Time to post a quick update on our latest adventures. My parents came to spend Christmas and New Year with us after a great trip to Aussie and the South Island. Now they have hit the road again for a train trip to Wellington, then a tour up the east coast of the North Island to the Bay of Plenty and back for a final swing into Auckland. I am so impressed with their energy and joie de vivre!
Last week we were surprised when our dear friends Peter and Gail from Vancouver BC showed up at the restaurant! They will be back in Auckland tomorrow to spend the night with us before we see them off to Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Our mutual friend Peter Archer (whom JB met in Portugal on Christmas Eve 1970) put them in touch with us at the last minute!
Tyler has returned from his Christmas trip to the States with his girlfriend Ashley, a new graduate of Sonoma State University. Way to go Ash! Conor's girfrield Jen will be joining us in February and will help us out with our training and "rush media" videos for this and the new store. Our little family of adventurers is growing by leaps and bounds, and we couldn't be happier!
Speaking of which, we are online for store #2 in Newmarket to be opening in August. Business is booming with cruise ships arriving one after the other allowing us to frequently hit new record sales marks. We get requests for franchises everyday, so we are diligently building our brand with solid operational procedures and training.
All of this work requires a little R&R, so JB and I are going to Rarotonga for a 5 day break the first week in February. Ahhh, nothing but the sun, beach, and a few good books. I'm ready!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Monday, January 02, 2006
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Friday, December 16, 2005
Fiesta Time
Just in time for the holidays, we have unveiled our Fresh Fiesta Kit - another first for Aucklanders. The Vodafone guys can now chow down in their office, families can take the kit to the beach for a nice picnic, and the harried commuter can grab dinner for the family on the way to the ferry. Conor's got some great point-of-sale devices and our flyers are in all of the offices in the CBD. Arriba!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
A Kiwi Christmas Tale
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch.
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.
We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie,and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.
When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout!
The fairy lights Dad had strung up around the door
Let me see everything down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep.
With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted his dog, and in a voice not unkind,
Cried ! "Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!
"Now Flossy! now Fluffy! now Shaun and Shane!
On Bossy! on Buffy! on Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."
So up on the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.
He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.
His eyes-bright as paua shell - oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.
He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis, one for Dad, one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb.
He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "Thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate."
This was read at the American Women's Club Christmas Luncheon today in Devonport. Unfortunately, the author is unknown.
Not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch.
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.
We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie,and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.
When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout!
The fairy lights Dad had strung up around the door
Let me see everything down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep.
With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted his dog, and in a voice not unkind,
Cried ! "Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!
"Now Flossy! now Fluffy! now Shaun and Shane!
On Bossy! on Buffy! on Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."
So up on the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.
He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.
His eyes-bright as paua shell - oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.
He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis, one for Dad, one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb.
He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "Thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate."
This was read at the American Women's Club Christmas Luncheon today in Devonport. Unfortunately, the author is unknown.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Thanksgiving
The holiday season is now well and truly into full swing with summer upon us and Christmas lights adorning all of the houses in our neighborhood. We had a wonderful, traditional American-style Thanksgiving complete with turkey and all the trimmings. (See new Thanksgiving photo album). I made my first pumpkin pie from scratch (out of necessity). Kiwis eat lots of pumpkin and they are in all of the stores, but there is no canned pumpkin to be found! I may stick with the fresh pumpkin method - it's so good.
Rachel leaves us today after her 3 month soujourn in NZ. It's been a great learning experience, she's met kids just like herself from all over the world. We were talking last night about how important it is to travel, see how others live, and to recognize that really all of us, everywhere, no matter what country, religion, ethnicity, or depth of our pockets, are just the "sameunderneath." Kiwis have what they call the "Big OE" or overseas experience. Many kids take their OE during their "Gap Year" following high school graduation. That's probably why 96% of Kiwis have passports. I won't be surprised to see many of her new friends find their way to little ole Sisters, Oregon for a taste of the great American West!
