Didn't quite make it!

A leisurely run this morning around to Algies Bay, before heading around the edge of the water (the tide was well out) to Snells Beach and then up the hill to the dairy for the morning paper. Quiet morning reading the paper and doing the puzzles, before sweeping up the pohutukawa tree branches and leaves off the deck.

The storm last week gave the trees a really good 'scratching', and any branches that had died back (or nearly so) hit the deck so to speak. I had already swept enough aside to allow us to walk over the deck, but had left sweeping it up properly until this morning. Filled the (large) barrow twice.

Then into Warkworth for some nice ciabatta rolls and ham for lunch with daughter C and the two lads, Mr H and Young L. The traffic heading south was already heavy with many people deciding to beat the queues by going early, thereby creating queues. This was good for C and the boys as they had an easy drive up, and have just texted us to say that they are home after an easy traffic free run home.

We head back tomorrow morning; me to the hospital for the locum. It has been a good and relaxing weekend; both S' brothers have been here, with spouse and partner also. The six of us had a pleasant meal out on Saturday night; I think that I produced a meal of equal quality for S and me last night.

As well as dumping pohutukawa debris on our deck, last week's storm tried to drive this medium sized yacht up the beach access road. It remains jammed instead against the sea wall in Algies Bay, waiting for someone to salvage it.