NZ Diary

Sunsets

2012-01-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hi all

We have had some stunning sunsets lately - this one brought me out of the house around 9pm due to the surreal lighting it caused:

These give the impression of a bad fire in the distance....

Love the purple hues...

Hope you enjoyed these - not quite as good as being there, but beautiful nonetheless!

x Sue

Couple more piccies!

2012-01-21T15:43:00.000-08:00

Helloooo!

As you know, I spent some special time at Glinks Gully a coupla weeks ago.

The photos I put on previously were taken from the internet as I had forgotten my camera. However, I did take some with my phone - so here you go:

On the stormy days there, I learned how to make sushi:

(I particularly like the one with the piece of cucumber sticking out of it - very arty though I say so myself). Also - the cucumber is from my garden - ahem!

I also learned how to weave flowers from flax (the Maori way):

Cool eh? This is flax:

Indeed, you can see it silhouetted in one of the Glinks Gully photos above. They are found all over the place here - I even have a variegated one in the garden! The flax is a native to NZ and very useful it can be too! You will see all about it on this website:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-plants/harakeke-flax/

Found this under me settee!

2012-01-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

Found this whilst cleaning my carpets and curtains yesterday - luverly!

It's a white tailed spider!

I have researched them a little - so here you go:

They are unusual because they only eat other spiders
They are nocturnal and prefer the dark (hence finding this one under my settee)
They only bite if handled or provoked
They hide in clothes too
Their bite is immediately painful, but they are easy to catch for evidence because their eyesight is poor
They are not deadly and usually just leave a red mark and some localised pain

I caught this one and chucked it out into the garden (didn't touch it though!).

I also chucked out a praying mantis residing on my living room ceiling.

x Sue

I'm back....

2012-01-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

Helloo everyone - how are you?

Here we are again - happy as can be!

We are well and truly nestled into our lovely little bungalow and I currently have courgettes (bright yellow), cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbages, rhubarb and chives coming out of me ear 'oles! Not to mention the fact that the limes are vigorously proliferating - as are the variety of herbs I am yet to use!

I have joined the local bowling club and have been graded (very serious here - but I have learned LOADS about the rules and tactics and such like). Love it!

I just love the terms used in bowling and how rude they often sound - so have written a diary for you to partake of: ahem......

Monday:

Had a roll up - it was great - feel well chilled.

Tuesday:

Rather heavy today - too much weight.

Wednesday:

Had a tough drive to do and burned Fred's end. (He was not happy). :(

Thursday:

Played with Fred's wood (by mistake) and got told off.

Friday:

Fred had the wrong bias and damaged John's head. John v. unamused.

Saturday:

Did really well! Fred knocked me up and I touched Jack!

Sunday:

What a lovely week! Rounded off by a very jolly little skip! :)

Hey ho - you can tell I'm on holiday eh?! Time on me hands and suchlike things....

Am very proud of my two loverly offspring. Daughter is currently training to be a secondary school teacher and son is now a Town Planner! Well done to them both - my babes!

Interesting year ahead for me - and quite exciting too. I have succeeded in getting a scholarship, so will be at uni for half of the school year finishing off my diploma. YAY! No more trying to do papers on top of teaching and everything else that the job entails.

The weather is currently lovely (after a very wet start to the summer), so I am washing curtains with a gusto. Gosh they smell good once rehung!

New year was a very wet affair - went to a friend's bach at Lake Rotoiti (near Rotorua) where it rained solidly for the 5 days I spent there. Needless to say - the day I drove there and the day I drove back were bathed in bright sunshine! However, I did get the chance to try my yearly waterskiing on the morning of the last day. Picture this if you will - a 47 and a half year old slightly chubby female in a very fetching wet suit, bouncing on her bottom on the pristine waters of the lake - yep that was me! Did stand up - but this only lasted a few glorious seconds before I crashed into the depths. So cooooool and so much fun!

After a few days at home recovering from New Year, I drove up to Glinks Gully near Dargaville. Oh my gosh - what a beautiful place. You can drive on the beach up to 50 km either direction - absolutely beautiful and hardly a soul around - heaven. Waves crashing in onto pristine beaches. We spent our time boogie boarding (of course), walking, collecting (and eating) shell fish, eating freshly caught fish, and land yachting (of which I watched as I don't understand sailing and nearly crashed into sand dunes at top speed last time), driving along the beach, and watching a huge storm from the safety of the bach. Sigh - what a lucky girl I am.

Glinks Gully - a little piece of paradise!

No mobile signal and no TV......

....and the most amazing sunsets ever.....

x Sue

New house and helicopters and stuff!

2009-09-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone - Sue has returned!

The weather is getting better and we are biting at the bit to race into summer! Boogie boards are waiting anxiously, as are kayaks and boat!

Kev finally used his helicopter ride birthday pressie yesterday (from January no less) and I gallantly watched him from a blustery deck (I know I said the weather is getting warmer - but for some reason yesterday's weather was a huge pile of pants! Still the rain held off long enough for Kev's ride). He had a great time trying to hover and flying around us in big circles!

We now have a new home - tis all official! A luverly bungalow! Have been very busy looking for bits of new furniture - but generally we have all we need to fill up our abode. Kev is very excited cos he will now have his cinema room! The family area is lovely - I can see the TV from the open plan kitchen lol. We have a lemon and lime tree in the garden and a little veggie plot area in the back garden - lots of herbs too. Oh my - gonna have to get into growing some veggies - everything seems to grow very easily here, so that's good.

We will be in just before Guy Fawkes - the club at the back of the house has a fabbie fireworks display every year - so guess who's gonna watch it for free! Could be our first get together of friends that night!

Visited our new place yesterday afternoon and partook of scones (made by lovely current house-owners) and victoria sponge (courtesy of moi) and tea (of which many pommie jokes were made when I asked!). It was good to refresh my memory of where everything is - forgot a lot already! One of current house-owners said same thing of her new house - she does not remember seeing a toilet anywhere and is rather worried. We reassured her to the contrary!

One more week to go of school, then it's the hols - 2 weeks woohooo! However, twill be 2 weeks of going through and sorting the billions of boxes in the garage - not so good in one way, but will feel proud at the end once it's done! Have already gone through most of my clothes - just gotta take it all to the Sally people. Next term is a short one - 9 weeks, then a glorious summer where I can settle in properly.

Hey ho! That's us so far - sorry it's been a while - have spent every weekend looking at houses - thank goodness that's all over now.

See ya!

x Sue

Sunny day!

2009-07-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hellooooo!

Tis a luverly sunny day, so we are going to walk to Eastern Beach and back! Have got home-made soup and bread on the go for when we return from our trek.

It's still chilly, but we've had a couple of sunny days - was out playing with some of my class on Friday just in t-shirts - FAB! It was so pleasant and warm.

The dawn chorus is VERY loud lately - maybe its cos I am able to sleep until it happens, rather than get up just before in the pitch black! So good to sleep in until 8 or 9 rather than get up at 6 - whoopidy dooo!

I am currently half way through my first week of school hols - goes too quick, but will try not to think of that! Sigh........ Got a friend and his cute little lad visiting tomorrow and we may even go away to Rotorua for a couple of days next week! Lovely hot spas - mmmmmmm - great in the winter weather!

Now then - to continue with our holiday piccies......

Whilst we were in Germany, we visited the lovely city of Koln (Cologne) by train and yes, I did buy some 4711! We had a little explore around the city, were in awe of the cathedral and had a FANTABULISTIC cruise along the river.

As you can see - we were still a bit jet-lagged!

Gotta go fer walk - tara!

x Sue

Oh my!

2009-05-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

It's been aaaages since I spoke on here last - and during that time I've flown right round the world, met new members of the family, watched my first born get married (sob - want her here with me - very selfish I know), met up with friends and family and seen the end of summer!

It's bloomin freeezing here now! Although the weather is beautiful here today - it's quite chilly morning and night - log burner is a burning each evening and there has been frost to greet me on my chilly work journey each morning!

The feijoas are falling off the hedge, mandarins are in season as are some other very nice fruits but I can't remember their names - round and orange (NOT oranges!) with green tomatoey type thingy on the top. You have to skin them otherwise your mouth goes to cotton wool and they taste like sweet melon!

Went out for a loverly long walk today in the sun (Kev now has a rosey-red sunburned face - but I was a good girl and wore facial sun-cream stuff). Really enjoyed it - this is the time of year for exploring - good fun!

Aaaah - I've just remembered - they're called persimmons! Yum! Made a load of feijoa muffins last night - scrummy! Hard to describe their flavour - feijoas I mean - for those curious amongst you who are wondering. Sort of appley and that yellow anti-biotic medicine flavour that kids are sometimes given! Hmmmm.

Work is soooo busy - still not quite caught up with myself yet! Here are a few photos for you of our journey....

This is of our first meal in a very pretty square in Frankfurt - the day we landed from NZ! It was evening and it was HOT! A balmy 25 degrees! Not bad for Easter time! Kev and I had a HUGE lump of pork complete with scratchings, sour kraut, mash and apple wine whilst the kids opted for sausage salad - wanting something healthy. Turned out to be a plate full of different kinds of sausage with one limp lettuce leaf and a piece of tomato - lol! They weren't impressed! Well what do you expect from meat loving Germans!

Bro and sis deep in catch-up conversation.

The yellow umbrellas are where we ate (do you like the clever art work on the building behind us - they were doing renovations, but didn't want the square to be ugly).

It was a really pretty square and we were told by a local we should stay because at any minute all the bells of Frankfurt were about to ring - apparently it didn't happen very often. That's why we decided to eat there. I was imagining pretty bell ringing tunes from various corners of the city ......little did I know.......Well - at least dinner was a very memorable affair! Couldn't hear ourselves talk or think for quite a while.....both during and after the meal.... lol!

I was sooo tired by the end of that meal - my head was ringing from the recent bellish cacophony, I had a full belly, and the alcohol and jet lag were well and truly kicking in. We made a heroic trek back to the hotel and I did really well to stay awake until about 7pm!

Oh - I must mention this - the hotel had lots of tv channels to watch (as they often do) including 3 of porn! Whilst Kev was showering, I was innocently flicking through to see what was on tv that evening when - yes, you guessed it - I came across one of those channels - aaaah - as I quickly turned it over lest hubby walked in and wondered what I was up to - I flicked onto another - panicked and flicked over to get the third - jeez - I was wondering if it would ever end - luckily it did on the next flick - whew! Can I just point out here - that it was a very nice hotel and a well known one too. Lots of families were staying there. Gosh - you'd have to be careful with the little ones eh?! Of course, my two found those channels too and thought it all rather hilarious! But they're all growed up now - sort of!

The next day dawned sunny and warm. After brekky, we wandered around Frankfurt,

over the river and visited an art and movie museum. The movie museum was fab! There was a whole section on the Alien movie and heaps of interactive stuff upstairs for us to play with - and we did - seeing as we were the only people in there (apart from a very serious middle-aged British couple and a security man who watched our antics with a very serious face, but never told us off, so that was okay then.)

This is a set from a famous American movie - Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, I think - had Sam Spade in it. We had loads of laughs in here! Here I am telling two ruffians off who were annoying me and my very important work.

Here is a video of Adam mucking around on the film set of something or other! Sorry it's a bit blurry - I was filming the TV!

This next piece of cinematic fun was of my two darlings driving a car through the streets of somewhere.

Finally - we hope you enjoy their very impressive acting on the flying carpet!

Relaxing by the river on a very warm evening - it had been a busy and fun-filled day.

Next installment of our fabbie, but oh too quick trip, coming sooooooon!

x Sue

Hot, HOt, HOT!

2009-02-10T21:18:00.001-08:00

Gosh it's been sooo hot here! Typical - back to school and a heat wave arrives in great big welly boots!

It's boiling in my classroom after lunch time. - gotta do sports tomorrow - phew!

Spent Waitangi Day at Piha doing a spot of the ole boogie boarding - had a FAB time - the waves were big and heavy - just how I like em! Woohooo! I caught LOADS.

I just love it when you see the wave hurtling towards you containing arms, faces, boards and legs sticking out at various angles from various peoples! It's at this point when I turn around and begin to kick like a crazy one - holding onto my board for grim life whilst grinning like a nutter at the thought of the speed with which I'm about to be conveyed to the beach. Waheyyyyy!

Unfortunately, yesterday I did a very silly, yet very funny thing at school which has put my back out ever so slightly (and may curb my boogie activities for a while) - but fortunately, I have a great chiropractor who has magically straightened me up (this morning).

My classroom is set up on a slight incline with one side at ground level and the other at much higher than ground level. On the higher side, the rain was spitting in all over the desks (we've had such humid sticky days this week) and my pupils asked me "could I possibly please close the window?"

"Of course", I replied, skipping across the room gaily. However, I thought it was the top window that needed closing and went to put both hands onto the bottom window for support whilst doing so. Unfortunately, the very large bottom window was open too - and if it wasn't for my stealth of a ninja super reflex action of grabbing onto the window frame, I would have gone hurtling down towards a not very nice demise!

Due to these quick reflexes, my body tensed up and my back promptly became annoyed with me! Ouch!

Anyway, it gave me the giggles all the way home - just had these visions of my pupils running out the room shouting "Mrs Tung has fallen out of the window" for the rest of the day!

Oh well!

Hope youse are all well and will post some photies soon.

Laters.

x Sue

2009-01-23T13:19:00.001-08:00

Helloooo!

Well - it's been busy, busy as usual and today w

e have given ourselves a break to do washing and school work - yawn..... I know!

The weather is absolutely GORGEOUS now and we are well into summer - which is annoying when you have to go back to work!

Last night, we trekked into Auckland to watch the Anniversary Day fireworks which were totally awesome!

Below is a little taster for you! It went on for aaages. We all just oohed and aaaahed the whole way through - the atmosphere around the harbour was really wonderful - families and friends just gathered together to enjoy the sights and sounds. There were fantastic tall ships, a navy boat, coastguard boats and a myriad of private boats on the harbour all ready to partake of the spectacle!

The orange lights in the distance indicate the road leading up to the Harbour Bridge - hopefully they all concentrated on their driving as they went over it!

The finale was spectacular and deafening too! The sky just became full of gold sparkles - beautiful.

We have been out and about on our boat - yesterday we travelled to Motuihe Island and anchored there for a few hours - such a pretty place and we should have taken our fishing net! Kev threw some bread into the water and two huge blue cod swam around us (in about 1.5m of water)! It would have been soooo easy just to scoop them out. They were well above the allowed size for catching (30cm). Shucks!

A few days ago, came our chance to try out a gift given to Kev by his previous workmates - a harbour yacht trip including lunch. I wasn't really sure what to expect having never been on a yacht before - but it was FAB! The boat was soooo quiet as compared to our noisy little one! Wind power! The weather was a bit dodgy at first, with a sudden deluge as we made our entrance into the harbour - but it made it all the more fun. We shared the journey with Ozzies, Americans, Kiwis and Pommies! And a great time was had by all.

Tara fer now! x Sue

Beached as......

2009-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all

Just a quickie for you!

A friend showed me this on you tube - it's how Kiwis talk - lol.

Take a look.

x Sue

www.youtube.com/watch?ZdVHZwl8pcA

Happy New Year for 2009!

2009-01-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

Hi all - hope this year is a great one for you all!

We brought the new year in with family and friends.....

Began with a rather nice Mexican meal and drinkies. This was then followed by cocktails made by our children - they used their newfound 42 Below University training (as a Christmas pressie from us to them, we sent them to lessons at the Vodka Uni in the city) - glad to see and taste that all this learning is now paying off!

We then moved on to watching The Sound of Music, followed by bashing a pinata, followed by watching the Sky Tower burst into firework explosions at midnight, followed by our own display, tv, then bed/collapse!

Here is the happy pinata - little does he know.......

Grim determination here....

'Just whack' technique!

Treading carefully.....

Go girl!

Where is it?

Swinging hard.

Woohooo!

Behiiiind you!

And the winner is........!

The funniest moments where when one of us headed the wrong way - ie into the wall, door or towards one of us - brandishing the branch! Therefore, in order to help, directions were helpfully shouted out.....

"To your right!"

I love this one! Kev was stuck in this corner for aaages....!

Previous to all this chaos and carnage, during the day of New Year's Eve, we visited the Waitakere Ranges and Piha - it was sooo hot and we really regretted not taking our swimmies and boogie boards! Never mind. The fush and chups were good and we had a luverly walk, collecting the little purple sea shells that litter the black sand as we strolled along.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

x Sue

Hope you all had a GREAT Christmas!

2008-12-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

We had a luverly time up North. Visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on a VERY wet and windy day, drove along 90 mile beach and on up to the huge sand dunes near Cape Reinga, climbed one (exhausting) and boogie boarded down it (exhlilerating), stood at the top of NZ at the Cape where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea crashed together on Christmas Eve, lay on the beach and surfed on the waves in our kayaks (son and I did, anyway) on Christmas Day and cruised around the Bay Of Islands, meeting some of its dolphin inhabitants on Boxing Day.

Whew - was shattered when we finally returned to Auckland on the 27th!

Here are a few piccies!

Here we are - apres boarding!

We had SUCH FUN! We came down the dune sooooo fast! I made too many yahoo noises and promptly paid for it all with sand in my mouth - yuk - made my sarnies very crunchy and interesting though. The dune was really high and steep - a bit scary when you looked down - but FAB when boarding down - woohoooooo!

Here's Corrie's slide down the dune! Unfortunately, Kev didn't video Adam or myself due to the fact that we weren't sure how well the video would turn out on the phone (I forgot the camera that day - DUH). Anyway, as you can see, the phone took great piccies!

Corrie did FABULOUSLY! Unfortunately, she was a little too far forward on the board which led to the face dunking at the end! You'll be glad to hear she is fine and was not injured at all during the making of the film.

