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

Happy New Year 2010

Hi Everyone,

Hardly believable that another year has passed. Matt's birthday today so 'Many Happy Returns' to him. Now I know that many of you have had to cope with loads of snow so I hope that you have not been inconvenienced too much. The pictures of the whole of the UK covered in white were fantastic - it can't happen very often.

If you read Sarah's blog you will see that life was pretty hectic during December. One week I drove to Kate's 4 times, both to see them and to attend Ash and India's functions at school. I got really good petrol consumption that month! The one hope was that Joe would not have something on the same day and it all worked out OK. I really enjoyed helping in Joe's class last year and have volunteered for this year too. I will continue to help the same teacher, even though Joe has moved up the school, as we get along well. It is only one morning a week and the children call me Nana Carol. It is rather disconcerting when I am out to hear "Hello Nana Carol" shouted by one of the children - reminds me of when I was 'Brown Owl' and going to the Hadleigh Show and hearing "Hello, Brown Owl" screamed out over the showground! Happy days..

Before Xmas I went to see "Anything Goes" at the theatre with U3A (most enjoyable; hadn't realised how many of the songs I knew). I had lunch with the WI, U3A and my walking group. The latter lunch was at the Casino. I decided to have a flutter. Now the last time I played the slots was in Las Vegas in 1979 where I spent $5. There were handles to pull then! Does going again this time constitute a habit? Anyway, I bet $4 (buttons to push this time) and won $40, so quit while I was ahead. It paid for the lunch and then some!

Christmas was great. The family gathered here for lunch and the sun shone enough to eat outside. We all went to the beach afterwards for some boogie boarding - the first time in the sea this summer for most of us. The weather has been reasonably good for us so far - the sun has shone but (due to El Nino) a lot of the wind has come from the SW (Antarctica). This has brought plenty of rain on the west coast - they have an average of 10 metres a year, folks!!!! We haven't had too much rain on this side of the country - time for the farmers to mention the word 'drought'.

As usual I will try to get some photos on the blog so fingers are crossed. My very best wishes to all for the New Year. Take care and keep warm.

With love Carol xx

PS Managed to get some photos on the blog - yours truly, self portrait and Xmas dinner. Only had to phone Sarah once, so 'result'.

Count down to Xmas!

Hi Everyone,

Only three weeks since the last blog but this is my chance to get in early and wish you every good wish for the coming season of festivities and goodwill to all! I hope that you are keeping well as many of you head into winter. I hear from the news that there are many severe rain warnings in place for the UK so wish you and yours well.

We are still waiting for Spring to arrive properly. We have had some lovely days but that South Westerly wind will persist in taking over and, coming as it does, from Antartica it is a little chilly. The temperature reached 31C yesterday and so far today it is 15C. Quite a difference! I have chanced my arm and have planted some tomatoes and hope that there is not a very late frost. So far, so good. Another few weeks before the chop I understand. Ash and Indie have, naturally, given them names - not Lamb Chop and Mint Sauce though.

Olive celebrated her 2nd birthday at the beginning of the month and had a party in the garden. Her hat in the photo is not her cycle helmet but that of one of her guests but she took a fancy to it and wore it for quite a while. Talking of anniversaries - I moved into this house two years ago tomorrow! I keep saying it - time flies!

Another 4 weeks of school and then it is the long summer holidays. Joe's school is busy practising for a Carol concert in the Cathedral on the 4th Dec and there is the Santa Parade in New Brighton the first Sat in Dec. He arrives by boat. Indie's class attended a performance by the New Zealand ballet of 'Peter Pan' on Friday. A rather different school trip? I will be going to see 'Anything Goes' soon. My Xmas preparations are moving along but the cards are just not at the forefront of my mind at present. Dentist this week - oh joy!

Thus finishing on a depressing note I will ask you all to take care of yourselves and thanks for keeping in touch through the year. All my love Carol xxx

To Oz and back!

Hi Everyone,

It is quite a while since I last wrote and since the memory is so poor! I will concentrate on the last couple of weeks. The bad news was that I broke not just one but two of my crowns and made my dentist quite a few dollars. The second went the day before our trip - the timing could have been worse I suppose and happened a day later. Anyway, enough of my falling to pieces and on with the other news.

We left these shores, paying for the privilege (25 dollars per adult!) and flew to that little (only joking) island off to the west. We stayed in a fabulous house near Byron Bay (top of New South Wales and about 150 kms south of Brisbane). The house had everything - 5 flat screen televisions with Sky, kids videos by the score and more than enough crockery for all of us. It certainly made up for the hosue at Hamner we rented that had one large and one small saucepan!

