2/2/2026 leaving Rarotonga and heading back to NZ

My last day in Rarotonga, and whilst it has been wonderful in so many respects it has also been incredibly exhausting. You would think that after almost a month of doing absolutely nothing I'd be feeling refreshed and raring to go on with life and disappointingly I'm not really. Anyway, that's me not managing my expectations particularly well, or maybe it's just more wishful thinking. Who knows, either way I’m bloody knackered.

It poured with rain all night and didn’t let up all through breakfast. I collected my coffee and thought it might be a good plan to try and force some food down my neck and helped myself to a slice of watermelon as it was going to be a long arsed day.. There were hot ring donuts covered in sugar on the counter next to the breads and pastries and I instantly thought to myself, I'm having one of those babies!

The watermelon went down ok I literally sucked it to death, the donut, well unfortunately that  was hard work. It’s a good job I only took a small bite instead of my usual ‘half a donut gone in a  bite size bite’! I was slightly put off by the sight of another guest of Asian descent spearing his donut with a fork, and then proceeding to eat it with his chin almost touching the plate… off the fork. It was quite something to behold. I think it was the open mouthed mastication of said donut that churned my stomach, particularly when there were big chunks falling out of his mouth as he chewed.  I guess as he was leaning over the plate it wasn’t going all over the table… so I left my donut with a little nibble taken out of it and concentrated on my coffee. When I replenished my coffee, I swapped to the other seat at the table so I couldn’t see the open mouthed masticator. Half chewed food falling out of someone's mouth is a little off putting

It was raining even heavier and as I returned to my room to brush my teeth and zip up my bag there was a lady standing in the doorway of the room next door but one to mine. She arrived yesterday with two friends so I stopped for a chat under the overhang and out of the rain. As her friends were still asleep, she was talking quietly so I invited to come and have a seat outside my room so we could continue our chat without disturbing her friends.  Jane is 82, and not particularly enamoured with Rarotonga. Like me she’s slightly mobility impaired and is frustrated that she can’t get into the ocean due to the steps at the resort. It was nice to be able to give her some information about the island and places she could go to to access the beach. Also she had no idea they could go to the other resort via the bus and that it was easy to get to the beach from there. I decided to give her my leftover bus rides as they were no use to me. I’ve already decided I won’t be going back to the islands any time soon and she was so lovely it was nice to be able to pay some of the kindness I've been shown forward, as they say.  The girl on the bus was kind enough to do it for me with her spare bus rides.  I think they were surprised at how far behind the rest of the world the island is in a lot of respects. Which isn’t an issue if you know it and you are able to cope with it. Coming from Australia they are used to an outstanding public transport system that not only runs regularly but is also very modern, drop down ramps on buses etc. I think that the steps might be a bit of a challenge for them on the buses here.  Her friends had woken up and had been looking for her, initially thinking she was in the toilet. They'd had a full conversation with her and then got concerned when she wasn’t answering and pushed into the toilet thinking she’d died! Talk about an overreaction!  When they found her they joined us and they asked about the aircon. They were so cold last night they slept in their clothes!!  I explained they could turn the temp on the room up but they couldn’t work out that the higher numbers meant warmer temps in the room.  You know those days when you feel a little bit intelligent? Today was one of those days!  I felt like Einstein… not to be confused with Epstein and that doesn’t happen very often believe me!  (Feeling like Einstein, for clarification!) 

They all went off to get ready for breakfast and by which time it was 1000 and time for me to check out. So I did a final Si sweep of the room, discovered I’d got everything packed and made my way to the reception to check out. I had to pay my bill for what I’d charged to my room during my stay and it came to $212NZ and that was mostly water! Which amused me no end.  For my next trip I am remembering my metal drinking bottle, it will save me a fortune!  The reception very kindly confirmed my taxi pick up for me and had to send off a copy of my receipt to them as they hadn’t got me down for collection.  It was all sorted out in a phone call and my panic was over. I took a seat under the fan to wait, and the cat came, curled up next to me and promptly went to sleep. Some company !  

Fawzia was having her breakfast and when she’d finished came over for a chat and to say goodbye. We’ve exchanged details and I will definitely be seeing her again. Such a lovely lady, and apparently I have inspired her to travel more on her own . It’s strange because I don’t think it’s out of the ordinary, surely people who are alone travel on their own all the time? I know I used to when the kids were small, and before the crash. It was much easier then obviously because I didn’t have to rely on other people to help me get to airports or through them etc but, it wasn’t a big deal and I actually really enjoyed it because I met some great people along the way. 

It’s very different now doing it, obviously I’ve been utterly spoiled by Si as when we’ve travelled together anywhere it’s been pretty straight forward.  Now it’s not quite so simple and takes a lot more time, effort and substantially more planning and energy as I am discovering. Frankly it’s bloody exhausting. However as we know I’m a stubborn old boot and I’ve got a long list of places to tick off that Si and I didn’t complete.  My mission should I choose to accept it (and I have) is to finish the list. It's not anywhere near as enjoyable as our previous adventures and I have to be considerably more organised. Which does not come naturally! Oh and now there’s the crippling anxiety added into the mix that came when Si died, and hasn’t left and that is taking more of the enjoyment out of it. But I can't give into it because I’ve got our list to finish.    

