I’m in a strange place in Wellington. It’s part of the Library at the Civic Center, I think. It’s a combined Cafe/Bank/NZ souvineer/internet cafe. It’s pretty cool. I’m using an eMac because it’s the only type of computers they have here.

I had an initial problem because HotMail.com kept coming up in Japanese characters. It turned out that the previous user was still logged in to Passport.net – I could browse their InBox and everything (it was full of garbage, nothing interesting). Now, at least, I’m back in regular roman text.

It is great to be wandering around Wellington, poking my nose into shops and wishing Lisa was with me to share it.

Wellington is now proliferated with a new Bagel/Cafe called “Wholly Bagels” with a little red imp as their logo. I’ve bought a dozen. I’m going to have dinner with Uncle Howard & Aunt Fran at their new place on the waterfront, so I’ll bring them some. The rest can go into Mum’s freezer…

It turns out that Mum’s NEC laptop doesn’t come with Windows .CAB files on a CD. However it does have a special floppy disk that you boot from, that unlocks a secret 2GB hidden partition that wipes the disk and reinstalls Windows XP from scratch – along with all the OEM utilities. There’s supposed to be a way to convert this hidden partition into a “master restore” CD – but the utilities mentioned in the manual do not appear to be available from the Windows Start menu. It requires the presence of a CD-RW drive, naturally. Also, the manual is not up-to-date for Windows XP, it keeps talking about WinME etc.

*

I had a good talk with Howard and Fran.  They’ve sold their big old house up on the hill, and now have an inner-city apartment on the waterfront (street view not harbour view) and a regular sized house up in Waikanae in which they intend to spend the weekends but I understand they have not yet finished painting, or finished moving into.

Fran cooked pesto pasta. Pasta! How excellent.

Fran was interested in the “laptop for mum” project because they currently have their office set up in the apartment’s “master bedroom” space and they need a second computer for Fran. So she grilled me about Quay Computers and what decisions we made in choosing the perfect laptop for mum. I told them they probably didn’t want this model but should either look at the Shuttle + flatscreen option for portability, or stick with a more capable laptop. I also talked about networking, Pentium-Ms etc. I’m sure I sounded like a salesman!

Actually I think I talked way too much the entire evening, only slowing down when cousins Rob and Ben turned up later on. It was great to see all of them.

I did some research this morning on the “Laptop for Mum” project, then scooted out around the Hutt Valley to visit some vendors.

I found an interesting place in Naenae called “PC Recycling Channel” which is partly government funded and takes donations of old PC equipment; refurbishes them and distributes them to schools, and if they can’t make it work, they crunch up the components and extract the good stuff.

They don’t have many laptops, and those that they do have are very obsolete, but it is good to know that the place exists.

After lunch I will probably drive into Wellington and check out the vendor situation there. I hope to check out a place called “The PC Zone” which seems to be mail-order only but perhaps they will let me look at one of their product offerings – a Compaq Presario 2133 that seems very competent.

Later:

The PC Zone thing turned out to be Not Good. Mum had an afternoon free and seemed keen to go shopping with me, so we drove into the city together, and on our first stop (Quay Computers) we saw just the thing: It’s an NEC Versa Premium 7521N. It’s not the latest model, not ultra-high specifications or anything, but seemed perfect for Mum.

Later on this evening I’m going to pick up Peter from Upper Hutt college where he will be having a basketball game, and take him back home to Tawa for dinner.

Drove up the coast to Kapiti this morning to visit my aunts, Wendy and Helen.

Kapiti Island is a protected nature reserve just off the coast of the “mainland” North Island, about 45 minutes drive North of Wellington. The township there is called – not surprisingly – Kapiti, and Wendy and Helen moved out there about two years ago, and the work they’ve put into their property has resulted in a wonderful, restful place.

After admiring the house and garden, we went out for a walk with a picnic lunch. Walking around their local pond, I saw spoonbills, paradise ducks, lots of things, I forget their names now but lots of bird life.

On the beach where we stopped for a rest and sandwiches, we saw “kite surfers”, basically windsurfers except they use a huge kite thingy instead of a sail. We saw them making these tremendous leaps off the waves. They must have some way to alter the lift provided by the canopy, because otherwise I don’t see why they didn’t take flight and blow away.

After more walking, including stops for coffee and mushrooms, it was time for me to leave. I really didn’t feel like it, but Mum was expecting me back for dinner, so, I had to make my farewells.

