Brunch at Pear Tree

Eggs Benny $15.5
Mushrooms on toast $15
Flat White $3.9
Latte $4.5
Steinlager Premium light $7
Total $45.90 (A bit less than I pay for a breakfast out in Auckland at somewhere like the Papermoon cafe)

I only just found out that the house now know as the Pear Tree was previously owned by distant relatives and my mother used to spend nights there as a child. But now its a wonderful place to eat and if you're ever in Kerikeri stop by!

Its conveniently located at THE tourist hot spot stone store and Kemp house, but doesn't suffer from tourist trap prices and the food is excellent. Its so good I went twice, once for lunch and back again the next day for brunch. Who can resist sitting in the sun watching the water and perving at the tourists?

The seared scallop salad thing i had for lunch was perfect, the whole thing was deliciously, loads of different flavours all working together to make me wish I'd ordered two. They have Stoke amber and golden lager on tap, plus Guiness and a selection of reasonably priced wines. 

This is where our holiday fund went.......

Half done

All done

Edge before the stairs to the back garden. Drains take a sharp curve and runs down the side of the steps under some concrete.

Now theres the leaking pipe in the backyard to be dug up and fixed and hurrah! ALL done! All up $3700  incl GST.

Going to The Pub

My mums partner has returned to OZ for work because he just couldn't make enough money in NZ. Fair enough wages here are pretty bad compared with the ever increasing cost of living. One things my mum mentioned that really hit home for me is that they often found they had to decline shouting a round or avoid going out with friends because it was too expensive. I know the feeling, I couldn't afford to buy other people drinks that's for sure. I can't really afford to go out for lunch/dinner unless I have a coupon. (Yay grab one!)

I've of a couple of workmates who seem to manage to go out several times a week and I get regaled with tales of restaurants and bars. Ah to lead a life where I could just go out if I didn't feel like cooking.

So what does a pub lunch on the North Shore of Auckland cost?

Macs Brew Bar Hurstmere road
Rustic Pizza $21
Hand cut chunky fries $8
2 x Pints $17
Total $46 (I paid only $26 thanks to a grabone voucher)

The pizza and fries could have fed 3 people though, we certainly didn't finish it all. If we'd had two beers each the price would have rocketed to $63. $63 for beers,pizza and chips? Does that sound reasonable
thats about;

$51 (US)
£32 (GB)
€39
$50 (AUS)
$51 (CAN)


So is NZ expensive or just expensive compared to my wages? Is it reasonable to assume an average worker could afford to go out for a meal once a week? Or am I trying to aspire to a lifestyle way beyond my means,  has my generation come to expect too much? 

Summers garden at an end

Marigolds, finally in bloom, lettuces.

Sunday Beer Treat