The Teacher's Golfing Holiday

One day during the recent two weeks "non-classroom contact time" (holidays to non-teachers) Sammo revolted.



"No more of the high-pressure cleaning Sadie! I want to go golfing!" And so the following day the golf clubs were loaded into the CRV, clothes packed together with Greystoned gin, whisky (single malt), pear and boysenberry liqueuers and of course some of the famed Greystoned Limoncello. There was a sack of food too!

Next stop Napier! On the way we found a bypass around Woodville, following the Manawatu River, coming out at Oringi. Yes, we bypassed Woodville, however, some 1/2 hour was added to the journey! Found the usual "no exit" roads and waved to the starving 'cockies.' All four-finger waves too!

Made the motel in Napier in time to catch breath and mosie off to the Bank to discuss investments with the Trust advisor. Weather totally inclement and only place of interest was a suitable 'watering hole' to quaff Pinot Noir and talk golf. Various children waved and called out, "Hullo Teacher (by name) since some of the Greytown darlings were in Napier. "Can't escape," said Sammo before running into a surprised relative. Yes, Kiwiland is a small country. Next day following 'fush and chups' for the night before's repast it was decided that a 'good look' around the shops would be in order before finding a golf course. Suffice to say that more and more shops intruded with the gallant pair ending up in Havelock North and, yes, finding a 'watering hole' and quaffing some more fine Hawkes Bay pinot noir (as you do)!

Next day being a Friday we examined the Princess Alexandra Retirement Home and had a great, warmly welcomed visit. They didn't get where they are today without spotting a likely pair. So with facts salted away for some future use (doesn't have to be Napier) the pair of young oldies (not foggies Jo Jo, or even fogies) set off for the Rio Grande. Whoops! (Apologies to "Deadeye Dick and Mexican Pete!") Wrong joke! Set off for Remmers in the city of Auckland (Jafaville).

What a wonderful trip up the Napier/Taupo road with the snow way down on the Ruahines to the south and the Kawekas in front. No snow on the road and ideal driving. Kept an eye out for golf courses and cheered mightingly when some were spotted. But we couldn't tarry since the russian kiwis and the kiwi russian were waiting. Sadie was not allowed any by-passes much to his consternation. He did however miss the 'new' Hamilton highway 1 bypass around Hamilton which caused at least another 10 minutes delay and a lecture of sorts from Sammo. Poor Sadie, sometimes one thinks he lives in the past when he knew Hamilton and the Waikato backwards even though it was in the early sixties before he was put on the straight and narrow by Sammo.

Well! We made good time to the East Tamaki junction on the southern motorway and then guess what? That's right "the revenge of the *jafas" struck with a vengeance. 3/4's of an hour later Sadie said, "Stuff this!" and went off the Mt Wellington off-ramp and up the Mt Wellington highway to Remmers. A few wrong turns at Ellerslie and off "Ladies Mile" when we should have stayed on it occured but we made Haast St just as the light was fading and the wines were warming. Too dark for golf so we dined and imbibed and then quaffed some more quaff mixture at little Russia. Strange at first not to see Jack (for Sadie) since Sadie's previous visit was Christmas 07 when he and Jack Robertson (Poppa) relived the Maungatapere days and the many golf matches played over the previous 40 odd years.

Much yak, reading and relativing the next day since the intrepid pair were too worn out to look for golf courses. Strange how empty wine bottles multiply overnight but there were a lot more than Sadie counted on the Friday night. Amazing all the things and gossip to catch up on and how the time just slips away.

Sunday and Sylvia Park golf course beckoned. But when we got there the golf course had disappeared and there were lots of 'loverly' shops in its place. Maybe there was never one there? Retail therapy has a lot to answer for! Back to little Russia where we found Sergei, Tania and Demyan (5 months old). You can see from the photos the happy reunions and first time meeting with Demyan.




Monday dawned and after lunch a leisurely trundle down to Eureka (between Hamilton and Morrinsville) via Taupiri looking for golf courses on the way to John and Wendy's. Sammo's navigation skills came to the fore and we hit the target right on the button using all the shortest backroads and bypasses. Even found a stop at Gordonton where even the whitebait are 'free-range.'



Weather would have been great for golf but we couldn't find one with a welcoming committee and a golf buggy at the ready just waiting for us. John and Wendy of Eureka just like Ian and Olga of little Russia work from home and the aforementioned are getting on well developing their lifestyle block. The feisty ram has gone and been swapped for fresh fish; now there are donkeys, goats and beef animals to name some of the livestock in residence. The photos also show the property and the livestock. A tramp into the adjoining dairy farm, feeding the animals and eating and quaffing saw Monday draw to a close. Tuesday was 'spent' at the "Base." This is a large retail development at Te Rapa and is designed to curl plastic, straighten it and then curl, straighten etc etc ad infinitum. Weather cold and very wet so no golf courses came to the fore. Tuesday night was spent relativing, quaffing and eating John's very well prepared meal.





Wednesday, Eureka to Greystone (8hours, 7 hours driving) with a short detour, bypassing Onga Onga to Waipukurau where Sammo lashed out at the scrapbooking shop. Home just on dark and just in time to delay Picasso's routine call to the SPCA complaining of starvation. Picasso was looked after by the Vicar's daughter all week however when tested in the following days his ability to explain in four letter words has not been diminished. He was caught kneeling down, but no it wasn't prayer - just another fur ball!

So there we have it - Sammo's golfing holiday. For the record, on the first and last Saturday of the "non-contact classroom" time Sammo and Sadie played two rounds of golf at Mrs Martin's borough's golf course with golfing accomplices.

For the record the match play 'off-the-stick' between Sammo and Sadie for the Jack Robertson Perpetual Memorial Golf Trophy stands at Sadie 5 holes up after 14 rounds. The "Rules" have been written sometime back; a trophy is being made and each golf round when Sammo and Sadie are playing together is part of the competition - to the amusement of others in the four. After much discussion it has been decided that the last one alive will be the winner! For the record Jack and Evan started to play golf in 1969 at Sherwood Park, Maunu, Whangarei in between bouts of fishing. Sammo started in 1976 at Fitzroy, New Plymouth and Olive 1980 at Inglewood.

Oh! And by the way the golf clubs enjoyed their trip all 1525kms and came back to Greystone thoroughly rested!

Ein Skol! Dien Skol!

*Translation - 'jafa' - just another friendly Aucklander.