April 24th to 27th Another Long Weekend - Oh The Pain

Another long holiday weekend, so what is one to do? If one is invited away - one can only but accept.  We enjoyed an absolutely great weekend at Cooks Beach - the days felt more like Summer and the nights weren't cold at all.

APRIL 24th Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's On A Road Trip That We Go:

After a day of torrential downpours, seeing this sky as we headed off appeared quite promising

 Got to the beach house and unpacked as you do, and then relaxed with a Wine, as you do. We then noticed Minnie had made her own way on to this huge mound of blankets and bedding to recuperate from her travel exhaustion

APRIL 25th Slob And Blob Day

Crae adding to his 5+ a Day Quota - Yellow and Red are suggested colours aren't they?

 Watching Neighbourhood games with the kids next door. Sack Races and a Tug Of War appeared to be the favourites - this made for very exhausting watching - and required a small G & T to alleviate the stress

APRIL 26th There is More To Cooks Beach than Beach

Pleasantly surprised when walking Minnie to find a lovely walkway and man made (maybe) river/lake.

 A bit of arty farty fence work - very impressive

A Banksia (?) not to be confused with the UK Artist known as Banksy - in full flower

 APRIL 27th Sob, Sob, Time to Head Home

 Maybe if we turned left instead of right and got lost, we could extend our long weekend?

 Why did I include this photo? Because look at those freaky dots in the photo? Is it a Ghost, Is it a spiritual manifestation? No, it's the back of my phone case - ha! Gotcha!!

 One last final glimpse of the ocean

 Home through NZ's lush forest and winding roads

Had to Google the Monkey Puzzle Fruit. Up to 5kgs! Never heard of the tree before, let alone the fruit. It was with great trepidation I made my way past to use the local conveniences in Paeroa

April 23rd The Death Of The Calculator

On a day when all the custard turned to mustard, it was no surprise when my calculator died.  Everything I touched curdled. Through absolutely no mistakes of my own, everything was a disaster, and had me laughing maniacally - thank goodness for a home office I say.

So it was no surprise to me that by end of  day when it was time to cook dinner - I had these lovely thawed Chicken Breasts and absolutely no idea what to do with them. Cook Books galore came out, and nothing appealed. The cooking half of my brain just had a massive brain fart and exploded.  And it all started with one calculator - which I couldn't count on!

Oh goodbye sweet calculator of mine

You have been my mathematician for years close to nine

April 22nd Easter Continues

With a dinner invitation, it was lovely to be greeted with this wee smiling, cheeky face showing me the Easter coloured eggs we could have with our dinner.

On arrival 4 year old Stefan took me into his bedroom because he really wanted to show me his toy collection. So I looked at all the Lego, and oohed and aahed at helicopters and cars. Then very seriously he looked at me and said "Why do you have such coloured hair?"  Don't you just love the beauty and innocence of children

April 18th to April 21st - Firry-Toe-A Weekend

I just used that pronunciation for Whiritoa, just in case any overseas friends have trouble thinking how to say Whiritoa.  Yes it was Easter. Back in February I realised that I had not been to the beach once this NZ summer. Egads I hear you say! Believe me, what I said was worse, and was closely related to that piece of cutlery - the fork.  So I started looking for a rental, and came upon a beach property at Whiritoa, which would do nicely thank you. For me, myself and Irene and George of course. 

April 18th - We set off on our little jaunt on Good Friday. The day before had been literally cyclonic weatherwise and filled with announcements of various road closures due to bad weather. Would we get there? Would the Pope take a .... in the woods? Would a Bear wear a funny hat?

Yikes - destination 17.8kms away. This does not look promising

Mountain Views from the Kitchen Bench - yep I can live with that

 George practicing his mountain goat abilities. He called out to me there's a lizard on the rocks, there's a lizard on the rocks - indeed there was

A beautiful finish to our first day

April 19th It rained on and off, so a movie marathon was called for. George's folder of DVDs especially for beach breaks, came out. A day of movies and rainbows

Mushroom on Toast anyone?

April 20th It was a warm day, the sun was out and the beach beckoned - everyone

April 21st  Before heading home, we decided to make a wee 12km sojourn to Whangamata - Fung-A-Mar-Tar - for brunch.  The town resembled a city, the cafes were overflowing - and then in a back street I spied with my little eye (and the other one) a Pub.  A good old pub.  So to go with brunch, what does one have when one is in a pub?

She spotted a Cider

And thought that should go inside her

With a hint of apples and bubbles

It went down with no troubles

And then her brunch was beside her

 Brunch?  Deep Fried Camembert with Plum Sauce and some healthy green stuff. I only ordered this, because approximately a week ago I was reminiscing with my little sister that this dish was so yummy. However it no longer featured on menus. So when I saw this on the menu - what was I to do?

And that was our Easter Weekend at Whiritoa. Back to reality and work, and work and reality.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to work I go

With an iPad here and a computer there

Hi Ho, Hi Ho !!

April 17th Easter Wishes

Wishing all a Happy and Safe Easter

April 16th Camel Balls

I can't say I have got this far in life to exactly wonder what Camel Balls taste like. Going off the info on this packet, they are liquid filled and extra sour. I think I will pass on these balls (what was the shop thinking?)

On that note I had better finish with a Camel joke:

Q: What do you call a camel without a hump? A: Humphrey (Hump-free).

April 15th When Is A Weed Not A Weed?

