TABLE for TWO or FOUR

School holidays in New Zealand have begun and we started the holidays with a few nights in Taupo. 
On our first night Val and I went back to the Two Mile Sailing Club. It’s not really a sailing club at all, rather a lakefront wood fired pizza, drinks and live music place. We sat down and within seconds a couple next to us invited us to join them at their table. Invitation accepted! Craig (apologies Craig I can’t remember your partner’s name) and his partner are locals and have recently retired from the police. We laughed lots and shared animated conversations together. Such a friendly, welcoming couple as we met as strangers and left as new friends. 
On our last night in Taupo we went out for dinner at Dixie Browns. It was freezing and we were blown through the front door. Looking around, the restaurant was full and no, we hadn’t booked. The waitress told us there was a 45 minute wait to get a table so we proceeded to sit at the bar to wait. A few moments later she walked back to us and said, “The couple by the fire have asked if you would like to join them at their table.” Would we what! That moment of kindness meant that we went from cold and hungry to warm and full. It was the end of a romantic evening for Tracey and James, but the beginning of conversations that reminded us of our common experiences that help to understand humanity and kindness a little more. 
ps. On the way home to Raglan, we stopped for lunch in Te Awamutu. Surprise! I recognised our Taranaki friends Mike and Jan. We shared a catch up conversation with them at their table. So good.

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