week. I must. Heavy sigh.

Can I just stay at Omaha forever and ever please!? 

When Brett was here for the weekend he asked me if I could live up here. Even though I've spent large chunks of time up here throughout my life, this is the longest I've ever spent and I have to say I've loved every moment of every day, despite isolation (I enjoy my own company and never get bored as always some project or other to occupy my time with, so no big deal there). 

So yes, I could. The house works really well and it's been good to spend time with just me, observing every element, how the light falls, the shifting sun, weather elements, environmental factors etc. Without people as a distraction - as hard as that is for a sociable person like me, it had purpose! I do miss my studio though. I brought my ink art supplies up but haven't even touched them. 

All the services work great, the kitchen is a dream and, apart from the never-ending sand everywhere, it's all good. A few minor builder-type fix-ups that need tending to at some point but nothing urgent. 

I'm an instinctive observer so it's been really interesting to see how well all the components of the new house combine and operate. I've enjoyed living in a gloriously simple way in an ultra-pleasant environment that is so livable. But it almost doesn't feel real because life has been so different. 

I haven't had to attend a meeting in person, or even get glammed up for a dinner out. 

I've worn a handful of dresses, often not bothered with a bra (they're constricting, especially for those of us with ample bosom), worn no make-up (even when going out - although I have put on a bra for outings, haha!), and my hair - well it does what it does and I don't really care. A hat and sunnies are good to disguise hair and make-up lackings! And if someone has a problem - well they really need to find something better and more important to focus on! And hopefully Covid has guided them towards that. 

I like the simple stay-put life. That, or galavanting around the world! 

Much as I love the excitement and stimulation of big cities and new places, staying put in a place I know so well has been an utter pleasure and feels like pure indulgence, to be quite honest. And I appreciate and value every moment of it. 

Once the landscaping is done up here, it's going to be even better!

LUNCH: Coleslaw and Emmenthal on toast

DINNER: Oysters for entree (a dozen cocktail size in the shell). Yum! Home-made pizza - 3 cheeses, mushroom, red capsicum, pesto

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Bars ...

They can open tomorrow and I suspect many people will be thrilled. 

Being someone who isn't too enamoured with crowds and rabble, I quite like the physical distancing thing and foresee an element of pleasantness around it all, even though others don't and won't.

It so happened that my sister bought a bar just prior to lockdown, with two of her friends. They got the keys and started the refit before it was all brought to a speedy grinding halt with lockdown. Fortunately, I got to see it as it was then, as I called in during that week and she outlined all their plans which sounded great. 

During lockdown, no building allowed so it lay dormant. When Level 3 came, work could continue. And then Level 2 means even more can be done. I've seen progress photos and it's looking incredibly sharp. What a transformation! They have heaps of good ideas and I think it will be a roaring success. It's a small local bar and I hope the locals will head along and support them. Apparently there is a lot of local interest as people pass by and see the place transforming before their eyes. 

The bar is in Milford and it's called Pym's of Milford. Check them out on Facebook.

A sophisticated friendly place to be, with great wine and simple tasty food options that will tick all boxes. They will open early June - still more work to be done on the refit etc. 

Owning a bar has been my sister's dream and finally she is doing it. If you're on the Shore - get along and get a taste of Pym's of Milford. 

In the strangest of ways, as we both head towards 60, we are both close to achieving our dreams - her's with a fabulous bar with the personal touch; and mine with a unique personal travel offering. 

So despite the fact I was ready to properly launch in Feb and she was ready to open at Easter, this Covid thing has actually gifted us both the time and space to consider our offerings at a deeper level, refine, discuss and hone further.  It's all good!

Talking of bars opening - this means pub Quiz can get back up and running, although I'm not sure if all will open for quiz next week. 

During lockdown, my quiz team the Shadee Bunch has met online via Zoom every Tuesday at 7.30pm to do a home-quiz using a downloadable version that Believe it Or Not (BION) - who host the pub quizzes - kindly put up during Covid. We've loved it and had a lot of fun. We try to get a best ever score - but often fail. However, we have laughs and wine and learning. And that's what it's all about. 

We've recommended to BION (along with plenty of others I suspect) that they continue to make home-quiz an option for more mature quizzers who aren't yet ready to frequent bars or are enjoying homestyle so much. I hope they do! It enables further reach and also some profit - we'd pay! Win-win. Although not perhaps for the pubs, but the fact they can only operate at reduced numbers, this may likely compromise the quiz experience to some extent.

Times of change in so many ways ...