Day 13 - Art Deco Napier - briefly

This always was a planned short day and another sunny one.  We ambled up to the Horizon Court buffet for a (very) light bite of granola/yoghurt, and juice and sat with Wolfgang and Danielle. Wolfgang corrupted me by eating a quarter waffle so I did the same – with maple syrup and cream.  Why not?
I haven’t really felt like an early cooked breakfast and the lack of decent bacon hasn’t helped.
Out on the quay was a lovely old Austin with the dapper driver welcoming people to Napier. As the Art Deco capital of NZ, the locals make sure that visitors know about it and none more so than the local car club.  Their big event is always in February when there is a whole week of celebrations.

The free shuttle to town, to the i-Centre was easy enough and we landed about 9:55am – before the chemist/pharmacy was open. There was a queue…
Paula needed throat sweets and bought  ‘Colloidial Silver’, but  also needed a Panadol, which also meant water, so we dived into an amusement arcade for the water. A total rip off at $4.00 for a small bottle - and we grizzle at the price of petrol?
Into the chemists for throat lozenges and Paula had already faded, so we headed back to the shuttle bus.

Now most people on wheelie walkers are considerate, letting faster people past, but there is a percentage who are grossly inconsiderate.
We didn’t really mind standing in the hot sun whilst the fatty in front parked the wheelie walker, then took three minutes to ascend the steps to the front seat of the coach – and not wearing the mask properly.  What rankled was back at the dock, instead of waiting whilst the 35 people behind stepped off, she insisted on being first up and then struggled for another three minutes holding everyone else up.  Maybe I’m getting less tolerant in my old age?
However, back at the port gates, the port security came on the coach and physically checked everyone’s government photo ID and the tiny writing on the medallion, to make sure they matched.
Apparently, the rumour was that there was a ‘secret shopper’ trying to ‘bust’ the security. As soon as you are back on board though, you present your ‘medallion’ which comes up with your photograph, so I’m not sure how far an ‘intruder’ would actually get.
Paula was effectively shattered so lay down.  I wasn’t feeling too bad so raided the buffet for protein.
On the other dock was the Grand Princess.
After Paula’s nod, we went down to a production show in the rear lounge – Universe,  for ‘Down on The Bayou’, featuring the ships musicians, singers and dancers. A good set but it was to recorded music, so the ‘band’ were miming. Although I couldn’t see them properly, I believe one was holding a banjo, an instrument that rarely gets played on board.  It was also an incorrect five string ‘G’ banjo, normally used for Bluegrass/Folk, not a tenor!
Paula made an early exit but I enjoyed the show.

Later I went up to the buffet – curry night. I couldn’t really do it justice - and Paula totally missed out…
We had a surplus of on board credit, so Paula bought a pendant.
We had a hot chocolate which was a bit too strong, but whatever they use these days, isn’t the sickly sweet stuff of the past, then back to the cabin.
December 27^th 1989 my dad passed away, so I always remember it with some sadness. Maybe this year won’t be a Christmas to remember with any great fondness...

Day 12 - Boxing Day in Wellington - a highlight

The day we’d been eagerly looking forward to.  Not just my freedom, but getting picked up by #1 grandson, who we missed at the pre-Christmas family catch up.

I must have been excited as I misread the clock and we were up and organised by 7:30am. Another sunny day. The ship was berthed on the port side just opposite ‘the Cake Tin’, the Wellington stadium.  As a working port, we knew we couldn’t just walk off.  Paula still wasn’t very well but put on a brave front as this was a highlight day.

As a working port, we weren’t allowed to just walk off, so we caught the complimentary shuttle and hopped out at the port gate, ready for a planned pick up at about 10am.

That was easy enough, then a ride out to Churton, where he is building houses on contract.  He drove us around and pointed out each house he’d built.  I’m staggered at how he can build a house on his own and do it so quickly.

On then to his own house – his second, on a very steep section. Very impressive and great to catch up with his partner and the dog – Leo.  We’d bought Leo a squeaky hippo toy – well, not exactly squeaky.  Too deep for that. He loved it!
Brunch was excellent and included a few strips of Silver Fern farmed venison, courtesy of his partner’s dad.  So tender.

It was hot in the sun so we stayed indoors until it was time to return to the ship.

At the port entrance, we showed our photo ID and the young security officer just led us around the corner and pointed us towards the ship.  Easy.

Paula was tired so to the cabin for the rest of the day.  I grabbed some chicken and bok choy from the buffet and Paula just wanted a bread roll.

Bed was early and another film.

