Ward Family Vacations

New Zealand 2005

Visit with Gran and Pa - Whangamata

His Grandmother "Gran" was also a sweetheart. They were absolutely the most charming hosts! Their home, which was formerly their "holiday home" while they were still teaching in Hamilton was right on the Coromandel Peninsula, right off of the Pacific Ocean. Their view was beautiful to say the least. I couldn't imagine waking up every morning and looking out the window and seeing that view!

Gran and I .. while I know this picture is dark you get an idea of the beautiful view from their home.

The Speake family at Gran and Pa's (Sid and Faith Hawkins on right)

While there we played a French game named "Patonk".  It is played with steel balls that weight about 5 pounds each. It is a similar theory to horseshoes as the person who comes closest to the mark is the winner. I found out quickly that the strategy to this game is not necessarily to try to get closest to the mark to win, it was also to knock out someone else's ball and keep them from winning as well!  Dave's sister Lisa was a master of this strategy! (She is in her first year of college working on what else, a teaching degree!)

Throughout my two weeks in New Zealand I was trying to find a sheepskin rug.. I had two in my room at Jess and Dave's apartment and was spoiled getting up in the morning and squishing my toes in their softness! When Dave's Pa heard that I had unsuccessfully tried to find one, he went inside and brought me one of his double sheepskin rugs. That just gives you an idea of their kindness and generosity.  I now have it at the end of my bed so I can squish my toes in it.  

Later that afternoon we drove to the farm where Dave grew up.  The scenery while traveling out there was lush and green and yes there were lots of sheep!  New Zealand has the highest density of sheep per capita (sheep outnumber the human population 12 to 1), so when traveling the countryside you see lots and lots of sheep (more than Serta)!