To ENCOURAGE… TAKE the INITIATIVE

On the same morning of our Ngunguru cafe experience (last week’s story) and on our return to the Pacific Rendevous Motel at Tutukaka, I asked Chris to drop me off at the reception office. “What are you doing Steve?” I knew exactly what I was going to do… 
When we arrived the previous day, Phil the new manager/receptionist, gave my siblings and extended family group a generous discount for the two units we usually occupy. It was the King’s Birthday public holiday and prices normally go up, but his ‘Winter Special’ trumped that! How wonderfully generous. 
In response to his generosity and kindness and to be kind myself, I wanted to take the initiative, so I walked into the office and welcomed him to his new job, before he welcomed me. I thanked him for the cleanliness of our unit and he in turn acknowledged his wife Annie and her hard work and pride in cleaning and setting the units up. 
A conversation followed and common points of connection were quickly discovered. ie growing up in local schools in Auckland and later years, Snells Beach, Warkworth, where our dad and Phil’s aunty lived. Love a good conversation.
Also, the unit that we were in had 3 bedrooms and he didn’t charge my younger brother Mike and his wife Sheryl for their Saturday afternoon arrival and one night stay as they travelled down from Opononi and Omapere. 
See you next year Phil!

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