At least we managed to achieve what we wanted.  A family catch up.  From now on, we really don’t mind, but Paula is  certainly far worse having tested negative, than I was having tested positive.

Napier tomorrow and nothing planned.             

Day 11 - Christmas Day - in Lyttleton NZ almost

And so we wake to a rather different Christmas to the one that was planned or envisaged.  Even the weather was better than the early forecast.
The captain announced our arrival in sunny Lyttleton before we were properly awake. So here we are, ten days after leaving NZ, back again – but stuck on board.  
An exciting breakfast of yoghurt and fruit juice – nothing like our old Nottingham tradition of a slice of Pork Farms pork pie!  I have no idea where that tradition came from, but I still remember it with fondness.

I rang for a couple of RAT test kits, as I had to test today and we only had one test kit left.
A knock on the cabin door a few minutes later and not RAT tests, but a bottle of bubbles and a plate of mince pies!  A nice gesture from the staff.

I took the last RAT test anyway and it appeared to be negative, but then we had another package delivered and a note to say I had to take the RAT test at 5pm and someone from the medical dept would collect the test and result just after 5:15. 
Although Paula wasn’t the best, she was better than yesterday and fetched me a decent coffee with an extra shot.

Then a bit of upsetting family news, which knocked things back again.
The front desk told us that they’d recorded last night’s carol service, so I snapped a pic from the TV.

The 5pm RAT test was indeed negative so I was cleared for a midnight escape, though I didn’t take advantage.

Our turkey Christmas dinner was fine with piles of turkey.  Too much in fact.

Paula nipped out for a short while but came back feeling a bit emotional, a combination of the news from home, everyone else dressed up etc.
Early to bed again and we watched an ancient Tom Hanks movie.
So that was it for Christmas Day. One with ups and downs, but maybe one we’d probably not choose to place in our top ten.
Our real highlight, assuming Paula can manage it, is tomorrow in Wellington. Just our second day ashore.         

Day 10 - Christmas Eve - on the move

Not the exactly the best of Christmas Eve’s and Paula well and truly off colour, so she spent most of the day in bed.  For me, yet another day in quarantine.  Not exactly what we’d planned for Christmas.  But there again, we aren’t suffering the freezing cold and snow, nor being bombed or persecuted because of our gender or beliefs or location.

Paula still tested negative, though, she is convinced she must have Covid.
As Paula couldn’t fetch me a coffee, I ordered on screen. Pity I forgot to ask for an extra shot or they didn’t read the order properly, as the coffee was like dishwater. Yeuk. Paula’s tea arrived without the cold milk that was ordered, so we swapped. I had black tea and Paula had the weedy coffee.
Christmas Eve dinner was a nice soup and filet mignon with lobster. Although the steak was more than a little over done, it was still tender. Not a huge plateful but very nice anyway.  I’d also ordered a couple of bottles of Somersby cider, but only drank half a bottle.

The big disappointment was having to miss Steve Larkin’s second show, as apparently it was excellent.

About 9pm, we watched the Jack Black film – ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.  We thoroughly enjoyed it too.

Christmas Day tomorrow won’t exactly be in any way normal, but if I test negative, I’m effectively released at midnight.
This is written a couple of days after Christmas, so I have some catching up to do.      

Day 9 - And yet more of the same - December 23rd

I’d ordered the breakfast muffin.  Not a good choice. That is the English style, not the cake.
More of the same? Another medevac whilst the divers laboured on. Once again, we hope the airlifted passenger is OK.
Paula was off colour again but still tested negative.
I ordered two bottled of Schweppes bitter lemon, but what arrived with lunch, were two cans of Lift.  Now Lift has often been my choice of soft drink when Coca Cola wasn’t available, but it didn’t taste ‘normal’.  I suspected they’d used aspartame as  a sweetener and I hate that stuff. No mention of ‘Aspartame’ on the can - but sweeteners 950 & 955. A google search soon showed that there was Aspartame in it. Yeuk. I won’t be buying that again.

Paula managed to grab me a coffee but I don’t think one coffee a day is enough.

The divers finished spot on time at the predicted 5pm, but it was a further 2 hours before we had Bio Security clearance and headed away for another day at sea, en-route for Lyttleton in the south island.

Dinner from the normal menu was a lamb shank but another 30 minutes cooking might have been warranted.
With zero exercise (and yes, of course I could bounce around in the cabin, but no thanks), I’m not eating too much. Paula  even less.
A bit of time on the internet and doing codewords. Some would say that this is what a relaxing holiday should be like. H’mm. No thanks.   
Once again, ready for bed too early.
The last real sea day tomorrow – hopefully, but still two days of quarantine to go.