While we celebrated Rachel's farewell with dinner up the road in Ponsonby, Tyler was holding down the fort at the restaurant with yet another record-breaking night. Hour after hour they came, they ate, they downed shots of Cuervo Gold, and they spent big time. Yes!
Bill Clinton is coming to Auckland in February and will be speaking and staying on Prince's Wharf at the Hilton. I sent an invite to him to join us for a burrito and a chat with our ex-pat American family, and got an immediate response from his scheduling secretary. While nothing is confirmed, it sounded like there is just a chance we just might be able to host Mr. President on the deck at Mexicali Fresh. You all know what an unabashed Clinton supporter I have always been. This would rock my world!
Rachel leaves us today after her 3 month soujourn in NZ. It's been a great learning experience, she's met kids just like herself from all over the world. We were talking last night about how important it is to travel, see how others live, and to recognize that really all of us, everywhere, no matter what country, religion, ethnicity, or depth of our pockets, are just the "sameunderneath." Kiwis have what they call the "Big OE" or overseas experience. Many kids take their OE during their "Gap Year" following high school graduation. That's probably why 96% of Kiwis have passports. I won't be surprised to see many of her new friends find their way to little ole Sisters, Oregon for a taste of the great American West!
While we celebrated Rachel's farewell with dinner up the road in Ponsonby, Tyler was holding down the fort at the restaurant with yet another record-breaking night. Hour after hour they came, they ate, they downed shots of Cuervo Gold, and they spent big time. Yes!
Bill Clinton is coming to Auckland in February and will be speaking and staying on Prince's Wharf at the Hilton. I sent an invite to him to join us for a burrito and a chat with our ex-pat American family, and got an immediate response from his scheduling secretary. While nothing is confirmed, it sounded like there is just a chance we just might be able to host Mr. President on the deck at Mexicali Fresh. You all know what an unabashed Clinton supporter I have always been. This would rock my world!
Friday, November 18, 2005
It's All Good
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are enjoying an exciting time in NZ and at The Mariposa Corporation (aka Mexicali Fresh). First of all, it was announced today that NZ has been selected to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup! It's a huge coup for this tiny country who was up against South Africa and Japan. This is the world's third largest international sporting event after the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup. For little NZ, it will dwarf the Lions Tour and the America's Cup. Needless to say, the country is rapt, and as new Kiwis, so are we.
We have also signed a letter of intent for a new store in Newmarket. It's a new upscale urban renewal project in Auckland's high fashion shopping area. Westfield likes what we are doing and we both see a great fit for their newest developments. They are the second largest shopping center developer in the world. See photos in the Newmarket album.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we have finally found and purchased a Weber grill for our turkey. It took awhile, but we found what is called a "North American-style BBQ" here. The only problem is that they don't sell lighter fluid and the briquettes are $30 per bag. Jill, do still have any pull at Kingsford - we could sure use that about now! Judy has ordered our turkey for next week because you can't get anything over 3 kg (that's 6.6 lbs to you unmetricised heathens) and we will have an all American celebration. We will attempt to introduce the Stewart Family traditions like games and crafts to our Kiwi guests, but I really need my sisters here to create the buzz! Now all we need to do is time our meal with ESPN coverage of American football, and we've got it made.
The cruise ships have begun arriving and summer is in full swing. Tyler, Conor, Rachi, John and I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with family and friends.
We have also signed a letter of intent for a new store in Newmarket. It's a new upscale urban renewal project in Auckland's high fashion shopping area. Westfield likes what we are doing and we both see a great fit for their newest developments. They are the second largest shopping center developer in the world. See photos in the Newmarket album.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we have finally found and purchased a Weber grill for our turkey. It took awhile, but we found what is called a "North American-style BBQ" here. The only problem is that they don't sell lighter fluid and the briquettes are $30 per bag. Jill, do still have any pull at Kingsford - we could sure use that about now! Judy has ordered our turkey for next week because you can't get anything over 3 kg (that's 6.6 lbs to you unmetricised heathens) and we will have an all American celebration. We will attempt to introduce the Stewart Family traditions like games and crafts to our Kiwi guests, but I really need my sisters here to create the buzz! Now all we need to do is time our meal with ESPN coverage of American football, and we've got it made.