The drive south was uneventful.

Mum and I went out for a walk into Lower Hutt to do some shopping on this fine Sunday. We were looking for a birthday present for nephew Jonathan and I think we found the right thing.

On the walk home we passed a church and saw the congregration going in, including Paul & Julia and family. I got to say Hi to Paul’s elder brother Bruce whom I haven’t seen for yonks, so that was timely.

This evening I’ll be going over to see P&J again to give them a copy of the game “Cosmic Encounter”. Lisa suggested it, and I think it was an excellent suggestion. After that, we’re going to have dinner out at a restaurant in Petone, called Zilli’s. Turkish/Middle-eastern, which will do the trick I think.

Later: Cosmic was a definite hit with Joel and Ben.

My good long-time friend Paul A rang up this morning. Ben has a hockey game in Upper Hutt, would I like to come and watch? I can do better than that: with my big rental car I’ll do the ferrying there and back!

It was a good game, although the opposing team had a goalie and Ben’s team didn’t. Also, the coach didn’t show up! But Paul stepped in to the role with his usual competence and I have no idea which side won but it was fun to watch. Some very good plays were made.

After the game we drove into Upper Hutt for a lunch at McDonalds, did some shopping, and drove back to the house, where I left them and returned to my parent’s home briefly before driving out to Petone to see nephew Peter play indoor cricket.

After that, Peter and Trevor came back with me for the shindig. Lots of people came, including Paul & Julia & family which was neat.

I got to meet many cousins and nephews and nieces and yes, they’d all grown.

Joel and Ben got on really well with Barnaby and Gregory – Joel and Barnaby are both dead ringers for Harry Potter, which they both kind of HATE. It’s funny seeing them together though.

Elizabeth sat in the corner reading an old book of nursery rhymes for a long time, then I sat down and asked her how she was doing. She told me about her favorite nursery rhymes are in a book of mixed up ones, where everything is different (Mother Hubbard couldn’t find the bone because the dog took it and ate it already – his stomach was out to *here* and the werewolf boy wasn’t going to go to werewolf heaven because he wasn’t a *real* werewolf, but his parents knew something was up because they saw footprints outside his bedroom window, and… etc etc) She would come up to me later on, telling me more favorite bits that she just remembered.

My aunts Wendy and Helen were there, and I had a nice chat with them. I’m going to drive up the coast tomorrow to Kapiti and have lunch with them and maybe chat without so much pleasently noisy family around.

After dinner Trevor and Margaret & Barnaby took me into town after dinner to see a Jazz pianist at a bar/lounge upstairs at the Embassy theatre (complete with mega-sized Gollum peering over the facade of the theatre but now it’s showing Matrix Reloaded rather the Two Towers).

The Jazz pianist was called Jonathan Crawford and he played some numbers and then was joined by a female Brazilian vocalist with a pretty interesting and deep voice accompanying. It was pleasant, but I did feel that the bassist and drummer were kind of sleepwalking through it. Occasional good moments though – definitely worth seeing, thanks guys.

I definitely have a cold. I’m sure I picked it up from either Ryan or Zoe. So far the only symptoms are a sore throat and a mild runny nose, but I suspect a cough followed by loss of voice are the next ones.

I drove into town to have lunch with my sister Vivienne and Graeme today, which was very pleasent. The house is looking really good now that they have finished the extra room upstairs. (This is old news to locals, but new to me.)

At around 2:30 Vivienne and I took the big Mitsubishi Daimonte rental car to pick up Rosemary & Jessica from school. Well, I was warned, but it was still startling to see the twins (technically identical) looking so different. Rosemary has shot up in height but Jessica hasn’t started her growth spurt yet. Rosemary is about 1/2 foot taller than Jess! (Taller than her elder sister Elizabeth.) They are both happy and bouncy, great fun. And they are different in other, more normal ways. Both very cute though!

We had time to pick up Elizabeth from her school as well, which involved directing the wagon through some narrow gates and around some dodgy corners but I managed ok. Elizabeth is looking great too. Very grown up and responsible-looking.

When we got back to the house I was ambushed by David who sprang through a door and gave me a hug. I did not give my permission for him to grow so big – but then no-one asked me and that is as it should be.

Elizabeth absolutely refused to let me take her photo, even though cute black cat Tui was in a perfect pose on her shoulders. I had to give my word I wouldn’t even try to look at her through the viewfinder. Jessica did not make any such stipulation.

