9/3/2026 New gaff day

Today is my last day in the bed and breakfast, and whilst it hasn't been entirely practical for me and I've found it hard work, it's been a really lovely  stay. I've been thoroughly spoiled and met some truly delightful people, which is what it's all about.  Morgan took my sturdy backpack with him last night so after my shower this morning I threw my toilet bag into my small backpack and I was packed to go. Before I went downstairs I stripped the bed for Shareen so she could get on with her cleaning routine.

I slung my little back pack onto my back, left the bedroom, and went downstairs, dropping my bag on the floor before flicking on the kettle. Priorities, always coffee first. I had yoghurt while I was waiting for the kettle to boil and regretted giving Morgan all the food last night. I really fancied some fruit! Shareen came in and asked if I minded if she went into the room and stripped the bed so it told her it was already done, i just couldn't bring it down for her. As she went up to get it she offered me a cheese and tomato toastie as was making one for herself.  I've discovered with her that refusal is pointless. When she bought it down, we were talking about various things and she said that when she was watering her plants she noticed that someone had climbed over her fence and been standing in the soil. The plant had been broken and she'd already arranged for someone to come and sort a camera out for her. Sometimes she's at the horse alone and there is a lot of glass and in the darkness outside anyone could be watching her. The security at the house is very good, with guests being asked to not open the door for anyone and to lock the patio doors when they come back in from the garden. The bed and breakfast was supposed to be a part time job for her, her full time job is as a real estate agent and today she has two sales to close. I was gobsmacked because I'm not sure where she finds the time for a full time job on top of the bed and breakfast and also for the amount of cleaning she does. Every single day there is something being cleaned, i feel like a failure again this woman has a full time job runs a guest house and keeps it so clean and i dont  do anything and can barely get off my arse to clean the barn . 

I booked an uber to take me to Sylvia Park thinking it would be a good opportunity to go and get a swimming costume in the sales.. I couldn't check in to Kihimarama lodge til late afternoon and the bus option wasn't for me. The Uber driver must have been right outside when I ordered it so it was there within minutes. Shareen came to see me off, and gave me the biggest hugs. I apologized again to her about having to cancel the booking for April, but she brushed it off and said the hill was difficult for most people let alone me, before giving me another hug and telling me girlpower forever which made me chuckle. Such a sweetheart. For people she likes and if they respect her home by removing their shoes at the door and put them on the dedicated rack she will bend over backwards for you.

The uber trip to Sylvia Park was pretty quick and he dropped me off by the door. I went in and spent ages looking for what I wanted and failed. I did manage to get my phone screen protector changed which has made a difference to my access to it!  The cracked screen has been causing problems since I've been taking it on and off for the dive case so it was good to get it replaced. But it's better the screen saver cracked than the screen itself.

I was disappointed with the shops except for one, ‘Dangerfield’ which was just my cup of tea, the clothes were all really quirky, colourful and unique and I ended up walking out of there with a delightful pair of trousers with radish on . Yes radish, i wasnt going to leave them there and better yet when i tried them on and i needed a smaller size than I anticipated , that was a nice little boost for the day. I could have spent a fortune there, the fabric designs were bloody epic, I may need to go back before I head home for more funky trousers! My next task was to find some new shorts, well you would have thought that was a simple enough task but not what i wanted and in the end gave up after trying several pairs on and not liking the look at all. Having got fed up, I went for a coffee and planned my next move. I've realised that apart from the lack of a Kmart , newmarket is much nicer for shopping so if I need anything else that's where I'll go. I may take a spin over there if it rains this week and see if I can pick up a pair of shorts and swim wear. Oh and maybe a lightweight rain jacket. It's that time of year, but it's still 22 in the rain and that's all good with me. I started to struggle, and thought it might be time to head back, I rang Morg to see what he fancied for dinner and went to the pack and save and picked up a load of stuff, forgetting that I'd have to potentially carry it. However, lucky for me, someone offered to carry my shopping outside for me where I ordered another uber to take me home. I've got into the habit of sharing my ride with Morgan which is really rather sensible of me. 

Due to the time of day the traffic was heavier than when I went over so the trip took a bit longer. I got dropped off at the Lodge and Peter was there to greet me, he picked up the shopping bag and asked how long I was staying, I explained I needed to feed my boy!,  I’m back in Gatsby again, which suits me fine, the usual supplies were stacked up for me, and Peter put the shopping down for me, telling me if I needed anything to just ask, I'm here until the 18th so I may even unpack this time. 

I prepped the salad stuff for dinner and a few minutes later Morg arrived. I was a bit disappointed that my crutches hadn't been delivered, but maybe a quiet day tomorrow won't be such a bad thing after all the moving I've been doing again today. Got to keep pushing through everything that is threatening to stop me!!! 

Morg very kindly took over the dinner preparation, which I felt a bit bad about. He's had a mental day having to labour for the bricklayers because they only work 6 hour days  and his boss needs them to finish up the job they're on today so they can start a new job tomorrow. He's not happy, because if they all just worked an extra hour a day they would have finished the job weeks ago. They just don't seem to want to work. They only get paid for the hours they work but still, it drives him nuts. They don't see the bigger picture, over the winter the hours are going to be significantly reduced so it makes sense to him to cut the hours in now when they have the weather to work in it.  

The hot chicken salad and spinach wraps were really good and remarkably healthy. It's also nice to be prepping my food again. I may get used to it. Or maybe not. Either way it's nice to sit and enjoy a meal with my Morgi. 

We watched a film together which again was really nice before he went home, im signed into his netflix now too so thats all good more viewing selection. . 

I had a hot shower, and managed to get myself to bed, which was a challenge to say the least, it will be a better day tomorrow for sure. On the upside, I got bitten by something in Samoa on my tummy and its got infected and has been tracking a bit since. I've been slapping tea tree oil on it, but in the shower tonight it exploded which is marvelous. Whatever was in there or caused it to get infected has now broken out and there is a little hole but it is now draining which is good. I poured more tea tree oil, slapped some savlon on it and found a plaster to protect the lovely crisp white sheets on the bed. The end of another day, it's nice to be back in the unit, and I'm another day closer to being with my boy. I can hear him telling me off though for trying to do too much but if he was here i wouldn't have to do everything by myself would I? So its entirely his fault I'm in the knot I'm in right now.

Much love

Mrs Leonard

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