The cruise ships have begun arriving and summer is in full swing. Tyler, Conor, Rachi, John and I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Labour Weekend
It's Labour Weekend here - much like we have in the States. Kind of the beginning of summer. We had two of the Black Eyed Peas in for dinner during their concert tour of Oceana. Some of the employees got their autographs, but we don't have any pictures! Last week was Fashion Week and Conor got a front row pass to one of the runway shows, hung around with the possum fur protesters and now has tons of contacts for his Sameunderneath and Ductbills family in Portland.
We have all been experiencing the joys of spring. Rachel is up north camping in the Bay of Islands this weekend with her newfound Kiwi friends. The boys went extreme mountain biking yesterday . . . of course Tyler came back with various cuts and abrasions. Mexicali Fresh is sponsoring an Auckland City League basketball team that is so far undefeated. (I'm sure it has more to do with the awesome uniforms than the fact that they have most of the semi-pro players in the city!)
I was looking into a Chinese language program at the Uni and suddenly had a flash forward five years. Where do I want to be? Do I want to be able to understand the babble on Queen Street, or would I rather be a single-digit handicap? Duh. So, I sought out and found a golf instructor to help me get there. She's a Kiwi who has played on the LPGA tour, and has really helped me straighten out my swing. (Rick, the first thing she told me was "toe up, toe over). Tyler bought a set of golf clubs and is well and truly addicted to the game as well. Last weekend JB, Conor and I played Clarks Beach. Just another one of the beautiful, walkable, beachfront golf courses that cost $35 for 18. Tyler and I have been trying all sorts of tracks, incluing one unremarkable mud pit in South Auckland . . . but at $25 for the two of us, we figured it was almost worth it.
Today Conor and I are taking photos for our "Fiesta Kit" takeaway package. JB is wrapping up the pricing and Tyler is negotiating with couriers to find someone to deliver. Prices for most of our products are going up due to increased fuel costs, but we are holding the line for another month or so to get a better handle on it.
Hope everyone is enjoying October . . . it's my favorite time of year in Bend!
We have all been experiencing the joys of spring. Rachel is up north camping in the Bay of Islands this weekend with her newfound Kiwi friends. The boys went extreme mountain biking yesterday . . . of course Tyler came back with various cuts and abrasions. Mexicali Fresh is sponsoring an Auckland City League basketball team that is so far undefeated. (I'm sure it has more to do with the awesome uniforms than the fact that they have most of the semi-pro players in the city!)
I was looking into a Chinese language program at the Uni and suddenly had a flash forward five years. Where do I want to be? Do I want to be able to understand the babble on Queen Street, or would I rather be a single-digit handicap? Duh. So, I sought out and found a golf instructor to help me get there. She's a Kiwi who has played on the LPGA tour, and has really helped me straighten out my swing. (Rick, the first thing she told me was "toe up, toe over). Tyler bought a set of golf clubs and is well and truly addicted to the game as well. Last weekend JB, Conor and I played Clarks Beach. Just another one of the beautiful, walkable, beachfront golf courses that cost $35 for 18. Tyler and I have been trying all sorts of tracks, incluing one unremarkable mud pit in South Auckland . . . but at $25 for the two of us, we figured it was almost worth it.
Today Conor and I are taking photos for our "Fiesta Kit" takeaway package. JB is wrapping up the pricing and Tyler is negotiating with couriers to find someone to deliver. Prices for most of our products are going up due to increased fuel costs, but we are holding the line for another month or so to get a better handle on it.
Hope everyone is enjoying October . . . it's my favorite time of year in Bend!