(See bottom of page for video - sorry it's in wrong place! - Took ages to upload - sigh....)

Here are some splendiferous views of other sand dunes taken on our walk towards the lighthouse at Cape Reinga - beautiful view innit?!

This is the view of the Maori "place of leaping", where the spirits of the dead leap off the headland, climb down the roots of the 800 year old pohutakawa tree and descend downwards into the underworld to make their way Hawaiiki - the Maori traditional homeland. You can just about see the tree poking out of the smallest pointed rock - near the top, at the right hand side.

Corrie and Will.

Bro Ad and sister Cos!

With mummy!

Father has joined with a traditional Maori expression.....

Here's our new member to the Tung clan!

A calmer moment - so far from home!

Chilly evening beach photo near our bach.

Pretty hotel near the chippy where we had a scrumptious dinner - yummy!

Some of our new dophin friends at the Bay of Islands.

Sorry - tis very difficult to get piccies of these friendly 3 metre long blighters, they just will not stay still for one!

It was windy on the boat, but SCORCHING when we got off! Said wind due to whizzing of boat through water and sea breezes.

We also saw some penguins swimming around during our escapades that day!

Well - that's it fer noo!

As you can see, not too many photos really, due to us all having a fabbie time!

Oh - here's a final couple of the famous loos at Kawakawa -

Action shot of Kev there, making his hasty way in after a long journey from the south!

A rather shaky image of inside the ladies'!

These loos are fab - they were designed by the resident artist (at that time) Frederick Hundertwasser - google his name and Kawakawa and you will see many more photos of these toilets - they are a real pleasure to visit!

Well - that's all for now.

Happy New Year to you all - we will be among the first to reach it! (Just thought I'd rub that in!).

x Sue

Shakespeare Park

2008-12-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

The day before daughter and son-in-law to be arrived, Kev and I visited Shakespeare Park on the outskirts of Auckland (north). We were currently in a low (weather-wise), so it was a bit blowy, but otherwise quite good for walking (it was very warm out of the wind - t-shirts and sweat, in the wind - fleeces and cool!).

This is just before Shakespeare Park - having a windy picnic underneath the pohutakawa trees - which as you can see are blossoming just in time for Christmas. They are so pretty and a real sign of the Kiwi Summer.

This is our sandwich eating view! Luverly eh?!

Aren't the roots on this pohutukawa tree fab! Great for climbing on.

Upon our arrival and after the ritual 'dash to the loo' that takes place once car has stopped, we saw lots of these fellers and their missuses....

They were quite vocal at times.

We then embarked upon a stiff walk along the beach - watching a couple of windsurfers whizz along at dizzying speeds and four children splashing and swimming in the sea in full school uniform (obviously just completed their school year that day!).

After the beach walk, we took the path through the bush and up the hill.

Above - Hot view from the shady hillside walk.

View from top of the hill - white caps show the windiness of the day - usually very calm here.

We saw these two birdies wandering around at the top of the hill - if you look closely, you will see a sort of antennae feather sticking out from the top of their heads! Sorry the photo is not too clear. I thought they were carrying something in their beaks at first until I realised that their beaks were not at the top of their heads of course! No idea what these birds are called - will try to find out for youse. We also saw a couple of these at the Waitangi Treaty Ground - so must be reasonably common.

More views on the way down.

Windy and cold view from the bottom of the hill.

That is a very wind blown cabbage tree upon which Kev is resting!

Our walk back towards the car became a very interesting one and fun too! Here's what happened........

As we were on the flat straight towards the car, a quad bike suddenly came up from behind and drew up next to us. "Hi - just letting you know that we are driving our sheep through and into the field over there" came the cheery voice of a very friendly young Kiwi man.

"Okay", replied us happy walkers (thinking that we'll keep an eye out and move over when said time comes).

We turned around to see where the sheep may be coming from when we saw this in the very near distance!

Ooops - time to move! We hurriedly moved sideways into the shade of a tree (next to someone's caravan) and watched:

as they got closer (they were actually kicking up lots of dust - not shown on the phot0 though!)

There they go! Passing us by. There was a lab being used as a sheep dog - he/she was having a fab time and did an excellent job of rounding up the odd errant sheep deciding to head for the sea etc!

You can see him/her here just in front of the second quad bike (same colour as the sheep! - the dog, I mean).

There they go!

You can see the dust clearly here - plus what looks like someone's clothes as they frantically ran out of the way of the galloping sheep!

Almost there....

All peacefully ensconced in their new home as though nothing had ever happened just a few moments before!

What a lovely day we had. Stopped on the way back for a coffee and cake and made our happy way home!

Ooh - just for my spider phobic friends - forgot to say earlier - this is who I saw upon my morning visit to the shower:

Big eh?!

When I put it under a glass to chuck outside, it was so big that one of its legs was stuck outside the glass' rim! Had to jiggle it around to fit it all in! It also JUMPED once I'd fitted it securely inside! Made me jump too when it did that! However, all's well that ends well - I opened the front door and chucked it out into the garden.

Tara!

x Sue

2008-12-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

Well - since we got the boat, the wind has been way too strong to take her out - sigh....

Just as well really, cos we've got lots done around the house. Have chucked son out of his room to the spare room for 3 weeks whilst daughter and fiance occupy it. We all prepared that today. I also went rather mad and decided to wash all the windows inside and out - shattered now with an aching neck!

This morning we sorted out our IRRV and are now residents in NZ indefinitely! The next step in 3 years time is citizenship if we want it. With residency, we have the same rights and NZ citizens, it's just that with citizenship, we can freely travel to and live and work in Oz if we wanted to. Not really bothered about that at the mo though!

It was very windy and 27 degrees today! No wonder I was shattered after all that window washing - must've drunk a gallon of aloe vera juice after (lovely drink).

Guess what?! Yesterday, a hump back whale and her baby were spotted near Waiheke Island! (Not far from us at all). They were en route to the Antarctic. Apparently, they put on a really great show for onlookers - jumping out of the water and waving their tails etc.

This is what the lucky spectators would have seen! Imagine if I saw the shadow of that under me boat on the fish finder! Adults are usually 12 to 16 metres long! The screen would just go black I guess!

Orca were spotted in this area about a month ago too!

David Beckham has been here with his US team, playing soccer against some unknown Auckland team. He jumped off the Harbour Bridge twice - one dry jump and the other wet - where he hit the water in other words!

There he goes!

And here I go!

TTFN.

x Sue

Our new baby!

2008-12-06T22:43:00.000-08:00

Hey all - well here it is! Our new boat - isn't she fab?!

Helooo - sorry you can't see me! Just as well really!

As you can see - her name is Phantasea!

We went out on a little test drive today and had lots of fun - Kev lost his hat and a passing boat picked it up for us with a stick (sorry don't know the correct terminology for said stick).

We could see lots of fush swumming below us on the fush finder little TV thingummy. It was cooool.

Well - see yas later.

x Sue

Hiya!

2008-12-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

Here I am again.

A few photos for you....

Here is son at Big Boys Toys (a couple of weeks ago now) with a couple of Tui Girls (popular beer in NZ). Note the message on his t-shirt - lol!

Behind him is the Tui Tent, where our boys spent most of the afternoon, whilst us girlies explored what was on offer elsewhere.

We had a great day and got lots of free samples of stuff from alcohol to food to skin cream to well ....lots of things! (Heaps).

We watched the NZ Army go through their stuff......

saw the strong men upending this wheel from one end of the area to the other (I valiantly cheered him on)...

tried on Crocs (very fetching colour methinks)...

met police dogs (friend's daughter is standing here - she immediately sat down next to the dog when the police man ordered the dog to "sit" - lol ........

and painted Kev's nails red when he fell asleep on the floor after a yummy barbecue!

We took turns to do it and were laughing so much, we were crying (the kind of smothered snotty laughter you HAVE to do in order not to wake a person up).

All in all - a really fun day!

Now- let me see......

Well - NZ has a new Prime Minister. No more Helen Clarke - it's now John Key. We have moved from a Labour govt towards a more Conservative one now (in comparison to the UK parties). We shall see what we shall see....

The weather is hotting up - I am getting very brown from standing on the school field every day and now have very fetching panda eyes - big white circles round me eyes from the sunglasses I wear and a bronzed face - luverly!

Strawberries are in season and are lusciously delicious. Avocados are too - yum! I have it in sarnies and love it on toast with tomato, red onion and chicken - mmmmm!

I have been to see the live show Phantom and it was BRILLIANT! I've actually seen it twice now - went with friend and her family (due to husband and son not being quite so keen as me) and then saw it again with work as part of our magical mystery tour! Starlight Express and My Fair Lady are coming soon!

Have got tickets to see Billy Conolly in March - really looking forward to that - watched his last tour of NZ before we came out here and a couple of times since. Really enjoyed it.

Ooooh and guess what!? We are going up north for Christmas (boogie boarding, kayaking, sledging down sand dunes, snorkelling, bbqs etc etc) and SWUMMING WITH DOLPHINS!!!! I'm so excited - it's a Chrissy pressie to all of us! Woohoooo! Hope I don't get scared - it should be sooooo cooool!

We have been looking at boats and will probably buy an aluminium one (tinny) as they are lighter, use less fuel and are harder to break in comparison to the fibreglass ones! We will all have to go on the Coastguard Dayskipper course too before being let loose on the high seas! (Actually the rules are quite lax here - you can just go straight out onto the water with no training whatsoever, but we would rather have at least some knowledge before we embark upon our seafaring adventures).

It will be very cool to go fushing and to visit all the little islands dotted about!

If the weather is good - will probably go out on our kayaks tomorrow - will have to try somewhere different now - not just Bucklands Beach anymore - must be more adventurous - may go to Eastern Beach next time lol!

Our physallis plant is producing well - just picked a bunch today - yummy.

All in all - a very exciting summer lies ahead and I am soooo ready to jump in with both feet!

Will post more photos soon!

x Sue

Big Boys Toys!

2008-11-15T10:15:00.002-08:00

Hi all

Sos it's been so long....

Well - here we are - 4 more weeks left at school and the weather is GORGEOUS at the mo - been very warm.

Went out kayaking at the local beach yisterday and we are off to Big Boys Toys today! There's loads of stuff to see there and it should be really fun!

We are gonna peruse the boats - gonna see what there is to offer!

Here's the website for you:

http://www.bigboystoys.co.nz/

Gotta go - will put photos on soon - got a lot to catch up with you.

x Sue

Big Boys Toys

2008-11-15T10:15:00.001-08:00

Jellyfush!

2008-10-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks R for letting us know what we saw on the beach at Hamilton Gap. Here's a piccie of exactly what we saw all over the beach that afternoon - so glad I stopped Kev from picking one up as he was about to do!

They were blue bottle jellyfish aka Portuguese Man Of War! However, they were quite little (babies?) - not sure how bad the sting would have been?

x Sue

Hi all!

2008-10-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today we mostly visited the Pensinsula of the Franklin District.

This was taken at Karioitahi Beach (a surf beach that you can also drive on). As you can see the Navman is showing that we are driving in the sea (doesn't take account of tides!). We turned her voice off so she coudn't tell us off. It was sooooo cooooool!

Here be me posing.

Helloooo!
Where am I? Asks the bewildered looking gent.
This is Hamilton Gap - what a stunningly wild place to be! It was amazing and our mouths just fell open upon stepping onto it - crazy waves crashing on the shore and a howling wind. Our sense were assaulted well and truly.

You can see our car in the distance if you look carefully! We collected LOADS of firewood from this beach which is now residing on our balcony, getting dry for our log burner.

Kev looking out to sea - we were just mesmerised...... I feel a poem coming on.... Wait a minute..... nearly there - "What is this life if full of care, there is no time to stand and stare". And that's just what we did... Wow!

There were lots of these little blue creatures dotted around (bottom left, just above the rock) - they had jelly like sails sticking up from a flat blue-green base - not sure what they were? Didn't poke them with our fingers in case they stung us or something!

The little bay that I climbed over rocks to look out from - it's sand was jet black - I almost thought I'd sink into it when I jumped from the rocks - luckily I didn't - very luckily actually cos I had that thought mid jump. That's the Tasman Sea in front of me - Oz is a long way away across there.

I am very proud of this photo! Took it of a flower (obviously) somewhere on our escapades that day!
Here's the lighthouse at Manukau Heads! We climbed up and were blown away - by both the wind and the view!

Remember last week, when we went to Whatipu? Well, this weekend we ventured on to the red cliffs you could see in the distance from farty poo - aka Manukau Heads.

Above is farty poo (Whatipu) in the distance - the little rock poking out of the sea on the left is the one that has the solar light house on top - higher tide at the time of this photo - we walked to the rock last time.

It was a wild, windy and dramatic day.....

This is the radio station just below the lighthouse - used to keep in touch with all the ships etc going in and out to Onehunga Port - there is a dangerous sand bar (you can see the waves breaking over it just above the building).

The valleys were just awesome! Reminded me of Scotland or Wales or the Lake District.

Ah well, another fabbie day in paradise!

Hope someone is reading this - helllooooo anyone there?

x Sue

NZ Ad

2008-09-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?9sEZ-wdFegU

Have a look at this - loverly!

x Sue

(PS I am the one on the surf board!)

Rangitoto and Whatipu

2008-09-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Helloooooo!
Here I am posing on the tractor that takes people around Rangitoto (those that don't want to or can't walk very far). We found it whilst walking around! The other one passed us earlier on - full of visitors to NZ (I heard the driver ask in desperation if there were actually any Kiwis on board!).

We had a great day walking up and down the dormant volcano of Rangtitoto and were absolutely shattered by the end of it. Here are some piccies......

Kevin having a play!

Walls built with the lava rocks that are all over the island from its last eruption.
One of the lovely baches that we saw dotted around the island - this one is near where we got off the ferry.
Coming in to the island on the ferry.
View from the top of Rangitoto.
Kevin sitting down after picnic lunch on the top.
Wow!
Somewhere on the island.
Same spot! Oh I know why! Far in the distance behind Kev is where we live!
City views.
Can you see the Sky Tower?

We collapsed on this beach for 20 minutes in the afternoon, before walking 1 1/2 hours back to the ferry.
Back on the top!

Lovely bach.
Very nice boat.

There were fresias everywhere and the smell was so gooood!
Don't know what these are - a bit weird!
This is in Huia - on our way to Whatipu - absolutely stunning views again!
Wow!

Whoops - three more Rangitoto piccies.
Whatipu beach - the cliffs behind Kev were so spectacular.
This is the other direction - we just could not see the end of the beach, it was sooooo looooong!
Solar lighthouse on a rock - some people surfcasting in the distance.
The walk to the beach.
Back at Huia!
Me spying with my binoculars! Actually saw something large and black pop out of the water and then dive back down! Not sure what it was, couldn't find it again!

Lots of noisy birds feeding.

Dead fish! You can see the birdy footprints that had been feeding on it.

I think I may have repeated some of the photos. Sorry.

Anyway we had a lovely day and plan to stay at the Lodge there for the weekend sometime soon.

Gotta go now - Christmas cake is a cooking in the oven. I'm soooo organised at times - I amaze myself!

Tara!

x Sue

Spring has sprung!

2008-09-06T13:57:00.001-07:00

Well - first of September was the first day of spring over here and I'm pleased to say, the weather has been appropriate!

We've had lovely t-shirt weather and I've had to start slapping the old sun cream onto my face (got a bit burnt on playground duty last week!).

Visited Whangamata yesteray and Waihi (both in the Coromandel). Sooooo gorgeous! Beautiful white sands and lovely lovely waves.

Watched the surfers enjoying themselves.

Got home about 7, called son (who was just locking up the shop) and all three of us had a slap up meal in the local Thai restaurant - yum!

Absolutely shattered when I got home and was asleep by 9! Slept through til about 8! Whew!

It's Fathers Day here today - so just about to give you know who his pressie! Son is due home soon (party last night) and has told us that the pressie he's got is verrry intresting! Hmmmm.

Whew - just a quick one today - gotta go!

Tata.....

x Sue

NZ oranges are bountiful, cheap and juicy right now (must pick the ones of the tree to see what they're like).

Winter is still upon us!

2008-08-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

But we have had some lovely days in between!

Last Sunday, we drove down to Piha and had a very warm, pleasant walk along its shiny black sands.......

Above is the view as you drive down from the Waitakere Ranges towards Piha's Beaches.

I love this view - so spectacular!

However there have been some other glimpses of spring too!

We went out for a drive this weekend and saw 'heaps' (Kiwi word) of these little cuties bouncing around!

The weather is showing signs of improvement and things are looking up! Our willow tree is sprouting leaves (after dramatically dumping the lot in the July storms), there are lemons on the lemon tree and we have discovered an orange tree in the garden too!

'How can you discover an orange tree?' I hear you all ask - well for the past year and a bit it has been completely swamped by all the other foliage around it. However, suddenly it grew some branches above the surrounding leafy mob and has produced a crop of about 6 oranges! (Have yet to pick and eat them yet - will let you know how that adventure goes at a later date).

I have been on another adventure today - albeit a short one. I have encountered (along with 2 fellow teaching friends) the Vibratrain machine!

We just had a 'play' with it today - just a run through on how to use it. Results? Seems pretty good - came away with wobbly legs like I'd just had a good work out - so will continue to use it and let you all know how it goes!

Points of interest re Vibratrain:

Don't put your teeth together - they vibrate a lot
Try not to talk unless you want to sound like a Dahlek (sp?) of Dr Who fame
Sitting on the machine is interesting......

Well - tata for now - got reports to write and Olympics to watch - I LOVE the Olympic Games and these ones have been really entertaining!

Byeeeeeee

x Sue

STORMS!

2008-07-27T01:22:00.002-07:00

Whew

What a stormy Saturday we've just had!

