My day out
Sit and pay attention: while I’ll tell you the story of my bus trips.
I woke invigorated the morning of the one day international cricket game between the Black Caps and the team from Pakistan... to be played at McLean park in Napier—although unaware of its abandoned (due to rain) at the time.
As what has become the norm (in summer anytime between 9.00 and 10.00 o'clock), I have my breakfast—a mixture of Manuka honey clusters and Toasted muesli and a coffee, outside, sitting at glass table under (a reduced in size sun shade).
I sit facing the road—behind the timber trellis (loverly painted blue), where I am able to witness others start their daily routines. Normally about this time the post lady comes on her bike then the funny old lady in the house to my left (who must sit at her window waiting), opens her noisy (fly screen) front door and makes a bee-line to the letter box... sometimes stopping on her return to inspect the newly laid grass (although it must be down over a year by now).Across the road in the second house—from the corner lives Carol and her husband (Graham or Barry?). It's not long till she also comes out and checks the mail box, Carol is a tall slim woman... awkward in her walk and speech... talks fast and is very difficult to understand (I've been accused of much the same over the years), however after checking for mail she goes off on her morning walk. She has asked (once or twice) if I would like to join her... I rather take my walk in the afternoon (she knows this now) and where she walks up to the beach—through a few side streets and home... I walk along the beach walking (sometimes) knee deep in the water—starting from an access called Harrison's Cut to the Domain car park and the life guard building... that takes about twenty-minutes, there I rest for ten minutes before making my way home via Papamoa Plaza (sometimes popping into the shops) then across the road to Pack n Save to purchase more yoghurt cereal and a jar of my favourite coffee, on a good day a bar of chocolate.
Anyway, as I was saying, woke up did my toilet requirements... boiled the kettle made coffee, filled a plate with cereal covered with my Fresh'n fruity (low flat) yoghurt... sat and read a chapter of War & Peace.
Excerpt From “War and Peace.” (No requirement to read this)
Moscow's last day had come. It was a clear bright autumn day, a Sunday. The church bells everywhere were ringing for service, just as usual on Sundays. Nobody seemed yet to realise what awaited the city.
Napoleon enters Moscow after the brilliant victory de la Moskowa; there can be no doubt about the victory for the battlefield remains in the hands of the French. The Russians retreat and abandon their ancient capital. Moscow, abounding in provisions, arms, munitions, and incalculable wealth, is in Napoleon's hands. The Russian army, only half the strength of the French, does not make a single attempt to attack for a whole month. Napoleon's position is most brilliant.
Only two things indicated the social condition of Moscow—the rabble, that is the poor people, and the price of commodities. An enormous crowd of factory hands, house serfs, and peasants, with whom some officials, seminarists, and gentry were mingled, had gone early that morning to the Three Hills. Having waited there for Rostopchin who did not turn up, they became convinced that Moscow would be surrendered, and then dispersed all about the town to the public houses and cook shops. Prices to that day indicated the state of affairs. And so and so on.......
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Back to my day out on the busses. Eleven-thirty, on bus 36 going towards Tauranga City (just hopped onto the first bus) not concerned what destination... only determined to be back home by two-o'clock to watch the cricket.
Bus 36. A good number of passengers—although I have little knowledge of passenger numbers at this time of the day. It made its way through and around many inta-suburb roads (that's to say not main roads, one would take if driving in ones own car), via Bay-fair shopping centre dispatching and collecting fellow passengers... the bus continued towards the city along high-way 29, up around (Maungatapu round-about) and across and through places familiar to me others not; to an intersection—if turning left would take me and others to Gate-pa... but did not—turned right into and along Cameron Road into and down Wharf Street stopping at the bus station.
Sitting in front of me on those seats that face each other, four young girls—I learn from their conversation... are going to the movies. The girl directly opposite me looks about 12 and is the most attractive, slim to small (petit); long blond hair, good skin, bright eyes, although, maybe a little narrow. She had a small coloured bag with pulls ropes which she opens (often) to check the time on her Apple mobile. Of all the four girls she to me controls the conversation. To her left by the window the next girl could be 15, with mousy brown hair, and a rounder face... covered in a fine spattering of freckles—more orange than the normal brown... anyway, those two I can see their faces. The other two sit with their backs to me. By their voices I'd say they were older. Both have similar long black hair—could be sisters? The buzzer rings the bus stops and they get off; two young boys follow the girls from the bus and meet on the foot path. From the similar face features one of the boys is the brother of whom I think are sisters—all three have high check bones large round eyes and porky noses.
At the wharf street bus stop I exchange bus 36 for number 1—no sooner had I taken my seat it was off to The Mount. There are only four passengers and we all get off outside the Police Station in Banks Ave.
I have adventured out today only to occupy the time between 11.30 and 2.00 o'clock for that's when the cricket starts.
The driver tells me to catch bus 2. It should be here in about twenty-minutes. Now I'm becoming a little concerned as is it 1.00 o'clock. Will I get home in time becomes a worry.
At the coffee shop (to the left of the bus stop) I purchase a flat white and afghan biscuit with a half almond on top—($7.00) and txt Sheldon, boosting the fact that I'm riding around on buses and he has to work. I send a photo as asked then with my phone via Sky-go app. Remote recorded the cricket. Feeling rather better, eaten the (rather small afghan biscuit with a half almond on top) finished the (rather small luke-warm coffee) the bus arrives—early.
SHIT! This bus only goes to Bay-fair shopping mall... it takes every back street the town planers could fit into the long narrow chuck of land—fortunately the driver liked speed and as luck would have it he didn't like stopping.
Time 1.15p.m. I knew bus 33 is my bus and with God on my side there is one just behind. I txt Sheldon again—all is well in the world i'll be home in good time... he was pleased and I'm sure proud of his father.
FUCK! Now I know when one has got on the wrong bus when it turns right instead of left at the Bay-fair round-about. Sheldon I txt, I'm on the wrong bus... heading back to Tauranga City, hahaha, OH! He replies, need me to pick you up? I reply, let you know.
Just as we drive under the fly-over by Golf Road I tap a Maori chap (wearing a weaved hat) on his arm and asked if this bus is going to Papamoa. No, he said. Going round the round-about his plastic water bottle rolls off the seat and I trap it with my foot and return it to him again... at least I said thank you.
The buzzer rang and the bus came to a stop (more than a bus length) beyond from where it should have, a nice school boy opposite and one seat behind suggested I should get off here, cross the road (which we did, he being younger was on the other when I was only have way). There is a bus stop down there about fifty-metres you can catch a bus to Papamoa and then he was gone.
Stuff that I thought. I rang Sheldon. Please come and pick me up, and he did. What a great son he is.
Sadly it was raining in Napier and the cricket game was abandon.
O well; I had a great day out on the buses.
Now, I've only recorded this adventure in case in years to come someone would like to re-trace my day out.
36, 1, 2, 33 & car.