In Sandringham I am, I am. (pre Covid)

The roads are old in Sandringham,
The restaurants there all favor lamb,
Or beef or chicken; seldom ham. 
I'll tell you more 'bout Sandringham....

Sandringham is an interesting place. I first visited it when Allie took us there not long after Jeane and I first arrived in New Zealand, and we bought takeaway Indian food. If you ever have the chance to try Chicken 65, go for it. It is one of Allie's favorites, and became one of ours when we tried it for the first time that day.  

There are probably more South Asian cafes, restaurants and groceries along the main road that runs through it than any other one place that I have come across around Auckland. Every now and then, Allie and the boys still jump in the car and head off to their favorite place to get the 'real thing' from Sandringham.  We've never been disappointed.  

It was at that favorite place that they saw something you don't see very often from a food vendor. Just inside the door was a glass fronted cooler that had assorted drinks for sale in it. On the bottom shelf though, were several single serving-sized plastic containers containing a combination of rice and a curry that were available to anyone who could not afford to buy food. That was impressive. The sign said simply, "Please help yourself if you need it." 

It reminded me of the time Jeanne and I sat down to lunch back in 1998 in a buffet place on Calle de  Atocha in Madrid. An old woman, clearly a street person, came in as we ate. She was shown to a place at the very back of the room by a waiter. He then brought her an individual loaf of bread on a plate, which he covered liberally with a sauce that he took from a pan of stewed meat. It's nice to see kindness being shown to the unfortunate. Think of how few restaurants would do such a thing. 

She was very dirty and probably smelled, and yet, they let her eat in the restuarant. Yes, it was in the back and yes, this was during a slow time of day, but nevertheless, it was a real kindness. I don't think the poor old lady had any teeth. She cut her bread into very small pieces that she coated with the sauce. And she was clearly very hungry.

I think of her and that waiter and restaurant and am reminded to be generous when I am on K' Road here in Auckland and stop in at Merge Cafe, or when I see any homeless person around the city.  And I applaude the people at that Sandringham takeaway. They are doing what they can to help. 

The road from Sandringham to Kingsland is about a mile long. Here are some shots.

(That is not the Sri Lankan cafe I featured in an earlier post.)

There is a park along the way.

The road into the park. You may ask yourself, "I thought he said we were in Sandringham. How come the sign says Mt. Albert?"

The road in this park leads up the back of Mt. Albert. 

An old nemisis of mine, the magpie. One had once pooped on my shoulder, and liberally, as Jeanne and I walked through Madrid's botanical garden in 1999. 

Since then, I have always looked askance at this very intelligent member of the crow family. (I still think it did it on purpose, and was up there in the branches laughing with its friends at the direct hit and my reaction.) 

We are getting closer to Kingsland now.

This house shows a style of archetecture that was very common here at one time. 

Well, you can't eat Sri Lankan and Indian food all the time, now can you? 

I've made it to Kingsland and there is New Zealand's largest Rugby Stadium.

Tawhirimatea, the Maori god of wind and weather, stands out front, looking fierce. 

 -djf

Update on the Ports of Auckland, Name the Tug contest.

My name of Sparky was selected as one of four finalists.  Voting will take place until next week sometime. My fingers are crossed.