Coffee and look round the mall, a bit like my grandfather. In many ways we never forget, they live on through Us. The way we treat people, the things that interest us, the way we are. He liked to walk, as did my dad and so the traditional carries.

I wandered up to explore the Onehunga mall. I suppose the only way you really appreciate a place is walking it. You miss so many things when you drive through areas in a car. Like a mural I found on the wall, I’d never have it if I hadn’t walked. After touring the shops, I briefly wandered over to a walkway by the Auckland harbour. Beautiful views back over Onehunga but also out to the harbour.

This afternoon we headed out to Pukekohe racecourse to indulge in one of my passions, the horse racing. It’s been in my life a long time and something I used to enjoy with my maternal grandfather as a child. Many an afternoon were sat in front of the TV with him watching. I never got to go to the track with him and always wished that I had before it was too late. But alas it was not to be.

Pukekohe was just on the outskirts of Auckland and had the feel of a countryish track. More so from the people and the age of the facilities. The TAB was strange too and seemed rather labour intensive as opposed to the Australian one which is very automated. Pukekohe racetrack also had a car racing track round the outside so you got nowhere near the horses. 

There wasn’t a large attendance and we didn’t win a lot of money but it was fun to visit a racetrack in another country. And in spite of the lack of wins, the appalling weather and the scarce attendance I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve always felt very at home at the racetrack. To me it’s a place of many rules and regulations, from which stand you can go in to where and how you bet. It’s something that suits me. 

After a 40 minute trip to Auckland. We had an appointment to take Claire’s parent’s out for her dad’s 70th birthday. We went to a little place called the French Cafe in Mt Eden. From the row of shops it was in, it didn’t look much however inside was a completely different experience .

It was subtly decorated with a couple of pieces of art covering the scant cream walls. Each light, of which there was about 20 hanging down threw out a dim glow that created quite a cosy atmosphere. The service was attentive but not too much so, the food was good and the beer and wine lists were substantial. It was a beautiful dinner and nice to sit down with everyone and just chat. Something we haven’t had a chance to do since our arrival.

It really brought to home to us that tomorrow we head back to Melbourne.

IJS