the importance of wind direction cannot be underestimated...

Someone once asked me if I spent a lot of time sitting, planning, thinking and organising my thoughts before writing my blog. I only wish I had the luxury of time for this to be so. Perhaps then my writing would be better. But although I don’t give specific time to ‘thinking about what to write’, I am always thinking. Like everyone, I never stop. But for me, rather than just thoughts I actually narrate my life, as it happens, in my head. I’m sure this seems a thoroughly odd concept but I have never been any other way. It’s as if I’m telling someone a story without an ending and we are both often surprised by the next paragraph or sentence. And it is in this way I suppose my blog is formed. When I eventually sit down in front of the keys, all I have to do is flick back a chapter in my internal monologue, and there, in front of me is the story, all ready to be written. So I never actually stop writing, just not all of what I ‘write’ makes it onto the page. I once demonstrated to Ollie what was going on in my head and he lasted five minutes before he begged me to be quiet. Perhaps I am on the edge of sanity. 

One of my favourite past times when I’m on a train or in the car is to conjure up someone from my past or someone I might be missing and have a conversation with them. They are there in front of me and we chat and I never know what they are going to say, but of course I am playing both parts. I suppose the real madness is that often the two of us disagree! 

Words, mean everything to me, the spoken, and more importantly sometimes, the unspoken. Try and stop thinking for one second. A game I like to play. It is ultimately impossible. And how wonderful that we shall go on ‘thinking’ forever. What possibility. What excitement!

* * *

This weekend, Ollie and I took another one of our little road trips. We talked of nothing else for the days leading up to Three O’Clock on Friday afternoon and when we finally jumped in the car we couldn’t have been happier. Traveling of course was the reason we came here! Our journey was a long one. I had decided that I wanted to drive right to the very tip of New Zealand, to Cape Reinga and the place Maori’s believe their spirit goes to leave this world when they die. It was going to take us seven and a half hours but I was sure it would be worth it! There is only one road that goes that far and as night descended through windy roads and mountains, we were suddenly on a real adventure. As Ollie drove and I tried to sing along to the French ‘mix’ CD we’d found, I put to the back of my mind the cyclone warning on the television earlier that day. Surely it wouldn’t be that bad...

We reached Cape Reinga at half past eleven, both exhausted and both a little tense. The last few hours had dragged. Impossible up and downs, ins and outs, roads that had left us both feeling sick. Tempers were running a little thin; we had both been up since half five and done a full days work. We pulled into the cliff top car park, unable to see anything except a few camper vans dotted around. At least we weren’t alone! Ollie turned off the engine and that’s when we heard it. The wind. One hundred ghosts rushing past us, shaking the car and warning us not to stay. The eerie sound of gusts through sand and reeds, through rock cracks and across barren fields was enough to make me want to turn around. What an intense place. And it was only heightened by the black. We had no other option than to sleep in the car. We had brought pillows, sleeping bags and a quilt so we were comfy. But I was petrified of the wind, certain we would be swept over the edge. I am always more dramatic and fearful at night and I tried to tell myself this, but the rocking car was not helping!

As always when it is least possible I needed the toilet. Leaving the safety of the car must be what leaving the shuttle to walk on the moon for the first time must have felt like! As lady like as I could, I crouched down beside the car, tried to relax and let nature take it’s course. It was almost impossible to think as the wind blew me about and tried to take me away with it. Back in the car I felt something and looked down. 

‘Ummm Ollie....I’ve peed on myself!’ 

‘For goodness sake Amy! I suppose you didn’t check the wind direction?!’

‘Wind direction! It’s coming from all bloody directions!’

‘But you’re supposed to pee DOWN WIND!’

I decided not to reveal at that moment that I was never completely sure as to what ‘Down wind’ meant. Even so Ollie was not impressed. And neither was I, they were the only pair of trousers I’d brought with me and if the weather stayed this bad I would freeze in shorts! The rain came down and utterly disgruntled I dealt with the soggy jeans and got into my sleeping bag. This was not the fantastic cliff top camping trip I had envisaged and I berated myself for plans that never ‘fruitioned’ (my new word) as I wanted!

