Saturday, January 29, 2005
God it's hot!
25 -30 degrees. Just to let you know we are spending the day on the pool deck with J and K. It's seriously hot and I have had to retreat indoors to cool off. Have been in the pool several times but I keep getting wet that way. What are the temperatures in Blighty?!?!?!?
Friday, January 28, 2005
Night night
Just spent a really nice evening on the pool deck with J and K and J's parents. Warm night, far too much gin (on an empty stomach!!), thai curry and life is wonderful. Going to bed. Night Night all.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
My poor baby!
Go to Alice's blog to see what a mess she has made of her face! Click on Alice's Adventures in the links.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Thursday - A Perfect Day
As beaches go this is as close to perfect as I can imagine. We are on the north coast of the BOI at Pia Pia Bay. We arrived around 10am and for the first 2 hours it was deserted. Now (around 2pm - I'm guessing here, remember, no watches) 3 moms have 9 young children between them (but not near us) and there are a few other people way up the other end. The beach is not huge but has perfect soft sand, islands dotted in the clear blue/green water, and pohutakawas cover the rocks behind us. It is incredibly picturesque. Eric is snorkeling (Harriette has just left her beach sculpturing to grab her mask and snorkel as Eric has spotted fish 'this big'!)
A break while I too went to investigate. H,E and A all saw them but I could not bear the cold so missed out. (Sea sculpture washed away by the tide before I got a piccie - I thought it was good).
There is hardly a cloud in the sky and the cicadas have started up and are trying to compete with the waves to see who can make the most noise. It is hot, with a gentle breeze, as I said, perfect.
'Our' spot.
The view.
H,A and pohutakawas.
Yesterday the weather was variable. It didn't rain but threatened to for much of the day in between bursts of sunshine, and it was windy. We decided to go on an explore and headed up the 10 north to Doubtless Bay, more golden sandy beaches, and across the top of the North Island (if you ignore the peninsula at the top) to Kaitaia. I was disappointed as I imagined Kaitaia to be a nice town. It is a bit of a dump and gives the impression of being behind the times. It's only saving grace is a Warehouse as I needed to buy another duvet (I was cold at night and needed another single duvet at home anyway). From Kaitaia we drove 12km west to the coast at Ahipara at the bottom of 90 mile beach. 90 mile beach isn't (64 miles sticks in my mind but I might be wrong) and runs up the west coast of the previously mentioned peninsula. The beach is also a main highway, check the tides before you drive and 4WD's only (Bloo!!!!).
From a blowy Ahipara we headed south towards Hokianga Harbour (which goes inland an awful long way), were we took a short trip on the car ferry to cross to the south side. The harbour itself was OK but the entrance is stunning with the biggest sand dunes I have ever seen (Alice thought it was a desert and had to be reminded of the definition of one!). We took a walk out to the South Head - stunning. The colour of the sea (The Tasman) and the pattern of the waves reminded me of the Cape of Good Hope in S.Africa. Herriette was grumpy and did not want to walk so we came back and told her we had seen a pod of dolphin, and maybe sixpence was among them! Alice rose to the occasion talking about the cute baby etc. We still haven't told her it was a wind-up!!!
From Opinoni and Omapere (were Bridget's family bach is) we travelled south-ish and throught he kauri forests. We stopped and looked at Tane Mahuta a 2000 year old Kauri tree. The picture doesn't really show the true size of it, it is seriously huge.
We then took a long drive on an unsealed road to get back to the east side of the island and travel back up to KeriKeri.
Overall my impressions are that inland Northland is nothing to write home about, I think the central North Island is prettier (I do like the forsts here though), but the coast here is nothing short of spectacular. Tomorrow is our final full day here. If the weather holds up I plan to ask Robyn to feed the dogs so we can head home later on Saturday. It will also allow the tent to dry out before we pack it, the morning dews have been really heavy. It's hot and I'm going to try and get in the sea!
A break while I too went to investigate. H,E and A all saw them but I could not bear the cold so missed out. (Sea sculpture washed away by the tide before I got a piccie - I thought it was good).
There is hardly a cloud in the sky and the cicadas have started up and are trying to compete with the waves to see who can make the most noise. It is hot, with a gentle breeze, as I said, perfect.
'Our' spot.
The view.
H,A and pohutakawas.
Yesterday the weather was variable. It didn't rain but threatened to for much of the day in between bursts of sunshine, and it was windy. We decided to go on an explore and headed up the 10 north to Doubtless Bay, more golden sandy beaches, and across the top of the North Island (if you ignore the peninsula at the top) to Kaitaia. I was disappointed as I imagined Kaitaia to be a nice town. It is a bit of a dump and gives the impression of being behind the times. It's only saving grace is a Warehouse as I needed to buy another duvet (I was cold at night and needed another single duvet at home anyway). From Kaitaia we drove 12km west to the coast at Ahipara at the bottom of 90 mile beach. 90 mile beach isn't (64 miles sticks in my mind but I might be wrong) and runs up the west coast of the previously mentioned peninsula. The beach is also a main highway, check the tides before you drive and 4WD's only (Bloo!!!!).
From a blowy Ahipara we headed south towards Hokianga Harbour (which goes inland an awful long way), were we took a short trip on the car ferry to cross to the south side. The harbour itself was OK but the entrance is stunning with the biggest sand dunes I have ever seen (Alice thought it was a desert and had to be reminded of the definition of one!). We took a walk out to the South Head - stunning. The colour of the sea (The Tasman) and the pattern of the waves reminded me of the Cape of Good Hope in S.Africa. Herriette was grumpy and did not want to walk so we came back and told her we had seen a pod of dolphin, and maybe sixpence was among them! Alice rose to the occasion talking about the cute baby etc. We still haven't told her it was a wind-up!!!