They called it a Storm Bomb on the TV. From when we woke up Sat am until we went to bed - wind, wind, wind and rain!

The garden (of which son has only just recently got rid of willow tree leaves) is strewn with tree debris (as was Kev's car) and we had no electricity all afternoon.

I read half a book!

However, we did go out in the morning to look at the sea on our local beaches.........before the winds got too bad and we just had to stay in:

Eastern Beach

Look at the size of those waves behind Kev and X! Eastern Beach is a very sheltered beach - goodness knows what the other unsheltered ones facing the Pacific were like!

Howick Beach

Well - gotta go fer noo. Apparently there's another big storm headed our way for Wednesday - woopdedoo!

x Sue

STORMS!

2008-07-27T01:22:00.001-07:00

2008-07-20T03:14:00.000-07:00

Hellooooo!

Have a quick look at this song!

It's Maori language week and I thought we would have some fun with this at school!

Enjoy.

x Sue

PS Don't forget to sing along with the words provided!

http://folksong.org.nz/poi_e/

Hi all!

2008-07-17T02:41:00.000-07:00

Well - winter has well and truly been here and hopefully is going away now (shouldn't moan really - it doesn't last that long).

I am coming to the end of my two week winter holiday and am half way through the school year in my new school. All is good!

Adam's wisdom teeth have been removed and he came through the whole episode amazingly well - he had soup for lunch and bangers and mash for tea on the very same day! No swelling at all! Lucky boy!

Last Sunday was a beautiful day and felt so warm that we just HAD to go out for a walk in good old Duder national park near Maraetai - fab - but still rather damp from recent rainfalls and storms.

Found myself at one point on my hands and knees trying unsuccessfully to the grip the slippery ground with my feet. Basically spent a few funny seconds on the side of a very steep hill running on the spot with my feet whilst holding onto the grass above me for dear life.

By the time I finished the walk I was filthy. Kevin, on the other hand, was spotless! Didn't I look good when we turned up in Maraetai for our fush and chups! NOT.

At one point in the walk - I felt in my pocket for my mobile phone and wondered out loud "did I leave it in the car or have I dropped it?" Hubby's reply was "I ain't going back to look for it", thus, I promptly decided that I'd left it in the car.

Imagine my surprise when half an our later on our slippery descent of the hill, a young man haphazardly cycled towards us on his all terrain bike and asked, "are you Sue and Kev?" I was gobsmacked - we were in the middle of nowhere and he knew our names?!!

Well - as you may have guessed, he had found my phone lying on the ground and called a friend (most recent caller). She spent a few minutes describing us to him and then she called our son. Son then called cyclist and got details off him on how to collect my phone. Luckily, said cyclist reached us before any emergency measures had to take place!

What a very nice young man!

Still can't get over how a complete stranger ahoyed us in the middle of nowhere - knowing our names - it was sooo surreal!

Well - it's into work tomorrow to continue preparing for the kids coming back next week - woohooo! Back into the swing again for another ten weeks. The next holidays will be lovely - warm weather will be moving in and preparing us for the sun to come - yayyyy!

See you soon!

x Sue

It's About Time!

2008-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

I hear you all say.....

Well - got some piccies for you to see - have been up to all sorts.

Waitakere Ranges

Here's photos from our adventures - on the biggest train you ever did see - through the picturesque Waitakere ranges and on to a luverly dam.

For further info - here's the web site:

http://www.waitakeretramline.org.nz/

We had a great time - the weather was most agreeable considering we are in winter now.

Here's the train with its driver moving the engine to the front of the carriages, ready for our journey into the tunnel and onto the dam. Big innit?!

Here are the carriages about to be attached.

Here's her helper attaching massive engine to the copious seating carriages.

And here's the first tunnel we travelled through. With our knees round our necks, we hurtled along, coming to a stop about mid way (or somewhere in the tunnel anyway). This was an intentional stop - it was for us to admire the glowworms that had made their homes in the tunnel - really cool 'starry night' feel.

Upon emerging from the tunnel, we hurtled along the track, heading ever upwards towards the dam. Along the way, we travelled under a diverted waterfall - here it is in the distance - guarded by a man who I presume was put there in case any of us were swept away.....(well - you never know) -

And here is the waterfall as we made our intrepid way underneath!

There were fantastic views along the way.......

Here's a couple of excited travellers - you can tell by the blurriness just how fast we were all speeding along!

More fabulous views.

Well - we finally made it to the dam and were given strict instructions to go up, wander and toilet - but only for half an hour and then we had to be back and ready to return....

Here you go:

Isn't it all just stunning!

Here's a fern from above:

Thanks for the idea Linda!

Another 'above' photo!

More stunning views!

Here's part of the gang - ready for the off - looks like it could be a noisy setting off time - as L's mum is illustrating with her fingers in her ears!

Here's me and my mates!

Once we returned from our exhausting trek through the ranges of Waitakere, we made our way to a lovely little cafe - which also happened to be a little train station too!

Here's Kev and G sneaking a crafty smoke (not allowed to do it in the cafe)!

I like this next photo - not sure what they're laughing at, but it sums up the day really well - we all had a fabbie time!

England vs All Blacks

Last weekend, was the first match between England and the All Blacks at Eden Stadium and we were lucky enough to get tickets and join in with the fun. It was my first ever international match and I really enjoyed it - even though we lost!

As you can probably imagine, the number of English fans as compared to AB fans was tiny - you could look around the stadium and easily spot the white amongst the black! The English fans were fab though and you could hear them clearly singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" many a time - it was amazing! We also managed to have 6 Mexican Waves consecutively - which I really enjoyed - it was so cool to see it coming towards you and the roar of the crowd getting louder as it did so. Roll on the World Cup in 2011!

Here we all are outside the pub, getting ready to walk down to the stadium:

Sad to say that an AB fan interloped - you can tell she's an AB supporter not just by her AB top complete with white fern, but also by the pie - a popular delicacy in NZ!

Whilst waiting for the game to begin, we were treated to some sort of strange medieval battle between English and Kiwi knights which ended in a few explosions on the pitch!

Finally, the hakka took place and I'm afraid this photo is a bit blurred, cos I really wanted to watch it properly - sorry!

On the way out of the match whilst walking to a pub to drown our sorrows, we bumped into a very rowdy crowd singing "kiwis only sing when they lose", only to find out that it was the family of my lovely teaching assistant at my last school - so, of course, another photo had to be taken!

Another friend of mine was also at the match. We texted each other excitedly when we arrived, asking where the other was - only to find that we were about two columns apart and could wave to each other across the sea of black!

It was a great night - even though it took us ages to get back to the car due to having walked miles in the other direction in order to find a pub!

Christmas 2

Last night we decided to have a Christmas 2 - seeing as we were bang on half way through the middle of the year, it is winter here and it is my birthday soon!

The dinner began seriously enough:

But began to go downhill after that:

Drinks flowed freely.....

Crackers were pulled (we had to shout BANG as we pulled them due to no banger inside)...

And novel uses of spent out crackers were thought of..........

Secret Santa pressies were opened (you could only spend $10 on your secret present):

Boom chicka wa wa - was son's clue:

He liked the cracker pressies too...

Kev seemed happy with one of his pressies:

He also got a plate, mug, bowl and set of cards - his giver was clearly going for quantity over quality!

Our resident chef received a handy cook book for essential revision plus a pack of handy set of post it notes.

After all that excitement, we cleared up and settled down in front of the log burner to watch the All Blacks play England (in Christchurch this time - it looked freeeeezing). However, by the time the score go to 20 - 0 against England, all one could hear was snoozing - all adults were asleep on the settees around the room and the kids were downstairs on the computer.

Happy Christmas 2 everyone!

x Sue

Kia ora

2008-05-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Just a quick catch up as I have been procrastinating too long and must do some work for school - poops!

Adam and I finally visited the dentist last week (after 2 years of living here)! We went to one recommended by a colleague. It was very good and the dentist was very gentle! My teeth are fine - but the porcelain veneers are getting towards the end of their life and need replacing at some point. Adam has got to have 4 wisdom teeth out - the cost of a return air ticket to the UK! Whew! Poor lad has got to have a surgeon to do it cos they're embedded into his jaw or summink.

Methinks we need to get insurance and soon - cos my veneers are gonna cost a lot more!

Hey ho.

Our kayaks are fab - even though we've only been out on them once! The weather has changed for the worse and it is deffo autumn now - we've had the log burner going for a couple of evenings. The photo below is just outside the shop where we got them in Panmure. Very nice man there and he gave us a good deal!

Here I am - well padded out with life jacket and about 4 layers of clothes! I was boiled by the time I finished but didn't dare take anything off whilst in the boat in case I lost it in the water or fell in!

This is my luverly kayak!

And here's Kev in his! Good fun!

That's Rangitoto Island behind his head - it's a dormant volcano - can see it from most parts of Auckland.

Well gotta go - work is a calling - here is an advert I hear after the traffic news each morning on my way to work:

"Don't want a bigger car? Have a no scalpel vasectomy!"

There you go! All problems solved!

Tara!

x Sue

PS - Am just off to have a cup of tea and some feijoa cake - got feijoas everywhere at the mo - they've gone mad this year.

We're baaack!

2008-04-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Well - here we are - back in Auckland and very rested. Have spent Sunday washing and today washing and cleaning and cooking and scrap booking holiday snaps.....Whew! Hope you are all well and heerre goes.....Tonga was FAB!

Just landed! Tonga airport is tiny - we had to climb down the stairs and queue up in the very tiny passport checking place. Left Auckland with the temperature at about 20 degrees and landed in Tonga to a lovely tropical thirty degrees ish!

We stayed two nights and one full day on the mainland (Nukualofa). The picture above is of the lagoon which our hotel was next to. I sat there stilling my beating heart (after nearly breaking my neck sliding on the rocks next to the water) and watched crabs scuttling and jumping around (yes - a blue one was actually jumping from rock to rock!) and schools of fish swimming by. The wildlife in the water around Tonga is just amazing - as you will see later.......

We had this rather large visitor late one afternoon - he was climbing up the wall on our verandah! Big bug#$% isn't he!?

Here's Kev's hand rather bravely put next to said spider to give you an idea of size. I say bravely because some spiders can jump you know! Very glad we had meshes on all windows and doors to keep creepy crawlies and mozzies out. Some huge wasps flying round too......

Sunday was our one full day in Tonga's main city Nukualofa and there was not a soul to be seen!

We began our lonesome walking tour from the King's Palace, which is currently being done up. It's a Victorian style wooden building and fully fenced off unfortunately!

Had a really nice coat of arms on the gates:

The Tongan royal family has its own web site if you'd like to know more.......
http://www.palaceoffice.gov.to/

No-one works - everyone is very religious and hardly anywhere is open on a Sunday. Still, we had a lovely stroll around and got to take in the sights - which consisted mainly of churches!
This is what EVERY street was like! Felt very strange - as though we were the only people alive on the island!

Above is the side view and below is the back end of the first church we came across - felt very English.
I think this must be the church that the King of Tonga uses because it's down the road from the palace and just across the road is the royal graveyard. All the graveyards in Tonga are a very colourful affair.

From here, we walked round the corner and came upon the rather grand and beautiful Catholic Church:

Crucifix above the main entrance:

Here's the doorway and the entrance:

The interior was beautiful and I enjoyed just sitting there taking in the peace and tranquility.

Sorry - tis a bit blurry - maybe I wasn't allowed to take photos inside the church?! Here's one less blurry of the ceiling:

From here, we walked back towards the sea front (after lunch in a lovely Chinese restaurant - one of the few places open). We saw another church (they are everywhere in Tonga - considering it's such a small place):

Then we came across the Chinese Embassy - a very smart building!

Oooh - and here I am at the Treasury! (Rather unflattering photo methinks!).

Lovely views along the coast line - very nice breezes too - twas rather hot!

Here's the view from a very nice little cafe - we stopped here for a much needed cold drink and a not so much needed carrot cake - yum! This is also where we got our taxi (boat) to Fafa Island the very next day!

Wonder what he's looking at?

After a lovely 30 minute journey - we made it to our desert island - home for the next 5 nights and 6 whole wonderful days................

Here's our fale (pronounced far lay) - modelled on a traditional Tongan home - the walls were made of plaited coconut palm leaves!

Isn't it beautiful?! I was very sad when I had to leave.........

Here we are - having our welcome to Fafa Island drink - bet you can't guess what it is!

Aren't the flowers lovely?! They were growing everywhere!

This friendly pukeko dropped by for a crafty snack when he thought no-one was looking!

Now - staying on the island came with its dangers - as I'm sure you can imagine! The main one coming from above our heads - these are the dastardly culprits:

There I'd be - lying in me hammock reading a bit of Dean Koontz ( I read 5 books altogether!), when suddenly thud, bounce, thud - a coconut would bomb down onto the sand nearby!

Spent many a happy evening sitting on these here chairs (below) with our kerosene lantern on the table (very dark at night and the lantern would be delivered each evening before dark to light our way along the sandy path to the restaurant for dinner - whilst dodging coconuts of course.)

We were also visited every night by these little critters - they'd come out and watch us - all the while making chittering noises to us - pretty cute - except for when they poo on you from above!

They were about 6-8 inches long I think - ish.

Cute - eh?!

The bats that flew around late afternoon and night time were really cool to watch - so quiet for such large creatures!

Here's the lovely bed with the even lovlier mosquito net - felt like you were in a four poster tent at night! I really liked the feel of the net around me, except when I needed to go to the loo - then it was a bit of a pain - untucking, climbing out, tucking, climbing in, untucking, tucking - phew! I also spent a happy half hour one evening trying to kill a mozzie that was trapped inside with us! Got the blighter in the end - whacked it very quickly with my book - trouble was it got squished onto my pillow! Hey ho...............

This is our shower - solar powered and , yes, it's outside! We constantly had the company of sparkly dragonflies during our bathing times!

And here I am on our lovely beach - went snorkelling every morning here and also did a bit of kayaking! We walked around the island coast one day when the tide was out - took bloomin ages NOT! 30 minutes all in!

Looks like I was just missed by a coconut, eh?! Lucky......

When the tide was out, we'd wander up and down the beach looking at the amazing wildlife in the shallows - take a look at this feller:
You can see how big he is by my foot next to him - the water was only a few inches deep!

This is a sea slug - they were everywhere - all kinds of sizes, shapes and colours!

Here's a spiky one - actually not sure if it's a slug or a cucumber! Think it's a cucumber - it was over a foot long!
When I saw this - I really thought it was a snake basking in the sunlight of the shallows! But in fact, it was a sea cucumber with an extremely floppy body and a mouth out of an Alien movie - perfectly circular with tentacles coming out at odd moments for food - FREAKY! The elderly Australian man examining said creature with me said testicles instead of tentacles causing me and his wife to fall into intense giggles - happens every time! An old, but funny mistake!

This star fish was HUGE!

And heavy too!

This sea cucumber was sending out sticky filaments from its anus in order to warn us off and to leave it alone!

Here's some more sea cucumbers in a rock pool - you can see a close up of their mouths below:

Weird!

So - as you can see just from the shallows - the life in the water was amazing. Snorkelling was just FAR OUT! We saw different stuff every day. And yes - we did see a sea snake - he was all curled up in the grass-like sea weed happily minding his business and we followed suit by happily minding ours!

The sunsets on the island were so beautiful - we would lie on the beach and just watch this spectacle of nature until the sky became pitch black, the Milky Way was visible and the walk to dinner with our kersene lamp beckoned:

One evening we were treated to Tongan dancing, music and kava!
(Kava is a drink made from the Piper Methysticum plant. It is widely used in Pacific communities, largely for ceremonial purposes.
It is usually made by mixing a dry powered root with water. The strength of kava depends on the plant from which it is prepared and the preparation methods.
It's basically an intoxicant - made you feel a bit drunk and tasted like mud! We drank it out of a shared coconut bowl - interesting!)

This fruit grew all over the place - no idea what it is, but apparently the Tongans eat it. The way the flowers become part of the fruit is a bit unusual!

This is the 'outside' part of the restaurant where we sat if we were a bit hot and wanted to catch a bit of the lovely breeze wafting by.

We sat in a different part of the restaurant every day and the views were always amazing and beautiful.

When the time came to finally leave, I was very sad and did not want to go - however I managed to refrain from having a paddy and got onto the boat with a modicum of style...........

Bye bye Fafa - hope to see you again one day..................

The tide was low, so we were lucky enough to be able to sail right round the island on our way back - and yes - we sailed - the big sail was up and off we went.

Back to Tonga Airport and the flight to New Zealand........................

x Sue

Just a quickie!

2008-04-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hi all

A quick hello to you out there in cyberspace - I am still here - just been very busy (as usual).

Bit of a sad day in NZ today - 8 people died yesterday in the terrible storms we've been having. One man and his horse died instantly after being struck by lightning and 6 students (16 + 17 year olds) plus their teacher died on a school trip after being swept away down a river. Very sad - they all came from Auckland too. The weather was atrocious yesterday. Thinking of those poor people and the school too (I drive past it every day on the way to work).

Tis Wednesday today and we're off to Tonga on Saturday - very exciting. Am going to get myself an underwater disposable camera on Thursday in order to take piccies of my snorkelling activities. Will also have a lovely, lovely pedicure as a treat and to have lovely toe-nails (at least - if nothing else!) before I go.

We will be an all over the place family next week - us in Tonga, Ad in NZ and Corrie in USA! What globe trotters we are!

Will post some photos and catch up soon with you all.

Take care.

x Sue

Catch up time!

2008-03-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Well it's Easter Monday and I have a little bit of time to catch up with you all! The photo above was taken on one of the Devonport hills - they give spectacular views of the city from one side and the view of the sea and a whole host of islands from the other.
Here's the dynamic duo with the city of Auckland behind them - looks rather stormy that day doesn't it! It was windy - as mother's hair confirms!
This photo also confirms it! Lots of people partake of kite surfing in this weather. I love watching them leap into the air, somersaulting wildly! They also whizz across the water real fast too!

