Judy and the travelling gnome

Hastings Napier

2/4/23

Jeepers she was up before the birds today and zoomed off to her favorite place... Napier. She likes the Sunday market on Marine Parade. The sun was out, and everyone enjoyed the heat and no wind.

Arh, she had to buy some concrete mushrooms for the garden. I needed my sunglasses on as they are so brightly painted and cheap. Then she spots some crystals. Only a couple she said!! dozen is it!!

Already 10am and we were going on a bus tour of Napier. There was a cruise ship in port and the town was very busy with tourists and buses everywhere. Gosh, I wish we could understand the driver's commentary. Sounded like a chore and bore for him to speak the same old stuff day after day. Lots of tourists were talking to the mistress about it. They were definitely not amused. It's good being up high and the mistress didn't have to keep her eyes on the road.

Hey, I have to tell you that I spotted some red/blue lights from the bus. They were coming toward us and am glad it wasn't the mistress. They were in an unmarked 4WD. I'm sure they will contribute to the government's income! I better not talk about politics. She could throw a book at me for this. She is usually a good shot too. !!!!

Napier railway bridge

The mistress was most impressed with this tour and saw things we would never find. This town is famous for its Art Deco houses and big buildings. She is most impressed at the way people are looking after these places.

Bus tour

Art Deco buildings and cars

The driver spoke about the earthquakes many years ago. Gosh, we know all about those wobbly things. I remember rocking in my chair uncontrollably and wondering what was happening on earth. The noise of these things I can still recall today. The mistress sometimes changes color when we have earthquakes.

After the tour, we went back to some places as she wanted to explore more and have her favorite...a good old cup of tea. She found a great spot where people were fishing and swimming in the sea.

2 Kahawai on 1 hook

I fell asleep because it was so relaxing in the shade then I watched the humans doing all sorts of weird things. A kid with a dog on a paddleboard. How crazy is that? The dog looked as if he was enjoying the ride.

Boy with a dog on a paddle board. Is that a gnome on the back?

There were also some huge chairs for us to sit in. Pure bliss watching the waves coming in and a man and his little daughter building something out of the wood that was lying on the beach. I just couldn't figure out what it was. At least they were happy the mistress told me.

Giant chair watching the view

So very peaceful and had a very warm day.

Honked on the horn then it was off.

Gosh it is huge

Over the other side, the cruise ship was getting ready to leave. They tooted just before they moved. Now that was a weird sound that I had never heard of before. Another new experience for me. Gosh then this big ship moved. There were teeny tiny boats beside it assisting it on its way. I could see the mistress dreaming of going on a cruise. Gee, I wonder if she would take me.

The mistress is not happy because these words change the size, while she wasn't looking. Yeah right. Now she has blamed me for changing them.