Monday, October 17, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Sunday, September 11, 2005
World Famous in New Zealand
The national elections are coming up this next week and it's quite comforting to see that democracies everywhere produce some pretty strange bedfellows. Prime Minister Helen Clark is standing against National Party leader Don Brash. They have the MMP System (Mixed Member Proportional) which I have just learned about by reading Wikipedia. Give it a go by following the link. I will also post one of the funnier billboards. (I have quite a collection of them now, and still must put Maggie up - wait till you see that one!)
I have posted a new photo album showing a bit of the town of Tauranga which JB and I visited this weekend on a scouting trip. Very nice! It's got about 100,000 people and a very lively downtown. We did call on the old Burger Wisconsin site, but it appears that a deal is 95% done on that, so we may have to regroup.
We are ramping up for a big shindig on Friday. Sol Beer is sponsoring a Mexican Independence Day celebration for the 16th of September. It will be similar to what we do on Cinco de Mayo. Mariachis, free beer, the whole nine yards. This is a first for them, and will put us on the national map.
Mexicali Fresh - world famous in New Zealand since quite recently.
I have posted a new photo album showing a bit of the town of Tauranga which JB and I visited this weekend on a scouting trip. Very nice! It's got about 100,000 people and a very lively downtown. We did call on the old Burger Wisconsin site, but it appears that a deal is 95% done on that, so we may have to regroup.
We are ramping up for a big shindig on Friday. Sol Beer is sponsoring a Mexican Independence Day celebration for the 16th of September. It will be similar to what we do on Cinco de Mayo. Mariachis, free beer, the whole nine yards. This is a first for them, and will put us on the national map.
Mexicali Fresh - world famous in New Zealand since quite recently.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Aliens Among Us
It's the first day of Spring, Tyler is finally legal and I have 3-ring binders in my hot little hands. The intensity of the past few weeks is behind us so we can relax a little bit. Conor got his work visa at the end of July, but Tyler's paperwork was still somewhere in the bowels of Immigration prompting a threatening letter from them saying he was an illegal alien and could not work. It's a long story, but we finally have some of our Brazillians back, and Tyler is now "legally" back as well. Whew! Just in time because we are really getting busy, and Fridays are off the charts.
JB and I have moved into a nice large Victorian in Freeman's Bay. The bathrooms and kitchen are newly remodeled with some very nice amenities such as heated marble floors and a Smeg gas range. I can cook again! We have a two car garage which is quite rare in this tidy little neighborhood of houses built before there were cars. The streets are so narrow with cars parked on both sides that there is barely room to drive. Our bedroom has large French doors which open up to an unobstructed view of the Sky Tower. We are three blocks from the big grocery store and three blocks up to Ponsonby Road, the center of all that is uber hip and cool in Auckland. And yes, we have two large bedrooms for guests.
Speaking of guests, we really enjoyed having ex-Mexicali manager Lisa Lee, her brother Karl and daughter Rachel visit us during August. They did an impressive "Lord of the Rings" itinerary throughout New Zealand and saw quite a few places and things I didn't even know existed. Rachel enjoyed hereself so much that she stayed behind and now is a barista at Mexicali Fresh and staying with us in Freeman's Bay. She's a newly minted graduate of Sisters High School, and needless to say this is quite an exciting experience for her. Her plans are to stay until December and soak up a variety of international experiences.
The 3-ring binders warranted mention because I have been searching since February and finally found them at the new Office Max on the North Shore. There were only four, but I bought them all, along with a 3-hole punch. I actually had to demonstrate to the sales clerk how it worked. She was quite impressed and thought there may be something to this novel concept. In New Zealand, everyone uses 2-ring binders. I have tried to be flexible with lots of different little things, but really, 2-ring binders suck. The paper never punches in the right place and the large A4 sheets get askew. Now that I have my 3-rings, everything is going to get repunched and put away properly. You also can't get fifth-cut file folders. All file folders have even sides with no tabs. I have been reduced to cutting tabs with an exacto knife.
