12.1.13

Sleep in for all, then a lazy breakfast. Larry turned up with some fresh tomatoes and lettuce for us, and a bag of Aitu Coffee claiming that he felt bad about a coffee connoisseur drinking Nescafe. Atiu coffee is grown on the island of Atiu, at sea level, which is unusual as most coffee is grown at altitude. It tastes good. We went around to Koru for a coffee prior to a walk on the beach to looks for shells.

A downpour lead to us running to take shelter in Koru. Ordered coffee and hot chocolates and then bumped into Andrew Mitchell an old class mate of mine who I haven’t seen for about 18 years, and his wife Deidre. They live in Darwin now, Andrew being an anaesthetist, and both seem pretty happy with life. Andrew was always a keen hunter and clearly still is from his description of life. They are here chasing bonefish, as this is a world famous bone-fishing destination. He hasn’t changed one bit, and is in good form.

Spent the next few hours wandering the beach looking for shells, had lunch on the beach and eventually wondered home for a swim. Sophie and I went for a run in the evening, almost 9km around the north end of the island. While we were away Ben caught a fish with his hands and was holding it under the water to show me and must have had it held for about one hour then lost his grip just as we rode down the road. He was mortified and very upset, as he really wanted to show me. Dinner and cards.