The weather that day was also quite apt too - it was quite a sad day for NZ - for somewhere in the distance of the above photo, Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral was going on. Hence the flag at half mast.

World War II stuff - Auckland was on high alert in them there far distant times.

This gun can be moved in a huge circle!

Lovely view from the other side of t'hill! Actually - in the far distance is where we live! If we travel into the city by ferry - that's the route we take - and a very beautiful one it is too.

Auckland city in the distance - don't cha just lurve the palm trees!
Arty farty piccie! Well - I tried anyway!
Another one - but a bit blurred.....
Isn't this a fabbie photo? Took it as the boat was leaving the dock side. There was some sort of boatie thing going on that weekend in Auckland. Actually - it was the evening of a really cool fireworks display that we took mum and aunt to see. Unfortunately, we had to endure an hour or so of live music first - of which one act had an aged singer who was either drunk as a fart or high on something - he actually fell over once! Only in NZ eh!

Here I am waiting for the fireworks - and boy were they worth it - fantabulistic!
The photo above is the glass bottomed boat that mum and aunt were on at Goat Island.

Off they go - into the distance!

Oh - by the way - we are going to get a kayak! Woohoooooo! Can't wait. It's gonna be a double one like the one in the piccie - it can be converted so that one person can use it too. Twill keep us busy during the cooler winter months! Bagsy sitting in the front!

Off they go towards the island. As you can see - everyone is busy snorkelling and enjoying the marine life therein. Actually, you don't even need to snorkel - just stand in the water up to your knees and the fush will come!

My final photo of the day shows a creature that dwelt in the bath for quite a few days until one of us had the guts to do something about it (ie me) and by that time - it was dead! Weird looking thing - no idea at all what it was - but I flushed it down the plug hole with the shower head!

By the way - we do wash in our house - but use the shower in the other room!

Well - we are off for dim sum in a bit, so I'd better get into the shower.

Oh - Kev's in there - a couple more minutes then.

Australia is having its Olympic swimming trials in Sydney at the mo and boy are they smashing records! One world record was broken in the backstroke by a 15 year old girl and another by a 19 year old girl in the medley. Whew!

Kev and I are off to Tonga in just over 3 weeks - CAN'T WAIT! But I know I have to .......

This means that I just HAVE to buy some new togs for the trup. Will also be taking my snorkelling gear - don't think I'll be allowed to take my boogie board on the plane - shame.

Had a lovely bbq last night - got a bit tiddly and ate too much. It was very hot yesterday - Kev got very red from swumming at the local beach! As we arrived at the beach - there was an Easter church service going on! How cool is that - service on the beach. Beautiful.

Right - gotta go - shower and lovely lunch are a calling.

Tata!

x Sue

Long time, no see......

2008-02-23T19:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all

Sorry it's taken so long to get to you.

What with working all week and then enjoying each weekend with mum and aunt - it has been a very busy time!

Well, this weekend has been a little calmer due to copious amounts of rain! Yesterday we went to do the food shopping at good old Pak n Save and today went to see the movie with Jack Nicholson and lots of other famous people about 2 old men dying and what they got up to. Was very good, but quite sad. Had a bit of fun at the beginning of the film watching an old lady and her hubby groping for their seats in the dark and talking to each other in what they thought were whispers about how THEY CAN NIVER FIND A SEAT AND WHY ARE THESE PLACES SO DARK? etc etc

Last weekend saw us visiting good old Goat Island where mum and aunt took the glass bottomed boat to view the fush in that bursting with life marine reserve, and then mum proceeded to snorkel for the first time in her life! Needless to say she had a great time and completely disappeared, leaving me to search the waters for half an hour or so (fruitlessly), with visions of calling England to say I had somehow been responsible for her untimely demise, when I finally spied her sitting on her chair on the beach gaily chatting and gesturing to aunt on the abundance of wildlife in the water! Hey ho!

During the search for mother, I too saw loads of fush. I also - very carefully - glided over a rectangular piece of white jelly stuff aka a jelly fush! There was a little shark too! Upon arrival at home, later on, I noticed that another piece of marine wildlife had visited me - a sea louse! It left me with a very nice bite on my tummy - luverly! (For those interested - it looks a bit like a large mozzie bite and is a bit itchy!).

Here are some - yukky yukky yukkity yuk.....

We have also visited some more hot pools - at Miranda. Spent a lovely day there just splashing gaily in the warm water. In fact, it was quite a cloudy day and I STUPIDLY did not apply any sun cream. Consequently, I was the hilarious butt of laughter at that evening's barbecue with my bright red face and white circles around eyes, complete with white lines heading towards ears from my sunglasses/swumming goggles. I looked FAB! It was also very good for visiting my chiropractor 2 days later with a lovely red back and fetching white cross (cossie straps) in the middle of it! Bless him, he did not utter a single mention of it! No snide comments of 'x marks the spot' etc were forthcoming - thankfully - even though it was probably highly tempting.

Well - I must be off cos I'm supposed to be getting stuff ready for school and this is not really helping!

My new job seems ok and I am enjoying teaching year 7's a lot! Although, I had forgotten how much girls giggle at the most inconsequential things. It's also rather irritating at times when the kids snigger at certain words said in the most innocent of ways - eg 'nuts' and 'reproduction' etc - sigh - I guess it's the age. I also have to go through the whole yoghurt pronunciation again too. Oh well.....

Son is now well and truly enrolled at Auckland uni - he will be spending Thurs and Fri this week getting to know others on his course and where everything is etc. All very exciting for him!

Tata and see yers all soon.

x Sue

Adventures with mum and auntie!

2008-01-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

Well mum and aunt arrived well and truly cream crackered last week after 30 odd hours of travelling.

However, after a bit of a rest, one of the first places I took them to visit was the Sky Tower in Auckland CBD.

Here they are admiring the views!

Unfortunately, they declined the Sky Tower jump even though I offered to do it with them. However, they enjoyed watching others partake of the feat.

Here are some piccies of the views they enjoyed.

You can see the Harbour Bridge in the distance here:

It was a very sunny day and consequently really clear - here is the view of where we live in the very far distance (we live to the East - the far right distance of the piccie)

The line down the middle of the photo is the cable that holds onto the jumpers!

Mum

Aunt

They deliberately asked me to keep their faces in the shadow to remain incognito.........

Not really - I'm just rubbish at photo taking - forgot to fiddle with camera etc in order to avoid this light confrontation anomaly!

Gosh the weather has been absolutely BOILING! Poor mum and aunt have come at a very hot time - even hotter than last summer was. WHEW!

In order to make them feel even better in the heat - I recently took them to one of the hottest places in New Zealand - the thermal resort of Rotorua!

At least it wasn't too smelly during our visit (lots of sulphur fumes abound here and the rotten egg pong can be very pooey at times). Actually the only time I really noticed it was when I woke up in the middle of the night wondering where the heck I was and what the bloody hell was that awful smell?

Anyhow, we spent the first afternoon cooling off in the motel swimming pool due to the car having no air conditioning and it being a steady very hot temperature all the way down. We looked very fetching when we finally arrived at the motel in our sweaty clothes and dashingly wind swept hair!

The swimming pool was deliciously cool (aunt took a long time to get in and accompanied each step with a oooooohh or a dainty shiver - lol). I took a while to get in and mum just went straight under!

The first full day there was VERY HOT! We began it by spending the morning in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village (pronounced fucker-rewa-rewa - yes really!) It is a Maori village and people actually do live there. We were shown around by a very lovely lady and here is some of what we saw:
This is their meeting house - Whare nui (farreh nooee). The carvings were absolutely beautiful.

Found this little chap around the corner.

The Maori people make good use of the thermal energy within their little village. It provides underfloor heating - there was no way any of us could have walked bare footed around, we would have had severely burned soles! It also provides cooking energy - food is dipped into the water to cook. The water is also used for bathing - they have communal baths.

Our guide showed us the geysers there - they shot up on time for us - 11 am I think it was:

Apparently, in the beautiful blue pool below - the villagers swim each evening after the tourists have gone home - looks gorgeous eh?Here's our guide telling us all about the dangers of the pool she's standing next to - hence the fence all around. It's a ridiculously hot temperature and would just boil you alive if you fell in. She uses it to cook sweetcorn.
The piece de resistance of our visit came with the Maori show - it was great. We were very entertained with the Maori stick, the pois and, of course, the hakka. However, mum just enjoyed watching - especially the lovely piece of male eye candy on the left hand side of the stage! In fact, at the end, she practically ran to have her photo taken with him - she even left her walking stick behind! Aunt and I saw a cloud of dust only when the announcement was made that the audience were invited to have their photos taken with the performers.......

He is rather tasty though don't you think!

Aunt and I chose the shorter queue and here we are:

Well, after such an exciting morning, what better than to relax in the Polynesian Spa?! And indeed we did. Here's a link cos we took no photos whatsoever!

http://www.polynesianspa.co.nz/

The next day, we were up bright and early in order to check out by 10am and to board our amphibious vehicle for the Duck Tours!

The first thing we were given after our safety talk was a duck hooter with which we were told to blow at people as we passed by. Throughout the tour we gaily hooted at people walking by, people drinking coffee and eating cake, people driving with their windows open etc - great fun!

We were taken for a quick tour around Lake Rotorua and then plunged into Blue Lake and another lake with a forgetful Maori name - sorry!

As we were about to drive into the first lake, music was played very loudly for us - it was - yes you guessed it - Mission Impossible!

The guide was very funny - he told us that going downhill we had to sit up in order to create some drag or to lean forward in order to go faster - he was so serious at first that some people actually started to do it as we ascended the hillside!

Here he is - bless him!

Here is the Duck Boat behind us on the lake - they are actually from WWII and were used in the Normandy Landings apparently.

Here it is on land - 'racing' up the hill!

Well - on that note - I'm off - Doc Martin is on telly in a bit and I really like it!

We had a great break at Rotorua and I think the photos show some of this!

Tara!

x Sue

Hot and sticky!

2008-01-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

Hi all - tis as the title says really - hot and sticky (ie humid). Very humid at the mo actually cos it rained yesterday - just in time for mum and aunty's arrival! Today is a bit better - cloudy, but no rain and the sun keeps trying to peep through! Got loads of washing out, so hopefully t'will be okay.

Now that I've bored you to death, I'll waffle a bit.

All my plastic pegs keep breaking - those out on the washing line - this is due to the strong NZ sun beating down on them. I've now got used to pressing a peg to hang out me clothes, only to have it disintigrate with a loud snap and minor explosion in between my fingers!

I have a triffid in my garden - discovered it the other day - it's a huge dandelion plant! I didn't think it was possible for them to grow that tall, but it's taller than me and I'm five foot sixish!

Here you go:I am very proud!

Should have stood next to it - would have been a better way for you to see how tall it is!

Mary - don't be too upset - I know it's a weed, but this is down by my compost area - so didn't know it was growing and now I don't want to cut it down due to seeing how tall it will end up. I am conducting a scientific experiment!

Also - what do you think of this photo?

Isn't it cool? Guess what 'wrote' it?

Fireworks!

Kev and a friend were setting them off in our garden on New Year's Eve and this is the message we got!

Oooh Kev has just come into the room to see what I'm up to - so we have taken a piccie of our pride and joy with him stood next to it - remember - he is about 6ft 1.

Aaaah!

I wonder how tall it will get to?!

Now then - I persuaded son to go to Piha boogie boarding with me this Sunday and we had a GREAT time.

The Piha Rescue camera guys were there filming for next year (Piha Rescue is a TV programme over here - all about the life guards rescuing and helping those that get into danger).

You can see the camera on the guy's shoulder and that's his little car buggy thingy there too. That's Lion Rock there on the left - looks like a huge lion staring dreamily out to sea!

This is his abandoned tripod after he ran across the beach to film some rescued people!

Whilst I was putting on my sun cream and protective clothing, I saw the boat go out twice to rescue people - the first was someone swimming miles away from the flags (you're meant to stay between them where it's safer) - he/she was stuck in a rip and the second was a surfer - also in the rip and wearing only a bikini! She was lucky she still had it on in those waves!

We were in the water about two hours and had a whale of a time - I caught one fantastic wave that took me at top speed from just near the surfers right onto the shore (into about 10cm of water!) I scratched my knee! I was going so fast, I couldn't stop! Just kept steering to avoid people and eventually found myself looking into the eyes of a 3 year old holding his grandma's hand! Lol. After a quick smile, I elegantly got up, turned round and battled against the waves once more in order to catch another ride! It was FAB!

Needless to say, the next day I was really aching around the shoulders area and I now have a lovely cold sore on my lower lip due to catching the sun there! Lovely look!

This is a beach I went to near Devonport with a friend. We chatted the afternoon away very happily whilst the kids played in the water. That's Rangitoto in the distance - it's an island which also happens to be a dormant volcano!

This is Eastern Beach where we spent New Year's Day afternoon. Lovely, sparkly day it was too. We picnicked and ate ice-creams!

And here's lovely Omana Beach with Waiheke Island in the distance. We had another lovely picnicky day there too!

Well - as you can see - the weather is very much in summer mode and we are making the most of it. Tis very cheap entertainment too - just a picnic, a car and off you go!

This is what Kev thinks of it all:

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

X SUE

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hi all

It's Chrissy Day here and soon to be over in the UK - so I'll just put a quick:

Merry Christmas!

up for you all.

There.

Have good one!

x Sue

Hooray, Hooray, It's A Holly, Holiday!

2007-12-22T17:10:00.001-08:00

Hi all - at last the hols are here and how lovely , sunny and warm it is!

Below is a piccie of a van that we followed all around lake Taupo whilst making our way onto Mount Ruapehu - not deliberately, you understand, but just had to take a photo for you - as it was sooo funny!

I am now the proud owner of a Full Registration Teachers Certificate - no more Provisional for me now!

All teachers are given Provisional upon entering New Zealand, and can apply after 2 years for their full. I could have applied earlier - but it seemed much easier and had less paper work doing it after 2 years. Yayyyyyy!

We've had a few earthquakes going on around New Zealand - but poor old Gisborne got hit the other night with a 6.8!

This site shows you all the quakes going on round and about.

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

This is a bit of news about it:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4333005a10.html

All go here - eh?!

The weather is absolutely lovelicious at the mo and we're off to the beach in a bit with our mat, umbrella and books etc to enjoy it all.

Our local beaches have got lots of hammerhead sharks swimming around them right now. This is their 'having babies' season and apparently they are all giving birth in the warm waters close to the beaches - tis a yearly event. One lady had a bit of a panic (as reported in the local paper) due to the fact that her grandchild or niece or something, was paddling in the water, when a fin popped up! It was a 2 metre long hammerhead. But - they've been doing this every year forever and it's one of those natural events in this area. Just like the orca swim by our way every September/October.

Went to see Handel's Messiah at the Auckland Town Hall last Tuesday - really enjoyed it - was very well done. Had to stand up at the beginning to sing the National Anthem - and I know it now! In Maori first, then Englush.

The New Zealand Governor General (I think that's his title) was there too!

The Sky Tower was (and is for Christmas) lit up in red and green as we walked up Queen Street to the Town Hall. Here it is:

Well - NZ being NZ, everything is slowing down for the hols - and the TV is using the bare minimum of presenters. The other night - around 11.30pm to be precise - son and I were up watching a movie, when the weather came on. The weather here is often just accompanied by random music - as it was that night. However, we reckon someone was having fun whilst their boss was away at the beach en famille, because, to our immense delight - the weather was accompanied by the song 'Mr Hanky, The Christmas Poo' (of South Park fame)!....... Never would happen in the UK!

Well - that's me fer noo - gotta go and change for the beach. Taking goggles to spy out for those pesky hammerheads!

Tara and speak to youse all later.

x Sue

Not long nowwwwww!

2007-12-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

Til the hols that is!

Have been busy making salt dough men at school - for Christmas tree hanging thereof - and equally busy persuading a certain young man in my class that NO - YOU CANNOT EAT THEM!

School is winding down at last and the weather is lovely and warm - although we have had our fair share of rain recently.

Still need to buy a Christmas tree to decorate and it's quite difficult - because it doesn't feel quite the same without cold dark nights etc etc - not that I miss them or anything - it's just SUMMER here and not winter......

The creepy crawlies are beginning to advance with force - found half a dozen baby praying mantis in the shower the other day - delightful!

Oranges are growing everywhere - our neighbours gave us some off their tree the other day - they're sooooo sweet! Son and hubby love the local oranges. Strawberries are also gorgeous at the mo - in fact, they're actually a symbol of Chrustmas in NZ! True! You can buy decorations in the form of strawberries! Honest!

Missed out on boogie boarding last Sunday due to rain - poo! It was beautiful on Saturday an all.

Ooooh - I also have an announcement! Corrie and Will are engaged! AAAhhhhhh. I'm so happy for them. Will proposed on their weekend away in Bruges! Congratulations you two! Love from mum.

Son had his first Tae Kwon Do competition last Saturday and did well. The demonstrations were awesome! I'll take photos for you next time. Took me back it did to when I used to ref!

Hubby had a lovely time in Fiji - alright for some eh?!

Well - washing up is calling and other exciting stuff - not! However - Coro Street is on next. It's getting juicy with Karen up to something against her boyfriend and the factory owner's ex-wife is getting very attracted to her step son! As you can see - we are a whole year behind! Gail's son Adam is working over here in New Zealand on the soap opera Shortland Street - I wonder if she knows where her son is? Well - he's managing a bar, so is doing quite well!

Well - best be off - take care all and please leave me a comment every so often - it's always great to hear from you.

x Sue

Piccies!

