Wednesday morning I wake up to a lot of noise, these birds sure know how to prepare for a sunrise.  I drag myself out of bed to see the sun saying hello.  A random tropical rain hits but it isn’t heavy, with a clap of thunder that shook the cabin.  Some how Rowan sleeps through the whole thing.  As fast as it begins it was finished.  A rainbow appears, the birds come to say hello and the wallabies bounce past the prroperty.  It really is a special spot here.  The day moves along and I cook some breakfast we relax, I take another bath and Rowan takes another RAT test.  Later that evening we head off for a walk to the pond and go frog hunting.  There were these amazing fluorescent green frogs.  We sat by the fire and cuddled covid style with masks on. Daddy Blooomfield would approve.

Thursday morning Rowan is negative!  Masks off but we still keep a distance, let’s wait for two negative tests.  We message Heather & Katie and see if they need some help with set up.  Off to the farm, Wendy (grandma) has a beautiful spot bordering a river with platypus in it.  There is also a small stream.  Our first task is to get a stepping stone system across the small stream.  The brides want to walk down this idyllic path to the stream, cross it and go along a field to the main river where they will have the ceremony.  Rowan and I start finding rocks, once it was complete you could pass it easily, but we planned to help the city folk across.  Next was the set up of these glamping tents which had a team to errect. Jo the lady who owned the business is from Kaukapakapa, we talk about Auckland and she says she much prefers Australia. At lunchtime we go to the Dead Dog cafe, which is a play on Dungog that was renamed to torment the local rugby team.  It is a full vegetarian cafe and we end up with lasagne which are delicious, you wouldn’t know the difference if no one told you.  Back at the venue and we set up some “ensuites” these are pop tent showers, apparently the city folk have been asking questions.  Heather also let’s them know that there are hairdryers and straighteners (the sun).  I realise there will be quite a few folk at their home getting ready.  Luckily I had feared this and had booked one night at the local Bank Hotel for Friday night, unfortunately our current accommodation was already booked out.  Rowan and I went back to the retreat and had a nice dinner.  It had been a bit drizzly all day, but I really got a chance to see the tropical storm hit, the rain came and it didn’t stop all night. It got really hot in the cabin with the fireplace on and Rowan turned on the heat pump to cool down the place.  It was a but funny having a fire roaring and air conditioning on.