From Opinoni and Omapere (were Bridget's family bach is) we travelled south-ish and throught he kauri forests. We stopped and looked at Tane Mahuta a 2000 year old Kauri tree. The picture doesn't really show the true size of it, it is seriously huge.
We then took a long drive on an unsealed road to get back to the east side of the island and travel back up to KeriKeri.
Overall my impressions are that inland Northland is nothing to write home about, I think the central North Island is prettier (I do like the forsts here though), but the coast here is nothing short of spectacular. Tomorrow is our final full day here. If the weather holds up I plan to ask Robyn to feed the dogs so we can head home later on Saturday. It will also allow the tent to dry out before we pack it, the morning dews have been really heavy. It's hot and I'm going to try and get in the sea!
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Tuesday - I think...
... Yes I'm sure it is. I'm sitting at a picnic table on a campsite, somewhere north of KeriKeri (which for those of you not NZ orientated, is north of Auckland, in fact north of 97% of NZ, and in the province of Northland). Behind me bananas are growing, to the right of me is an orange orchard and parrots occasionally fly around. We have noticed a strange, and somewhat pre-historic sounding eerie birdsong which I believe may be from a Bell bird. I think the birds at Cedar Lodge are quite evident but they are different here. I should complete the scene by saying I can also hear the traffic from SHW10 - but I won't!!
These 'holiday' entries are being transcribed from a written journal and I have promised myself that I will alter nothing. If a web-log is a blog then is a written/paper log a wlog (no), a plog (better)?
We left on Sunday getting away at 8.15am, only 1hr 15min later than planned but I kept telling myself 'we're on holiday, time doesn't matter'. Which is just as well as we don't have a watch between us and we generally leave our phones off. It's only when we get to the car that we become 'time orientated'. The journey up took 5 and 1/4 hrs and I did all the driving as Eric got dust in his eyes on Saturday and they were still red and sore. I envisaged a trip to the doctors on Monday but he seems to be over the worst now. I am amazed at how little traffic there is up here, until you get into the 'towns' and that's were everyone is. Paihia and KeriKeri are bustling but not heaving. The tourist industry, particularly on the camping front has been hard hit by the diabolical weather over Xmas/NY. I, on the other hand, am gloating. Today is the first overcast day since my holiday began last week. It has been seriously hot with not a cloud in the sky. Despite being careful Eric has burnt his legs (the sun moved his shade he thought he was in from a pohutakawa) and I am a little red on my back.
Once we had arrived, pitched the tent, had lunch and a swim we jollied around to get a bit orientated. This is a major fruit producing region famous for it's oranges. There are also signs everywhere for sweetcorn, plums, watermelon and tangelo's (a cross between an orange and a tangerine).We plan to take sacks of oranges and tangelos back from this orchard when we go. I'll juice and freeze lots.
Monday, our first full day was, coincidentally, Stan's birthday. We jollied down to Paihia (20 mins away) and found him, land bound for the day, at the dive shop and arranged to meet later. After a coffee on the pier we found a beach, laid under a tree and read while the girls played in the sea. They repeatedly asked/begged us to hire a kayak but the sea was quite choppy and even adults were struggling. We later met up with Stan and went to his 'tree house'. He is renting a room in a house owned by the parents of a young lad he met diving on a previous trip to Paihia. Ty Ray's parents have recently taken over management of a motel in Paihia and moved in there. This house is amazing. You enter it from a conventional, nice residential area. We parked on the road and walked down an unbelieveably steep slope. The house is built on 4 levels on the steep slope down into the bush. You can hardly see it from the road.
Stan took us up to Bledisloe Point for, probably, the best view of the Bay of Islands.
On the way he dropped in to the motel to pay his rent and we were introduced to Pam and Aubrey, Ty Ray's parents. They very kindly invited us to supper and for Stan's birthday had cooked snapper (2 delivered by a neighbour) and birthday cake. They bought him a pressie and did the whole toot. I later took the girls back to the campsite and left Eric and Stan to go drinking. I guess they had a good night as they didn't get in until after 3am.
The weather today, as I said, is a little disappointing as it has clouded over. The girls and I picked Eric up and came back here for some breakfast and for Eric to get showered. We then drove up to explore the coast line out to the north. We stopped at:
Matauri Bay. A long steep, hairpin bend drive down to the beach which was very long, straight and golden. In fact every beach has golden sand so I won't repeat that! At one end was a run down caravan site, a Maori pikey site is the most apt, if not PC description. At the other end was a huge, packed campsite. We have been assured that it is a lovely bay but the 'caravan site' put me off.
Te Ngataere Bay, lovely, quiet, just a few holiday baches.
Wainui Bay looked small and quiet but access seemed to be through Wainui Whanau campsite and Eric refused to park leaving the car with maori who had seen us head off! Raiding holidaymakers cars in remote spots is a problem here (?everywhere really).
Tauranga Bay. A popular tourist destination. Lovely beach but busy (we're talking 'NZ busy' here, not to be mixed up with 'Margate busy!) due to the large campsite, maybe 100 baches dotted around village-style and a motel.
Whangaroa harbour. A very quiet harbour with lots of 'proper' boats. Very pretty. Here we had an icecream from the little shop and then made the return trip to KeriKeri.
By now Eric was fading so we shot into town for provisions at the new and quite large New World, and headed home. Eric then slept, OK we both slept! But, I am now wide awake writing this. Tonight we will BBQ, in foil packets, the fresh trumpeter, lemon fish (or rig, or dog fish) and gurnard we bought to have with salads, pull apart bread and cherries for 'pudding' - and am I looking forward to that - I'm starving!