2007-11-20T23:11:00.000-08:00

Gosh - it's really hotting up here now - was boiling at school today and we have sports day tomorrow - lots of sun cream for me now!

Well - hopefully I can get some piccies up from our trips to Taupo and Mount Ruapehu for you.

Here goes...........

That's the volcano next door to Ruapehu - cool photo eh?! I am very proud - took it from the car as we were driving towards it.

This piccie is on the volcano of Mount Ruapehu - it was as high as we could go by car - that building is the cafe where we had a drink after clambering around among the rocks.

Scarey - when you think that all those rocks came out of the volcano at some point. The most recent eruption was September this year - a smallish one, but one poor young man lost his leg when it was crushed by a large rock.

When we arrived at the visitors centre before driving up the volcano, we were told that the alert level was set at 1, which is not too bad a situation as you can see below:

Here's another cool piccie - it's my favourite - absolutely splendid!

The views were gobsmacking as per usual - I am never ceasing to be in awe of this country and its beauty.

Whilst on our tour of duty in Taupo, we also visited the thermal area known as 'The Craters Of The Moon'. There was steam coming out of holes in the ground all over the place, plus the usual farty aromas that accompany it!

Lovely!
Our welcome sign at the beginning.

A bit like Rotorua really.

Well - got to say - we had a REET GOOD TIME at Taupo and I'm sure we'll be back again at some point!

Well - Christmas is drawing ever closer and I am nearly sorted for sending stuff over to the UK - just got to write cards and send them off.

The deadline was today I think! Well organised as ever. Hey ho - a couple of days over should be okay - will send them tomorrow or Tuesday and keep me fingers crossed.

Three weeks to go til school breaks up - on the 21st! Whew - can't wait! The kids are getting end of yearitis and very unsettled lately. Got to keep on my toes and keep them busy.

Topic at the mo is Sunsafe - due to hot weather etc.

I heard the cicadas yesterday and today - definite sign of heat. Shall be off to the beach for a bit of boogie boarding soon methinks. Yeeeehhaaaaa!

Well - gotta go - bed is a calling and I am tired.

Must check windows are closed - stop the mossies coming in to bite us!

Tata fer noo.

x from summery sue

Same language, different meanings!

2007-11-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Just a quickie before I do my planning for the week and then dash off for shower, dim sum with friends and food shopping! Another busy Sunday!

Well - this week I have been mostly laughing at how the same words have a completely different meaning.

I told my DP that I would be rooting for her whilst she did her speech in the conference we attended the other day - only to be told that while she was quite pleased by the thought behind the message, but I really shouldn't say it again in front of other Kiwis! LOL - rooting means what a male and female get up to in the privacy of their bedrooms!

A friend of mine also had a similar experience whilst working in the bank - she told a customer that she would just have a root around in the cupboard (in order to look for some info or other)!

I was also in fits of very immature laughter when our other DP announced to the whole staff in assembly that "in the morning part of the register we should do a slash whilst in the afternoon we should do a dot". I know - very childish and pathetic of me - but it WAS funny!

Well - I got the camera program loaded, but have left the camera at school! So - Taupo photos will be coming soon - promise!

We're off back to Taupo next weekend and are going to visit Mount Ruapehu and play in the snow before it all finally melts! Should be fun - as long as there're no eruptions! They had one a few weeks back - took everyone a bit by surprise!

Hey ho!

Speak soon.

x Sue

Hello once again!

2007-10-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am - another load of time gone and rushing headlong into lots of busy stuff!

My final essay is done for the first year of TESSOL yayyyyy!

Still have reports to write though - booooooooo!

Anyhoo, last weekend was great - it was a bank holiday here last Monday and we made the most of the long weekend by visiting Taupo and its stupendous lake (which took us more than two hours to drive around)!

It's the biggest lake in the Southern Hemisphere apparently.

We left Friday night around 4 and arrived about 8 in the evening. After unloading our stuff into the hotel room, we made for the local pub (an English one incidentally) and partook of a lovely evening meal - yum! Kev was in heaven due to the fact that they had Boddingtons and Tetleys! Guess who drove back!

The next morning was very exciting because of this:

Yep that's us at the front of the boat riding out at top speed towards the Huka Falls!

It was a bit of a chilly morning and I had 5 layers of clothing on! Taupo is much cooler than Auckland.

I'm sat next to Dave the driver - who fell into his seat and slurred his words a lot when he first arrived!

The ride was COOL! We did 360 degree turns, narrowly missed trees and cliff faces and I nearly got a face full of surprised duck as we turned one corner! All I could see were two duck feet and panicking wings before I did what it was and ducked!

The next day was spent in Napier - home of many Art Deco buildings due to a wipe out of original buildings by first an earthquake and then a fire on the 3rd of February 1931 - the earthquake measured 7.8 on the richter scale.

http://www.artdeconapier.com/Art_Deco_Style_Buildings_28.aspx

See the above web site for piccies of some of those Art Deco buildings we saw!

The drive to Napier from Taupo was beautiful - lots of snow topped mountains and waterfalls and rivers. Kev says it was a bit like the scenery in Austria or Northern Germany. I did take lots of piccies - but we have a new computer and I need to reinstall the camera stuff etc - so I will sort it at some point folks!

The temperature was much higher in Napier too! We ate lunch outside in our t-shirts and shades and then spent the afternoon swimming in the outdoor pools trying not to get sunburnt! Lovely!

Well - it's down to earth with a bump right now and work, work, work!

However, we are going back to Taupo on the weekend of the the 17th Nov due to Kev leaving his watch behind by mistake and us having to pick it up and also because it's our 23rd wedding anniversary!

There's so much to see and do there - there's also lots of thermal activity there as in Rotorua - some of the hills we drove past around the lake had steam coming out of them! The Waikato River (where we rode the jet boat) was also very warm in parts too!

Well - just a quick one today - really gotta go now and plan for school - poo!

See ya!

x Sue

Woohoooooooo!

2007-10-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Engerland Engerland Engerland! Engerland Engerland Engerla-and! Engerland Engerland Engerland! Engerla-aand Engerlaand!

Well - now that I've got that off my chest, I'll let you know what I have been mostly up to.

Those of you who know me well also know that my back plays me up from time to time - so I decided (after lots of persuasion from others at work) to go see a chiropractor.

Well - needless to say, he's very good and I am back to normal now - hurray. He's an Ozzie and I don't always hear what he says as he tends to mumble or speak a bit fast - makes me sound thick, but it's true - I am a foreigner in these parts after all!

Last week was very funny - whilst manouvering my back, he asked me to move my 'hid' and I thought he said 'hips' , so (picture this if you will dear readers), I'm busy trying to move myself forwards from the hips and he's busy trying to move my 'hid' and we're both very confused. In fact, I nearly fell off the bed - until finally in complete exasperation he blurts out "what are you doing?".

I squeaked back "trying to move my hips - it's what you told me to do!"

His reply was, "not yer bum - yer HID!"

Bloomin Ozzies!

He got me back on Friday whilst crunching my neck. He had his hands over my ears ready to crunch when I heard him mutter something to me. I asked "what?" and at that very point, I must have suddenly relaxed and CRUNCH - it was done!

"Merry Christmas!" was his triumphant remark.

Yesterday was absolutely lovely weatherwise until the evening where it turned very soggy!

Didn't do any adventures really - just marked books, cleaned, washed clothes and chatted with friends - very nice!

Am up to my eyeballs in the usual school stuff (reports and the like), plus I need to get an essay into uni. As you can see - I am working very hard on this! In fact, I did some colouring in and drawing last night - a warm up you see.....

Well - tata fer noo and GO ENGLAND! for next weekend!

Waiheke Trup!

2007-09-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Whew - England beat Tonga this morning and are through to the quarter finals! Playing Oz!

We have been busy exploring again and I've got a few photos to show.

I've also had to vote in the local elections! We all registered a while ago and last week received an envelope each with:

A voting form
A booklet with photos and blurbs of the people we can vote for
An envelope to send our form back in

Interesting way of doing things eh?!

There are posters of all those we could vote for all over the place and we keep getting stopped in Howick by people telling us why we should vote for them!

Well - I've been good. I've filled out my form and sent it off - the boys' envelopes are still unopened on the side.......

Got to be in by Oct 13th I think.

We've had some interesting things happen in the past couple of weeks:

Kev won a holiday in Tonga! Fafa Island Resort - I CANT WAIT! We're gonna go in the Easter hols - catch some rays! Here's a link:http://www.fafa.to/ Isn't it beautiful?! I'm going to snorkel and kayak everyday - plus take a good book! Woohooo...
Kev also got 5 numbers on the Lotto
I got a new job - starting in the new school year end of Jan.

Ad is preparing for his A-Levels and has almost left school forever! Scarey - getting old!

Well - here are the Waiheki Island pics - it was an absolutley GLORIOUS day and we both returned home quite pink - the sun is getting stronger and I'm now putting on my factor 30 face cream each day.

This is how we had to get onto the ferry - in reverse!

The journey took about 1 hour - so we whiled away the time by admiring the views.

Here's our arrival at Kennedys Point.

The view from our breakfast table!

After a scrumptious brekky, we drove off to have a coastal walk and to enjoy the spectacular views on offer.

Wow!

We intrepidly decided to set off for a walk, but the hill sloped downwards a little too much and the path was decidedly muddyfrom recent rainfalls. Kev slipped and I did to0 landing spectacularly upon my derriere! Needless to say my black trousers were covered in mud on the left cheek for the rest of that day....

Further driving and safe walking continued through the rest of the morning before we made our way to the Mudbrick Winery for lunch. This is the view we had from our dining table - isn't it fab?! (Previous to this I had tried unsuccessfully to walk into the restaurant without giving everyone a view of my mud spattered bottom).

Lunch lasted for a couple of heavenly hours while we took in the sights, sounds and smells around. The vines in the foreground seemed to be very attractive to the local kingfisher population - we enjoyed their antics and squawks very much! In the distance you can see the dormant volcano island of Rangitoto. Ferries from and to the city made their way backwards and forwards as we ate. It was wonderful! The food was delicious - I had a John Dory for my main course and Kev had a tuna steak - mmmmmmm!

Once lunch ended, we reluctantly (very full of wine and food) made our way to the top of the hill behind the restaurant for even more spectacular views of the island:

Well - after this - further exploration ensued until at 5.30 we made our way back to the ferry terminal for the ride back home. Kev climbed out of the car to enjoy the views in the dark whilst I reclined my car seat, put my coat on top of me and promptly fell asleep!

What a lovely day - we are intently watching the weather forecast for info re Tuesday as Kev has a day off then! More adventures will hopefully ensue!

Tara fer noo.

x Sue

Kia Ora!

2007-09-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Kia Ora everyone!

Well it's deffo warming up here - Kev and Adam went shopping for wood (and gathering!) the other day to get us all stocked up - and it's suddenly much warmer - didn't need the fire at all last night - TYPICAL!

Watched England get smashed by South Africa yesterday morning (7am) - oh dear! Lots of ribbing when I get to work on Monday methinks! I've been doing my bit for the cause by decorating my classroom window with an England shirt, an English Rose and the England flag. Pray for me on Monday please!

Wasn't the Georgia versus Ireland match good! I was very impressed by Georgia - they played really well.

Now - the past week has been busy - twas son's birthday on Wednesday - 19 years old now! We celebrated by taking him out for a meal that night and for a clothes shop on Saturday (yesterday).

He had a lovely chocolate cake brought to the house for him on the morn of his birthday (by two girls from his school - who then proceded to give him a lift into school - aaahhh!) The cake is delicious - have asked him to get me the recipe!

Everything seems so manic at the mo - busy with the last week of term, busy getting ready for next term (we've got ERO (Ofsted equivalent) coming in half way through - poops) and busy doing uni work on top - must be mad! Will be glad to have a break for a week or so!

Hopefully it will be warm - can always make Christmas cards on the rainy days - great inspiration on your site Andrea!

Can I also say a great big WELL DONE! to the banana girls who did the trek across Morcambe Bay - wish I could have been there with you - love the photos! You are GREAT and you made it without the need of a loo too!

Gotta go for now - just a quick chat today.

Will put some photos on next time.

Tara!

x Sue

Lunar eclipse!

2007-09-02T01:28:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!

Done a booboo this week methinks - those of you I sent a CD with photos on - please try right clicking on the CD icon and then clicking on compatible - try that - cos the photos are deffo there and I did format the discs. If you still can't get them, let me know and I'll try agin!

Well - we've had a lunar eclipse! At around 10 to 9 last Tuesday night, it all began......

Here you can see the shadow of the sun moving up the bottom of the moon.

Here we are a little later on - it's going a bit orange now.

About an hour later, the moon was completely orange - just like a little fruit hanging in the darkness - Kev saw a shooting star too!

Very exciting! I'd told my class earlier that day and some of them managed to persuade their parents to let them stay up for the experience, joining all their friends and neighbours. We had a very animated chat the next morning all about their experience.

Now - what else have I been up to? Oh yes, a couple of weekends ago, Kev and I went to Murawai to visit the gannets in their colony. It was a beautifully sunny day, although very windy on that wild western coast! Upon arrival, we parked the car and made our way up the cliff to watch the noisy birdies. The views were (as ever) spectacular - it just makes yer heart soar it does! The birds were rather smelly though - especially when the wind was blowing our way! Pwoaarr.

Here they are, safely perched on their rocks in the middle of the sea.

An arty farty photo of the wild waves from the top of the hill!

Yesterday, Kev and I decided to go for a walk into Howick in the warm spring sunshine and on the way back we decided to walk up Stockade Hill (women and children slept here at night for several weeks in 1863 when there was fear of attack from the Maori during the New Zealand Wars).

That's Waihiki Island you can see in the distance - whilst sitting like two old fogies on the bench, we watched the red ferry make its way across.

That's the Coromandel in the distance (note the traffic cone on top of the tree - the cause of much uproar last year - think it's rather amazing and creative meself - I'm amazed the strong winds over winter haven't blown it off!).

Here we are looking towards the meeting place by the sea - Maraetai (my right eye) - luverly beach there with piers you can jump off - only during high tide of course!

Well that's that really - except to show you a view of the Auckland CBD at night from Devonport (we'd been out celebrating a friend getting her new job).

Here you go.......

Sorry about the blurriness! In my defence, I had just had a glass or two of Belgian beer - it was white! Very nice though.

Well gotta go - it's 9.44pm Sunday evening and I've been doing this for agesssssss - bloomin photos take yonks to download!

See ya!

x Sue

Here I am again....

2007-08-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

I'm baaaack! How youse all? We're good!

Just got back from seeing Transformers (robots in disguise, more than meets the eye!). It was great fun - I like Bumblebee best.

Weelll - I suppose I should finish the photos from the UK - here we go..........

Here's Corrie at the whalebone arch in Whitby. We were intending to go to York after Newcastle but changed our minds upon hearing that something was going on in them there parts - so we tootled off to the seaside instead - and I'm sooo glad we did. What a pretty place! It was a bit like a fishing town/village in Cornwall. Yummy fush n chups too!

There's the abbey in the distance.

And here's the famous Captain Cook (complete with seagull on head). It seems that Whitby is where he began his seamanship training! I had no idea. It was cool to find out though - especially after my previous visits to Australia and living in NZ, where his name is all over the place on the maps and areas I've been to!

Here's the inscription on the bottom of the statue:

After pottering about enjoying the sights and sounds of Whitby, we made our way to the Tourist Information where a very nice lady found us a bed for the night a bit further along the coast in Scarborough. Her charge was the princely sum of 2 pounds! So, supplied with a map and girly stuff, we made our way onwards - to be there by 6pm sharp.

It was a very nice B&B indeed. Very friendly owners. However, I didn't like Scarborough quite as much as Whitby - a bit bigger and brasher I guess. There was a HUGE hotel on the seafront - very grand indeed!

We set out that evening fully intending to see a movie, but ended up at the wrong cinema at the wrong time - so we had LOADS of fun in the arcades! It was great! Spent ages on the 2p
machines trying to dislodge all the coins and win such coveted objects as a pig keyring (complete with telescopic pen when you pull its head off) and a Dr Who wallet. We must have spent a fortune in 2p coins - but IT WAS WORTH IT!

Armed with our spoils, we spent a delightful hour on the Bingo! Me and Cos with all the old biddie! It was a hoot!

The next major outing was the one we were all waiting for - and that was the graduation at Oxford - I loved it - every minute.............

This is Keeble College - our B&B in Oxford! It was great staying in the student rooms cos you got to eat in the dining hall - so beautiful and old - full of history - I wonder about all the famous people that have eaten there over the years..... and then there was me! LOL!

Gorgeous dining hall - this is where we had breakfast and dinner each day!

Here we are in the morning - nearly ready to go - Corrie was wearing her little gown (used for exams and eating dinner in the hall etc) until she graduated - then she marched out of the hall in her big one and we all clapped!

Here're the proud grandmas!

Whilst Corrie was getting ready for her graduation (ie being told what will happen and what to do), the gran'mas, aunty and uncle were taken by the lovely Will to Blenheim Palace and Kev, Adam and myself went for lunch in the Exeter dining hall - what a grand place to eat - we had never been allowed to eat there before - and now here we were being served with salmon followed by strawberries and cream, then coffee. Wines to too.

Isn't it amazing! There's a portrait of King Charles (the first, I think) up there somewhere. Also on the right hand side at the back in the wood panelling is the door mentioned in the first Phillip Pullman book - I'll say no more! Can't wait for the movie - it's coming out soon - got Nicole Kidman and the new James Bond guy in it! (I'm so good with names).

Here we are with the beautifual graduate! I think this is taken outside the door of her first living quarters at Exeter College. She was in the main quad building on staircase 6! Tolkien and Pullman attendedExeter.

After the graduation, we went into the Dean's garden, where their certificates were given to them personally by the Dean and we all drank champagne to celebrate!