When it is as pretty as this little one. Spotted fighting its way through the cracks of our brick steps

April 14th The Chosen and The Un-Chosen

The Easter Bunny called in to our place. Hundreds upon hundreds of caps (to me it looked like thousands and thousands).  George did a sort through and used a divider. What to keep and what not to keep. First world problems?

April 13th Before And After

I think this was a cleaning job well overdue.

April 12th Is It A Cloud or Is It A Space Ship?

Spotted as we were heading out 

April 11th Parked Up Next To A Softy

April 10th Feed The Man Meat

Yes, with this on the dinner menu (and I am having soup), I think it is safe to assume there is a Meat Eater in the house, who happens to be Male.

April 9th A Stormy Sunset Sky

It was an odd sky at sunset. Not that there was any sun in sight.  Just a lot of grey, storm clouds that had been brewing all afternoon. We didn't have any rain until well after midnight. However a friend earlier in the evening, who lives just 15 minutes drive away, and in the direction of this photo, had a substantial downpour early in the evening.

April 8th The Death Of The Black Suitcase

Have suitcase, will travel. At one time every suitcase on the carousel appeared to be black, black or black. With the odd other colour thrown in. Time for some drastic action - and I am hoping it will be safe to assume that there won't be another suitcase like ours on the carousel.

April 7th 'twas A Dark Night

'twas a Dark Night

When I went to bed and was greeted with a strange sight

Minnie was stretched out from head to toe

and George was reclining on her body don't you know

I could only see half her body and a lonesome hand

Was there room for me in this somewhat strange land?

April 6th The Harvesting of the Grapes

We may only have a small suburban section, but that doesn't stop us growing grapes. Here is half of the harvest

April 5th A Birthday Party in the Park

Havana, my eldest granddaughter turned 5 this week. Her birthday party was a Picnic in the Park. I think this is a fantastic idea and last year's birthday was the same. With the shade of trees and a little table and chairs for the kiddies and a fairy style grotto, it was the perfect set up.

April 4th From Waikato to Waitakere

Today was a day out for me, myself and Irene, to visit a friend in Waitakere. When visiting I come away fulfilled. Due to the friendship and all it offers, and from drinking in the beauty of Mother Nature. These photos do not capture it fully and there are also sea views in the distant.  The house is in native forest and surrounded by Kauri trees.

This photo doesn't do justice to the size and beauty of this Kauri by the front deck

Another aspect of the view from the front deck

One must eat out, and the Nasi Lemak at a New Lynn Malaysian restaurant was as good as anything I have enjoyed in Malaysia

Finally, due to renovations about to commence there is a clean out in the house going on. Of course all elephant items have been sent to a good home, ie mine. But I was leafing through some books destined to be donated to the Salvation Army. I may never, ever read it. But who can let a book printed in 1919 go!  I had to save its life and I guess over Easter I will be reading about The Evolution of The Dragon. The book is in pristine condition, but is so old, the title has worn off the cover and the binding.

April 3rd A Rare Substance

Today up to 12 noon, we had more rain then in the entire month of March. Mother Nature not satisfied with that record, decided to leash extremely heavy downpours in the evening, along with thunder and lightning - which to appease myself when it is happening I have to sing the following in a very loud voice

Thunderbolt and lightning - very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro - magnifico

I think from the look on George and Minnie's faces - they are glad when the thunderbolt and lightning have stopped

April 2nd A Day In the Life of Minnie

Time for a short back and sides for our girl. Adrienne has been Minnie's personal hairdresser for around 9 years now, with the added convenience that she comes to us.  I was surprised at the completion of Minnie's grooming when Adrienne said to me that we have a decidedly unique dog. I asked why?  Apparently for the last few grooms, Minnie hasn't liked it when Adrienne has gone to tidy up her left back paw. She winces as if in pain and it is a no go zone. Adrienne cannot see any injuries or soreness, and I even had it checked out at the annual vet's visit. There is absolutely nothing amiss with Minnie's back left paw.  Adrienne has found a solution to the problem so she can trim and tidy and cut the claws on this paw. The Blow Dryer!  Yes, she switches it on - holds it between her own legs and while that is going - she can do whatever she wants with Minnie's back left paw, with no commotion whatsoever.  Blow Dryer not going - can't touch the paw. Blow Dryer going - touch, trim and cut around the paw to your heart's content.  We are all still trying to figure that one out!

April 1st This Way To Love

You can take the left turn, or you can take the right turn - just follow your heart

March 31st Half Way

Look, look - they have provided a couch for us to have a rest on and watch the world go by, and exactly at the half way mark on our walk. What more could a dog want

March 30th It's Rock and Roll

This evening we attended a concert by Bill Haley Jnr & The Comets.  Not only were his father's original rock n roll hits played, but before each song, Bill Haley Jnr gave a background to the song, ie where it was written, where it was originally played, and the history that has gone on before. For instance Rock Around The Clock was put on the B side of the record as they needed something - the record company had their own idea of what was to be on the A side. And they only had a very short amount of time to get it right - so they did Rock Around The Clock in two takes, and for the first time ever the two takes were over dubbed. History speaks for itself as to which song went on to rock the charts for decades.

It was interesting to hear the background to the songs, as well as hear the songs live of course. I have never seen a Double Bass instrument used the way it was - the player was fantastic and energetic, and doing Jimi Hendrix type moves with the Double Bass.  The Saxophonist put Micheal Jackson's dance moves to shame. It was a really interesting evening and one we both thoroughly enjoyed.

 

 

The very retro fountain at The Founders Theatre - what were they thinking?

Well that's what we thought we were here for

The theatre soon filled up and all we could see in front of us was a lot of bopping grey heads