Houses and horses
Zepher
Chris & Lyn Darch
Mon 26 Jan 2009 06:06
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Hi Folks,
After a nail bighting time the deal was finally
concluded at 21:30 Friday evening and we now have our first property in NZ, the
agents here really have to work there buts off as times are hard and there's not
many cash buyers about, the guy was a reluctant seller, we think that they have
two properties and they are overstretched in the finance deptment, anyway the
agents seem to have done there job as we were happy with the final price, it
turns out it was a snip as well but that's the times we live in, what we have
lost on the exchange rate we have made up for in the buying price .
Things here on the country wide basis are
about six months behind the UK in terms of the financial situation so you get an
incline of what's around the corner ..
we still have 4 % on deposited money but I don't
think that will last much longer as the old Labour government sat on there hands
and left it to the new Tory party when they got in to take all the shit
decisions, making them look squeaky clean, well that politics, but I don't think
they fooled anybody !
In the mean time Wolfgang and Eva had arrived
from Rotarua, they had booked in to a Backpackers lodge, its a bit like a YMCA
without the music, but they did have a transvestite staying there ! he was there
harbour ,and it wasn't Eddie Izzard on tour either ... anyway we rescued them
and bought them around to Gail's were much beer and wine was consumed , talking
of old times , plus as it was race day the next day the girls rummaged to find
Eva a dress and hat for the big occasion .
Ah Cup day , the whole city gets dressed
up in there best gear and hop on the transit system which deposits them at
Trentham race course, it a beautiful 1930's style race course on a flat plain in
the Hutt valley about 20ks in land from the city, Gail is a stalwart
supporter of the tradition, she's been going for eleven years,its also the only
time of the year she wares one to .
The weather this year was no exception with blue
skies, posh frocks, hats and plenty of bubbles, this combined with the sound of
hoof thundering down on turf and the chinking of the bookies tills made for
a great day out, we left in profit for a change, twenty seven dollars
up , blew it all in the bar later though ! then it was back to Doug and Morv's
for a slap up Barbie and more drinks, we eventually arrived back at Gail's
sizzled,fed and contented with our days winnings up on the bookies for once
.
When we arrived back we had a pleasant surprise as
we had received a text from Rob and Ruth who were over the hill in the Wiarapa
and due to arrive the next day in Wellington so Gail's house was now fu;lly
booked ,after our Sunday lunch which ended up a bit of a marathon, Trevor and
Sonja our kiwi friends we met in the UK came over and we all went to Scorcher
bay, and what a scorcher it turned out to be,we waited and waited in the
restaurant and an hr and a half later our food pitched up ! on paying the bill
they threw all our drinks in free, as it turned out the chef had turned up still
pissed from the night before, took one look at the punters massing in to the
restaurant, such great views they couldn't fail to fill the seats, threw up
and walked out,leaving the staff to deal with the masses .....
After that Trevor and Sonja took us up to the top
of the highest peak in Wellington and wow what a view,pics to follow in the
next
Today Monday we said goodbye again to Eva and
Wolfgang as they left to get the ferry to the south Island
we will see them again in march when we return to
the Bay of Islands to refurb the big Z.
Rob and Ruth are going to stay a few days prior to
getting the ferry to follow Eva and Wolfgang south..
Photos top follow in the next few days ...
...
The old crew re-united
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