Waitiki Landing 2 & Old Friends


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October 26th 2005
Published: November 21st 2005
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..... on 90 Mile Beach ...

Adam was quite keen on driving down a stretch, despite the numerous warnings we'd heard of cars getting stuck in the sinking sand and that fact that our insurance probably didn't cover off-road driving. Still, we said 'Fuck It' and set off at speed, hoping that if we kept up the momentum, we'd be fine.

It was beautiful.

You could feel the Adrenalin pumping through each of us in the car as we sped down the sand, dodging the white horses, each of us wearing huge free-spirit-smiles on our faces. I dont think I'll ever forget it.




Luckily we made it off the beach without drowning the car, and journeyed on South, stopping to see a monstrous Kauri tree with a diameter of around 3m and an estmiated age of 2000+ years! Madness! We dropped the Germans off at Dargaville to continue with their whopping 5 month tour of NZ. Our next stop would be our good old friend, the gravitational Auckland, where we needed to pick up supermarket supplies.

The trusty YHA International was waiting for us when we got there at around 8ish, unpacked and settled down to a spicey stir-fry.

It was Wednesday night, and I figured we wouldn't be in a city with any kind of scene for some weeks, so I'd better stock up on my cheesy disco and mirror balls at my fave gay bar - Family.

Met some really cool guys, a lad called Kane and his mate Damian, but what was interesting was what happened at the end of the night when a certain person walked through the doors....only Little Lord Fontelroy himself!

I was amazed and almost glad - half the reason I'd come out was the vague hope of bumping into The Talented Mr Ripley, and here he was, minus the bow tie, but definitely the very same Right Honourable Gentleman!

Within a few seconds I was standing in front on him, arms crossed, barriers up, and determined not to be made a sucker again.

Well I never. If it isn't.....



and I paused, feigning to forget his name

...what really is your name?



I said, accusingly, potting the black and going straight for the jugular.

Alex - or whatever his name was - froze for a second before deftly avoiding the question, and my further enquiries, attempting to change the conversation at every turn, but I kept up, like a Rottweiler with a child, and with dogged determination badgered the poor guy until his embarrassment in front of his 'friend', (or next victim?), was too much and he motioned for me to follow him to the bar.

After getting a pen and paper from the barman, he proceeded to scribble down and pass to me what turned out to be numerous email addresses, phone numbers, an address in Edinburgh (!), and....wait for it.....a name: Edward Mefforte.

How did you find out?

he, (Edward?), asked.

The one question that confirmed, finally, that I'd hit the jackpot, and all my suspicions were cashed-in instantly - imaginary cash-payout sound effects ringing in my ears!

Who told you?

he questioned, and I replied that although his stories were tightly woven, on investigation, they just didn't hold water; smug, I know, but it did the job.

It was pretty glorious really.

I felt like Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Columbo all rolled into one!

The conversation continued:


Edward: Do you need money?
Me: What?
Edward: Do you need money Richard?
Me: No Why?



Edward: I can give you money if that's what you want



Me: I don't need money, honest.
Edward: You're not going to embarrass me are you?
Me: What?
Edward: You're not going to embarrass me in London are you Richard?
Me: I won't embarrass you Ed, I promise.........but I will be in touch..... Goodbye Ed, it's been nice meeting you.




I shook his hand, and left.






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21st November 2005

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Darl, I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to see a picture of Lord Haw-Haw. The next time you bump into him, make it so. Muv. x

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