sadly, the cafe has been extremely quiet this weekend... maybe the weather has been too nice to lure people out of their gardens or away from the beach (it was 70 in the sun on sunday) but it seemed too much for people to venture into the Cafe Off the Beaten Path... although the cafe was virtually empty, for me it wasn't too bad as i got to go outside and play in the dirt (one of my rediscovered favorite things to do). the cafe has several overgrown flower beds in the front and (use to have) a 20' x 20' veg garden in the back full of silver beet, mint, rocket, parsley, tomatoes, rhubarb, broccoli and lots and lots of weeds. my task was to remove everything from the veg garden (it was all well past it's prime), less the dirt, and replant with some lupine. hopefully i'll get to see the little buggers sprout before i leave!
after cafe work on saturday, i decided to walk into town to see what might be on in bustling coromandel town... turns out, nothin' much. at 5pm on a saturday evening the only action was a 4 top table at the success cafe, two employees at umu (another restaurant/cafe) and the 4 square (sorta new zealand's answer to a 7/11). i half expected to see some tumbleweeds blowing down the street. on my way to town i did get harassed by two thugs as i was passing the top pub (the one i'm not allowed to go to according to mehow). they had stopped their car about 20 yards ahead of me and pulled onto the grass as i was walking down the sidewalk to town. i wasn't worried but definitely took notice that there were two dudes in the car, and they didn't seem to be getting out in a hurry. they were talking to each other and looking my direction. they decided to exit their vehicle right as i came to pass and began to follow and pester me about my ways in the world and what i was doing on this earth... suited mormons.
last night the township of coromandel hosted a barista course here in the driving creek cafe - so i'm getting much closer and much more confident in the art of making actual coffees (well, new zealand coffees). i'm pretty well of in my shot pouring capabilities (and even got to be the example for the class) but have a long way to go in the whole foam business... at least i still have another month to practice!
tomorrow (tuesday) i get to take the ferry to auckland!!! i'm headed over to meet jon and bexie for a night out on the "big little city" and try out a climbing gym they've heard good things about.
on thursday we get a NEW WWOOFer and i'm so excited i could throw a party! young, dear, strange craig is moving on to russell (a town in the bay of islands) and we get a new gal from the u.k. i am so happy i will no longer need to follow pigpen around with a mop and broom - the guy should be forced to wear a bib at all times =)
after cafe work on saturday, i decided to walk into town to see what might be on in bustling coromandel town... turns out, nothin' much. at 5pm on a saturday evening the only action was a 4 top table at the success cafe, two employees at umu (another restaurant/cafe) and the 4 square (sorta new zealand's answer to a 7/11). i half expected to see some tumbleweeds blowing down the street. on my way to town i did get harassed by two thugs as i was passing the top pub (the one i'm not allowed to go to according to mehow). they had stopped their car about 20 yards ahead of me and pulled onto the grass as i was walking down the sidewalk to town. i wasn't worried but definitely took notice that there were two dudes in the car, and they didn't seem to be getting out in a hurry. they were talking to each other and looking my direction. they decided to exit their vehicle right as i came to pass and began to follow and pester me about my ways in the world and what i was doing on this earth... suited mormons.
last night the township of coromandel hosted a barista course here in the driving creek cafe - so i'm getting much closer and much more confident in the art of making actual coffees (well, new zealand coffees). i'm pretty well of in my shot pouring capabilities (and even got to be the example for the class) but have a long way to go in the whole foam business... at least i still have another month to practice!
tomorrow (tuesday) i get to take the ferry to auckland!!! i'm headed over to meet jon and bexie for a night out on the "big little city" and try out a climbing gym they've heard good things about.
on thursday we get a NEW WWOOFer and i'm so excited i could throw a party! young, dear, strange craig is moving on to russell (a town in the bay of islands) and we get a new gal from the u.k. i am so happy i will no longer need to follow pigpen around with a mop and broom - the guy should be forced to wear a bib at all times =)