David came with me in the car as I took Rosemary to her advanced swimming lessons. They both shouted contradictory driving directions to me while I tried to stay on the left side of the road.

I wish I was in Wellington

The MUTTONBIRDS

I guess it is given that Muttonbirds songs will be providing the soundtrack.

I’m on the Quantas flight down to Wellington as I write this. Despite many people commenting, “Quantas? They don’t fly around New Zealand,” it seems that yes, they do, and there’s even a sign at the airport saying “Turn Right for the Quantas Terminal”. I figure they used to be Ansett because it’s what I used to know as the Ansett Terminal. Last time I was *there* was when I saw Grandma of as she flew down to Christchurch to see Uncle Kelvin.

Cornerstone had a morning tea thing this morning, and Sue, Dave, and Paula all showed up to see me. Sue is perky as ever; Dave is looking good; and Paula is just the same. No almond croissants from the bakery, but date scones are a good substitute. We sat around and talked shop for an hour or so. Trudy showed up as well!

I reserved maybe 30 minutes to talk to Steve about VFP COM objects and ASP pages – it turns out his current project is very similar to some stuff Lisa and I did recently and I wanted to talk over some of the issues with him, make sure he was making good decisions, etc. (I guess you can’t take the Development Manager out of the Boy.)

Vinessa and Trudy wanted to take me out to lunch before taking me to the airport. I kind of insisted we go to Zarbo’s Delicatessen in Newmarket, which is very much on the way to the airport – except I once again forgot how to get there. There are some one-way streets that make it a little tricky.

Hey, we’re flying over Mt Taranaki and Egmont National Park. I thought at first that it was directly under the plane because I couldn’t see the peak at all, but I just took another look and it’s quite visible, just much further away on the left than I thought.

There’s a good chance that Mum and Dad are going to meet me at the airport, even though I’ve arranged to pick up a rental car. We’ll see if they’re there!

Oops – got to turn off the laptop now, the announcement just came over the intercom.

Later: Mum and Dad did come and meet me at the airport. Dad drove back by himself while I collected the rental car with Mum. It’s a huge Mitsubishi wagon. I’m a bit nervous driving it but it’s got some omph to it so there are compensations.

Today’s my day in town with Walter’s car. First thing after morning coffee I drive down to Browns Bay to visit the local branch of the ASB Bank, where we have an account. I have a very old EFTPOS card – so old that 1) I didn’t even know I had it, Lisa had to find it for me and wave it at me before I believe her that it existed – and 2) I didn’t know the PIN number. So the idea was to check in with the Bank and see what they could do. It turned out that they could do a lot: If I showed photo ID, they’d replace the card with a shiny new one and let me put in a new PIN – so I did.

I tested it in the automatic tellers in the foyer and yes, it worked – delivering to me a shiny new $20 bill that looked kind of different from the ones I had in my wallet – and I’m referring to the NZ ones here, not the US bills…

On the way back to the car I passed the Browns Bay Pet Shop. “Oh! Kittens!” I exclaimed as I noticed the little furry forms running around in the front window. I stopped for a while and admired them, before tearing myself away and back to the car parked round the back of the building.

I was meaning to go and walk on the beach for a minute or two but I forgot.

On the way out of Browns Bay I stopped at the Mobil Petrol Station, the usual one we used regularly to fill our car up at. I had a strange kind of pump that you couldn’t feed your EFTPOS card into. I was quite non-plussed. What was one expected to do? I went in and checked with the clerk behind the desk. “How does this work? Where do I insert the card?”

The clerk laughed and said that Browns Bay was behind the times, and this station had never had pay-at-the-pump systems. What you do is, press “Fill”, select the fuel type, and fill up. Then come inside to pay.

I had no memory of ever doing this before. Yet I must have done, because I used to fill the car up at this station all the time. This was so parallel-universey.

I reminded myself (as I filled up the tank) that this was yet another lesson that my memory simply can not be trusted.

I drove back to Walter & Becky’s house (with the fuel tank indicator ominously reading “E”) and collected Walter and dropped him off at CSL. (It turns out the car petrol indicator says “E” until it’s half empty, at which point it indicates “half empty”.) Then it was off on the motorway heading South to walk around Dominion Road, Mt Eden, and some of my old stomping grounds.

