Dad in NZ 1993

The Arrival	Dec 2. Ne and I went to pick up Dad. He was the last one out - told his bags were on their way to Sydney. He was wide awake very curious about everything. His bags were delivered before we had finished a coffee; apparently not lost. Walked around the block with David and talked until Gail came home. Steering Wheel (for computer racing games) for David. Milk Duds for Ne. Spices for Gail and aspirin for me. He was amazed that you get on a plane in cold Minnesota and get off in hot NZ.
The B'day	Dec 3. Went to town with Dad. Ran into Trish at Post Office - she was picking up a package with a broken bottle of perfume. Later, we ran into Mike Sanders. Opened my gifts - white board, Goofy Joke book (had to teach Dad how to do "Knock Knock" jokes - tape) and a Goofy tie (tape). Dad gave me a bottle of Boggs cranberry liqueur. Went to Sizzlers for supper. Played Pigmania. Looked at family videos. Doug and Ian each called to wish me a "HB".
The Beach	Dec 4. Dad is taking Cabbie for a walk each morning. Went to Karioitahi for the first time this summer. Powerful waves coming right up to the grass and warm water. Gail, Ian, Matthew and I went in. My knee was bashed and swelled up so I came out. Back to Whites - they gave me a Goofy tie and Goofy hook. We gave them a table cloth for their anniversary. Supper, then walked around golf course. Out on porch visiting until 9:30PM. Dad told a story about Chris and a "snake".	Dad - Granny
The Dentist	Dec 6. Dad had a free checkup from Doug. Dad felt that Doug didn't do a good job as he was so gentle.
The Caves	Dec 7. Dad impressed with how many houses we passed and how well kept the the towns were. Got to Waitomo at 12:45PM and got on the 1PM tour. Dad didn't believe that worms could glow (figuring it to be trick). In the cathedral, the guide played "Rock Music" by tapping on the wall. We had lunch on a picnic table. Dad thought he would walk to a Maori Village - it was a rugby club. We took him to Ohaki, which was in a very sad state of disrepair - couple whare, a school house, food storage and meeting house (video). Couple hour drive to Rotorua - Dad didn't notice the smell. The owner of Wylie Court, Johnston, is from Papakura and his sons, Tony and Mark were at Rosehill in the 70's. Supper at McDonald's and Dad didn't notice the Maori carvings. Woolies to get supplies including Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. Into the heated pool and then our spa. Dad was worried about staying in too long and having a heart attack, but he stayed in 20 minutes.	Waitomo Ohaki 3 Men in a Tub more photos
The Geyser	Dec 8. Ne had spaghetti on toast for breakfast and it was an eye-opener for Dad. Went to Wai-o-Tapu and joined a crowd at Lady Knox Geyser. Ranger poured soap into it and the reduced surface tension builds to an eruption (video). A long time walking through craters and on lakes (video). Dad doesn't believe these things can exist and finds it hard to accept that these things happen. Georgie Pie for lunch. Soak in the spa. Kingsgate at 6:30PM. 80% of gathering were Japanese tourist groups. We sat with odds, bods and sods. Met a fellow from Oregon who had spent a year in Brisbane. Italian couple - he an engineer for Fiat and had been in China teaching Italian. Dad ordered a Steinlager Blue thinking it would be that color. Food was buffet and Dad loaded up way too much before he got to the meat, used the wrong utensils, dropped things but managed to eat. Had pavlova for dessert. Floor show was entertaining (photo - video). When rain came there was a leak hitting Ne. Motel at 10PM and played dominoes.	Waiotapu Wai-O-Tapu photos
The BV	Dec 9. First stop was the Buried Village where Dad had a hard time getting his head around the immensity of the explosion, and that their had been a hotel and roads there a 100 years ago. He probably thinks that NZ was like Africa, and Fiji, just a bunch of natives. In the trenches. Then the Blue and Green Lakes. He had a great time with the black swans on Lake Rotorua (video). Over to Rainbow Springs for lunch. The farm show was very interesting with its sheep herding and shearing demos, cow milking and the bull (video). Renee took part in a feed the lamb contest (video). Walked through the park and saw tuatara, wallabies and kune kune. And went through the Kiwi House.	more photos
The Auckland	Dec 12. We brought Dad to Auckland where we looked down on the container wharfs from Parnell. Drove along the bays and played Putt-Putt. I had a hole-in-one on the 18th and finished with 47 ahead of the others. Went to One Tree Hill where it was windy.
The Kura	Article on the fire. Went to school to look over salvaged items that were in the gym. I made an inventory for Des. Picked up 250 disks from Julie Green. Lunch with Dad and we went to town. Picked up stove plates at Spragg's and introduced Dad to Gordon and also to Neil at New World. Gail and I walked to school and I found the Mac breakup tool in the ashes. We went through photos with Dad and he had many stories.
