Continuation of Stages.

Welcome to part two of my Stages of Life posts.  

In part one I showed you our move and some shots of our first day in Waitakere Gardens.  I'll continue the view of our new home with this post.  

I took these first two pictures to commemorate our move. First Day Moon is my title for the first. That was taken in the late afternoon. I don't really know what time it was when I took the night time shot. Shortly after midnight I suppose.  

Here is Jeanne going down to the café to return the dishes we received with our first evening's dinner.  

The lift (elevator) has an interesting security feature. That black rectangle just below the sign is a reader for the tag each resident carries attached to his apartment key.  The elevator will not rise from the ground floor until the resident scans the tag. The sign informs any visitor who tries to use the elevator without authorization from reception that they must return to the main desk and get the okay to ride up to the residence levels.    

All doors around the entire complex, other than main reception, are locked and opened only by scanning the tag. Very much like hotels.  

This is the door to our apartment.  We have put some personal objects outside the door. Jeanne's tui and her gardening angel together with my kauri tree rootlet with pockets of resin (gum) rests on a slice of kanaka tree trunk.  The kanaka slice came from our backyard after the tree was toppled in a gale. I sawed off about a two-inch piece, sanded and finished it. 

I'd guess a majority of residents here have some little object(s) outside their doors. I was astounded when I first toured the complex and saw them all. I asked the director if they had had any problems with theft.  Not a one, ever, I was told. 

New Zealand as a whole is an extremely safe environment. Waitakere Gardens makes their little piece of it into a haven of ultimate security and confidence.  

Pouring a cuppa. Jeanne took pains to make sure our refrigerator door was properly decked out. I added my Frieda Kahlo magnets later.  

The day after we moved in was cloudy. I took a walk along the corridors to some of the other buildings.  This is a view from a corner along the way. 

I have just now measured, using Google Maps, how long a walk it is possible to take if I circle our Atrium and then walk to the furthest point accessible in the furthest attached building and return to our apartment.  I measured 430 meters.  

While I intend to continue to explore Auckland by bus, train and walking, on days that weather makes that impossible, I could still easily walk kilometers here, all of it indoors. Rather than stay on our level two during my walks, I could climb the stairs and incorporate all the floors into my hike.   

And I didn't even measure my route if I were to cross the skybridge and walk the corridors beyond it. Looks like there is no excuse not to do all the walking I want to do.  

I really like the library. Very comfortable chairs and great lighting. A gas fireplace for winter comfort. 

This is our café which is also inside the Atrium building. You can stop by during the day and order something from the posted menu or you can order your choice of one of the two dinners  that are made available each evening for either dine-in or delivery to your apartment.  Delivery is very popular.  There is no charge for the service when you order Wednesday through Sunday.  

One of the lounges that surround the café.  This is the Twin Creeks Lounge and drinks are available Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  

There are tables along the brick-walk outside the café. Flower gardens, a croquet court and a putting green make up the green space.  

The individual garden plots, hydroponics, produce garden areas, worm farm, orchard and apiary lie to the right and behind where I am standing here.  

Most days, volunteers pick and bring what was picked from the produce gardens and make it available to any interested resident. The cost for each packet or bundle is one gold coin. Gold coins come in $1 and $2 denominations.  

This was in the bag of produce Jeanne bought this morning.  Look at the two miniature bananas. I can't wait to try one.  I'd say that was worth $2. (currently $1.44 U.S.) 

At the very end of the path winding down the hillside and through the individual plots, the hydroponics, and the garden areas, is the small orchard and apiary.  

Well, that's the tour.  I'll close this post with a look at Jeanne relaxing just inside our balcony. Those plastic bins to the right of the door have now been returned to Allie for use when she moves to their new home.  

Jeanne has two long planters that she plans to fill with geraniums and ivy and add to the greenery on the balcony.  

I'm writing most of this Sunday evening, Jan. 24, 2021.  We just had lamb shanks, potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, and cauliflower down in the café. We ate at a table of eight with Kiwis, a man from England, his wife from Switzerland, and a lady from Rarotonga. (largest of the Cook Islands and about 2100 miles from New Zealand.)

It was a fascinating discussion about everything from how England has changed recently, to the Swiss military, to our 2nd Amendment, and to Kiwi culture.  

This place is truly unique.     -djf