5/2/2026 St Heliers and making new friends

So another good nights sleep and a lovely sunny day. Perfect for moving accommodation. No one wants to be doing that in the pouring rain so they?  

I had a shower breakfast and a lovely cup of coffee before tidying up the unit. I know, who am I with the tidying up! I then had a brainwave to book the Hanoi unit backwards from the dates I’m potentially leaving NZ to make sure I’ve somewhere to stay near Morgan.  Unfortunately the place is busy on weekends so some of the dates I wanted weren’t possible to book which is a shame. Fortunately though the motel I’ve booked for tonight and tomorrow is now another option so I should be ok. 

Morg had left Mildred in the car port for me so I loaded my bags into her. Strapped them in with the seat belt … safety first obviously. And then did a Si sweep to make sure I had everything. That done, I pocketed the monster key and went to check out.  I even managed to remember to take a photo of the gigantic lilies. 

The lady who owns it was coming up the drive with her arms full of  laundry so we stopped and chatted. Cheryl was so apologetic that she couldn’t accommodate me for longer but I assured her I was grateful to be able to have had two nights there.  I explained to her what had happened with the air B&B and that from that experience I had now booked in with them in advance all the dates they had available that worked with my plans.  She offered to drive me down to the motel I’m in tonight in her car which was really kind of her,  but as it’s only a stones throw away, I was happy enough wheeling Mildred down as she could hold me up too!  

I’d already called the motel yesterday after I booked it and asked if I would be able to leave my bags there before I could check in. they kindly agreed to lock it up at reception for me so I wouldn't have to cart it around with me all day. 

With that dumped I made my way down to the beach which is just across the road. It’s not a particularly white beach,  but it's a beach and there’s no big waves. It’s not the cleanest but that’s because of  the harbour and the natural grime that comes off the ships. People swim in it daily so it can’t be that bad, it’s just quite silty rather than sandy. Morg said to only go in with sand shoes on so there’s no slimy stuff getting between your toes! I sat there for a while and carried on up to St Heliers stopping at some of the many benches for a rest on the way.  I stopped a while watching the Black swans. They’re beautiful but vicious little beasties!

I finally got to St Heliers and went to The coffee shop where I ordered a coffee and a deliciously colourful chicken salad for lunch. Josh said he’d bring it out for me,  so I went and took a seat. 

 There was a couple sitting at the furthest table and a little old lady sat at the one closest to the door,  leaving me a table and seat in between them.  As usual chaos ensued, my rucksack fell off the chair and my crutches crashed to the floor. Then I almost knocked the old lady’s drink off her table with my fat arse!  Ffs I finally sat down out of the way, the guy next to me offers to pick up the crutches, I thanked him and said don’t worry, the can’t fall any further to which he cracked up laughing and said that his maths teacher used to say that if he dropped a pencil on the floor. Their strong irish accents indicate they aren’t native kiwis and I asked if they were on holidays . Turns out they emigrated here and have no intention of ever going back. He's a former police officer and used to be in the drug squad in Dublin.  So we had a really great conversation about everything under the sun. They live just before Mission Bay  and walk to St Heliers regularly just to enjoy a coffee at Josh’s coffee shop. I had a really enjoyable hour chatting to them before they went home. The little old lady was still next to me and as soon as they left she struck up conversation. Such an interesting lady, emigrated here when she was 20 from Hungary escaping communism and prison.  She’s now 87?and she used to live in the same road Morgan lives in, halfway up. A little while later her husband came and joined her from his visit to the Dr. Closely followed by more friends Anita and Jay,  who moved  here from Fiji,  and finally Anita who has a Pomeranian that is apparently a direct descendant of Queen Victoria's dogs.

What a truly delightful afternoon, my lunch was delicious, the company fabulous and I have new friends. We have exchanged phone numbers and they have said they will message me when they are going  there for coffee again so I can join them. Such interesting people with some incredible life experiences between them. They were all so kind and easy to talk to and so welcoming. They finally left and I decided to go and get my nails done ready for my next part of the adventure. Best job so far, a nice bright flo pink… very tropical. 

Morg rang, he’d finished work and asked if I wanted a lift home which I was grateful for. He’s off out tonight with his mates so I planned an early night. He pulled up outside and luckily the motel has parking spaces , I checked in and he carried all my bags in for me. He stopped for a cuppa and a chat,  then went on home to get ready to go out in the city. 

I unpacked my stuff because I had laundry  to do, but unfortunately I had missed the cut off time for the washing which is annoying,  but there’s always tomorrow.  Instead I spent hours trying to sort out my trip with some success. Hurrah. I am booked for Samoa. I am booked in to Taumeasina Island and I’ve booked accommodation in St Helier for all the dates in between the adventures. I wanted to be sure I was  booked in for Si’s birthday week too so Morg and I can celebrate that beautiful most precious human appropriately. 

Today has been a good day. I've talked about Si to strangers and they’ve very politely listened to me.  I miss him more than ever today because it was his kind of day. Sitting in the sunshine with good coffee and good company. He’d have greatly enjoyed the chat with John and his wife and talking about policing ‘back in the day’ when it was very different to what it is now. He’d have enjoyed the walk up the beach and when we’d stop he’d have taken his glasses off, tipped his perfect face to the sun, closed his eyes and smiled his little smile of contentment while he held my hand. I really miss those little things.  I miss them a lot. 

Much love 

Mrs Leonard 

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