We had a meeting with some major developers about sites for our second, third and fourth stores. We are penciled in now for some great locations, but the first one doesn't come online until March 06 to start building, and July 06 to open. Meanwhile, we still want to get another one up and running before Christmas. We have a couple of options and will have to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
I will get another photo album posted in a day or so with shots of our new home and surrounds. Hope everyone had a great summer in the Northern Hemisphere . . . we are ready for summer down here!
JB and I have moved into a nice large Victorian in Freeman's Bay. The bathrooms and kitchen are newly remodeled with some very nice amenities such as heated marble floors and a Smeg gas range. I can cook again! We have a two car garage which is quite rare in this tidy little neighborhood of houses built before there were cars. The streets are so narrow with cars parked on both sides that there is barely room to drive. Our bedroom has large French doors which open up to an unobstructed view of the Sky Tower. We are three blocks from the big grocery store and three blocks up to Ponsonby Road, the center of all that is uber hip and cool in Auckland. And yes, we have two large bedrooms for guests.
Speaking of guests, we really enjoyed having ex-Mexicali manager Lisa Lee, her brother Karl and daughter Rachel visit us during August. They did an impressive "Lord of the Rings" itinerary throughout New Zealand and saw quite a few places and things I didn't even know existed. Rachel enjoyed hereself so much that she stayed behind and now is a barista at Mexicali Fresh and staying with us in Freeman's Bay. She's a newly minted graduate of Sisters High School, and needless to say this is quite an exciting experience for her. Her plans are to stay until December and soak up a variety of international experiences.
The 3-ring binders warranted mention because I have been searching since February and finally found them at the new Office Max on the North Shore. There were only four, but I bought them all, along with a 3-hole punch. I actually had to demonstrate to the sales clerk how it worked. She was quite impressed and thought there may be something to this novel concept. In New Zealand, everyone uses 2-ring binders. I have tried to be flexible with lots of different little things, but really, 2-ring binders suck. The paper never punches in the right place and the large A4 sheets get askew. Now that I have my 3-rings, everything is going to get repunched and put away properly. You also can't get fifth-cut file folders. All file folders have even sides with no tabs. I have been reduced to cutting tabs with an exacto knife.
We had a meeting with some major developers about sites for our second, third and fourth stores. We are penciled in now for some great locations, but the first one doesn't come online until March 06 to start building, and July 06 to open. Meanwhile, we still want to get another one up and running before Christmas. We have a couple of options and will have to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
I will get another photo album posted in a day or so with shots of our new home and surrounds. Hope everyone had a great summer in the Northern Hemisphere . . . we are ready for summer down here!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Fury Hath No Hell . . .
You can't imagine the brouhaha over this billboard. Hell is actually a very edgy pizza chain with some very interesting ideas on advertising. Talk show callers are threatening to boycott Hell, comparing them to terrorists (that's a stretch) while others say it's about time to shout that the emporer has no clothes. Nevertheless, Kiwis continue to surprise us in oh so many ways.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Winter in Auckland
It’s August now – the middle of winter – and I am still wearing my jandals (flip flops) everyday so it’s not that cold. John arrived back from the States with some very precious cargo: Excedrin PM, dryer sheets, taco shell forms and a manual slicer/dicer for salsas. Amazing that we can now make our Salsa Mex in a quarter of the time, with fewer cut fingers and the need for plasters (bandaids).
Former Mexicali Rose manager Lisa Lee arrived yesterday with her brother Karl and daughter Rachel. Rachel was a babe in arms when Lisa first started working for us – and this is her high school graduation gift. My how time flies! They are off to explore the country and will be back on the 23rd of August to spend some time in Auckland before heading home.
John and I have been ensconced at the Metropolis for the past six months, and it’s time to move on. We need a real kitchen, an office, and more than a foot of closet space. Now that Mike has gone, the boys need to find a space they can split between the two of them. So, it’s the big Chinese fire drill this week. We are moving out of the Met into the boys’ Freeman’s Bay villa. The boys are moving back to an apartment at Prince’s Wharf. Just in time, too, because when Lisa, Karl and Rachel return from their travels they will be able to stay in our guest rooms.
