Coromandel, December 18th,19th

The general plan for today had been to go to Miranda, on the way to Coromandel, as it’s got a bird sanctuary, but the weather there had been even worse than the weather in Auckland, so we decided to go to the Art Gallery in Auckland instead, and leave later.  They had a Light Show exhibition on (fresh from London apparently).  I don’t think six fluorescent tubes against a wall is actually art, but Leo Villareal’s Cylinder II was amazing.

Then we (well, Rob) drove to Coromandel, in part along a road that would have fitted very respectably into a Bond film – the bit where they’re being chased by baddies, trying to shoot their tyres out!  Hairpin bends, drops at one side: it had the lot.  Except, thankfully, baddies trying to shoot our tyres out.

Today the sun shone!  This made Rob a lot happier.  This is the view from our room (well, it’s sort of like a little semi-detached cottage.  With very poor soundproofing.  Just like being in Headingley again). 

So after eating breakfast on the veranda (seriously civilised: it would be cold and dark in Headingley), we went out for a walk – Rob said he wasn’t driving anywhere today, Not After Yesterday, Thank You Very Much.  And then we pottered round Coromandel, which is a cute little village/town, and had a cup of tea, and read a bit, and did some more not much…Rob might be a human being again by the end of the holiday, and able to face another term of work.

Just for Fiona: I saw 2 new birds, a kingfisher and a spur-winged plover.  Well, I think that’s quite exciting (sad, I know…).