Great Barrier Island

Hi Everyone, and welcome to the latest blog.

Whangaparapara Harbour.

And only a few weeks have passed since the last one! Well, I have been on another of my little trips - this time for 2 nights on Gt Barrier Island, 90 kms to the northeast of Auckland. It is the fourth largest land mass in NZ - after South Island, North Island and Stewart Island and I had never heard of it until the info about the trip came through. Mind you, a couple of Kiwis I mentioned it to thought it was off the Australian coast so I didn't feel too bad. (A bit far for a three day trip!) Getting there involved a really early start as I was picked up at 6am for a flight to Auckland and then a transfer to a 'small' plane for the half hour flight to the island. (10 passengers!)

Tryphena Harbour

No mains electricity or water so the inhabitants rely on bore holes, generators and solar panels. Very beautiful as you can see from the photos and lots of tramping trails which I didn't have enough time to take advantage of - although I did walk along some of the beaches and paddle in the sea (a little warmer than Christchurch, I have to say.)

Medlands Beach

All in all a lovely trip, and guess what? I have another booked for Easter, this time to Nelson at the top of the South Island. Then it will be time for another blog. So, still in 'gadding about' mode I will finish - hoping that it is getting warmer for you by now.

Take care, lots of love Carol xxx

Autumn 2010

Hi Everyone,

Autumn is here already but, unlike those of you suffering with the winter cold in the Northern hemisphere we have been languishing under sunny skies ever since the children went back to school (beginning Feb!) So little rain that there is a fire warning out. The tsunami warning last weekend, after the Chilean earthquake was a bit worrying - during the night especially. We were saved by the low tide!!!! However, there were still some idiots who persisted in swimming, surfing, walking on the beach or just driving to the beach to see the wave come in. Annie, Malc and Olive took to the hills and Sarah's family took me to Kate's for a barbeque.

The girls and I went to Auckland last month to visit Margaret who was in turn visiting her daughter Sarah and new grandson, Jack. We had a lovely weekend - although the weather was rather humid and that made it difficult to sleep. We have celebrated a few family birthdays since I last wrote; mine, Roy's and Ash's. Thank you for your cards and good wishes. We all went out to lunch. If you have been reading the Simmerson's blog you will know that Joe broke his arm 2 months ago. He no longer has a cast but is meant to be avoiding trampolining, biking etc. Yeah, right!

I am helping at school again this year; in the same class as before. Unlike Joe I have been kept back a year!!! The only trouble I have is with learning their names - it has never been my strong point. I went to the theatre last night to see 'The Diary of Ann Frank'. It was very moving. There were lots of young people in the audience, presumably studying it at school and they were engrossed throughout. They reacted with applause and whistles when Ann and Peter kissed! There is another visit to the theatre at the end of the month and I am going on a trip next week so there should be another blog soon. The photos this time were taken at the Chinese Lantern Festival last weekend - most enjoyable.
Do take care and keep warm. Not too long before you change your clocks - we change ours back the first weekend in April so making us 11 hours in front of the UK. All my love Carol xxx