Back into Town!

DECEMBER 23rd

Helensville - Massey

Dear Diary,

What an awesome drive down from Helensville. Wow! I’ve just arrived in Massey and have been bowled over by the stunning weather and the knowledgeable librarians! I can’t wait to explore…Hey by the way (btw) Takapu is the Maori word for gannet and Te Awaroa is the name for Helensville - that makes a lot of sense really 'awa' river and 'roa' long!



Massey, West Auckland Google Map





Helensville to Massey Google map.

…The first person I met was Vegas, who wanted to show me his favourite section of the library. Vegas wants to be a paleontologist so you can guess what his favourite subject is…? Dinosaurs of course! 

The YMCA is right next door to the library and the kids there were playing in the moat and rolling a humungous tyre! I thought this looked like fun and asked if I could join in? Hannah and Neve asked if I would like to float down the moat. I wish I could have but I didn’t have my water wings. Maybe next time girls?

I’ve heard that the best strawberries in the country are grown in Massey. Vegas and his mum Kathryn took me to a strawberry garden and let me ride the tractor there. All this fun made me hungry, so Vegas shouted me a yummy strawberry icecream made with the strawberries grown right here in Massey. It dripped right down my shirt to my shoes! Now I’m sticky!

Driving towards Westgate, I saw this massive pile of dirt and lots of diggers. I shouted – “Stop! What’s that?” Christine slammed on the brakes so we could have a look. I had to put on my high vis vest because I was on a construction site. I saw heaps of big machines and Christine who is the children’s librarian at Massey told me that they are building a brand new library on this site. I hope I can come back and see it when it is built.

Vegas told me that Santa was visiting Westgate Toy World and I could get my photo taken with him! I hoped Santa had time to see me ‘cos I’ve got a few things on my list that I need to discuss with him…Nah! I’ll be grateful for whatever I get! Santa did have time for a chat and he told me that he knew exactly which scooter I was hoping to get! Fingers crossed now! I can’t wait for Christmas! I must remember to leave Santa some strawberries. He could smell them on my shirt and he told me that they are his favourite fruit.

My last stop was to try out a new yellow bridge built over the motorway so that the kids from West Harbour can get to the library.  I wanted to bungee off it but Vegas told me that was too dangerous – especially since we didn’t actually have a bungee! 

Well, thanks to Christine, Vegas and the gang at Massey! My family are heading to one of the glorious West Coast beaches to camp for Christmas (I hope the weather stays fine) before I continue my library adventure - I'm going to see Rhiann at Blockhouse Bay and I think I'll be over there for New Year's eve!

Have a great Christmas everyone! Hope you've been 'nice' not 'naughty' this year so Santa comes to your house! I've got a new scooter on my list!

My question for you this time - what does Santa drive in Yvonne Morrison's a 'Kiwi Night Before Christmas?'