Anyway, Fawzia and I will be seeing each other again next time I’m over this way (November /December) and that will be simply lovely. I may pop over for a long weekend before I fly home if I can fit it in.  

Not long afterwards she left to go on a day trip and Suzy came looking for me. I had the biggest hug and she just didn't let go, which was simply lovely. When we broke the hug, she was crying, I was crying, I mean I cry at the drop of a hat so that's nothing new, and especially when someone is being nice to me. I'm not sure why Suzy was crying though, probably relieved that I was finally leaving, and her coffee and milk supplies will now last a lot longer.  She has been so kind and caring while I’ve been here and has really looked after me. Certainly going above and beyond her job description bless her! I'm incredibly grateful to her for everything she’s done for me whilst I've been on the island, especially the wonderful hugs, they were the absolute best.. I'm a little sad that I won't see her again, but I know I won't ever forget her innate kindness to me at one of my many low points over the last year. 

Tips are discouraged to individuals at the resort and while I do understand it, because it's the front of house teams that usually get rewarded, I really wanted to give her something just for herself, rather than putting it in a box for the staff to share between them at the end of the year. The one thing about that is that the turnover of staff is relatively high and if she were to leave the resort then she'd miss out and I don't want that to happen. I snuck it into her hand discreetly in the  middle of our final hug, and she, in an equally discreet move, tucked it into her bra. Something that never ceases to make me smile. A few minutes later the airport mini bus arrived to collect me. I was disappointed because Papa Tom was out on his patrols and I thought I wasn't going to get to say goodbye to him. Luckily for me, there was a family who were booked for airport transport as well but they weren't on the list, which was ridiculous , because I was the only one on the bus. The driver went and made some enquiries with the office and it was decided they were allowed to hop on board . That  delay worked perfectly in my favour as Papa Tom came back from his patrols and I got to say goodbye and thank you to him. More hugs and tears from me, Papa Tom showed a great deal more restraint than I did and didn't make an utter twat of himself. As with Suzy I obviously gave him a tip and he equally as discreetly slipped it into his pocket. I suspect they have perfected that particular skill over the years! I was so happy I had seen all my favourite people and once everyone was loaded into the mini bus, we were off to the airport. Before the other passengers got on the minibus,  the driver had given me a handmade shell necklace which was just beautiful and seems to be the norm. You get a flower garland when you arrive and shells when you leave. I love this. 

The rain didn’t relent at all and I think it got heavier, something I wasn't even sure was possible! it was bouncing up off the road all the way to the airport. When we arrived  I was very kindly helped into the airport to check in by the other passengers, right up to the check in desk.  The staff were just lovely and really helpful, and I opted to go straight through security to departures. I use the term security very loosely, it was a blast over with a wand and a quick pat down. Followed by a check and stamp of the passport and that was it.  The check in area is simply an open sided barn, no air conditioning and when it’s sunny it provides no relief from the heat and when it’s raining it blows in and you get soaked. It’s only because I’ve been before I know this!  Otherwise I wouldn’t have known.  The whole airport is the size of our big shed, although slightly more modern than our shed, particularly the ‘departure lounge’! 

I was parked up behind the barriers, and I sat there watching the world go by. I didn’t have to wait too long and was soon being taken outside to the ambulift. The rain was lamping down and I was soaked to the skin in seconds. The assistance crew were all wearing plastic bags with holes cut in the side for their arms and another bag on their head. I love that they just make do. Generally the rain doesn’t last long and it’s really warm so I’m guessing waterproofs like the assistance staff have at home would be useless. Besides they just don’t seem to mind getting wet, they all have a permanent smile on their faces.

We were boarded really quickly and when I booked my flights made sure I booked a window seat with the extra leg room. It’s easier to get in and out of and I don’t have to get up and down if anyone wants to get past me. A bonus for today’s flight is the empty seat next to me which I’m all over! Air New Zealand provides free WiFi during most of their flights which I obviously signed into. I selected my film, if there’s something I think might be slightly triggering I now avoid it like the plague, no one wants to see snot bubbles. If there’s nothing on I now have a default film…. Deadpool. Full of gratuitous violence and it never fails to make me laugh.  

The food was nice, chicken salad and 2 glasses of wine. Such sophistication, I mean, who knew I even had it in me?  

The flight seemed to pass quickly and we landed in Auckland early. As usual I was met at the aircraft door and wheeled through security. As I was first off the plane, the guy on the assistance offered to wheel me or I could go in the golf buggy. I opted to be wheeled as there were 17 people requiring assistance on the flight and we’d have been there for quite some time waiting for them. Turns out he’s a bit of an exercise buff and we power walked to security from gate 18 which is the furthest one in the airport!  He was brilliant and even offered to stop in the duty free if I wanted to, which doesn’t happen that often.

Straight through security and customs and out to the arrivals hall to be met by my Morgi. Made it.

Much love 

Mrs Leonard

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