Rather than dwell on the fact that my plane might not get me home tonight, thanks to a looming cyclone I'm going to look back on the marvelous day that was had yesterday.
See, I really like New Zealand. It's familiar, but it's also different in a lot of ways. Auckland is a big city by the sea, but it has its own strange charm. The buildings are different. The people are different. The only thing that seems the same is the supermarkets and their set up. Being a port city, we arrived at the waterfront to find a very large cruise liner which holds up to 5000 people (Great way to get gastro or COVID as far as I'm concerned.) People are friendly, but they will also walk through you without a word if you're walking in a group.
The morning was spent with to others from our group. They are lovely. They're also a little older than me, but mobile, which is good. I refer to them as my maiden aunts. They would go into a shop. I'd sit outside. We had a good potter, had a lovely coffee, then I put them in an Uber and went off to see a friend at the Marina.
It was lovely catching up with ZeeZee. She's a writing friend who's been living with her partner on a boat over here. She's just awesome. I got to meet her partner and see the America's Cup and their boat and have a lovely catch up.
Another Uber ride later it was back to the hotel for a nana nap, then to get change and meet up with the rest of the crew to be taken to the meeting for which we came to New Zealand.
There are some interesting elements when you're a freemason. to being a freemason. We were talking about it, after the last night's meeting. Some of it is addictive. The fact that it gives you space to investigate humanity in a safe, nurturing environment is one of the drawcards for me.
Going into another lodge, you meet people, who you may have absolutely nothing in common with, but everybody will have some similar values. Seekers, searchers, those who want peace, harmony and fellowship and enjoy looking for the good in man. It's not a bad thing. What always gets me is how comfortable you become with these people so quickly. They are generous, kind, funny, knowledgeable and interesting. You never know where conversations will go. It's good.
We had a big meeting last night, where some ritual was performed. It appears the New Zealand lodges have more members than we have in Australia (mind you they don't have the tyranny of distance), so the room was busy. It was wonderful.
And then there was the proper supper, complete with asparagus rolls, decent vegetarian sandwiches and fruit plates. The feast could have fed an army.
We went back to the hotel around eleven, physically and spiritually replete.
Now, I'm preparing to check out of the hotel. We have another meeting today, before I take off for the airport and hopefully get the flight back. So far, the wind and the rain have not been too bad. It is very wet, but not unpleasantly so. So far, we've been lucky. May that luck hold.
In all, it's been a lovely weekend.
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