Day Ten - Plimmerton (North of Wellington)

This morning, after some internet connection issues, I managed to Skype into my tutorial at University.  It was a 6.30am start for a 7.00am tutorial (6.00pm in London) and there I was.  Well not literally as still in PJs but you get what I am saying.  It wasn't ideal as the tutor (who sounded lovely) was from New York an had an accent, but was also doing that lecturer thing of moving around the

room, which meant I could not always hear her.  That aside, it was well worth making the effort to get up and listen as it will help me with my studies.  It also makes you realise how small the world really is.  However, I did find it difficult as I signed off at 9.00am here (8.00pm in London) and then my day started, where normally, my lectures are in the evening and then it is bed.  So it did feel really strange.

So it was then a quick shower, dressed, coffee and breakfast and we were out to catch a bus into town as today we were women on a mission.  The bus come along and Jackie did not realise it was not the right bus (don't you just love that, an adventure) and we ended up somewhere else at a place called Tinakori which was utterly beautiful and I took plenty of 

photos.  It is hard to believe at times that a. you are literally the other side of the world and b. you are in a capital city as it is very laid back and quiet.

We found the station and got the tickets and had time for a sneaky coffee and a cheese scones.  Apart from pies, they are very fond at scones here; mainly cheese ones, and they are huge!  However, this one was a bit doughy but it was OK. We caught the train and there was a conductor on it, who come round and had a bit of banter and checked our tickets.  I did not think he sounded like a Kiwi but more like an Australian.  Obviously, the accent is very similar but the Australian, in my opinion, is more nasal.  We were going on the train to Plimmerton.  Jackie had never been on a train out here before so it was a new experience for her too.

I was warned beforehand that there was not much at Pimmerton and it was

right.  There was not much.  Firstly we had to get out of the station which was an experience.  We walked through the door to the ticket office and then out the other door which only took us to the next platform.  We laughed. We could not find our way off the platform as there were no signs, nothing. We eventually walked along the platform and found an underpass and that was it, the exit! The station was so small and Jackie said that most people who live here commute into Wellington each day.  It was nothing like the Charing Cross to Gravesend Line but I did have to smile when I saw in the train station car park that people had parked anywhere they could because the car park was not big enough.  Somethings don't change, no matter wherever you are.

Plimmerton is a seaside town.  It had about 8-10 shops which consisted off eateries, florist and a brilliant charity shop.  In fact, they had better clothes in there than they do in the Pat Butcher dress shops.  Jackie picked up two new

tops and I had a lovely, vintage type scarf which is very lovely.  Not that I need any new scarves as I have loads, but I was just drawn to this one.  We walked along the seafront and the weather was lovely.  I had the SPF 50 on my face but you could still feel it getting hot.  We sat on some steps and listened to the waves and I found it very hard to get my head around the fact that it is November.  I guess it is because I have had 29 (think about it) Novembers that consist of the cold and rain.  Jackie found an gorgeous abalone shell which is going to be ideal to put my earrings in back home.  See making new memories.

Pimmerton was lovely and it was good to get out of the city; albeit to the suburbs.  It is hard to describe how beautiful it is here. It is breathtakingly

stunning and like I said, hard to comprehend you are in a city.  We caught the train back to Wellington and called into the supermarket at the station.  I love this as it gives me a chance to have a look.  I had that fejoia ice-cream again.  I did call it fajita ice-cream and today it become vagina ice-cream.  I shall leave that there.  Needless to say we had a good giggle about it.

Wellington Train Station

Tinakori

My demons in art form

Back home and Mal was already home but went over the bowling club (which is just across the road for a drink).  Jackie and I looked at our new purchases and she put some washing on. We had a lovely buffet the of cheeses, biscuits and nachos - all the things I shouldn't be eating.  I then went for a walk to give her and Mal some time on their own.  Also, I just love 8;00pm as the light is so lovely at this time. I also feel that as I have a beach so near I really should

Local beach at sunset

make the most of it.  So me and Sam Smith (on my headphones just like when I was in Bangkok, but his new album), went for a stroll along the sea front to see the sun set.  I still cannot get my head around the time difference and find 3-4 in the afternoon the most difficult time as it is 2-3 in London and everyone is asleep.  

Listened to the news tonight, so funny.  So there has been a shooting in Wellington, just the one and the guy looked ok just a flesh wound, I know that is not good but to hear it all you would have think it was a mass shooting.  Also, I have just heard that they have found a body of a woman in Christchurch (assuming she is dead) and also the bus stops in a town have been vandalised lol.  When I relate this to my life in London it is hysterical.

I will leave you with some photos of the day.  

As always, with my love x

Plimmerton

Feet out in November!

My view from the feet shot

Sunset Lyall Bay

Sunset Lyall Bay