One Tree Hill apparently no longer has a tree on it. It took me a while to notice. I had the camera with me but I never thought of taking a picture of it. Do they call it “No Tree Hill” now?

I sat in Potters Park and enjoyed the lush green grass and big old oak trees.

Dominion Road is bending, under it’s own weight
Shining like a strip cut from a sheet metal plate, ’cause it’s been raining

The MUTTONBIRDS, “DOMINION ROAD”

I walked up and down Dominion Road with Muttonbird songs running through my head. It seemed like every street had memories attached. X lived down that street; that was the road I turned down when I was cycling to see Y; that corner over there was where we had that party; etc. Now the memories are vague and uncertain, and I don’t even remember the people’s names anymore. Just faces, removed from labels and times.

I sat in a cyber-cafe and wrote to Lisa. Cheap at $2/hour. It seemed like there was a cyber-cafe on every block, any flavor you want. I saw two “Indian Restaurant & Cyber Cafe”. At least one “Chinese Takeaway and Internet Access”. And other places were just cyber cafes, without additional condiments.

I had a lengthy lunch (actually a breakfast) at a cafe called “Zest” just down the road from the old Charley Greys picture theatre. It’s now called the “Capitol” and was showing Bollywood movies.

There was a cooking/book store with a sign outside that read, “There is no such thing as a little garlic.”

Then I call in at ArtRageous for my pre-arranged appointment with Paul Peachey.

I have my design all worked out and he does a great job.

*

I drove back into town to meet up with Walter and Matt at Zintel. Zintel were expecting me, and told me to go on upstairs to join them. Matt was heads-down debugging something, but introduced me to Sue S, of whom I’ve heard him mention before. Walter was furiously active in another corner of the office, something to do with an email server or something. Very manic. “Is he always like this?” I asked Sue.

“Yes. As the Warren Zevon song goes, he’s an “excitable boy,” replies Sue.

Walter was ready to leave, so we left Matt to his debugging and took a 15 minute walk over to Queen Street to check out Marbecks Records and pop in to the Bast leather shop in the arcade. I was actually wearing the Jacket we bought from the store 4 years ago (just before leaving the country – I got to pick up the jacket from Duty Free, if I recall correctly). I tell them how great the Jacket is. “The leather is still softening up,” the woman said, copping a feel.

Walter and I talk and walk, back to the car, and drive into the traffic on the harbour bridge. The sun is setting, and at every other curve the traffic slows as the road turns towards the West.

Now we’re back home and I’m cleaning up and packing my knapsack for a visit out with Matt. I’m going out to his place for dinner to see the family, but Matt is still at Zintel in town. I can’t remember how to get to Matt’s house out in the Waitakeres. Lisa and I discovered a route we called the “North West Passage” once but I’ve completely forgotten the middle part. Doesn’t anything stick?

I give Matt a call and we arrange to meet halfway outside Soljans Winery on State Highway 16.

No sooner had I arrived at Soljans, stopped the car on the gravel, and switched the lights off, when Matt (arriving by a different route) pulled up in front and flashed his lights. Perfect timing considering he left from Zintel in the city and I from the North Shore – completely different routes!

Following Matt on the second part of the route, it all slowly comes back to me. I would definitely have been lost without Matt to follow.

Dinner with the Peirses was great, although we all missed Lisa…

Harry is really special. His voice is deepening. He’s really hilarious. He’s totally a fanatic about Lord of the Rings and he has a real Broadsword movie prop. He has a pet rat named “Mischief”.

Harry and George were poking each other on the couch and giggling and wailing and finally Matt had enough and grabbed George and sort of restrained him with his hand over his mouth, and George sort of farted into Matt’s hand for 5 minutes until Matt complained. “Aw George you’ve made my hand all soggy now.”

Harry, in perfect Elrond accent, intoned “The Soggy Hand of Mordor,” while gesturing mythically.

I was supposed to go in to Cornerstone with Walter this morning, but instead we went shopping for a frozen chicken. Also, I was interested in going shoe shopping because I’d only brought one pair of shoes and I didn’t want to wear them out with the kind of treatment they were getting.

I ended up getting the exact same kind of shoe that Walter was wearing, and had bought sometime earlier. LYNX is the brand, kind of hybrid walking/sandshoe. Walter would have bought another identical pair, but instead of fighting over the last size 10 pair in the shop, he suggested putting another pair on order for later. So I have some new shoes, sort of trainer/walker kind of things.