I woke an hour later. Well I didn’t really wake so much as come to full consciousness from the drowsy panic I had been lying in. I pushed Ollie, woke him up and demanded he move the car before we plummeted to certain death. Unhappily, to put it mildly, he obliged, started the engine and drove us in search of ‘safety’. Unfortunately the ‘safe place’ I thought I recalled, proved to be a lot further back down the road than I had hoped and after about a mile Ollie spun the car round, told me to get a grip and took us back to the car park. I did convince him to chose a more sheltered spot behind a large sand dune however and that silenced the wind to one rock of the car every five minutes and that was enough to pacify my fears. And so we slept.

We woke at six to darkness, rain, and wind. I was totally gutted. We wouldn’t be able to see anything and we had driven three hours out of our way for nothing but a cyclone we could have experienced from the comfort of a bed in a hotel. Agreeing on a couple more hours of sleep, we hopelessly turned over; as much as you can on a half reclined car seat!

Eight O’clock and the magic that is the New Zealand weather had transformed above into a beautiful sunny, blue-skied morning. Wow! It was still windy, this place is after all renowned for its gusts, but we didn’t care. It wasn’t cold and it certainly wasn’t raining. As we walked the path down to the lighthouse (past the toilet block D’oh!) we enjoyed the amazing view of a tumbling coastline falling into sandy beaches and an ocean the bluest I’ve ever seen. The whirlpools of Tasman meeting Pacific played below as we breathed in the freshest air. No wonder this is such a special place for Maori’s, it is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. And there is a very wonderful feeling about this Cape. Even now, thinking back I have goose pimples. Just Wow!

Car still intact we left behind the wind and the wonder and drove back down the longest ever road, headed for Paihia and the Bay of Islands. In the daylight we were able to see the spectacular scenery the night before had hidden. The Northland area is quite extraordinary in its epic landscape of fields turning to forests, to coast and rocks. We reached Paihia early in the afternoon. No wonder people visit this part of the country in flocks! The Bay of Islands is by far the nicest place we’ve visited here yet. Like something from a film, little treed islands sprout out of crystal waters, boats bob up and down moored off secluded beaches and the windows of little towns sparkle in the distance. 

We checked in to a backpackers lodge and then set off to explore. We boarded a small foot ferry that would take us over to the little town of Russell just on the opposite side of the bay. It was meant to be very quaint! The Dutch Ferry Master was turning families away as he said the conditions were so rough on the other side it was almost impossible to disembark the boat, let alone dock at all. Of course this only made Ollie more eager to take the trip. He enjoyed telling me that he’d love to see what ‘Your Mum’ would do right now! The crossing wasn’t that bad at all and although the boat rocked violently as we were getting off, it was nothing I wasn’t used to in Cornwall! Even so, the other passengers were literally racing to get off, pushing past Ol’s and I, falling up onto deck and looking a little green. We just sat and laughed! 

Russell would have been a lovely little place but all I’ll remember it for is getting blown to bits! Unfortunately the town was facing right into the current wind storm and I could barely stand up let alone ‘take in the sights!’ We did find a nice cafe and I got to have pancakes but that was about all we managed! Rain appeared for about five minutes, in which time all the other customers under the shelter out doors raced inside while Ollie and I sat it out and then enjoyed the sunshine afterwards while they all looked on, foolishly crammed together indoors! I guess we’ve been here long enough now not to be put off by a ‘little rain’!! We caught the first ferry back, disappointed we couldn’t have got to know Russell a little better, but relieved not to be constantly taking a battering. I did have chance to find out that Russell is home to the oldest church in New Zealand and that something else important happened there! Probably to do with the signing of the Waitangi treaty between the British and Maoris. This region is where the founding of modern New Zealand took place and the whole area is rich in history and  full of small museums in peoples backyards desperate to tell you about it for a few dollars!