These 'holiday' entries are being transcribed from a written journal and I have promised myself that I will alter nothing. If a web-log is a blog then is a written/paper log a wlog (no), a plog (better)?
We left on Sunday getting away at 8.15am, only 1hr 15min later than planned but I kept telling myself 'we're on holiday, time doesn't matter'. Which is just as well as we don't have a watch between us and we generally leave our phones off. It's only when we get to the car that we become 'time orientated'. The journey up took 5 and 1/4 hrs and I did all the driving as Eric got dust in his eyes on Saturday and they were still red and sore. I envisaged a trip to the doctors on Monday but he seems to be over the worst now. I am amazed at how little traffic there is up here, until you get into the 'towns' and that's were everyone is. Paihia and KeriKeri are bustling but not heaving. The tourist industry, particularly on the camping front has been hard hit by the diabolical weather over Xmas/NY. I, on the other hand, am gloating. Today is the first overcast day since my holiday began last week. It has been seriously hot with not a cloud in the sky. Despite being careful Eric has burnt his legs (the sun moved his shade he thought he was in from a pohutakawa) and I am a little red on my back.
Once we had arrived, pitched the tent, had lunch and a swim we jollied around to get a bit orientated. This is a major fruit producing region famous for it's oranges. There are also signs everywhere for sweetcorn, plums, watermelon and tangelo's (a cross between an orange and a tangerine).We plan to take sacks of oranges and tangelos back from this orchard when we go. I'll juice and freeze lots.
Monday, our first full day was, coincidentally, Stan's birthday. We jollied down to Paihia (20 mins away) and found him, land bound for the day, at the dive shop and arranged to meet later. After a coffee on the pier we found a beach, laid under a tree and read while the girls played in the sea. They repeatedly asked/begged us to hire a kayak but the sea was quite choppy and even adults were struggling. We later met up with Stan and went to his 'tree house'. He is renting a room in a house owned by the parents of a young lad he met diving on a previous trip to Paihia. Ty Ray's parents have recently taken over management of a motel in Paihia and moved in there. This house is amazing. You enter it from a conventional, nice residential area. We parked on the road and walked down an unbelieveably steep slope. The house is built on 4 levels on the steep slope down into the bush. You can hardly see it from the road.
Stan took us up to Bledisloe Point for, probably, the best view of the Bay of Islands.
On the way he dropped in to the motel to pay his rent and we were introduced to Pam and Aubrey, Ty Ray's parents. They very kindly invited us to supper and for Stan's birthday had cooked snapper (2 delivered by a neighbour) and birthday cake. They bought him a pressie and did the whole toot. I later took the girls back to the campsite and left Eric and Stan to go drinking. I guess they had a good night as they didn't get in until after 3am.
The weather today, as I said, is a little disappointing as it has clouded over. The girls and I picked Eric up and came back here for some breakfast and for Eric to get showered. We then drove up to explore the coast line out to the north. We stopped at:
Matauri Bay. A long steep, hairpin bend drive down to the beach which was very long, straight and golden. In fact every beach has golden sand so I won't repeat that! At one end was a run down caravan site, a Maori pikey site is the most apt, if not PC description. At the other end was a huge, packed campsite. We have been assured that it is a lovely bay but the 'caravan site' put me off.
Te Ngataere Bay, lovely, quiet, just a few holiday baches.
Wainui Bay looked small and quiet but access seemed to be through Wainui Whanau campsite and Eric refused to park leaving the car with maori who had seen us head off! Raiding holidaymakers cars in remote spots is a problem here (?everywhere really).
Tauranga Bay. A popular tourist destination. Lovely beach but busy (we're talking 'NZ busy' here, not to be mixed up with 'Margate busy!) due to the large campsite, maybe 100 baches dotted around village-style and a motel.
Whangaroa harbour. A very quiet harbour with lots of 'proper' boats. Very pretty. Here we had an icecream from the little shop and then made the return trip to KeriKeri.
By now Eric was fading so we shot into town for provisions at the new and quite large New World, and headed home. Eric then slept, OK we both slept! But, I am now wide awake writing this. Tonight we will BBQ, in foil packets, the fresh trumpeter, lemon fish (or rig, or dog fish) and gurnard we bought to have with salads, pull apart bread and cherries for 'pudding' - and am I looking forward to that - I'm starving!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Rush rushing
Off to bed actually. Early start tomorrow as we are off to the Bay of Islands to camp. Bach occupied so we are camping care of Helen and Phils tent - Thanks Guys. No blog for a week therefore, I am being very brave and going without the pooter!!!!!!!
Had a fabulous day on the Coromandel yesterday with Helen and son George. Tom opted not to come, and I think he should regret that. The weather was fabulous, we found a huge, deserted beach and got home at 1am. Will tell all next weekend.
Eric is seriously burnt after spending several hours in R+R's pool. I hasten to add it had no water in it as they were puting in a new liner. The weather is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Please may it stay that way for at least another 2-3 weeks so we can have a good holiday and get hay cut on our return!!
Have a good week all. Big Hugs.
Had a fabulous day on the Coromandel yesterday with Helen and son George. Tom opted not to come, and I think he should regret that. The weather was fabulous, we found a huge, deserted beach and got home at 1am. Will tell all next weekend.
Eric is seriously burnt after spending several hours in R+R's pool. I hasten to add it had no water in it as they were puting in a new liner. The weather is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Please may it stay that way for at least another 2-3 weeks so we can have a good holiday and get hay cut on our return!!