So far everyone who has taken cash from me has commented on the “old bank notes”. Some even express dubiousness over whether they are still legal tender! These were relatively new four years ago. I guess they redesigned them to be harder to counterfeit. Certainly all the notes I’ve been given back since I arrived have been different, with little transparent plastic windows in them.

Now I’m at the Cornerstone office, getting online to check mail and catch up on WonkaTech emails too. I’m getting a terrible sore throat – it’s probably the same thing that Becky, Ryan, and Zoe have got.

Later: Dinner was great. No more jokes about Walter’s cooking. I did insist on more garlic in the chicken though. Early to bed for me, because the way my throat is acting up I really think I’m going to be needing the sleep.

The plane touched done on time, a very gentle landing. I tried to get out ahead of The Man With The Horrible Smell but end up in the exit line just in front of him. I pity the people behind me, who must have been sitting just in front of him.

It’s 4:30 am, everything was shut in the duty free corridor….

Let it be noted: The Customs/Passport man did *not* say, “Welcome Home”.  I collected my bags and got through Customs without any trouble at all, even the little drug-sniffing beagle didn’t bother to sniff my luggage.

Walter and Zoe showed up almost immediately after I sat down with my bags. It’s nice to see them. Walter looks good; trim but not too thin.

It was wet and raining outside. Tragic. Oh, the humidity.

Walter drove us back to the North Shore, taking odd turns mostly by mistake. We get to drive down K’ Road, through Ponsonby, Newmarket, old haunts. Pity it was dark and wet outside, because I couldn’t enjoy it, and Zoe got a little carsick on the way.

We sneaked into the house and I plead to go straight to bed and maybe catch a little z’s before the rest of the house wakes up.

*

I’ve just spent about 2 hours helping Walter run Cat5 network cable around the basement. He really needs a crimping tool, and if things work out I’ll try and get him one tomorrow. (Ryan “helped” also. Mostly by climbing on the ladder to “stablise” it.)

What happened earlier this morning: I didn’t manage to catch any sleep but I made a valiant effort. I think I heard a cat eating kibble at 7:00am. I got up at 8:00 after not sleeping at all, and poked my head around the door of the kitchen. Ryan ran away. Zoe sat in her high-chair covering her face with a bib. Hilarity ensued.

Last night Walter’s car – the one I was hoping to borrow tomorrow – started showing a warning light indicating that the battery wasn’t being charged. So after breakfast, we drove past Cornerstone’s new digs to the nearby mechanics for them to take a look at it. They said they’d call back in about an hour and let him know what they found.

So, we spent the morning at CSL. Vinessa was there – she looks happy. Matt was there – he looks just the same, maybe just a little hairier and greyer around the temples.

CSL have a little balcony out the back of the office that looks over some green area, with Pukekos stalking around (They’re dark blue with black heads and red beaks.) I took some pictures.

Then Steve showed up. I had to rack my brains before I remembered him, sorry Steve. It took only a moment of talking to him and it all came back, and now I can’t think why I would have had a problem…

After that I drank Cornerstone coffee and got online to check email.  CSL’s new offices are great. Basically a rectangle shaped upstairs area, with a balcony out back, filled with half-cubicles nestled together around shelves.

The car mechanic called back and said it was the alternator, and they’d maybe have it ready around 4:30.

Around lunchtime we ran next door in the torrential downpour to get some lunch. The “next door” place was a typical industrial park cafe/bakery, with – PIES! Ah…. Ok. When the others had me upstairs talking about what I missed about NZ I could only admit to missing the people – nothing else really, not the climate or the food or anything. But I forgot to mention the pies. (Strangely it only takes one pie to cure this feeling. I guess I didn’t miss them that much!)

Becky picked us up from CSL, then we dropped her off at Play Center. I got some photos of Ryan jumping around. I swear he looks just like his father at that age.

Walter has just come in to inform me that there’s a pot of coffee ready in the kitchen. He’s making pasta dough (from scratch!) for lasagne. I’m impressed. Walter is singing, “Pasta Machine! pasta machine” in a funny accent in the kitchen.

Tonight we’re going to cousin Stuart & Tasha’s for a pot luck dinner – I guess that’s what the lasagne is for – and to meet up again with much of the Ellis clan, including cousin Mathew who is in Auckland.

Stuart & Tasha’s house is beautiful.