Feb 3 – Beach time and Birthday

We’re really enjoying our beach, which makes for not too exciting posts.  Feel the sunshine and the ocean breeze – close your eyes, you can feel it! 

Our big outing today was to the Warehouse Stationery, which is where I have been getting my printing done, since the vacation homes in which we have been stayed have not (so far) had a printer.  No printer and no office desks – these people must be on holiday!  Warehouse is like a cross between Walmart and Target, without the food.  Waikanae doesn’t have a Warehouse, but we went one town south on the new Expressway, and got the printing done.

While in the shopping center, we noticed a Commonsense Organics store.  We had wanted to visit since reading an article in the NZ Herald about the founders who were recognized for their significant contribution to organic agriculture, food production and the health of the community and planet, both being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sustainable business and the community.

We were happy to buy our provisions there.

On our way back we did a little drive around Paraparumu and looked at Kapiti from a slightly different perspective.  Frances found the house on Manly Street where we holidayed (someone else’s house) when we were kids.

 Then we went for another walk on our beach, taking in the driftwood sculptures and meeting Bob and Sam, a couple of friendly horses, who came over when they saw that we were taking their picture.

Tonight we celebrated Frances’s birthday at the Long Beach Café, which is a very short stroll from our house.  (Frances was born in a European time zone, so technically her birthday is tomorrow. But, over the years, it’s been a moveable feast.)  Frances had Elderflower Cider (that’s for you, Aoife) and Jim, a local pilsner.  Our food (fish and chips for Jim and a seafood pizza for Frances) was fresh and good. The manager though, was dissatisfied with how long it took our drinks to arrive, so he comped us our drinks.  We’ll be back!