Have a good week all. Big Hugs.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Sixpence it is.
Two blogs in two days. What does that mean? Nothing to write about!!!!! Except that ...dah dahhhhh.. the sun is shining!!!!!!! This morning there was not a cloud in the sky, nowhere. Eric thinks it's the first time he has seen the Kaimais cloudless the whole way along. And the sky was so blue, what we always call an African blue sky as I had never seen it that colour before I went to South Africa. This evening the weather has been perfect, still and warm. This is what evenings were like when we first got here. The last 2 years the wind has put paid to many evenings on the deck.
We have finally decided on a name for our dolphin. I emailed the stuff off yesterday and await our certificate. Thank you once again Bridget for an awsome present.
Yesterday was spent sunbathing by the pool. Today was spent... sunbathing by the pool. Actually not for too long really as I had had a big dose of the yellow stuff yesterday. Popped the Mistral into the elctrical people yesterday to get the horn fixed, not that I use it but the WoF (MOT) will. It goes in tomorrow for that.
Carol I have finally planted out the Bird of Paradise plant you gave me. I pulled up the globe artichoke by the back door and have put it in its place. I need it close by so I can be sure to protect it from frost in the winter.
Mom and Daddy the kauri you gave us is also looking very healthy but I don't plan to plant that out for another year at least.
Harriette is acting very strangely. She has spent the afternoon and evening reading in her room (Return of the King - for the 5th time!) emerging only to eat supper and wash up! I put it down to hormones.
Does anyone remember The Ultimate Alphabet? Bloo you won't you're too young! The book with 26 fabulous paintings each one containing hundreds of items starting with the same letter. Alice has just found it and is facinated by it. I always think of Mike, Elly's husband, when I pick this book up. I am not quite sure why, I think maybe he introduced me to it.
Off to bed to continue with my latest Jodi Picoult - Picture Perfect. Gripping in places and slow in others. Night night world.
We have finally decided on a name for our dolphin. I emailed the stuff off yesterday and await our certificate. Thank you once again Bridget for an awsome present.
Yesterday was spent sunbathing by the pool. Today was spent... sunbathing by the pool. Actually not for too long really as I had had a big dose of the yellow stuff yesterday. Popped the Mistral into the elctrical people yesterday to get the horn fixed, not that I use it but the WoF (MOT) will. It goes in tomorrow for that.
Carol I have finally planted out the Bird of Paradise plant you gave me. I pulled up the globe artichoke by the back door and have put it in its place. I need it close by so I can be sure to protect it from frost in the winter.
Mom and Daddy the kauri you gave us is also looking very healthy but I don't plan to plant that out for another year at least.
Harriette is acting very strangely. She has spent the afternoon and evening reading in her room (Return of the King - for the 5th time!) emerging only to eat supper and wash up! I put it down to hormones.
Does anyone remember The Ultimate Alphabet? Bloo you won't you're too young! The book with 26 fabulous paintings each one containing hundreds of items starting with the same letter. Alice has just found it and is facinated by it. I always think of Mike, Elly's husband, when I pick this book up. I am not quite sure why, I think maybe he introduced me to it.
Off to bed to continue with my latest Jodi Picoult - Picture Perfect. Gripping in places and slow in others. Night night world.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
A proper weekend
Just as well I did not make 'I will blog at least once every 2 days' my NY's revolution. I was determined (well a bit determined!) to blog last night. I am on holiday for 2 weeks now but worked yesterday as we had a meeting. I was physically less active than for any day recently but after pizzas (yes I know it's not Saturday but holiday time is about not sticking to routine) and half a glass of red wine, or as Carol call's this particular cheap (if you can call any wine in NZ cheap- it isn't) boxed red wine 'ribena for growd ups', I was almost asleep on the sofa. I went to bed.
I am however here first thing this morning.
The sun is shining, and it promises to stay that way for a few days. Rain again by the weekend just as we are due to head up North. Plan A was we would camp but when Bridget kindly offered the possibility of plan B kicked in. We just await confirmation that it's empty. I guess (hope!) that if the weather is set for rain then no family members will want it and we won't have to camp. If sun is predicted then I reckon it's more likely the bach will be occupied and camping will be great. If sun is predicted and it pours down we're in for a miserable week!!! We have no plans beyond lots of walking (sorry kids!), swimming and hopefully some fishing, and of course a catch up with Stan.
Where did I leave off, ah yes, Eric's birthday. We did go over to the Mount to meet R+R and the girls who were there on holiday. For them holiday is not getting up at 4.45am wherever it is. They have a very nice, if small apartment. It is in a complex surrounded by other complex's. Robyn seemed quite horrified that other people could look in. She directed me to the window and said 'Look, it's all buildings'. I then pointed out to her that this is how a large percentage of the worlds population live. She was flabberghasted. Not that she did not know that but I don't think she'd ever experienced it first hand. She then said, 'I like to look out onto the land'. Now you'd have to see where they live to know exactly what she means. R+R live up high and they can see for more than miles. They can see forever in a 360 degree rotation almost, and all they can see is fields and the Kaimais (a long low mountain range that divideds the Waikato,us, from the sea). The weather had been aweful but sun was promised for tha afternoon, and amazingly that's what happened. We had a bread, cheese and sausages lunch walked round the Mount.....
I love this photo of Katherine and Alice
Sarah
NZ's fabulous Pohutakawa
and then played boule on the beach....
This is Richard mimicking Eric's professional looking but poofey pose!
