Road Trip - Off to Tauranga - We went the Other Way

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We left Napier and we’re off to Tauranga to stay with George and Marianne 

We drove on the Napier Taupo Rd, Unfortunately we didn't get great shots but here's a taste

 I really liked the colour of this bridge, shades of San Fran?

 We needed some sustenance, and the proverbial Loo stop and found this Cafejust out of Taupo
The Lava Glass Cafe

Not only do they sell amazing Blown Glass Art, created on the premisies

BUT they had great food, good coffee and good prices.

We ordered some of their Brownie
It was Sensational, moist, chocolatey,  with surprise pieces of white chocolate
Served with cream
Divine.
Highly recommended

It appears we took the wrong road and seemed to be traveling forever.

After being in the Bay Of Plenty and nearly at Rotorua, we took a major turn and soon we were heading for Waikato South. Mmmmm

Thank God for our CDs which were a lifesaver.

Anyway despite the length of the trip, we finally arrived but first...

Back to the ‘6 Degrees of Separation’.

It is Back to indulgence I’m sorry but the connections  are amazing and it’s fantastic that all of these people I met when we re teenagers are still great friends

George is one of our oldest friends. George like Gerry, Graeme Martin (Marty) and I went to Hutt Valley High School.

I didn’t know those guys very well at school, they were older than me, but once again through Frances Hansen my work mate, we reconnected.

Meanwhile a classmate of mine Sharon Ward. Our connection went back to before we went to school.

Her father Les was the Superintendent of the Sunday School at St David’s Presbyterian Church in Petone

We started there at the age of 3.

We went to different Primary Schools but when we arrived at HVHS we were in the same class. We also continued onto Bible Class,

In the 60’s The Presbyterian Bible Classes were the hub of social contact. Hard to believe knowing how conservative that Church is, but they ran the best dances and even better was the Annual Easter Camp. Co-ed whats more

I managed to go to one when I was 15. It was so much fun.

Particularly as BOYS were there

Sharon and I remained fast friends and we spent a lot of time together.

She went to Training College. I joined Unilever

As I mentioned before it wasn’t long before all of us became a Gang, I guess you could call it… in the nicest possible way of course.

Anyway I met Dale, we married and after a couple of years, Dale and I went off to the UK for our OE.

Gerry meanwhile married Jan, Marty married as well.

George went to Melbourne with his job and returned around 1968.

While we were away George and Sharon got together and we were delighted to find that they had got engaged,

From left: George, Alastair Roger, Sharon, Tony Stevens and Marty

They married when we returned, at the St David’s Church… (Pictured below, that's me in the chaste little black and white dress)... as had Dale and I.

I love this photo, what a gathering, nothing like a wedding, or sadly a funeral to get together with your old mates 

Just another couple of archival photos

Dinner in Wellington circa 1969

From left: Tony Stevens, Moi, Dale, Dave B and Alastair Rogers

On our return from the UK Dale and I had a party

Love this shot

From Left: Dave B, Moi and Dale

Once again through Unilever, as it was called by then. There was another engineering Cadet called Dave Denovan. He was at Heretaunga College with one Roger MacDonnell who had a girlfriend called Jeannie who he consequently married

We went to quite a few parties together. Roger’s band, even played at one Lever Bros social. 

So after our return from the UK, Dale and I, along with our friends all settled down having families...growing up. Maybe!
Dave B married Irihapeti. Dave V was living in Sydney.

Dinner parties became the norm. George and Sharon moved to Whakatane, Dale and I moved to Auckland. By this stage we had collected added extras with Terry and Ngaire  who were our neighours in Churton Park

 To get the Gang together meant finding a suitable venue. Started off with a weekend in Taupo and

moved on to weekends in Auckland, 

Here is George standing in the corridor of what was then the Regent.
Now The Stamford Plaza. We are living there now. Goodness Gracious Me!

Limos, Champagne and singing were a big part of our lives then

Above: The next generation in Whakatane.
Luckily Roger and Jeannie bought a Beach house in Waikanae  
Club Mac, room for all of us to stay. Very convenient
Really grown up??? Mmmm

 Above: Hand Jive
Below: A Mexican Wave

Things have changed and couples have gone their own ways.
Extended families
We all still get together, whenever we can

Back to the Present.
We finally arrived in Tauranga
George and Marianne have a lovely apartment in Mt Maunganui
A great view of the visiting Cruise Ships
They are almost 1 a day during the season
This was there on Tuesday

Here is Wednesdays' one, a bit smaller. Lovely to see them though.

So after an excellent dinner and night with George and Marianne, it was time to move on

Thanks Guys, we were nicely had