Commodore of the Tasman Bay Cruising Club, Phil Silva, invited us to come to the club this evening to introduce us to the members and have dinner. Earlier in the day when we'd popped in for a sticky beak (sneak) we met the club secretary Margaret who gave us a tour of the building and a one month membership to the club. We later discovered this small gesture had a hidden bonus.
At the sundowner hour Phil greeted us at the door and escorted us in to meet the small and distinguished group gathered for their regular Friday night dinner cooked by their contract caterers. This is a holiday weekend in NZ, Monday is a public holiday and many people had already gone away so not many people in for the dinner. Another hidden bonus waiting to be discovered.
With a glass of fine wine (me) and a glass of local lager (David) we started chatting and telling our story, getting to know more friendly Kiwis and found we had lots in common like Tony and Judy had lived in the same part of London as we did and King came from 10 miles from where I grew up.
Dinner was excellent – a pork and beef carvery that we both said reminded us of Christmas. It must have been the small of the roast meat and roast potatoes which are a rarity in our cruising life. The hidden bonus was there was so much food we were invited for a second helping. Need and want are not related. Needing more of that delicious pork? No. Wanting? Yes sirree! If the restaurant had been full of cruisers there wouldn't have been a bean left on any of the plates. Not that cruisers are scavengers; the outdoor life encourages healthy appetites.
A top evening and many new friends. New Zealanders are almost without exception open and generous. We like 'em.
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