Day 24, Level 2 (Saturday 6th June): Full moon rising, satellite station and Warkworth

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Leisurely morning.
Brett went to golf, I got on my laptop.
Still prepping for that AGM. Lynley and I exchanged dozens upon dozens of emails all afternoon, and there were plenty more with others involved in prep. I didn't budge from my laptop. We got everything ticked off by the end of the night. Phew. 

I didn't even go to the beach today. It was, admittedly, a bit nippy, and I was nice and warm inside being busy! In between all the emails, writing and editing, and whatnot, I had an eye on the Aussie races.

The good news is that NZ thoroughbred racing will kick-start again on 20th June - earlier than intended, due to Level 1 looming earlier than expected. Owners will be allowed on track - and it may be that any and all can get back on course, depending on what Level 1 brings. Yahoo.

Tonight's Full Moon Rising was spectacular - a huge glowing orange ball that appeared over the horizon at around 5.45pm. This one was a real beauty, hanging low in the sky. Magic. As it rose higher, it became smaller and lost its intense orange hue - but here was yet another perfect Full Moon and ideal night without a breath of wind. Light, bright and gorgeous. Just a shame that cameras cannot capture it like the eye does. 

Brett and I went to Warkworth for a meal out at a little bistro on the river. Kind of old-fashioned, it was very nice. Not standout, but very enjoyable. We were starving, and shared a platter of pate, hummus, olives and whatnot. I had the ribs and Brett had lamb shoulder. We shared a tiramisu. And a nice bottle of merlot. We waddled out. The place was full and it was good to support a local restaurant and see it busy.

LUNCH: avocado on crumpet
DINNER: shared platter, ribs, tiramisu

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Warkworth ...
What a quaint township it is. 
It's a riverside town and the main street is old-fashioned in a thoroughly modern way. It's a busy place by day, although tonight it was deserted. The District Museum is wonderful, full of nostalgia and beautifully curated.
The Brokenwood Mysteries episodes were filmed here (although the Helensville Post Office served as the police depot). You can understand why they chose Warkworth as the setting - it's like stepping back in time. The place has a charm and almost an innocence. The outskirts are being developed, and the traffic is appalling, especially on SH1 which runs past it. But down by the river, life takes on a slow pace that is really rather lovely.
One thing I'm not so keen on is that the car radio doesn't work when you drive through the town; it goes all crackly. The Satellite Earth Station is nearby and I suspect that has something to do with it. It was this satellite station that enabled the televising of the 1974 Commonwealth Games to the world live so it has great purpose in its existence. But I've never much liked the fact it is so close to a nice township like this. That radio crackle has always bothered me, and still does.

Warkworth, riverside town

The satellite station - with Milky Way behind








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