Are we nearly there yet?: Monday 7 February Kawau Island

When we first cam to Mansion House Bay in January it was stern to bow full of boats. Now the summer holidays are over we are 2 boats with all the swinging room we want and no queue at the cafe. We popped in for the coffee and scone deal; choice of coffee and a saucer size scone oozing jam and whipped cream. Naughty but nice.

Andrew & Amy

While we were waiting for our belly buster breakfast our English friend Andrew walked past. He and his girlfriend Amy are working at the House as guides for the summer and we became friends when we were last here. A chat and 5 minutes later they were coming out with us on the boat today. We thought they might like to try scalloping. On the way out to the site David and I fired many naturalist questions at Andrew who's a keen ornithologist & conservationist. Questions about birds on the islands, penguins, trees. Everything.

Amy wasn't keen to dive today so Andrew took David's kit and came in with me. He's very good and picked up scalloping like a natural. Then both Amy and Andrew learnt how to get the meat out of the shell before we returned with our booty to Mansion House for an early dinner.

The chat flowed, the wine flowed, the scallops were scoffed and suddenly 6 o'clock was almost midnight. Where had the evening gone? In a rush of good conversation and good company. A delightful day and evening.