To facilitate spending money faster (without the use of the local boat swindlery) we've decided to open a local bank account. We learnt about it from other yachties and it's so simple to do. This morning I called the Westpac branch on Paihia and fixed an afternoon appointment.
Getting there and back was the best adventure – we cycled, or pushed the bikes, along the 5 mile coastal path, a pretty path through semi tropical growth which was quite narrow in places and tricky terrain for a non mountain bike, but good fun.
We arrived hot and sweaty clutching passports and documents to show a UK address and an hour later we walked out with our new account set up, new ATM cards for each of us and feeling rested. This account is free and any monies in our saving account earns 3.5% interest plus they have branches in the island groups we're going to visit next year. We're getting no interest on our UK accounts and charges for using the credit card and ATM overseas. A winner all round.
Our visit would have been quicker except the bank had no customers and the girl handling our application was a recent arrivee from Wales. We found had a lot in common, plus David knows how to talk! By coincidence, Tracy's boyfriend is the Volvo mechanic who worked on our broken sea water pump 2 weeks ago. He has very good taste, apparently he wants an Amel SM.
Personal admin completed, we'd earned an added boost for the cycle home (there are a lot of hills between Paihia and Opua). We refuelled with an ice cream and coffee and enjoyed a pleasant late afternoon saunter home. I was darn tired when we got home. In addition to the cycling I'd winched David up the main mast in the morning for him to fit mast steps at the top. No excuses. We need more exercise if we're to do the walks we plan.
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