The Museum	Dad had the sweats last night so first thing he washed the sheets, only he didn't turn the water on, so they came out pretty dry, eh? David, Dad and I went to the Auckland Museum. We joined a group being led by a Maori, only to find out that we need to pay for that tour. So we went off on out own to explore the 1858 Meeting House and a war conoe from 1836. Then we went upstairs to see the American "Invasion" during World War II. David can't cross over from one side to the other because of the opening to the lower level. Had a look at the Moa before we left. Stopped at Georgie Pie's for a photo and then at Mike's shop.
The Gardens	Dec 18. Aldies over at 4:30PM. Doug off to see a patient. Rest of us went to Botanical Gardens, where we fed the ducks. Back home for drinks. On the way James querried what "Accuse Rick" meant. It was grafitti, and I told him it was Albanian for "Merry Christmas".
The Kauri	Dec 19. Dad, Gail and I went to the Waitakere Lookout and saw geckos in the Info Centre. We walked to see a big kauri and drove over to Cascade area to see another two.
The Ed Camp	Dec 20. Got to Waharau Ed Camp at 11:30AM. Had lunch. Whites arrived at 12:30AM. At 2:30PM David, Ian, Matthew, Tracy, Ne and I went for a hike, while the others did a bush walk. Girls turned back at the trail 3C junction. The men carried on up to the ridge track. Great vistas. Back at 6PM and we had a barbecue by the stream. Played Chinese checkers. Out to look at the stars.	Like Father, Like Son
The Miranda	Dec 21. Despite rain showers most of us went to Miranda Hot Pools (Ian, Susi and Granny went to Thames). Had a good time throwing balls around in the pool, as we were about the only ones there. Snack lunch and left when the rain hit again back to the camp. After supper we played Game of Knowledge (video), Pictionary and Scattergories while roasting marshmallows.
The Thames	Dec 22. Packed up. Let Dad drive the van to the chalets. He almost broke the turn signal lever, thinking it was the gear change. We went to the Confidence course where we climbed, hung and swung. Left the camp at 1AM and went to Thames where we explored the museum. Dad knew quite a few of the implements and how to use them. Got home at 5PM. Went through a photo album with Dad and got even more stories about WWII and Moline.
The Cabbies	Dec 23. Dad, Cabernet and I walked around the block (so I was out with two "Cabbies"). Had a nap. Doug over for R 'n R TP. He totalled his blue wagon and bought an '87 Toyota. Watched our 1990 US trip video with Dad.
The Xmas	Dec 24. Aldies over at 2:30PM for Chinese Checkers outside (the dolts remove the marble if it is jumped!!). Gifts (video): I was given joke glasses and a clown's wig (video). They left at 7PM. Sanders arrived at 9PM and stayed for a '91 Jacob's Creek Claret and left at 11PM. We opened our gifts videoed ones from mom that Dad had brought. Then we opened the remaining gifts (audio I - audio II and video) and finished up 1:30AM.
The Beach	Dec 25. We went to Maraetai. I was the only one to go in. I walked way out and then swam back in. We all walked to Omana and Dad was interested in the mussels growing on rocks. Played dominoes with David and Dad. Looked at home videos.
The Xmas II	Dec 26. Chris and Lavonne called. Whites arrived at 2:30PM same as the rain. Ian, Matthew, Dad and I played dominoes. David came home during his break so he could give Matthew a Quest game (video). Mom called - spoke to her, Jim F and Bob H. After we ate Doug (we gave him a chamois) and Angela left. Chinese checkers and then cricket at the park. Walked through Kirk's bush with Ian and Dad. Dad was Santa and gave out the gifts (video). He called Ian "Eye-an". I got Goofy: straw, train and binder. We looked at slides.	Ian et al Granny
The Sting	Dec 27. Went to Kelly Tarlton's and dad was facinated with the sting rays.
The Pics	Dec 28. Looked at photo albums with Dad. Had Chinese for supper. Watched home videos.
The Awhitu	Dec 29. Went to Awhitu with Whites and Kaitanis. I went out on the raft and the innertube. Bit of a drizzle but we got a sunburn anyway. Tracy was stung by a jellyfish. Packed it in when rains came. Granny gave me a pencil sharpener shaped like a tube of paint.
The Departure	Dec 30. Trish came over to say goodbye to Dad who was nervous about getting to the airport on time. We had to remove beer from his suitcase and I noticed the wine bottle was out of it box, so worried what damage might be done on the flights. Brought him to the airport and off he went to Hawaii.

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