Best of all was the heated pool in the garden - 11 metres long so big enough for all. The children especially loved it and spent hours in it each day. The adults prefered it when the children were not in it - funny that. With the beach only a couple of streets away we had the best of both worlds although the sea was a bit too rough for swimming. Malc went surfing a few times (early!) The weather was lovely and warm and we only had rain on one day although it did hammer down one night too. As the weather reports were forecasting storms for about 4 days we got off very lightly. Swimming in the rain was good fun too!

We didn't see any koalas but as the children now have cuddly substitutes they don't feel too cheated. We did see some kangaroos (in the wildlife park - cheating?). There were lizards in the garden and house and lots of birds including parrots visiting the garden. As ususal the time flew by and we got back on Thursday to a much cooler clime.

However, the sun is shining today as it was yesterday so I won't complain (much!) The washing is all done and next I must get into the garden.. The veggies will have to be sorted out and seeds sown for the summer and some plants that did not survive the winter will have to be replaced. Much to do - tomorrow! Will now try to get some photos loaded. The turkey gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'having christmas dinner on the beach!'

I do hope that you are all well, that the weather continues to be kind. Now start thinking about Christmas!!!!

With love Carol xxx

Spring at last!

Hi Everyone,

Quite a while since I last wrote but it has been a little quieter these last few weeks. Now we are in September and officially in Spring - the weather has been very warm with gale-force winds most of last week. Today sunny but much colder and maybe some snow on the hills. I don't mind the cold if the sun is shining.

Enough of the weather except to say that I hope yours is to your liking. I trust that you are all keeping well - we are still suffering the usual coughs and colds but hoping that the germs will disappear very soon.

Most of the accompanying flower photos were taken in the park yesterday - it still seems strange, if I think of the date in relation to the flowers, to see daffodils etc in September. Mother's Day flowers here are of the autumn kind - chrysanthemums and the like! Still commenting on the season - the pollen from the wattle (yellow) is everywhere, over the windows, (house and car) gardens and pavements. Not worth cleaning up too carefully as more will be there tomorrow. That's my excuse.

Well, Joe has had his birthday - six now. It was a long time coming as we endured his countdown of the number of sleeps remaining. Hope he hasn't started counting down to the next one yet! He had lots of Lego so was very happy. His first Rugby season is over and he really enjoyed it and seemed to be in the middle of all the action, with endless numbers of touches and lots of tries to his name. A very proud Nana watched nearly every game (well it didn't rain!)

All of the other grandchildren are doing well and keeping very busy in their social lives. I don't know how they manage to find time for school except that school is a big part of their socialising. We are in week 7 of the 10 week term so two weeks off very soon. I still help out in Joe's class one morning a week and thoroughly enjoy myself.

Annie and I went to the ballet a couple of weeks ago to see La Sylphide. Most enjoyable - it wasn't a story I knew or even music I recognised unlike Romeo and Juliet last year. I also went to the theatre this week with the U3A theatre group to see a home-grown Kiwi play "Four flat whites in Italy", described as an overseas experience for those 'pasta' their prime! (OE usually taken by kids between school and uni). 'Flat whites' are coffees here in NZ - very like a latte. It was very funny with a sad undercurrent. My favourite line was from one of the wives while shopping -

At our time of life, a dollar saved is a dollar wasted!!!

Later this month I will see 'Mamma Mia' so looking forward to that.

I have booked a holiday for us all in Australia in October so hope for some sunshine. I am very excited that Jennie and John are coming to stay in the New Year. Hopefully we will have a good summer. Just about done - only the photos to download. The one of Sarah and Matt cooking at the back of the truck was taken during an attempt to go sledging up the mountain and the weather defeated us. The family of otters were quite young and moved in concert as you see them here.

All my love to you all, Carol xxx

Past the shortest day. Hooray!!

Hi Everyone,

Bear with me ... this is the 2nd time I have typed this blog and believe me - I do not know where the 1st one has disappeared to. Finger trouble, no doubt.

I know that many of you reading this will be sweltering in a heatwave in the UK but I feel no envy as I sit here in the middle of winter, freezing and watching the rain fall! Much! Our time will come .. (quckly, please!!) Actually, we have had some beautifully sunny days where, even if the thermometer was lurking in the single digits, it felt warm and the blue sky !!!!!! Just to prove a point there is a photo of my orange tree. Can't think why it is on its side here but it still shows the ripening fruit. Small, maybe but still perfectly formed and hopefully, juicy. Many of us are suffering with colds but have avoided flu - both ordinary and swine varieties. So far!

We have had a very busy month, starting with a weekend trip to Hanmer Springs. