Rolled out of Marfells and into Bleinheim early, we had a mission to accomplish today, building a bed in Serena to increase her appeal for an easy sale to backpackers eager to hit the open road. We forgot that being a Sunday most places are closed or have limited hours. Looking for a Mitre 10 we came across another home and garden store, Paul quickly was inside pricing out lumber, chewing gum, paper clips, ect. whatever it would take to build a quality bed. We found some wood that would work, but before we made any purchases we needed to take the seats out of the van, no problem. Paul got the front seats out no problem but the back seats were bolted down with a size 14 bolt and we needed a socket wrench to get the bugger loose. Not wanting to purchase a set we asked the worker if he had one, luckily he did, unluckily it only went to size 13. Oh dang the store was closing at noon, did not have the right size socket for us, so we thanked them for their help and piled our crap back in the van in search for a gas station that might have a socket set as well as the elusive mitre 10.
We then drove around some more discussing if we should even spend the money on the bed and looking for a Mitre 10 since the other store closed at noon. We found a Mitre 10 (comparable to a Lowes) and we found it to be a cheaper option with some different lumber, now we just had to get the damn seat out. Leaving Mitre 10 for a renewed search for a socket set (they did not have one I could use) we came across a Cricket game in progress and stopped to check it out. 45 minutes later bored out of our minds we left with a renewed confidence that cricket is the lamest game on earth. We then drove to Renwick and finally a gas station loaned Paul a socked set and we got the seats out. Then headed back to Mitre 10 in Blenheim and it was on.
The next 4-6hr were ugly, I just remembered Paul telling me how easy this will be "no problem, just cut this here, here, and here, nail there, Boom donzo! This would have been the case if the store was more like ones back home that would cut the wood for you using a powered saw. However, this is not the kiwi way and you don't go around wearing short shorts around if you take the easy way out. So once the wood was purchased they handed Paul the dullest saw that he had ever seen/used. They also provided him with a hammer (for children 5 and under or hanging pictures with tac's), a saw horse and a little space outside their lumber yard and an extra stall by Serena for a work shop. Soon all of our possessions were out in the parking lot like we were a bunch of gypsies setting up camp.
The bed came together relatively quick considering most of the time (hours) spent trying to rip plywood with a dull saw or cut through the 12cm x 12cm (or something like that, basically 4x4's very rough cut, very wet, knotted lumber for the framing.) Most of my job was staying by the van and all of our possessions, I was the liaison to the general public who stared and gawked at our workshop and flea market. A few older kiwi men ventured over and asked what we were up to, they clearly have never seen pimp my ride, so I told them that my husband was building her a bed. This seemed to satisfy there curiosity and I got a few grunts and a good luck to ya. Soon my liaison position was put on hold and I was recruited to the field for some hard labor. I had to pick up one end of the platform and squeeze into the back with it and help guide the bed into position. This was a simple task but when Paul switches into Project Manager mode he is all business and did not see if my big toe was out of the way. After a few bad words and some blood, I heard Paul make a comment about flip flops and construction not mixing (funny he was wearing them as well) and OSHA would not approve, I told him I was not a liberty to discuss the matter since I would be filing a workers comp complaint!
With a new bed in the back and the chairs pile on top (no where to throw them out) we headed north to Picton to the motor camp to stay and load on the ferry in the morning. At the camp the lady checking us in started laughing at us and informed us she was one of the gawkers had seen us in the Mitre 10 parking lot and wondered what we were up to and why we were doing it in the Mitre10 parking lot… wow, it is a small island!
We made shrimp/chicken fajitas for dinner and crashed out sad to be leaving the south island for good in the morning.
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