We just found out the Queen Mary II will be docking at Prince’s Wharf next summer. It’s even bigger than the Sapphire Princess which was bigger than the entire wharf – Hilton and all. Can’t wait!
We have embarked upon our next mission: the search for a second location. So far it looks like Ponsonby or Newmarket. Both have their own advantages – stay tuned for updates.
Former Mexicali Rose manager Lisa Lee arrived yesterday with her brother Karl and daughter Rachel. Rachel was a babe in arms when Lisa first started working for us – and this is her high school graduation gift. My how time flies! They are off to explore the country and will be back on the 23rd of August to spend some time in Auckland before heading home.
John and I have been ensconced at the Metropolis for the past six months, and it’s time to move on. We need a real kitchen, an office, and more than a foot of closet space. Now that Mike has gone, the boys need to find a space they can split between the two of them. So, it’s the big Chinese fire drill this week. We are moving out of the Met into the boys’ Freeman’s Bay villa. The boys are moving back to an apartment at Prince’s Wharf. Just in time, too, because when Lisa, Karl and Rachel return from their travels they will be able to stay in our guest rooms.
We just found out the Queen Mary II will be docking at Prince’s Wharf next summer. It’s even bigger than the Sapphire Princess which was bigger than the entire wharf – Hilton and all. Can’t wait!
We have embarked upon our next mission: the search for a second location. So far it looks like Ponsonby or Newmarket. Both have their own advantages – stay tuned for updates.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Lions & Tacos & Beers
Oh my. It's been a week and I think it's safe to say we have recovered from the onslaught of Lions last Friday and Saturday nights. We were prepared with tons of food and more than 100 cases of beer as backups for the backups. It started on Thursday afternoon and continued through until Sunday. Saturday night Conor even went to the grocery store and bought $600 worth of beer, only to see it disappear in 45 minutes.
Sunday morning I went in to help chop more salsa and we were swamped by all of the bouncers and bartenders from Lenin, Float and Provedor. Of course I put on Beatles music, it's the only time I get to choose the tunes. You should have seen it, all of these great big guys in line ordering breakfast burritos singing "She's got a ticket to ri - hi - hide." A curious little Irishman in a green rugby shirt and Lions headdress stood at the counter and insisted we MUST have something with alcohol in it and I insisted just as strenuously that we did not. He had to make do with a latte, which was just as well. I'm sure he would thank me if he could remember what planet he was on. I have posted a new photo album entitled "Lions" so you can get a sense of it all.
So today (Sunday) the Pacific Sky docks at 9:30 am and by noon we had made over 150 lattes and flat whites (a uniquely Kiwi coffee similar to a cappuccino). They had come from Sydney on their way to Tonga and Vanuatu. While valiantly keeping up with the orders, I heard someone mutter "Don't these people have food on this cruise?"
The big buzz in Auckland (now that the Lions have gone home) is Desperate Housewives, which begins airing tomorrow night. Right, then, back to normal. Unfortunately, I won't be heading back to the States this week as planned. Things are a bit hectic around here. Hey JB, it's time to come home!
Sunday morning I went in to help chop more salsa and we were swamped by all of the bouncers and bartenders from Lenin, Float and Provedor. Of course I put on Beatles music, it's the only time I get to choose the tunes. You should have seen it, all of these great big guys in line ordering breakfast burritos singing "She's got a ticket to ri - hi - hide." A curious little Irishman in a green rugby shirt and Lions headdress stood at the counter and insisted we MUST have something with alcohol in it and I insisted just as strenuously that we did not. He had to make do with a latte, which was just as well. I'm sure he would thank me if he could remember what planet he was on. I have posted a new photo album entitled "Lions" so you can get a sense of it all.
