Day The Fifth

It's a good time to explain the first part if the URL of the blog, "TheSearchForAuntyBill". I'm pretty sure that most of you know that Bill Edwards and I have been friends for about 33 years now. Well, the fact that we're friends, not the finer temporial details anyway. It was not far into our first mis-spent year when Bill recieved a letter, from his school chum Robert I believe, addressed to "Aunty Bill Edwards" and the sobrieque stuck. Sometimes it became "Aunty Bill Filthy" when he was having a "punk" moment. Or eating. We were never quite sure which was the original reason. There were a number of times when various parties stumbled about the neighbourhood seaching others of the group, to the point where "Roy, Roy, where are you? You're not Roy!" became a bit of a catch-phrase. Bill, Kathrine and family moved to a far far off land a year or three back, and this is my first trip up to see them, and to meet William junior. I'm really looking forward to it.

Last night I met another old friend (you seeing a theme here yet?), Murray Mark. Knowing the way things worked in those dim and distant days, I probably met Murray when he was about 3 weeks old, but it may have been earlier if my mum had visited his mum in the maternity home. Either way, we've known each other quite a long time. He owns a car and light truck rental business with 100 vehicles on his books. We spent the night talking of those two things real men talk lustfully of; women and motorcycles. A superb Thai dinner (thoroughly recommend the "original Thai restaurant"), and a couple of pleasent ones in bar rounded out the evening well. Thanks Murray for a great meal and a warm bed!

In the morning I had to get away by 9 sharpish because I'd had a call from the people who run the photofinish in Auckland. They wanted to talk to me about using two cameras for photofinish. Seeing as I would passing thru Auckland the next day, I arranged to meet them mid morning. The trip had it's bizarre twists too. I was welcomed in true Waikato fashion by a pea-souper and made slow progress to Huntley. Even though the light was on I decided to press on to the next town for petrol. I didn't know that, effectively, the motorway starts just north of Huntley these days. I came off in two small town but the gas stations had all closed down, meaning all I had done was waste fuel looking... Anyway I filled up in mercer. The meeting was good and I hope I have saved them from making a few mistakes.
But isn't Aucklands traffic something else!? Followed my nose up the motorway and confused the hell out of TomTom by appsrently doing 110km/hr across bushland when I used the new toll road off the end of the motorway. Bikes are free, how cool!

The seach for Aunty Bill must end soon.




Ratings:
Me: 10/10. Having such a great time, I should have done this years ago.

Daisy: 9/10. Back tyre getting down, don't think it will make it home.

Pie: 8/10. Steak and pepper from Wellsford Café and Bread Bakery. Only two pies in the warmer at 12.55 so thats a good sign. Very nice flakey crust, good amount of vegies, pepper a tasty addition. Nice!

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