Their apartment is literaly 'across the road from the beach. After a wash and brush up for the girls who had been bodyboarding in the sea, and me collecting Hannah, we went into Tauranga for dinner. It was heaving and we would have had an hour wait at the Lone Star, our destination. Hannah then said she knew a good restaurant along the way. I wouldn't normally trust a 10 year old with such a decision but Hannah is both wise for her age and has good taste. They could fit us in (a big ask, a table for 9 on a busy night) and warned us we would have quite a long wait. It was, and I could see Richard getting a bit impatient, not rude but a subtle tapping the table and fidgeting - he was starving, but when the food came it was very good. They were clearing tables as we left, obviously turning the place from a reastaurant to trendy bar and preparing the disco. That sounds such an old fashioned word! Is there a trendy replacement I wonder?
On Sunday we took Eric's boat out. Now he has his fathers boat and this is it's first trip out for 3 years. It has been the object of great hilarity with the guys as they do 'proper' boats here. We went onto the Waikato river at Hora Hora domain about a 5 minute drive from us. Unfortunately it is a boat access used by lots of water skiers with their big 70 - 130 horsepower engines. Eric's has 7! The girls took the mickey out of him mercilessly but he soldiered on bravely. In fairness it is meant for a bit of fishing and the sole purpose of the boat is to get Eric off shore which it will do perfectly. Fishing is also something he hasn't done any of yet!! We had a break (more boule, on grass this time) and the girls went out again. As I saw them rounding the bend in the river, coming back, the phone rang. Doreen (Hannah's grandma). Bert had been waiting at the Woolshed (our drop off/collect Hannah place) for 30 mins now!!!! The plan was to exchange Hannah in the afternoon (later rather than earlier). We went out, Doreen phoned our home phone and left a message saying they'll be at the Woolshed at 4pm, but of course we did not get that message! It was no big problem as we would have left shortly anyway. We had 2 cars so we helped Eric get the boat out and flew off, arriving there at 5.30pm. Back for a roast pork dinner in the evening, a good meal to end a lovely weekend.
I am however here first thing this morning.
The sun is shining, and it promises to stay that way for a few days. Rain again by the weekend just as we are due to head up North. Plan A was we would camp but when Bridget kindly offered the possibility of plan B kicked in. We just await confirmation that it's empty. I guess (hope!) that if the weather is set for rain then no family members will want it and we won't have to camp. If sun is predicted then I reckon it's more likely the bach will be occupied and camping will be great. If sun is predicted and it pours down we're in for a miserable week!!! We have no plans beyond lots of walking (sorry kids!), swimming and hopefully some fishing, and of course a catch up with Stan.
Where did I leave off, ah yes, Eric's birthday. We did go over to the Mount to meet R+R and the girls who were there on holiday. For them holiday is not getting up at 4.45am wherever it is. They have a very nice, if small apartment. It is in a complex surrounded by other complex's. Robyn seemed quite horrified that other people could look in. She directed me to the window and said 'Look, it's all buildings'. I then pointed out to her that this is how a large percentage of the worlds population live. She was flabberghasted. Not that she did not know that but I don't think she'd ever experienced it first hand. She then said, 'I like to look out onto the land'. Now you'd have to see where they live to know exactly what she means. R+R live up high and they can see for more than miles. They can see forever in a 360 degree rotation almost, and all they can see is fields and the Kaimais (a long low mountain range that divideds the Waikato,us, from the sea). The weather had been aweful but sun was promised for tha afternoon, and amazingly that's what happened. We had a bread, cheese and sausages lunch walked round the Mount.....
I love this photo of Katherine and Alice
Sarah
NZ's fabulous Pohutakawa
and then played boule on the beach....
This is Richard mimicking Eric's professional looking but poofey pose!
Their apartment is literaly 'across the road from the beach. After a wash and brush up for the girls who had been bodyboarding in the sea, and me collecting Hannah, we went into Tauranga for dinner. It was heaving and we would have had an hour wait at the Lone Star, our destination. Hannah then said she knew a good restaurant along the way. I wouldn't normally trust a 10 year old with such a decision but Hannah is both wise for her age and has good taste. They could fit us in (a big ask, a table for 9 on a busy night) and warned us we would have quite a long wait. It was, and I could see Richard getting a bit impatient, not rude but a subtle tapping the table and fidgeting - he was starving, but when the food came it was very good. They were clearing tables as we left, obviously turning the place from a reastaurant to trendy bar and preparing the disco. That sounds such an old fashioned word! Is there a trendy replacement I wonder?
On Sunday we took Eric's boat out. Now he has his fathers boat and this is it's first trip out for 3 years. It has been the object of great hilarity with the guys as they do 'proper' boats here. We went onto the Waikato river at Hora Hora domain about a 5 minute drive from us. Unfortunately it is a boat access used by lots of water skiers with their big 70 - 130 horsepower engines. Eric's has 7! The girls took the mickey out of him mercilessly but he soldiered on bravely. In fairness it is meant for a bit of fishing and the sole purpose of the boat is to get Eric off shore which it will do perfectly. Fishing is also something he hasn't done any of yet!! We had a break (more boule, on grass this time) and the girls went out again. As I saw them rounding the bend in the river, coming back, the phone rang. Doreen (Hannah's grandma). Bert had been waiting at the Woolshed (our drop off/collect Hannah place) for 30 mins now!!!! The plan was to exchange Hannah in the afternoon (later rather than earlier). We went out, Doreen phoned our home phone and left a message saying they'll be at the Woolshed at 4pm, but of course we did not get that message! It was no big problem as we would have left shortly anyway. We had 2 cars so we helped Eric get the boat out and flew off, arriving there at 5.30pm. Back for a roast pork dinner in the evening, a good meal to end a lovely weekend.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
39 today. That means the big 40 approaches.