Here's Will, Edward, Corrie, Adam and Celina.

Corrie with the Dean - she was lovely and so petite too!

I love this piccie! I think I did really well to capture all of those hats mid air - and everyone looks so happy too!

And on that note, I shall stop waffling on about our trip to the UK - suffice to say that there are tonnes more photos - lots of our trip to London too - but I'm so fed up of downloading photos - it takes aaaaages!

So - mum and co - I will download them today and send them to you!

Well - it's Sat 11.50am and I'm still in me jammies doing this blog and housework in between photos downloading (that's how long it takes!). Hoovered the whole upstairs, made lunch, done 3 loads of washing.......hey ho!

Well tara fer now and I'll start nattering about stuff soon.

x Sue

Oh my goodness!

2007-07-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

I think the weather from the UK has followed me to NZ! It's nearly 11am, the sky is pitch black, I've just had to turn the lights on and - you guessed it - it's CHUCKING it down! Very gloomy indeed! Although it is winter here I suppose. Yesterday was a complete contrast - beautiful blue skies and pleasantly warm in the afternoon (about 16 degrees I think). Heigh ho.

Well - it's about time I put some of my UK photos onto this luvverly blog - so here goes.......

My first day was spent out and about in the town I left a year and 8 months ago - Rugby - the home of the game! And here is Pete the bear outside Rugby school, below the statue of William Webb Ellis - the guy who picked up the ball and made a run for it!

And here's Pete in front of the nearby roundabout with the Webb Ellis Cup celebrating England's win and getting ready for this year's World Cup.

We had a lovely time messing around in Rugby ( including my friend and I getting confused in the shopping centre lift, ending up pressing all the buttons by mistake and daughter getting told off by an old man in a wheel chair due to us having to stop at every floor - including going up first instead of going down - oops!).

A few days later, I had a fabbie barbecue with the girlies at M's house (thank you very much for your hopitality - looking forward to seeing you next year). We had a great chin wag and natter and the chocolate trifle was to die for! Hi girls - hope all is well your end!?

The Strongbow is mine - have missed a good English cider!

Hi L! I remember you taking Corrie off me kicking and screaming at Playgroup and telling me to just "Go!"......

Hi M - sorry it's so dark! I also remember when you took Adam off me at the sports centre creche when he was a teeny tiny baby sos I could go off to aerobics! Gosh scary how time flies!

Here are the culprits - tired bro and sis having a relax!

Well, after this lovely catch up, it was off back to mum's for a family get together - during which I was sunburned! It was a really pretty, typical, warm England summer's day.

It was great to catch up and to see everyone. Lovely to see my nephew and neices too.

Next it was off up north to Gateshead to visit our geordie friends Mary, Roy and Andrea. We had a lovely natter in their garden, followed by dinner at one of our fave Indian restaurants (oooommmmm) and then a fabbie shop with them the next day in the Metro Centre!

It was great to see you all again!

Here's the winking eye bridge over the river at night. We visited there after our very BIG Indian meal and methinks there were also lots of gas emitted there too by a certain 4 ladies! Ooops - a bit off task here.....

Anyhoo - I'm getting a bit bored of downloading photos now - so I'll carry on at a later time - it takes blooooomin ages.....

Back in NZ, it has now stopped raining and the sun is starting to peep through the clouds. It is 12.38 and I really must get a shower and do some school work for tomorrow - poops.

NZ is still the same - it was very exciting when we landed cos I saw and understood the whole area below me this time - the views were beautiful! Could see the sparkling sea, Botany shopping centre, Rangitoto Island, Howick, Beachlands and Maraetai - lovely.

The ads on the radio are still quite funny - the latest one to take me by surprise is the one that comes after the traffic news - Something about a non-surgical vasectomy if you don't want a bigger car! Only in NZ eh!

Tara fer noo - more updates later.

Byeeee

x Sue

Shop, shop, shoppity, shop!

2007-07-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

Guess what I've been doing!

I've been to Fosse Park and had a fabbie shop in M&S, Wallis, New Look etc etc etc......

Spent lots. Got stuff for other people. Had morning tea and had a generally lovely time.

Everything is just the same really after 1 year and 8 months away - very busy and very crowded!

Going to a barbie tonight - ha! It keeps raining (as you probs know) - but the sunshine in between is very pleasant (all 5 minutes of it). Ne'er mind......

Hopefully, we will be able to get something cooked!

Bros are visiting tomorrow and then it's off to Newcastle on Sunday - woohoooooo!

Gosh - this hol is going past way too quick - I'll be back in NZ before I know it! Hey ho.

Tara

x Sue

2007-07-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Short but sweet today - it's been raining heavily in between sunny periods.

Son has gone to Manchester with his friends and daughter has arrived.

Tis mother's birthday tomorrow.

Have spoken to lots of friends on the phone - ready for meet ups.

Have eaten lots of Jaffa Cakes and Shredded Wheat.

Am going to Asda tomorrow.

Jasper Carrott hosts a quiz show called Golden Balls.

Ate loads of cherries yesterday.

Went to bed at 8.30 last night and woke up at 6am - not bad eh?!

Tis 9pm now and I'm not a bit tired! Impressive.

Have eaten lots of yummy Thornton's choccies.

Tara.

x Sue

Helloooo from Engerland!

2007-07-02T00:36:00.001-07:00

Hi all

Well - we arrived yesterday - absolutely kna^(&))*__(! at Birmingham airport.

Security was high at every airport we travelled through.

Luckily we landed at Birmingham, which, although under high alert etc etc, was far far better than travelling to Heathrow!

Police were very visible and had guns. Cars were not allowed to come anywhere near the outside of the airport.

However, all was very efficient and we got through very quickly - the hire car pick up was fabbie quick too and we got to mum's not too long after. Just in time for Sunday lunch I would like to add! Roast beef and the works - not until a lovely hot shower first though - 30 odd hours is a long time to wait - poooey! (Couldn't find any showers at Dubai - normally have a shower half way if I can).

We were patted down and frisked at NZ airport and had all luggage checked at each airport in between (even though they were checked when leaving NZ).

I felt that Dubai airport was a bit messy in their security checks though, in that when we were asked to put our belongings through the x-ray, the people queuing up were not controlled and so those behind us just shoved their stuff on and this continued - some of my stuff fell off the belt onto the floor and I've no idea how the people checking the x-ray had near enough any time to look at each item as it moved along.

But heigh ho - we got here safe and sound.

Both of us were falling asleep by about 5 pm! However, Adam stayed awake via heroic efforts until 8pm and I struggled until 8.30pm. Ad slept right through til about 7am - I woke up at 12 until 1 and then finally woke up about 5 - not too bad - hopefully tonight will be better.

It was interesting to see what's been happening on Coronation Street - we're a year behind in NZ - I'll keep quiet though - unless any of you in NZ really want to know of course!

Well tara fer noo - we're off to Rugby in a bit to have a wander around old haunts and take photos for the footie (rugby) fans in NZ.

x Sue

Hello! I' m back!

2007-06-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Well, it's a rainy Sunday and therefore, I've had to stay in and can finally catch up with youse all...

Here are some fabbie photos first of all from the past few weekends.

The first lot are from the weekend Kev and I decided to explore just beyond the North Shore - the areas of Whangaparoa, Gulf Harbour and Orewa. And very pretty they were too! We keep exploring with an eye to where we would like to finally settle! Still have not an iota of an idea yet - there are so many beautiful places to live within Auckland - but also without too - without is cheaper!

Here we go:
As ever, another beautiful beach! We saw these flowers just growing wildly on the edge of it - aren't they pretty?

Rather chunky leaves too! This next one is very delicate looking, yet was quite prolific!

Our next stop was Gulf Harbour - basically a new little town north of Auckand with ferry routes into the CBD.

These are the parking spaces for the locals!

Coming home after a hard day's fushing......

.....and that's Kev's stripy arm on the left, with Auckland City in the distance on the top right.

After we'd had a wander here, we drove out of the village/town or whatever and tootled along to the local beach - the pohutokawa (NZ Christmas trees) trees there were amazing!

If I were a kid - I'd be on them like a flash, climbing all over the place! Actually, there were too many people around.....!

Ah well.

The weekend just gone had a Bank Holiday for the Queen's birthday, so we grabbed the chance and set off for Pauanui on the Friday night after work.

Of course, we arrived in the dark, so never really saw much of the place straight away, except to say that it is a very quiet, peaceful place with very helpful black signposts! (The writing was in white, but very hard to see in very dark streets with not many street lights).

Anyway, the hotel consisted of chalet type rooms dotted about the wooded hill. Reminded me a bit of Centre Parks in the UK - in that there were lots of trees, bikes to use for guests (free) and cars remained strictly in the car park. We were taken to our room on a little electric go-cart thingy ma jiggy.

This is one of the rooms in the sunny daylight (taken whilst I was waiting for Kev to check out on the Sunday morning).

Needless to say it chucked it down on the Saturday, but in between the showers, we ventured on to the ferry and took the 5 minute ride across to Tairua (takes about 1/2 an hour if you go by car!).

Whilst waiting for the ferry, we watched people fushing from the wharf. The ferry man was lovely and we had a pleasant chat with him as we crossed over to the other side.

Although the weather was a bit pants that day, we were rewarded at various times with bouts of sunshine and a very beautiful rainbow.....

Here's a view of the wharf, as we leave it behind on our travels to Tairua. Once in Tairua, we walked into the town/village centre, heading for our breakfast and the Saturday morning market.

On the way, I watched a smallish bird dive into the sea, flying out with a fush in its beak - it was only as it flew past me that I saw its beak was long and pointed - it was a kingfisher! How cool! I was so pleased to see one! However, I became rather underwhelmed after that cos I carried on seeing them - 5 in all during the next couple of minutes! Wow!

Can you see it?

The next day dawned bright and sunny and we decided to take the long way home in order to further explore the Coromandel and to visit Coromandel Town itself. Here is the beach near the hotel on the Sunday morning - luverly! You can just about see the heads of a couple of surfers out there - wish I'd taken me boogie board now - bums.

Spent a happy morning tootling along past beautiful beaches and winding along the hazardous Coromandel Range roads! Here is the most beautiful view of Coromandel Town taken from very up high in the Ranges during which ride our ears popped several times.

The town itself was quite small - I don't know why, but I expected something much bigger - should be used to it by now - NZ only has around 4 million people and about a million are in Auckland itself. Here's a piccie of part of the main street - pretty little place with very nice fush and chups (I had kumara - sweet potato - chups - yuuummmmmmy).

Whilst we were wandering and gandering, we came upon a smoked fish shop - a heaven for Kev - and immediately went inside! They had loads of stuff! All done by themselves.

Whilst Kev was looking around, this huuuuuge black fluffy thing fell off his head (he was wearing a baseball cap) - it immediately caught our eyes as it fell to the floor and turned out to be the biggest, most humongous, jet black, fluffy spider I've seen since we got to NZ. This whopper then proceeded to make a frenzied mad dash under the nearest fridge in the smoked fush shop.

Needless to say, we didn't tell the owner! This scary ball of black fluff with legs attached was about a big as the circumference of the average tea mug - shiver.....

Anyway, Kev bought loads of smoked this and that and spent a happy half hour tasting the stuff too whilst I kept a shifty eye on the cold storage area in the corner of the vicinity.

The drive from Coromandel Town to Thames was absolutely beautiful and very scenic - blue seas and equally blue skies, mussel farms about 100 metres or so into the sea from the beach, mad drivers and squashed possums - fun!

Once we hit Thames, it was definately time to stretch our legs, have a coffee and visit the loos! Thames is quite big really, and about 1 hour from Auckland - it had a really cool hotel there - I must say, most of the smaller towns (including Howick where we live) have a cowboy/western look about them!:

Half expected a gun toting cowboy telling me to 'stick em up' at some point I did! Except he didn't cos we're in NZ not US and it's the present day, not the 1800s.....

Anyhoo - that's us so far and, as usual, I'm still behind meself! I actually began typing this last Sunday and it's now Friday the 14th! Busy busy as per usual - had parents evenings this week too - that whacked me out.

Well - the fire in the log burner is gloriously flaming away and I am sat toasty warm at the computer in the adjoining kitchen. It's been pretty cool the past few days - about 16 in the day time - but still can't complain hey! It is winter after all and next doors tree is jam packed with oranges etc!

Well - tek care fer now and see some of yous soon!

x Sue

I'm still here!

2007-06-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

Meant to put lots on the blog today - but have been so busy washing and cleaning and planning for school that I just haven't had the chance!

Have got lots of photos to put on for you and I'll get them done as soon as..........promise!

Have had a lovely weekend away to Pauanui (pow-a-noo-eee) - hence all of the above.

It is winter now and the South Island have had their first snow fall - Christchurch was -3 last night. It's cooler here in Auckland at night now - but we have the lovely log burner to keep us toasty warm. The days are fine though - bright and sunny and warm when it's not raining - about 16-20 degrees at the mo.

Photos coming soon and more natterings.

Tara!

Love Sue

Our house

2007-05-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd spend some time this week showing you what our house is like (rental) - here you go:

This is the lovely view from our balcony - you can see the Sky Tower from the balcony, but it hasn't come out on this photo.

I really like it here - it's so quiet and peaceful and yet tis only 10 mins walk into Howick itself - lovely!

The photo below is the view of the weeping willow taken from our settee! If I get my binoculars out whilst sitting on said settee, I can watch the birds VERY CLOSE UP when they land in the branches.

Here is our lovely, lovely wood burner - my best friend on the cooler evenings - although it hasn't been too bad yet - we've had a few practises and it was toasty warm:

It's lovely to just watch the flames roaring away through the glass!

Here's the back of the house - with Kev doing something in the car! From the back, the house has two levels and from the front it looks like a bungalow - due to the slope!

Fig tree laden with figs (yummy cooked in butter and brown sugar), but the birds keep beating us to it and tucking in before we get there!

Physalis plant very laden and very much out of control really - but never mind - yum yum!

Crazy grape vine - growing manically over everything including physalis and fig tree!

Little fig tree centre of picture and lemon tree to the right top corner:

Now - in order to illustrate just how heavy the rain is and how quickly one can get soaked (ie from door to car), I took some photos to show you:

The one below is of our front drive - the water was just gushing down it! Sorry about the flash!

Well - there you go - a little bit of where we live - I like it LOTS!

Hope our next house will be as peaceful.

Yesterday we had a family afternoon at Sylvia Park (a new shopping centre) exploring its 2nd and 3rd phases. Spent a lovely few hours pottering about - especially in Borders - was like being in England again that bit - except books are more expensive here!

After that, we sampled the delights of the new cinema via the movie Spiderman 3. Loads of leg room - people can walk past without you moving your legs! It also has a bean bag movie - yes - you can loll around on a huge bean bag whilst indulging yourself in popcorn and the like! At the back of our room, there were settees, where you can relax with a drink and a meal if you like!

Here's a bit of info for you:

http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/halfpipe_at_hoyts_auckland_sylvia_park_index.html

Well - tara fer noo - gotta go and write ploppy reports.....

See yas.

x Sue

2007-04-27T21:06:00.001-07:00

Have a look at this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FtjonyOibs

Thanks to the forums again!

x Sue

What's The Plan Stan?

2007-04-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

Hellooooo!

That's the name of our new topic at school this term........all about what to do in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis etc etc. Had lots of fun discussing how well we would be prepared and realised we are NOT at all! Not one of us teachers have got anything ready! (At home I mean!)

The government keeps putting ads on the TV telling us to have our survival kit ready and at hand- sleeping bags, warm clothing, water, food, a barbecue etc. Now I'm assuming that this is in case we are stranded in the home without power for a while - if it was a tsunami, we're not gonna have a lot of time loading it into the car and then heading for high ground with that lot - assuming the roads are clear. If they're not, I don't fancy lugging litres of water up the nearest hill nor pushing a barbie along the road! Hey ho...... You gotta larf.

Also - during the last tsunami threat, I realised afterwards just how little I knew - I watched the news on BBC World (nothing on NZ TV at all!) and sat there waiting to see if it was really gonna hit us - I SAT WAITING! Just in case! What I really should have done was get some food together etc etc - but no - I woke son up and then we watched the telly - ready to make a last minute dash up Pigeon Mountain Hill if need be - with nothing to survive with! How daft am I! But apparently I wasn't the only one! Anyway - at least I'm far more aware now if nothing else.

On Thursday, the whole school practised a fire alarm drill and next week we are going to practise what to do in an earthquake. We need to DROP, COVER and HOLD! IE Drop down, get under cover and hold on. In school, the children have to get under their desks and hold onto the legs, whilst I have to do the same or brace myself in a doorway! The practise on Monday should be fun! If you happen to be outside, you just have to stand still (as long as you are away from tress etc, that is).

Thankfully, Auckland is not too prone to earthquakes - but we still need to be prepared, just in case. Also - there are parts of NZ that have LOTS of earthquakes, and who knows if you ever end up there one day! Wellington is very prone to earthquakes, and we visited there not so long ago.

Anyhoo - here's the link to the really good website for those interested - it gives you a good idea of what has gone on here disaster wise. Also if you're a teacher - there's lots of plans, phots and videos for you to use!

http://www.whatstheplanstan.govt.nz/index.html

Have fun!

This Wednesday just gone, we had a day off work for ANZAC day. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so we trotted off to Goat Island for the afternoon - lovely. I was immediately dragged into the water by two very excited young ladies that came along, only to see the youngest immediately run back out again due to strong waves and fish around her feet. The other lasted a little while longer, but nearly choked on sea water when she saw a group of snapper suddenly appear before her (she screamed extremely loudly!)

After they had had their fun - I carried on snorkelling alone observing the wild life around me - it was GREAT! The fish were plentiful and unafraid - they were everywhere - snapper, blue maomao (very pretty and very very blue) and some zebra type fish were the ones I saw that day!

