Weekend away at Lake Ferry

I have just gotten back from a weekend away. We (the family) went away for the weekend, along with two other families (Lalitha's and Hema's) to Lake Ferry which is a two-hour drive from the Hutt. It was brilliant, or would have been, had the weather not played spoilsport.

The kids' schools closed for summer on Dec 16. And so we had planned this trip about a couple of months ago. Have to, since all the acco gets rented out otherwise.

Onoke Place view, the place we rented was fab and expensive. Out of the world views of the lake and the seas and the place was so comfy and well-furnished. Pleasure to rough it out in a house like this:-) We reached Fri nite and all of us had dinner at our place.

But as I earlier said, the weather was typical Wellington _windy, wild and wet. All night the chilly southerlies tore across the lake and bang into the houses and cliffs on the other side. A constant banshee wailing through the night. Have to admit I didn't sleep too well.

But that was the only noise. All the usual noises were missing. the main one being `ring...ring'. The place had no telephone (as did the other houses our friends were staying in). It was unnerving, but blissfully so. Till you don't get rid of it, you don't realise what a noise that is and how much it gets into your head. (Of course, I must tell you here that I did have two mobiles, of which only one worked, just in case, u know, to stay in touch with the world....)

We did manage to get out and see the seal colony (they were sooo cute and posed very well for us) and also upto Cape Palliser to see the light house up in the cliffs. But that was it _ the weather cooperated only till Saturday afternoon.

For the rest of the day on Saturday, we all went to my place to watch a bad Tamil movie (the kids got bored to bits) _ Attagasam. And even the die-hard Ajit fan that I am, I had a tough time sitting though the full movie.

Then, off to Hema's place at Whangaimoana for Sat dinner. Her place was really in rural NZ, beautiful, with greenery for miles around us. And hardly a handful of other houses around.

Sunday lunch at Lalitha's place, which was just a few houses away from us, and we left Sunday, later in the afternoon.

Still, I've already started planning for the next trip there, hopefully, when the weather is a little better. But that's not really our fault. It's officially summer now and it shouldn't have been so cold and windy. Blame it all on El Nino!

PS: In response to Hari's very appropriate comment, here is a link to the place. The best I could do, I am afraid. http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/3192.asp
This is the place where we stayed _ and the views here are the views from the property!