Back again.
Happy Birthday Devon (it's still the 7th there). I hope you've had a brilliant day. Will try and catch you on the phone when you get in.
I had previously been telling you about our Jan 2nd trip to Coromandel. After that walk back from Cathedral Cove we drove through to Hot Water Beach to dig a hot pool at low tide. Obviously all the rest of the Coromandel holidaymakers had the same idea!!
Harder boys, dig harder!
There is only a very small area where to water comes up hot so you dig a little and put your foot in to feel the temperature. The hot water is boiling and a bucket is required to ferry in sea water, unless, like us, you are so close to the waves they are rushing into your pool!
It was really too busy to do the job properly so Eric and I decided we would go back in the winter.
Back at the car park we saw this camper. Either they had reversed too far or gone off without applying the handbrake. Luckily old tractors to tow boats in and out of the water are abundant in all NZ coastal areas.
Bugger
After a cup of tea at Ann and Mikes camper us girls formed the advance party to go back to the house for a BBQ. Unfortunately there was a bit of a miscommunication over directions and I ended up on the long route back. As Ann, Juliet and I were going ahead leaving Mike, Kev and Eric with the kids in the camper (we're not daft!), we obviously had the happy one with us. All the way back we (3) chatted away. She did not say a word! Thank heavens I didn't say anything derogatory about her as I really did forget she was there! At Ann and Mike's 3 neighbours also came to eat and we had a good evening. The happy one left the table as soon as she could and sat with the children. She then went to bed without saying a word of Goodbye to us. No 'Thank you for feeding us on 2 occassions and thank you for Stephanies present' etc. In fact when Juliet said Goodbye to her when she left NZ she had to say 'I hope you had a good holiday' in order to a prompt a Thank you. This is one visitor who won't be invited back in a hurry. Juliet said next time she can send Stephanie alone!!!
We got home at 2.30am. Amazingly the girls did not sleep on the trip back being glued to an audiobook I had playing set in WW2 Singapore!
On the 6th we took Xmas decs down. I am very superstitous about taking them down on that day, and with all the bad luck so many of our friends seem to be having at the moment I don't want to tempt fate. Eric swore that the hole into the attic got smaller during the Xmas period!!!
Yesterday Bridget came over after her few days in Pahia with Stan. Well there is no progress on the romance front yet but it's early days. No hat buying just yet but I think I might start looking - just in case you know! D Man, how could you suggest Ninja for a baby. That would require a Social Services referral!!
Now on the subject of names our dolphin needs one. Thank you for your ideas. I think it is down to Sixpence or HEMA (not Ninja -sorry). Any final thought before we make the decision?
This morning Harriette, with a bit of hinting from me, cooked Eric a scrambled eggs and smoked salmon breakfast. She needed a bit of reminding that cooking breakfast didn't just mean doing the main dish, that toast, OJ and laying the table was usually included! I would have liked a cappacino as well but didn't want to push my luck. I'll get one after blogging. Eric has now gone to collect strawberries from Pippins. His life is one long saga of collecting barrel loads of the things to feed to the pigs. Strawberry waste is at ridiculously high levels due to the wet and humid weather at the moment. It seems that everytime he goes there there is even more and yesterday he had to dump a load on my compost heap as there was more than the (16) pigs could eat. Roll on apple season, at least they keep a bit.
Well I plan to phone Devon shortly and then we will make our way over to the Mount. Going out to eat with the Scotts and Hannah SM who we are having overnight tonight. Wherever you are have a good day.
Happy Birthday Devon (it's still the 7th there). I hope you've had a brilliant day. Will try and catch you on the phone when you get in.
I had previously been telling you about our Jan 2nd trip to Coromandel. After that walk back from Cathedral Cove we drove through to Hot Water Beach to dig a hot pool at low tide. Obviously all the rest of the Coromandel holidaymakers had the same idea!!
Harder boys, dig harder!
There is only a very small area where to water comes up hot so you dig a little and put your foot in to feel the temperature. The hot water is boiling and a bucket is required to ferry in sea water, unless, like us, you are so close to the waves they are rushing into your pool!
It was really too busy to do the job properly so Eric and I decided we would go back in the winter.
Back at the car park we saw this camper. Either they had reversed too far or gone off without applying the handbrake. Luckily old tractors to tow boats in and out of the water are abundant in all NZ coastal areas.
Bugger
After a cup of tea at Ann and Mikes camper us girls formed the advance party to go back to the house for a BBQ. Unfortunately there was a bit of a miscommunication over directions and I ended up on the long route back. As Ann, Juliet and I were going ahead leaving Mike, Kev and Eric with the kids in the camper (we're not daft!), we obviously had the happy one with us. All the way back we (3) chatted away. She did not say a word! Thank heavens I didn't say anything derogatory about her as I really did forget she was there! At Ann and Mike's 3 neighbours also came to eat and we had a good evening. The happy one left the table as soon as she could and sat with the children. She then went to bed without saying a word of Goodbye to us. No 'Thank you for feeding us on 2 occassions and thank you for Stephanies present' etc. In fact when Juliet said Goodbye to her when she left NZ she had to say 'I hope you had a good holiday' in order to a prompt a Thank you. This is one visitor who won't be invited back in a hurry. Juliet said next time she can send Stephanie alone!!!
We got home at 2.30am. Amazingly the girls did not sleep on the trip back being glued to an audiobook I had playing set in WW2 Singapore!
