Cadbury Chocolate Factory

Had a relaxing morning at Jo's.

Then Alison & I headed to town to the Cadbury Chocolate factory. We were late for the 1st tour so I looked at the informative displays in the lobby while Alison went to the Green Party headquarters to work on a project. Alison got back just in time for the next tour. The factory itself was closed for maintenance over the holiday so we got in for 1/2 the price. We got to taste coca beans that were roasted & distilled - yegh. Also, saw a video on the making of chocolate & parts of the factory that were closed. We were taken to a tower where one ton of chocolate was dropped like a waterfall into a vat. Just like the movie, "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory". It was neat to see but not part of the chocolate making process. It was just for show. The tour guide said that New Zealanders eat 4 kilos of chocolate a year per person, Aussies eat 7, and euros and Americans eat 12! Two Quaker families are the ones that started Cadbury.

The tour guide showed us the ton of chocolate pouring down into a big vat that it's not part of the chocolate making process, it was just for show. It smelled wonderful in there.

Went to Uncle Walt & Aunt Mary's on the hill. Uncle Walt looked a little old but still had spunk & got around just fine. After a bit of visiting, he took his one front false tooth out & said he was going to be comfortable & be himself.

Mary is suffering from memory loss. They don't think it's Alzheimer’s but it sure sounds similar. Her hair was long, a little greasy, & pulled back in a ponytail. She looked a bit older too but still had the familiar mannerisms, like standing with her hands behind her back, with a little smile, & listening very closely. And her laughter was the same.

Mary was a pretty quiet during the visit. She told me about a few things she had hanging on the wall. I mentioned that we'd been at the chocolate factory & she said she had worked there, up above the factory floor, & that she had the job of making sure the chocolate didn't boil over.

They took me on a tour of the property. They have 2 large rain barrels to catch the rain off the roof of the garage. It's then piped to 2 barrels on a high stand that give it pressure to the house. One for drinking & 1 for the wash, etc. The toilet is electric & works on a centrifuge method. The inside spins which whisks the waste into a tank which then dries & is later emptied & used for compost. The greenery around the property is overgrown. There are raspberries, grass, vines, & bushes everywhere. It almost hides the little yellow house. It's kinda run down. It definitely had character. Walt showed me how he took a door & cut it in half so he could have the top half open in the morning. He has lots of plans on fixing the place up. They have a handyman that's helping him with the work.

Alison said that Walt owns 5 hectars of land. (I think hectars are a form of measurement like kilos, meters, & grams). About 20 yards out from the house is a break in the trees giving us a view of the bay. We went through a paddock with 2 sheep in it. Mary had us stand on either side of her because the male ram doesn't like her & has butted her to the ground.

We said good-bye & headed over to the Albatross Colony. Jo came with us.

(To be continued tomorrow)