Blue maomao (at about 16 in long, they were the smallest fish I saw that day).

Here is some info about the snapper:

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/pauratus.htm

Well - on another note entirely, I am currently cleaning the house and then about to spend a happy afternoon writing reports - poo.

I have also noted that none of the sinks in my house, nor the other rental we lived in, have overflow holes - not even the bath!

The feijoas are falling off the hedge and we are just as quickly trying to eat them - yummy! They are a completely different variety to the ones at the other house - these are more sort of fruity rather than flowery/fragrant in taste. Anyway they are still good! There're physalis everywhere too and I am entirely bored with them now! Will go pick some and stew them or something - jam might be interesting! Mmmmmm.

I also tried a horned melon the other day - sorry can't find a pic for you on the net - but it's yellow, oval (about the size of 2 apples joined together) with spikes all over it. When you cut it open, it is surprisingly grass green in colour. It tastes strangely like a sour banana - sounds weird - but I liked it! Out of the four of us tasting it - 2 liked it and 2 definately did not!

Aha - just found it:

Kiwano Horned Melon - is a member of the cucumber family and not of the kiwi family. Looks like an oval melon with horns and is very decorative. Picked green, the kiwano horned melon tastes like a mix of lemon and banana. It is a tropical fruit so it cannot be stored in the refrigerator.

Cool eh?!

Well - I really must go now and clean - wahayyy. Then write reports - bigger wahayyyy! What would I do with my free time if I didn't have them.....

Tara fer noo.

x Sue

Look at this!

2007-04-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b218/moggymiaow/?action=view&current=Mlo-chat.flv

I love the way the cat looks as though he's listening really carefully to check whether it's in tune or not!

Thanks to someone who put it on one of the forums we read!

x Sue

Have a look at this site!

2007-04-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hi all - just a quickie!

Take a look at this guy's work - amazing!

http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/pave.htm

x Sue

Hallelujah!!!!

2007-04-14T00:19:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get onto this for the past few days and have finally made it! Whew- lost my password and then changed it, got in a pickle and finally sorted it out today - wipes frustrated sweat off brow!

Anyway - I'm here - at last!

I'm now smack bang in the middle of my Easter hols and the pressures of work are never too far away - been laminating for England (or New Zealand!) today as well as preparing readings for my uni course. I've also got reports to write by week 4 of term 2 and an essay to be into uni by week 6 --- waaah..... why do I do these stupid things? Answer - because I'm mad - must be.....

Well - whinging over. I still have been doing some lovely things too as the photos will show.

Over the Easter Bank Hols, we did little day trups out. Our first little excursion was to the Duder Reserve for a lovely lovely walk with these amazing views:

We came upon the above view after about 10 mins gradual uphill walk - just stunning!

Isn't the twinkling sunlight on the water just wonderful?

Just 25 mins drive from our current abode.

We walked past lots of sheep and trod in lots of sheep plops!

That's Waiheke Island in the distance - still haven't got there yet - but have high aspirations!

Speaks for itself really doesn't it? Twas a really warm day and copious amounts of water were drunk as we walked along discussing our life and future in NZ!

The nixt day (after a delicious breakfast barby) we visited Hunua Falls - this time about 40 mins from home:

Here's Mrs Blobby in her hat - ooh beg yer pardon - it's me!

After this photo was taken, I proceded to walk through the shallow water (in my wonderful non slip crocs) to the banks on the other side. We then made our way through the bush and upwards to a lovely viewing point of the falls.

Such a peaceful, tranquil area and quite busy for a NZ Bank holiday - as you can see.....!

After this lovely stop, we then proceded on to visit one of the dams in the area - the Wairoa Dam. This is the dam wall!

Flora and fauna (felt like we were walking through Jurassic Park at times!):

Views of the waters of the dam - it's quite low at the moment - even though we've had some very heavy rain recently (in particular one Thursday night when, upon arriving at uni, I walked 10 metres across the car park in my raincoat and proceeded to get such a soaked skirt that I had to literally ring it out in the ladies loo. I then had to sit absolutely soaked for 2 1/2 hours of lectures and intelligent discussion (lol). Great fun!)

More views:

Hubby in the distance:

Looking down at our car in the distance - it's the blue one furthest away!:

More water:

Interesting info for your perusal (or not, as the case may be.....):

A pretty diagram............

A giant plughole:

Well - after this visit, we realised we still had lots of time on our hands that day (a whole afternoon left still), so we decided to make our way to Miranda and its hot water pools - luckily we had our togs (for those of you who have forgotten, togs are Kiwispeak for swimming cossies), just in case we fancied a dip in the sea - but the call of the pools was more enticing - so off we went!

Of course, this did involve a very important pit stop where we stopped for much needed ice-cream, cakes and coffee! Very nutritious indeed! I had a little bit of rum and raisin icecream, followed by an apricot slice accompanied by a delicous latte. Kev had one scoop of mango ice-cream and one scoop of lemon and lime icecream - precariously balanced atop of his tiny cone! He ate a yummy apple slice and also drank a latte.

We spent a heavenly couple of hours lolling about and swimming in the hot pools that afternoon. The water smelt ever so slightly sulphurous and really made my skin feel good!

For those of you who would like to know more about this lovely place - here's the website with photos - we obviously didn't take any due to wetness and the damage it causes to non waterproof cameras:

http://www.mirandahotsprings.co.nz/

Our drive back was stunning - we took the scenic route - what else! - and watched the sun going down as we drove......

The hills you can see in the distance are part of the Coromandel Range and the water between them and me is known as the Firth of Thames.

Well - what a luvverly dayy.....

And to cap it all off, upon arriving home, son had prepared for us a fantabulistic tea of shepherd's pie accompanied by ciabatta bread deliciously warm from the oven!

Well - it's done nowt but rain for the past 3 days - heavy showers really I suppose - one minute sunny, the next absolutely chucking it down! Therefore, I have mostly shopped, watched dvd's, caught up with girly friends and done some work (yuk! - work I mean!).

Talking of work - this year I have a boy in my class (let him be known as X) whom I find quite lovely, yet also very challenging and exasperating! Basically, he's Samoan, very big, has little English and after a hard working morning, has had enough by the afternoons, and boy do I know it!

Considering he has a light grasp of the English language, he talks to me non-stop (of not what we're working on - classic avoidance technique) both in class and out of it! I often stay in my room to mark books during lunch and if he finds out, X barges in confronting me with such delightful questions such as:

"Mrs T - does your son like school?"
"Are you married?"
"Do you love your son/husband?"
"I'm brown"
"You're white"
"What language do they speak in England?"

etc etc etc and on and on and on....

Don't get me wrong - he's lovely - but gosh he tires me out! I've never known a child to talk so much!

However, I am happy to say that he is improving and can read lots of words now and not just the two that he came into my classroom with!

Well - I will hop off for now!

Cheers Andrea for your help - not sure if I dare do anything else to my blog now as it's taken me this long just to get back onto it after losing my password! I love looking at the sites you are connected to and will hopefully do more crafty type things as and when I get the chance - probably in about 10 years time!

Bye alllllll...

x Sue

Hiya!

2007-03-19T01:58:00.000-07:00

Pasifika was fab as were the fireworks and fire display!

It was a swelteringly hot, hot day and we set off excitedly with our bottles of water to Western Springs for the Pasifika festival first.

It was GREAT! We were immediately greeted by grass skirted dancers shaking their hips etc along to very Pacific Island type music. Here you go....

Isn't it all so very colourful?!

These girls were very good - really enjoyed watching them. They came all the way from Tahiti:

Had to drag husband away from this very stunning young lady - Miss Pacific Islands something or other:

Very pretty young lady.

Lovely Tongan art.

Some more Tongan art.

Tongan lady making the tapa cloth from the bark of the mulberry tree.

Tongan man roasting a very yummy pig! Very popular stall this was.....

Remote controlled dinosaur - what this had to do with the Pacific Islands I do not know- but it was really fun!

After an exhausting afternoon of visiting the variety of islands around the Pacific (consuming huge amounts of roast pig, chop suey, chicken drumsticks, ice-cream, pineapple, coconut milk fresh from the coconut etc etc), we boldly ventured onto the Domain and proceeded to further stuff our faces with a yummy picnic and bottles of wine.

The display was FANTASTIC! At one point, the fireworks were so bright that we saw blue sky instead of dark night and stars! Here you go:

What a lovely day! My friend Helen was at the firework display too! And once again - completely free (the day's events I mean)! Apart from the food and drink we bought and petrol of course! It was so lovely to enjoy it all with friends whilst sharing our picnics and wine - great!

This weekend, was much calmer due to being VERY tired from all the other weekends - I just pottered about, visited the market, caught up with friends and generally chilled out - very nice.

I read the local paper tonight and have decided to venture out and meet (being a new immigrant) friendly New Zealanders in order to chat and improve my English. Should be fun!

Hope you all had a fabbie St Paddy's Day (thanks for the card) and (for all you UK mums) an even better Mothers Day. I did.

I love the CD Cossa!

We're having Duffy Day tomorrow at school - a famous New Zealander will be visiting and handing out free books to the kids. (Reminder to myself - 'must look professional'). I'm sure we'll give her a rousing sing of the Duffy Song!

Have been eating lots of cape gooseberries from plants that look like weeds in my garden - very yummy - just growing madly here - much to daughter's disgust (she loves them and they're quite rare and expensive in the UK).

They are called physalis - I have finally found out the name! Kept calling them the syphallis fruit cos I knew it sounded something like that, but couldn't quite remember it correctly!

Well - on that note, I'd better go and eat more!

Tara.

x Sue

2007-03-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hello again

Here I am in cyberspace to let you know what I've done etc etc!

The cultural festival was FAB! Quite a large affair celebrating the variety of cultures that go in to make NZ the multicultural place it is!

Here is a HUGE paella - full of mussels and very large prawns - yum (if you like seafood).

Yummy French crepes - mmmmmmm. I had a raspberry one and duly said 'merci'!

I also bought a very cool hat - no photos available - but tis very nice indeed - trust me!

If fact, I am wearing a hat all the time at the mo - the sun is soooo strong and one burnt scalp is enough warning!

There was looooads of food on offer - it was great! Indian, Chinese, Etheopian, Greek, Finnish - you name it - it seems that it was there - wow!

Of course - I did enjoy the cultural side of the day too! Ahem.

The following weekend was a very busy one for me too - I spent the day dressed up as a children's book character (Mrs Wishy Washy - Hilda Ogden style headress) - as you can imagine, I looked fab! Yes - you guessed it - it was the Otara Literacy Day (boosting literacy skills of the children of South Auckland) - do you remember Bob The Builder of last year!

And guess what - I met Helen Clarke (NZ PM) and shook her hand - and it was an ACCIDENT! Sooo funny! This is what happened.......

Well - I was headed for the door (to exit the building after watching our yr 3's and 4's come 3rd in the competition - well done them!) when someone asked us all to stand back due to the imminent arrival of our Helen. So, there I was standing right next to the door just minding my own business, when a little girl I had taught last year walked by and greeted me - I returned the greeting with a cheery 'Hi!", when who should walk through the door, but Helen, who immediately walked up to me and shook my hand with the cheery salutation of "hello Mrs Wishy Washy!" I was a bit stunned at that point (cos I was talking to my little pupil and not Helen), but very proud to shake her hand! I quickly recovered and gave her my Mrs Wishy Washy smile nonetheless!

Ha!

Anyhoo - here she is - having just arrived:

Can you see her minder? Curly wire, dark sunglasses, black suit!

Another photo:

Telly people waiting for Helen:

I watched it on the evening news that night! Didn't see me though - probably just as well, given what I was wearing!

Well - that's enough of Sue's mixing with the rich and famous - here are some photos from our trip to Welly.

A lovely spinning top thingy - they had art sculptures like this all over the city and they were really very good - it was lots of fun just coming upon them in the most unexpected places!

I really liked this - the back view.

The front view - isn't it good?! We came upon it whilst walking around the botanic gardens.

An arty farty shot of a fern in the gardens.

Going up the very steep hill in the tram!

Lovely views of the city below.

Some more lovely views!

Me sat in a tram in the museum (most of NZ's major cities used to all have trams - inc Auckland!) We watched some old black and white movies showing the trams being used in NZ - interesting and fun!

A lovely steam engine! Sorry for that girly comment - but can't remember much about it except that it was something to do with trams I think!

These are for you mum - look where it's made!

This was a really cool bridge!

Well - tara fer noo.

Have got some more photos to download for you pleasure - so will go off to do that. Went to the Pasifika Festival yesterday - plus an AMAZING firework type display thingy. Will talk more of that anon.

See ya!

x Sue

Going for a barbie later as it is still absolutely beautiful weather at the mo!

Sky City Starlight Symphony!

2007-02-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

What a night!

This was a fantastic music in the park (at the Domain) to be enjoyed by anyone in Auckland.

We arrived around 6pm for the 7.30 start and already the streets were jammed with parked cars, cars looking for spaces, road closures and hundreds of people walking towards the park with their heavy picnic, deck chair and rug loads. Luckily we saw a very enterprising young man selling car parking spaces for $5 (brandishing a huge home-made cardboard sign) and took him up on it.

Following the hoards of people towards the park, I began to really feel excited about the coming performances. As we arrived, there were 100s of people already set up in front of the stage - we could also see 4 huge cannons, set up by the Royal New Zealand Artillery, ready for the 1812 Overture - wow!

A lovely spot was found and then a variety of directions were sent to friends joining us from the North Shore via mobile phones - 'we are near the cannons' and 'look for the St John's Ambulance' etc. Anyway, they eventually found us ( I was even waving to the wrong people at one point - oops) and we settled down for a fun-filled evening.

Lots of people setting up camp!

The performances were all very impressive. My favourites were the Auckland Youth Choir and their BRILLIANT rendition of The Space Odyssey (I think that was it), the Emperor Waltz (dubbed the 'crowd waltz' due to the fact that everyone in the audience was invited to waltz - we had a go - but I can't waltz and neither can Kev - great fun), the beautiful voice and good looks of Geoff Sewell ( O Sole Mio, Unchained Melody and Nessun dorma), Perfect Day ( I love that song), Somebody To Love, Good Vibrations, Raining Men, Sway, Star Wars (accompanied by a fantastic laser show in the sky), Land of Hope and Glory (of course!), the 1812 Overture (accompanied by 4 VERY LOUD cannons, green lasers and fireworks - truly spectacular) and, finally, the national anthem (first in Maori - which I can just about remember now - then in English). Wow! What a night.

The firework, cannon and laser show for the 1812 Overture was amazing and sooo beautiful! The cannons were bang (ha) on time and everything just stopped together at the end - excellent. Best outdoor show I've ever been to and it cost NOTHING - just the petrol to get there, parking, a picnic and a gold coin given for the charity of the night.

What a lovely evening!

Other stuff:

Wednesday night saw Auckland hit by 3 earthquakes! Of course, I never felt a thing - unlike 1000's of other people! The airport was closed in order to check the safety of the runway and it was breaking news on the TV. Hey ho! Here's a link for you (They struck in Orewa - north of us):

http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html

Friday night saw me being dive bombed by a mad cicada!

I was on the phone with daughter when it flew into the sitting room from outside at the speed of light and proceeded to madly dive into walls and ceiling etc, finally ending with a dive bomb at my head!

Needless to say, I , with a mad shriek, jumped up with amazingly fast speed for a lady of my years (quite impressed when I look back upon this) and ran out of the room - at the same time ordering husband to immediately get rid of said creature.

Daughter thought my shriek was some sort of excitement at a comment she had made until I was finally capable of explaing the situation - I was making sure I was safely out the flight path of the mad insect at the time.

Whew!

Well - today we are off to the cultural festival of Auckland - funnily enough in the same place as last night's performance - shall let you know how it goes. Must do some work first though - BORRRRIIIING.

Must put some more Welly photos on too at some point.

Well - tara fer nooo!

x Sue

Offshore boat racing at Maraetai - woooohoooooo!

2007-02-11T00:09:00.000-08:00

Wow - what a fun day!

Arrived at Maraetai around 9.20am and, after safely parking car, we immediately did the most important thing possible - yes, you guessed it - ate some breakfast in the lovely cafe there!

It was a beautiful day - sun shining brightly and the water twinkling in the sun.

After eggs benedict with bacon, we wandered down to look at the boats and to generally be very nosey!

They were beauties!

Here're some:

Aren't they cool!? Of course, by this point, I was dying to see them on the water!

It was at this point we noticed the cranes further along and the fact that they were lowering other speed boats carefully into the water - so, yep, we went along - attracted just like smaller magnets to bigger ones or flies to the proverbial - whatever - we went!

I couldn't believe it - we were allowed to just wander around as close as you like and watch these boats go in! FAB! Here you go:

Ropes being connected.

Tightening up.

Up she goes!
Right over my head ( had to make a swift gettaway here out of the way of the man with the rope!).

Heading for the water.

Nearly there.......

And safely down - whew!

Off it goes - chugging along towards its goal - the open water.

What a brilliant sight! I left Kev still enthralled by boats and engines and manly things and made my way to a spot on the beach (of which there was plenty). After setting up the parasol and mat, I relaxed in the shade reading the Sunday papers whilst every so often watching the odd speed boat race by in practise mode - exciting!

Eventually, Kev returned and we settled down with a chocolate and mint ice-cream concoction to wait for the race to begin - hurry up.......!

At last, lots of white foam in the distance appeared, eventually followed by the roar of engines. A mighty crescendo took place as they roared towards us - it was sooooo cool! They were soooo loud and colourful too. The larger boats were inevitably in the front, followed by their more miniature siblings - wooohooooo!