On the 6th we took Xmas decs down. I am very superstitous about taking them down on that day, and with all the bad luck so many of our friends seem to be having at the moment I don't want to tempt fate. Eric swore that the hole into the attic got smaller during the Xmas period!!!
Yesterday Bridget came over after her few days in Pahia with Stan. Well there is no progress on the romance front yet but it's early days. No hat buying just yet but I think I might start looking - just in case you know! D Man, how could you suggest Ninja for a baby. That would require a Social Services referral!!
Now on the subject of names our dolphin needs one. Thank you for your ideas. I think it is down to Sixpence or HEMA (not Ninja -sorry). Any final thought before we make the decision?
This morning Harriette, with a bit of hinting from me, cooked Eric a scrambled eggs and smoked salmon breakfast. She needed a bit of reminding that cooking breakfast didn't just mean doing the main dish, that toast, OJ and laying the table was usually included! I would have liked a cappacino as well but didn't want to push my luck. I'll get one after blogging. Eric has now gone to collect strawberries from Pippins. His life is one long saga of collecting barrel loads of the things to feed to the pigs. Strawberry waste is at ridiculously high levels due to the wet and humid weather at the moment. It seems that everytime he goes there there is even more and yesterday he had to dump a load on my compost heap as there was more than the (16) pigs could eat. Roll on apple season, at least they keep a bit.
Well I plan to phone Devon shortly and then we will make our way over to the Mount. Going out to eat with the Scotts and Hannah SM who we are having overnight tonight. Wherever you are have a good day.
Friday, January 07, 2005
My bed is calling!!
I'm being harrassed. I want to go to bed but Bridget and Eric are saying I must blog as I have been talking about it all day. I have meant to blog the last 2 mornings but the girls have hogged the pooter. I have meant to be at work for the last 3 days but apart from some phone calls and sending off some paperwork left over from last year I have had nothing to do. I couldn't do my monthly report as my pooter has been sent away and only arrived back today. I have therefore taken lots of time owing. Yesterday I phoned a friend to find out that she is having a rough time at the moment so she came over for a chat and a coffee. On Wednesday I spent the morning in Matamata doing boring stuff like food shopping. The library was obviously the place to be - I have never seen it so busy!!! We were trying to buy and wrap a birthday pressie for Sarah but bumped into her and couldn't get it done. We are off to the Mount tomorrow to join them as they have gone away for a week so we will take the pressies over then. It is also Eric's birthday so we will have adouble cebrelation.
I really am very tired now. We have made a serious hole in the box of choccies that Trish (Bridget's Mom) sent us so will off to bed. Thank you Trish - they're scrummy.
Night night - I will blog tomorrow - I promise!
I really am very tired now. We have made a serious hole in the box of choccies that Trish (Bridget's Mom) sent us so will off to bed. Thank you Trish - they're scrummy.
Night night - I will blog tomorrow - I promise!
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
New Year
Well Stan is here. Well not here but in Pahia to be precise. Had a quick call from him as he left the airport yetserday. Bridget has taken a few days off work to collect him and take him north. An exciting day for them both after over a year and Lord knows how many thousand texts and MSN conversations. Hope they are having a good time. Stan is doing either one long, or several back to back diving courses, I think to qualify as a dive insrtuctor. Not quite sure of the details yet. I know he is plan to dive solidly for 3 months before returning to the joys of his job in the Mets. If this doesn't finally give him the impetus to move out here nothing will!
This last few days have been a flurry of socialising, and therefore an excess of alcohol. The NY's gathering, that I thought was for 17 of us and me in a t-shirt and pants, grew into a full blown party with the girls in their glad rags. I felt very underdressed but a few gins and that was soon forgotten. I spent much of the evening talking with Chloe, Emma and Andy. This is complicated pay attention (or skip the next few sentences) Juliet has a brother Paul (very rich eligible batchelor type until he met current girl friend, wedding in June). Chloe and Paul are long time friends. She is on a big OE and has just spent months working on a game range in S.Africa. She is in NZ for a year, is very pretty, has a model figure, eats like a horse, is charming, adored but all the children, intelligent, and I could help but really like her!! Emma is her friend, a civil engineer, petite and lovely, holidayed in NZ a few years ago and is back forever she hopes. Cloe and Emma have been traveling here for a few months. Andy, Emma's boyfriend, arrived a few weeks ago and planning to travel here. The girls are back to Christchurch this week where they will be living now. We have offered Andy the cottage whenever he wants and I think he will take us up on our offer so expect more news on this bunch in the future. Anyway, back to the party. We met lots of people J+K have spoken of, neighbours etc, and had a good time. Eric from 10pm kept asking if he could go to bed, the sociable animal that he is! He finally got there at 2.30am. The jolly one was as happy as expected. She either sat staring into space with a long face or was talking to someone who had approached her. The girls all slept in the den, apart from Stephanie, of course. One neighbour had a couple of trendy boys, 9-ish and 11-ish, and it was quite amusing watching all these young girls flirt aound him. Not harriette of course, she'd be mortified at the thought that she would flirt!! The following day J+K tried to pursuade us to go with them all back to Ann and Mike's (her parents) in Te Puru (near Thames on the Coromandel). We decided that we would came back for the night, feed animals (we had taken Inca and Rust with us) then travel up on the 2nd to join them. This we did, traveling first to Cathedral Cove (about a 2 hr 30min drive, then a 45 min walk). This place was packed, well packed by NZ standards not Margate ones). It was lovely though and with the first of the good weather we had seen since the 28th. Unfortunately we arrived at the car park and realised I had only packed a 5 litre drinks container with squash and had taken no water bottles. Very bad planning. I did have one 200ml bottle of non alcolholic drink, which we took and rationed ourselves. We were only planning to spend an hour on this beach anyway. It was really stunning, 2 beaches divided by a huge rock archway, very cavernous inside, clear blue sea, sandy beach and islands dotted around the coast line.