So today (Sunday) the Pacific Sky docks at 9:30 am and by noon we had made over 150 lattes and flat whites (a uniquely Kiwi coffee similar to a cappuccino). They had come from Sydney on their way to Tonga and Vanuatu. While valiantly keeping up with the orders, I heard someone mutter "Don't these people have food on this cruise?"
The big buzz in Auckland (now that the Lions have gone home) is Desperate Housewives, which begins airing tomorrow night. Right, then, back to normal. Unfortunately, I won't be heading back to the States this week as planned. Things are a bit hectic around here. Hey JB, it's time to come home!
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Bless the Brits
London has experienced a terrible tragedy, but the 20,000+ Poms (slang acronym for Prisoners of Mother England) visiting our fair city have showed their resiliance and legendary "stiff upper lip" by doing what they do best . . . carry on.
Mexicali Fresh on the waterfront last night provided a venue for much singing, carousing and drinking of beer by Poms and Kiwis, Welshmen and Irish, Americans and Brazilians. It was a bit slow on Friday morning, but beginning at 11:00 am there was a line out the door that lasted for the next 12 hours. More than a few had burritos for the very first time.
The final test of the Lions Tour takes place tonight at Eden Park in Auckland. The All Blacks have won the tour by winning the first two tests in admirable fashion, but the Lions can salvage their pride by winning tonight and staving off a sweep. There was never any thought to cancelling this last test, but there will be a moment of silence before the final game begins.
JB is in Bend now and staggered at how much the town has grown in the six months we have been gone. He and his friend Bob Green are playing in the annual Member/Guest tournament. JB will be back in Auckland on the 20th and I will leave for Bend on the 23rd.
Mike will be leaving us in a couple of weeks to pursue a venture with his family in Bend. Before leaving New Zealand, he will be visiting the South Island and doing a little fishing along the way. We will miss him, but wish him well as he carves out a new path for himself. It was great having him with us as we launched Mexicali Fresh, Southern Hemisphere version.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Daily Commute
I have posted a new photo album showing, among other things, my daily commute down Queen Street and a variety of shots from Devonport, across the harbour from Auckland. JB and I have been house-hunting every weekend over there and have found some real possibilities. It's a beautiful little community, with access to Auckland's waterfront via a 10-minute ferry ride. Now that's my kind of commute. You can also drive, but the traffic can be a problem during peak times. There is a very beautiful, walkable golf course, and some great beaches. All in all, pretty much paradise.
JB leaves tomorrow for the States and will be in Bend from the 3rd through the 20th. I will leave Auckland on the 23rd and will be in Bend until the end of the first week in August. I don't have a return flight yet, so the itinerary is not set.
The entire country is still in awe of Michael Campbell's historic US Open win. It's probably the biggest thing to have happened to a Kiwi since Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Mt. Everest. Parliament delayed it's session to watch the event along with the rest of the country. Now the British and Irish Lions Tour is reaching it's peak and will be in Auckland beginning Tuesday. Prince William has arrived and the next test match is tonight in Wellington. We are planning on being invaded by over 20 thousand members of the "Barmy Army" who have vowed to drink one small NZ town dry. Let's hope they leave my new Mexican palms alone!
JB leaves tomorrow for the States and will be in Bend from the 3rd through the 20th. I will leave Auckland on the 23rd and will be in Bend until the end of the first week in August. I don't have a return flight yet, so the itinerary is not set.
The entire country is still in awe of Michael Campbell's historic US Open win. It's probably the biggest thing to have happened to a Kiwi since Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Mt. Everest. Parliament delayed it's session to watch the event along with the rest of the country. Now the British and Irish Lions Tour is reaching it's peak and will be in Auckland beginning Tuesday. Prince William has arrived and the next test match is tonight in Wellington. We are planning on being invaded by over 20 thousand members of the "Barmy Army" who have vowed to drink one small NZ town dry. Let's hope they leave my new Mexican palms alone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