Not only were these things shooting by on the water, but they were being tracked by 3 helicopters. One copter especially was following the lead boat each time it would pass by us and it was so wicked to watch it suddenlymake a sharp turn in the sky above us as the boats followed the curve of the circuit. They were so low too. I waved at the copter later on as it filmed the spectators - but no idea what programmed they're filming for and I missed the evening news..... Anyway, I was wearing a black hat, red t-shirt and white 3/4 length trousers just in case any of you spot me!

Imagine the scene:
Families playing in the water
Teenagers jumping off the end of the wharf
Spectators watching the boats
Me and Kev sharing an ice-cream
Beautiful blue skies and shimmering water
The roar of the boats and the yadda yadda of the helicopters

Wow.

Well - needless to say, we returned home full of our tales of the day to bore son with and were happily sunburned too (well Kev was)! How lucky we are to go to something like this in such beautiful surroundings and all it cost was the petrol plus anything else you might want to buy (such as brekkie and ice-cream)......

Next year, I will take a chair, a radio (for commentary) and my togs for swimming - the water was sooo warm when I paddled!

Hey ho - Sunday was spent participating in housework and school prep - have to come down to earth at some point eh?!

And on that point, I'm off - watching World's Fastest Indian on TV at the mo.....

x Sue

What we have been mostly up to!

2007-02-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well - great big congrats to son who did very well in his AS Levels and is very proud as are we! He was also dead chuffed to get his first job in the local pub all on the same day - what a happy boy!

Hubby and I had a lovely trip down to Welly via the Overlander (a 12 hour train journey through some fabulous countryside).

Here is the train:
Front end:

Back end (for viewing):

Here we are going at the speed of light! (not):

It was such a cool journey - I thought we'd be dead bored and slitting our wrists by the end, but no - it was really enjoyable. Beautiful scenery (the train actually slows down at the most scenic points), chats with our fellow passengers (Pommy couple who've been here for 40 years, Pommy couple who were here on holiday and 2 lovely Dutch ladies), a running commentary from the mystery voice and the delight of watching cows and sheep running like mad into the distance as we mosied along next to them! Sadly, we also saw at least 4 cars that had come off the road and crashed down the hills or cliffs.

This is a piccie of a very secluded platform in:

The Middle of Nowhere,
Between Auckland and Wellington
North Island,
New Zealand.

On the way down, we went past a HUGE volcano (Mount Ruapehu), which is about to overflow at some point soon, sending a lahar running down the valley:

Had to copy this photo as the top of the volcano was shrouded with clouds and mist when we went by!

We were carried past the sight of the tragic area of the 1953 eruption (Tangiwai) and learned of the lives lost there (including a train load of passengers like us). Now, with the threat of the lahar, safety is paramount and farmers have had to move their sheep (one farmer has moved 2500 of his sheep). Digger and bulldozer workers working nearby have to report into Wellington Railway Station every half hour.

When the collapse of the crater happens, 1.2 million cu m of volacanic ash, rock and water will plunge down the Whangaehu River bed. The lahar could be fronted by a bow wave of up to 2 m high.

From newspaper reports, it seems that everyone and everything is being prepared as much as they can be - but who knows what will happen? As I am learning fast in this country, nature is a very unpredictable thing!

Our journey also took us along the world famous Raurimu Spiral - basically taking us higher without going up too steeply (I think!) - here is some better info, explaining it in more detail for those of you who are more technically minded and more interested:

http://www.websnz.com/ttt/nzr/nzrrs.php3

Here is our train going around one of the curves (at the speed of light):

It was quite cool really!

We set off at 7.30 am from Auckland and arrived in Wellington at 7.30 pm! Luckily, our hotel was very close to the railway station, so we trotted up the hill and collapsed in our room for half an hour or so. After that, it was time to find dinner. We walked to the other end of the city, taking in the evening sights and proceeded to eat a lovely meal (as recommended by an internet friend) in the Masala Indian Restaurant! Yum....

More adventures in Wellington to follow.....

Right now it is Saturday morning and I'm about to get ready to go to Maraetai (pronounced My right eye). It is the offshore speedboat championships - should be really cool! And it's free too! Later on, we will go to a neighbours to celebrate 70 years and tonight is a 50th birthday party! Whew! Tomorrow - will be getting stuff ready for school - ah well........ Yep I'm back at school and another new school year has begun!

Typically, the weather is very hot and lovely and I want to be in the sea.... sigh......

Sorry I've been so long in blogging - been enjoying the summer here - it's GREAT!

I passed!

2007-01-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Yayyy!

I took my test for the NZ Driver's License and passed (got one wrong).

Only a teensy bit overdue - have been here 1 year and 3 months and should have done it before the year was up - oooops! Anyway 'tis done now.

I spent a couple of evenings reading the book and finally made myself go to the AA centre near Botany.

I left the house that morning, waved a tearful farewell to hubby and son, squared my shoulders and bravely drove to the test centre.

Once arrived, I queued with a couple of other Brits, some NZ teenagers and an Asian guy.

Cost was $84. Upon handing in my form to the nice gentlemen in AA attire, I was given a quick eye test and had my photo taken for the license (that should be interesting!).

I was then told to go through the door at the end of the room.

Upon entering, I was immediately transported to the Twilight Zone of misunderstanding the Kiwi accent (not happened for a while too).

This is the very perplexing question asked by the lady behind the desk:

"Are you clear?"

I stopped in my tracks, I was not ready for trick questions - clear for what? For landing, take-off, alcohol, drugs?

I just looked at her and said very politely:

"I was told to come in here to take my test".

She answered me with the same question again:

"Are you clear?"

Jeez - now I felt I was in some kind of surreal Marathon Man film, being interrogated, but not knowing what the heck for! I was getting a little stressed by now (not helped by the fact that I was about to take a test of course.......).

After a few seconds delay and a bit of gold fish mouthing (ie looking like a complete moron), she put me out of my misery by asking (very slowly as though I was deaf):

"Is your name clear"

PING - It finally dawned on me - she was wanting to know if my name was Claire!

I stated very clearly that I was not Claire, gave my correct name and proceded to sit down and sweat it out until we were all given our test sheets.

We were then told to sit at the partitioned desks, turn off our mobile phones and scratch out our answers (the multiple choice test was like a very long scratch card consisting of 33 questions, I think and you were only allowed to get 3 wrong).

I was the last one to finish, mainly due to extreme caution and doing the easy ones first etc etc etc. Anyway, my paper was checked through and the upshot is that I now have a temporary Kiwi license and am awaiting with trepidation my credit card type NZ actual license - trepidation is due to terrible photo that I am sure is upon it.... Ah well - never mind!

The weather here is very humid at the mo and quite sticky. It chucked it down yesterday! However, should be sunning up again soon!

I can tell its getting summery due to the amount of flies and noisy insects outside!

The other night we were watching TV, when the french doors were crashed into by a flying something or other. Upon carefull examination, we saw a HUGE moth recuperating on the balcony floor - it was the size of a small bird - HUGE! Soooooo glad it couldn't fly in! We always shut the windows at night anyway due to the mosquitoes that enjoy feasting on hubby! A few minutes later, we heard another bang against the kitchen window - son commented that we were being beseiged! All windows in house were immediately checked!

Why is everything so BIG here! Big ants, massive plants (related to triffids I reckon) and ginormous ducks (according to visiting daughter). Must be all that sunshine and rain!

Anyhoo - that's it fer noo really. Just enjoying the hols, cleaning the house, reading for my TESOL course, swimming in the sea and the local free pools and scrapbooking etc - oh yes - and watching lots of mindless telly. The Living Channel has loads of stuff on it from the UK and Sky News is also direct from the UK at certain times of the day (therefore, whatever you are watching at 9.30 in the evening - I am watching at 10.30 am the next day and it's all live!)

Well tara for now and I will write soon!

Hope all is well with you - wherever you are.

Byeee.

x Sue

Happy New Year!

2007-01-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

Hi all and a Happy New Year to you!

Better late than never eh?!

We went to a vicar and tarts party for New Year's Eve - some very interesting clothing abounded, but great fun was had by all! The pope in fish nets was a sight to see I must say!

Anyways, we snuck off around 11 in order to phone daughter and send new year messages and were lucky enough to watch from our balcony the fireworks shooting out of the top of the Sky Tower at midnight - fantastic!

Unfortunately, we were too busy watching the display to take a photo and I can't find a piccie anywhere on the net - but anyway, it was FAB!

Thank you to Geordie Girl for this lovely piccie:

I'm going to try to put it on my diary cover page - wish me luck!

Well, short and sweet today - lots to do! (Boring housework type stuff - yeuch)

See ya!

x Sue

Tea cosies, volcanoes, dolphins, boogie boarding, barbecues and sunburn!

2006-12-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

Well - there you go - that was our hols!

Tea cosies I hear you wonder?! Well, whilst the man of the house was showering, the rest of us were studiously packing and getting ready - NOT! (In our defence - most of it had been done the night before). So my darling offspring decided to play with our new tea cosies (we do use them properly too - it's just that we were thinking what they'd be like as........

HATS!

I particularly like the thoughtful look on their faces - reminiscent of Communist Russia!

Here's another one:

By now all seriousness is lost and collapse has begun - again perhaps reminiscent of ..............!

So - after all this, we finally got ready and left the house - Kev had no idea of these goings on until later on when examining the day's photos - he liked them though!

We arrived at Tauranga (the district of Judea) sometime in the afternoon - made our way to the Mount and clambered up a little hill to look at the beautiful views:

Kev and Adam surveying the Mount.

Corrie surveying the opposite side!

An arty shot by me!

That evening, we strolled around the town centre of Tauranga and decided upon an American style restaurant for dinner - the portions were HUGE - but delicious! The men had fush and us girlies shared fajitas.

December 22nd

This was such a COOL day! We got up early and drove down to Whakatane (around 1 1/2 hours away) ready to board a very snazzy boat to White Island (which left at 9.15am precisely!).

Here's Kev watching Whakatane disappear as we set off for the Island - note that I am inside the boat under cover as it was sunny, but a little chilly that morning!

The journey to the Island takes about 80 mins and guess what! We stopped twice to cruise along with pods of dolphins - woohooo! Tried to get photos of them, but the bloomin things kept moving - as they do.... They were Common Dolphins - but not to me they weren't - they were FAB! Here's a couple of blurry piccies:

Well - after all that excitement, it was time to proceed to the Island which was looming ever larger in the distance:

The boat couldn't take us to the island itself - so we had to get onto a little James Bond type speed boat thing which whisked us to some rusty ladders. Upon reaching these ladders, we had to climb them (obviously) totter across a rickety platform and then clamber over boulders in order to reach the 'safety' of the shore - well as safe as a live volcano that could erupt/explode at any time can be.....

Here're the boats:

Can you see the steam from the crater? The helicopter in the foreground shows that the Island is a little bigger than you first realise!

There were helicopters constantly coming and going - very surreal. There were blue ones, black ones and red ones - very girly comment.

Just before we got to the island, we were given hard hats (Bob the Builder style) and gas masks (WWI) style - these were for the sulphuric fumes - and I'm telling you now - I used mine - especially near the crater (full of sulphuric acid) - the fumes got right down into the back of your throat!

Here I am practising!

Upon reaching the Island we had our wits frightened out of us:

If there is an explosion - hide behind the nearest cover
If there is an eruption - get to high ground
Put on your gas mask - of course
Find your guide - who will take you to safety (if they're still alive that is)
Pee your pants and cry - last girly resort

We were also told not to stand on any of the little hills with white tops (rather like volcanic pimples), because if we did, we would fall into the boiling mud below! Believe you me, I did as I was told!

The whole landscape was covered in rocks of varying sizes - this was due to the last eruption/explosion in 2002 - apparently it was smooth before that AND they travelled at BALLISTIC SPEED - jeez - we'd have no chance really would we?!

Anyway, after all this, we had our tour of the Island, saw its crater and heard of its history - what an exciting day! I really enjoyed it.

The pale blue/green water near the shore is the sulphuric acid in the water mixing with the sea water.

Well - it was a long, exciting and tiring day that we shan't forget in a hurry!

The next 4 days were spent on and in the sea boogie boarding and getting burnt!

Christmas day was one of those and we ended it with a barbie of delicious steak back at the motel with the owners lovely dog slurping nearby - we gave her some of our leftovers - she loved them (the dog I mean!).

Boxing Day was the day on which we travelled back to Auckland via Hot Water Beach (more boarding) and Cathedral Cove (absolutely beautiful and I want to go back there to stay and explore further).

I think this was called Emerald Cove - it's another marine place full of fush and fab for snorkelling - I clambered around on the rocks and saw a huge reddish/purple crab with lime green markings - cooool!

These photos are of the beautiful coastline around the Cathedral Cove area - it really is gorgeous and it was very hot that day too!

Today is New Years Day and I would like to wish you all a very happy and wonderful two thousand and heaven!

Have a good one and to all of you in the UK I'll see you in July!

Have now been here for 1 year and 2 months ish and cannot believe how fast it has gone - amazing - came here with my passport and no job - now have a permanent job and residency! Wow!

Take care and all the best.

x Sue

PS Thanks to everyone who sent us cards and pressies this year - it was LOVELY to hear from you from so far away!

Hallooooo!

2006-12-16T14:03:00.000-08:00

Well - the weather is feeling very summery now - so much so that daughter and I decided to go for a day out this Saturday to Goat Island:

http://www.seafriends.org.nz/issues/res/gi/

Have a look!

Click on the links and you'll see some cool photos and information about the site.

We loaded the car with all essentials required for this important excursion into the depths with:

togs (cossies)
flippers
snorkels
sun cream
board shorts
food
water
and lady stuff

The views on the drive there alone are awesome (kiwi word) enough, never mind Goat Island itself! It took about 1 1/2 hours to get there and it is all totally free! Of course, if you want a trip on the glass bottomed boat, then you pay for that!

It was busy once we arrived (however in UK terms it was quiet!) and we immediately began to strip off and apply lots of suncream!

Masks and snorkels were adjusted, flippers put on and we then tried to get into the water without falling over (stupid me had left the plastic foot shaper things in and kept wondering why my fins were so tight and hurt when I tried to kick - I could hardly get them off when we got out of the sea - derrrrr).

Lots of giggles later, we were in - the water was rather chilly, but it had warm patches in the shallower areas, so we survived. Once our faces were immersed, we immediately saw LOADS of fush! They were everywhere - the snapper were HUGE! One of them kept coming towards us and we kept backing off - it looked EVIL.....

There were blue fush, black and white fush, yellow fush, bottom feeders and floaters (now, now) and it was COOOOOOOL!

Daughter decided to experiment with noise whilst we were exploring, but didn't warn me first - one minute we were swumming happily amongst the fush and pointing excitedly, the nixt all I heard was a strange groaning sound coming from her - she had decided to see whether fush would react to the mooing sound of a cow!

Well - all I can say is that I nearly drowned! I had to dash up, pull my snorkel from mouth and heave off my mask due to danger of swallowing copious amounts of water in my hilarity!

Later on, I warned her seriously to warn me of further experimentations.....

It was sooooo funny!

Anyhoo, we had a fabbie day.

Sunday was spent going for dim sum somewhere in the depths of the trendy viaduct area. We stuffed our faces and then rolled home!

Visited our neighbours from the UK in their lovely new house and nearly fell asleep over the yummy glass of wine given to me - not a good combination - full belly, warm room, comfy chairs, afternoon and wine.......

Altogether a luverly weekend and roll on Thursday when we head for Judea (Tauranga, Bay of Plenty). We have booked to visit a live volcano (White Island) on the 22nd Dec - should be coooool! Here's the fabbie link:

http://www.whiteisland.co.nz/new/PeeJay%20Vessels1.htm

Have a peek at the Photo Gallery - doesn't it look cool?!

Really looking forward to this.

Well - taraa fer noo and I'll post photos as and when of the holiday.

See ya.

x Sue

Guess what I've done!

2006-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Well - I'll tell you in a mo!

Last weekend we went to lovely friends' barbie and met more lovely people and ate and drank lots and got a bit drunk!

Thank you very much for your hospitality!

After that we went to Raglan - a surfing town - I had GORGEOUS eggs benedict for lunch and here are a few photos of said place (Raglan):

Space ship house on the beach!

Having a wander along the windy shore!

Bride Veil Falls from the top (55 metres up).

Bride Veil Falls from the bottom (55 metres down!)

Another angle! It was more beautiful than it looks really - lots of water falling down in a heavy torrent, crashing into the pool below and splashing onlookers around it (ie me and Kev)! Fantastic!

A beautiful baby fern near the falls - just turn yer heads! Forgot to change it before loading it on!

Oh yes and this week I got a lovely surprise from a blog reader and it was a fabbie new tea cosy - here you go - it has pride of place in my kitchen and is in constant use! Thank you very much kind reader!

And finally folks - the suspense will now end with my grande finale of what I did this weekend just gone!

Have you guessed it yet?

I wore a blue boiler suit with a yellow flash across it! (I looked gorgeous - VERY NOT!)

Ta daaaaa.........

And:

Yep - very proud to say that I jumped off New Zealand's highest jump - 192 metres high - whooohoooooo!

The most daunting part was stepping off the platform after a count of 3! I then dropped about 10 metres (see photo) and dangled to have photos taken and for tourists to gawp at me from the viewing window (as I have previously done over a cup of tea).

It was fantastic - I think the actual drop lasted about 25 seconds - I really enjoyed it - BRILLIANT!

I did it with a fellow internet friend after a few drinks the night before - she went first and didn't die, so I followed! (just kidding!)

If you have seen the Billy Connolly video of him going around NZ - it's the same jump!

I am now the proud owner of a t-shirt and certificate!

I wore the t-shirt to work the next day - yayyyyy!

Well - on that note, I'd best get the washing in and put out the fresh stuff - back to earth with a bump - literally!

x Sue