We were just thinking of leaving when J+K,E+H,2 happy ones and Mike arrived. They had also come drinkless having beed dropped off from the camper in a hurry!!
The walk there was very pretty but I worried at how downhill it was (down's obviously mean up's on the way back).It culminated in about 7 flights of steps!!!! I am supremely unfit and knew the return would be a struggle. I hated passing these fit young things coming up as we walked down who were breathing quite noiselessly!!! I made excuses for the others to go ahead and told Alice to put her jeans (she refused to take shorts when we left home) and H+A to put their trainers on for the return climb. Of course they knew better. Half way up the steps we met H+A who had decided not to go ahead with the others as they did not know which route we would take back (there is a short section with 2 options). So the 4 of us struggled on. Alice was hindered not only by her lack of fitness but the chest infection she had. That I did have some sympathy with. I must say though I think it cleared her lungs well as she has coughed decidely less since! Anyway a short way up the slope I said 'Alice I really think you sould have put your shoes on'. As the words came out she tripped and cut her toe!!!!! I sent the others ahead and sorted her wound out, and made her put her shoes on! Later she was pushing her sarong in between the thighs, the salt water and heat now taking effect so we stopped again for her to don her jeans.
It took us 55 mins to make the return journey and boy did we polish off some drink when we got back. I am going to stop now and continue later as I want to speak to Mom and Daddy, (I think H is talking to them now) and get ready for a lunch date with the Scott-Mackies. Back soon.
This last few days have been a flurry of socialising, and therefore an excess of alcohol. The NY's gathering, that I thought was for 17 of us and me in a t-shirt and pants, grew into a full blown party with the girls in their glad rags. I felt very underdressed but a few gins and that was soon forgotten. I spent much of the evening talking with Chloe, Emma and Andy. This is complicated pay attention (or skip the next few sentences) Juliet has a brother Paul (very rich eligible batchelor type until he met current girl friend, wedding in June). Chloe and Paul are long time friends. She is on a big OE and has just spent months working on a game range in S.Africa. She is in NZ for a year, is very pretty, has a model figure, eats like a horse, is charming, adored but all the children, intelligent, and I could help but really like her!! Emma is her friend, a civil engineer, petite and lovely, holidayed in NZ a few years ago and is back forever she hopes. Cloe and Emma have been traveling here for a few months. Andy, Emma's boyfriend, arrived a few weeks ago and planning to travel here. The girls are back to Christchurch this week where they will be living now. We have offered Andy the cottage whenever he wants and I think he will take us up on our offer so expect more news on this bunch in the future. Anyway, back to the party. We met lots of people J+K have spoken of, neighbours etc, and had a good time. Eric from 10pm kept asking if he could go to bed, the sociable animal that he is! He finally got there at 2.30am. The jolly one was as happy as expected. She either sat staring into space with a long face or was talking to someone who had approached her. The girls all slept in the den, apart from Stephanie, of course. One neighbour had a couple of trendy boys, 9-ish and 11-ish, and it was quite amusing watching all these young girls flirt aound him. Not harriette of course, she'd be mortified at the thought that she would flirt!! The following day J+K tried to pursuade us to go with them all back to Ann and Mike's (her parents) in Te Puru (near Thames on the Coromandel). We decided that we would came back for the night, feed animals (we had taken Inca and Rust with us) then travel up on the 2nd to join them. This we did, traveling first to Cathedral Cove (about a 2 hr 30min drive, then a 45 min walk). This place was packed, well packed by NZ standards not Margate ones). It was lovely though and with the first of the good weather we had seen since the 28th. Unfortunately we arrived at the car park and realised I had only packed a 5 litre drinks container with squash and had taken no water bottles. Very bad planning. I did have one 200ml bottle of non alcolholic drink, which we took and rationed ourselves. We were only planning to spend an hour on this beach anyway. It was really stunning, 2 beaches divided by a huge rock archway, very cavernous inside, clear blue sea, sandy beach and islands dotted around the coast line.
We were just thinking of leaving when J+K,E+H,2 happy ones and Mike arrived. They had also come drinkless having beed dropped off from the camper in a hurry!!
The walk there was very pretty but I worried at how downhill it was (down's obviously mean up's on the way back).It culminated in about 7 flights of steps!!!! I am supremely unfit and knew the return would be a struggle. I hated passing these fit young things coming up as we walked down who were breathing quite noiselessly!!! I made excuses for the others to go ahead and told Alice to put her jeans (she refused to take shorts when we left home) and H+A to put their trainers on for the return climb. Of course they knew better. Half way up the steps we met H+A who had decided not to go ahead with the others as they did not know which route we would take back (there is a short section with 2 options). So the 4 of us struggled on. Alice was hindered not only by her lack of fitness but the chest infection she had. That I did have some sympathy with. I must say though I think it cleared her lungs well as she has coughed decidely less since! Anyway a short way up the slope I said 'Alice I really think you sould have put your shoes on'. As the words came out she tripped and cut her toe!!!!! I sent the others ahead and sorted her wound out, and made her put her shoes on! Later she was pushing her sarong in between the thighs, the salt water and heat now taking effect so we stopped again for her to don her jeans.
It took us 55 mins to make the return journey and boy did we polish off some drink when we got back. I am going to stop now and continue later as I want to speak to Mom and Daddy, (I think H is talking to them now) and get ready for a lunch date with the Scott-Mackies. Back soon.
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