17/12/2025 Auckland CBD

Not a  bad night's sleep, all things considering. I woke up to brilliant sunshine streaming in through the windows and decided to make a coffee and drink it on the balcony with the sun on my face as I contemplated my day. Every inch of me is aching like bitch, and I'm more tired than tired thing.

I unpacked my bag as I'm here for the week, and then went out to get my bearings. The central Business District is ok, but it is not a patch on St Heliers or Mission beach, there are lots of apartment blocks and hotels. It's pretty hilly, so it's hard to get around. Thank god for Uber !

Si and I stayed 2 nights on the next street over before we left for America on our last visit and I'd forgotten neither of us really liked the city. Not just Auckland but any city. Give us space, and small towns any day of the week. Thankfully nothing has changed in that respect. At least something has stayed the same.  

I managed to find a supermarket and got some food for the week and cow juice for my coffee. There is a little park, just behind the court house where there is a large chess set, and seats outside the cinema. I sat for a while watching the world going by drinking my chilled water. No one spoke and they all seemed to avoid making eye contact too engrossed in their phones which makes me sad. Everyone is in such a rush, don’t they know how precious time is?  It seems they're forgetting to make the memories , they're not willing to have the conversations and just sit and be while noticing what’s happening around them. 

Down at the Quay there was a  cruise ship in, which maybe explains the high end shops down that end of the city. There is a large  Xhristmas tree in the square, and Morg told me the Christmas decorations cost a million dollars, frankly they were robbed, because the decorations were never worth that! Although I haven’t seen them at night and maybe the bright sunshine doesn’t show them to their best potential . I took a photo because it’s a Christmas tree, but was unimpressed to be honest. In the trees' defence I think it's more that Christmas I'm unimpressed and unenthusiastic with, I am definitely the Grinch now because there is absolutely nothing to celebrate anymore.

On the way back up towards my apartment there was a really drunk lady who was walking in the middle of the road, the traffic just going round her as she made no attempt to get out of the road. Completely ignoring the red do not cross lights, and oblivious to all the traffic, which was substantial. She was screaming and shouting about shooting people in the head and that nobody cares about anyone anymore. A small part of me thinks she’s not far wrong.. I think she was pretty harmless, just disillusioned with the human race, again, she has a point. 

I hunted down a pair of scissors to make some adjustments to a skirt I don't like,(yep, neglected to try it on before buying it). The shop I got it from was my idea of Heaven, crammed to the rafters with every craft making things from, fabric, to cake decorating equipment. I had to give myself a shake and remember where I was and that I  am travelling not living, therefore I have no space for craft stuff. I can squeeze in a pair of scissors and some pins though cos I’ve handed over the shampoo to Morg! 

With my goodies stashed in my backpack I wandered back to the apartment  to check out the pool and sauna.  Although compact, They’re more than adequate for my needs, especially the sauna, a proper one with the hot coals. Note to self do not sit on the coals of this one in a repeat incident of many years ago… I don't think either gets much use by guests. Which suits me fine. Ugh people. I’m hoping the sauna will work its magic  on my hurty bits.

Morg collected me on his way home from work and we picked up stuff for dinner from the four square just salad and fish which we ate looking out over the ocean. Once we’d eaten and the sun had set, he dropped  me back to the apartment which signified the end of another day, which happily brings me  a day closer to being with Simon. 

Much Love

Mrs Leonard

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