5/1/2026 Newmarket Exploring and Memories

Another beautiful sunshiney day in Newmarket. I decided to go down to Mall to get some supplies for my upcoming trip from the Chemist Warehouse.  I mainly needed Aloe Vera gel to soothe my skin from the sun. I stopped wearing suntan lotion except on my face on our last trip because I discovered it’s one of the things that gives me prickly heat and heat rash. Which drives me mad.  I tend to now limit my time in the sun to the cooler parts of the day and keep an eye on the UV index rather than the temp . Another reason why air con is now regarded as an essential for me. The heat rash is a bitch and frankly I can do without it! Unfortunately on our last day in Fiji there was no breeze and wearing Si’s synthetic rash vest in those temperatures was a really bad idea but I’d very stupidly packed my lightweight  pool shirt. Fundamental  school girl error and also now Very irritating.

While I was in there I also stocked up on the essentials, mosquito spray, 2 jumbo tins, tea tree oil for the inevitable bites that will sneak in under the trouser legs, and toothpaste. I am ready to go to Rarotonga! 

With my purchases tucked safely in my bags I carried on down to Teed Street to see if one of our favourite little cafes was still open. I was really chuffed to see that the Teed Street Larder was still going strong. They are open from 0700 and every single thing is baked fresh on site. Si used to be there at 0700 on the dot just to inhale the smells! The sandwiches are something else. As I have lunch ready in the room I decided on a coffee but  as always I was spoilt for choice when it came making my mind up on what sweet treat I was going to devour.  I ended up having a homemade energy slice,  full of nuts, seeds and very strong flavoured honey. It was bloody delicious. Sitting outside in the brilliant sunshine, I was able to watch the world go by, read the paper and people watch.  Something I do a lot of. It’s interesting to watch the way people interact with each other and see how present they are.  I’m also inherently nosy.

After an hour I had read the paper and finished my snack so decided to head back to the accommodation. I used my brain cell and as soon as I got to the mall went inside and took advantage of their rather efficient con na ci wa able to get most of the way home in that way.  

On the corner of the street my motel is on is a garage and every time I go past it it’s got customers dropping off cars and collecting for services ( I presume). As I approached it today I saw a couple heading towards their car.  Nothing unusual given they were in a garage. What struck me as slightly unusual however was the ladies attire. A pair of over the knee patent boots, a pair of hot pants, a bra top and a jacket. To be honest it wasn’t so much the clothes it was more the age of the woman wearing them.  She had to be in her 80’s, or she’d had a really tough paper round. There comes a time in a woman’s life when hot pants, bra top, fuck me boots and bright red lipstick are really not a good look on anyone. In my opinion. I suspect it’s probably around the age of 25. I mean I totally admire her confidence to walk around and not give a toss what anyone might think, but  lady please spare a thought for my eyeballs because they are literally bleeding now. Her husband, at least I’m guessing that’s who he was, was dressed very conservatively by comparison in a pair of jeans shirt and smart jacket. And no , I didn’t get a photo… the trauma was too great and I didn’t want a permanent reminder of it. Trust me, neither do you!

Weirdly it was something that really made me miss Si. I had an unusual/questionable/colouful dress sense when left to my own devices and Si bless him never batted an eyelid at some of the things I have walked down the stairs in. To be fair I would never have worn anything that would have caused him embarrassment or for people to look at us and say WTF does she look like.  However I know what he would have done had he seen that woman. Not a word would have been exchanged. We'd have just looked at each other and he would have simply raised his one eyebrow, a skill I am deeply envious of (he can also waggle his ears) as it conveys so much more than words and I would have started to giggle.  Because I’m childish and my giggles would make him do it all the more he would waggle his eyebrows independently . I really really miss that. That ability he has to make me laugh til I have tears running down my cheeks not because of what he’s said just the expression on his face. I miss his waggly eyebrows, his little half smile and him making me laugh. Life is not so bright without him is it ?  

Something that damn near made my eyes pop out of my head ended up reducing me to tears. And on a sunny day as well! FFS mun.  

On a brighter note the end of the day was a colourful sunset which was far more spectacular from Morgan’s than it was from my room. Although to be fair it was pretty impressive from my perspective.

Much Love 

Mrs Leonard

X