Cloudy Day 6: the Mount and the house

Day 6, waking to clouds and rain on the horizon.  Everyone seems so excited about the coming summer, the activities that open up and the crowds that descend on this small community resort town.  For those in the know, reminds me a lot of a larger version Stinson Beach.  Same low key beach resort attitude, variety of homes from the sandy cabin to the million dollar beauty.

While I was visiting my clinic for the first time yesterday, had Lina (our friend/nanny that has joined us for a few months at least and is a Godsend for sure!!) and boys explore the town of Tauranga and then had them take the bus home.  They went to Starbucks and then to lunch on their own, and eventually ended up in the Mall where they shopped and ate some more.  Found themselves running out of money for the final bus fare and a kind woman generously helped them out, so everyone made it back home safely.   All this while I was orienting into the Kiwi world of healthcare.  More on this later....

Yesterday found me hitting a small wall, facing push back from the two teens about this and that,  having them tell me all would be better if only we were back in Spokane.  I was tired and feeling the stress of it all as well.  Clearly the solo traveling of years ago is a thing of the past, different ball game when there are 3 others to arrange for, schedule and insure safety in a new place.   Hence why I basically had to remove myself and run away for a moment, literally, went out for nice loop run from our house, up around the Mt, and back home along the beach.  Water everywhere and a much clearer head on return!

Those are pics of the Mount and our recent walk around.  The old volcano lies 2.5 km from out house, and is a huge spot for walkers and runners at all time of day.  you can walk around the base or up to the summit, both excellent jaunts!  There are sheep grazing there as well, now with cute little lambs bleating!  and a few bunnies that Maggie is loving.  Huge tankers roll past into the harbor here, so close to shore it is amazing!  Tauranga turns out to be a big shipping center for this entire eastern coast of the country.

I'll include a few photos of the house as well, for those not on Facebook.  It is a great place, so much that I don't think we will have to move again.  good location to schools and the beach and my work and other fun things to do.  Plus very light and sunny and easy to care for:
outside view with rental car, view looking out of dining/living area onto deck and towards ocean, one bedroom, the bath, kitchen into dining room, backyard, kitchen into bath, looking down the stairs to front door, and finally the small hall leading into the downstairs apt.  hopefully soon to be ours.

we are very comfortable here, just needing some furniture to store our stuff in!

Time to get this day started!