Parnell and planning a holiday

Another day at work and more visits in Manukau which is a city though in reality the southern, poorer suburb of Auckland. Nothing different about work today except that my long-promised broadband modem from NZ telecom has not arrived. When I ring NZ telecom they explain that deliver will take longer as I had ordered it over the internet. I could wait p to 3 to 4 days to get it. I point out in vain that as I have no internet access I could not have made the order on-line but apparently if it says so on the computer it must be true. I just hope the people at NZ telecom don’t play any computer games. I am starting to regret my decision to go with these idiots, but it would probably take me longer to switch to some other provider by now.

I have arranged to meet Bridget Hackshaw today, who runs Inzone Travel which sets up bespoke holidays for people in New Zealand. Had been introduced to Bridget by my colleague and friend Melanie. Melanie has been working in Middlemore a few years before when personal circumstances made her and her family move back to the UK. She had been working with me as an ‘NHS returnee’ (sounds like a refugee) and is designed to ease ex-NHS consultants back into the ‘new’ NHS. Melanie has been helpful, generous and frank about New Zealand and its pros and cons and if you are reading this Melanie – thanks for everything !

I walk from Britomart to Parnell through streets other than Queen Street, which is a relief as it is now as familiar to me as Brighton sea-front. With the help of my street map of Auckland I find my way to the street where Bridget lives and call her to tell her I am there. She comes out to meet me and within a minute of seeing me asks me if I am Maltese. This is amazing, most people here have barely heard of Malta let alone known I was form there. However Bridget and her husband spent 6 weeks in Malta and Gozo many years ago and she had been to visit a friend in Malta last December. Bridget showed me pictures of her time in Malta and said she liked the country but thought it had been swallowed up by buildings and it felt shabby and dusty. I know what you mean Bridget … and you are right.

Last night I had been spending time at the various brochures, my guidebook and some printouts form the internet from people who had been in NZ. I was identifying the places that we would want to visit when Madeleine and Maria came to New Zealand in December. I was hoping Bridget would help suggest an itinerary. Madeleine and I had decided to do most if not all the trip with a camper van to balance cost with flexibility. Bridget turns about to be friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and in the course of our discussion she mentioned examples of her family trips around New Zealand to the various places she was recommending. She recommends we get a camper van booked first as even in September bookings for the peak in December would already have been made. She will look at my draft itinerary and will make more concrete suggestions later. She even finds one of her children’s wetsuits which is Maria’s size and suggests Maria uses is when swimming with fish in the Bay of Islands and/or Marlborough Sounds. I am again struck by how friendly and approachable people are in New Zealand.

After I leave I walk through Parnell back to my flat and enjoy the beautiful old houses in this district. There are some nice art shops and cafes and there is another ‘posh’ fish and chip shop which has gourmet fish (and chip) dishes similar to the one in Mount Eden. This one is called the Fishmonger and has its own web-site which I'd invite you to drool over. As Homer Smpson would say - mmmmmm, fish ! I cross the road to have a closer look, my mouth drools but I still have a fish pie to eat so I decide not to buy anything here yet. On my way back I also pass some lovely old churches and Auckland University . I also pass the largest Korean restaurant I have seen with an even bigger variety of dishes pictured on the window to tempt customers. Again it is the thought of the fish pie in my fridge which makes me move on as by now I am hungry. The wait was worth it, the fish pie was delicious and overall it’s been a productive day in many ways.