Back in Paihia Ollie and I had a look around and learned some interesting facts on Kauri wood from a DVD playing in a Souvenir shop! The ancient trees, up to 50,000 years old still lie intact under the ground, preserved in someway (ask Ollie) perfectly. They are kind of like an iceberg (I’ve decided) as part of the tree lies exposed on the surface, which is decayed an unusable, and part lies under the ground, and it is this which can be used. And what ‘uses’ they find for it! Amazing Maori carvings, furniture, boats, weapons, hot tubs! The wood is super hard and when polished has an amazing shine, an almost melting look to it. On one of our next trips we hope to go and see a Kauri forest and learn more about these magnificent trees.

* * *

After a shower it was time for something to eat and a relaxed evening looking out across the bay. Our waiter was one of the scariest looking men I’ve ever seen! Imagine Jim Carrey playing a freaky Navajo Indian in Ace Venturer style and you’d be half way there to imagining ‘Danean’!! He was pleasant and nice enough but his demeanor and face will be in my nightmares for a good while I’m sure! I’m not being horrible, he just had a face that would send shivers up your spine! I’m not talking ugly, just down right intense scary! And he wasn’t a Navajo Indian, he just had that kind of look! Anyway enough of that...

The food was delicious! I had chosen a Thai restaurant and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Ollie had a Sea food stir fry (of course) and I had my absolute favourite dish, Green Curry. Only I had a Tofu version (Yes Tofu, but that’s for another blog) and although I tried, I’m really not a Tofu fan. I just wanted the veggies and sauce really and both of those were exquisite. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it! We shared a bottle of New Zealand wine (of which I am now a huge fan!) and had a great dinner of conversation and getting a little bit tipsy! Afterwards we moved on to a bar, desert and more wine. 

As we watched the sun go down huddled under a blanket on a couch I felt totally at peace. We both had to pinch ourselves to believe just where we were. Suddenly things felt very surreal. I broke this ‘serene moment’ however by promptly dripping chocolate from our fondue all down the bar’s blanket. Ollie, to my surprise, was furious! He told me I had to be more observant, more considerate and to grow up! Apparently I was an embarrassment! I found the whole incident extremely amusing, especially his over reaction! I chose not to mention I had also dripped it down the table leg and along the floor. Apparently he is already losing hope for our children, and they aren’t even a twinkle in either of our eyes yet!

The second bottle of wine was enough for me to realise that perhaps bed time was upon me. It wasn’t too late, but after the busy day before, the night in the car and now the delightful effects of alcohol, I was feeling very sleepy. Ollie promised he was only going out for one more and that he wouldn’t be long. I didn’t mind, I would have stayed for more had I not had work the next morning. Besides I was happy. And there’s nothing worse than ruining a happy night by spending the latter part of it talking to the plug hole in the sink!

* * *

I heard him before I saw him. After the umpteenth attempt, the key finally found its hole and Ollie entered the room. Swaying onboard the ghost ship ‘Oliver’ he started to undress. I stayed quiet but I was feeling sick just watching ‘the removal of the shorts’. Finally they found Ollie’s ankles, but then he did the classic ‘trip and stumble’ and both shorts and Oliver were on the floor. I was just falling back to sleep when suddenly the drunken bulge next to me leapt out of bed, apparently to fast because next it was bent double clinging on to the mattress for dear life. Then I heard the sound. That awful sound. Like a train coming down the tracks a mile away. From somewhere in his stomach. ‘Out the door!’ I yelled. ‘Ollie out the door, there’s a bucket!’ After moments in the open air, my beloved husband made his way to the bathroom where he may have spent much of the night, I’m not to sure, because I was soon asleep again!

* * *

Sunday morning wasn’t quite the romantic ‘breakfast by the beach’ and ‘leisurely drive home’ I had imagined. Instead it was a divine five hours of coaxing my husband out of bed, fleeing the hostel before they found ‘the bucket’ and sitting in the car praying the cops didn’t pull us over. I did get my breakfast but I was sitting opposite Stevie Wonder who had developed the shakes and an inability to open his mouth any more than a centimeter. Simply delightful! But all was not lost. We had, had an amazing time away and we had laughed a lot. Ollie redeemed himself by getting me home in time for my shift and for driving all that way feeling appalling I’m sure! Perhaps next time we’ll go for three nights!!

5/3/12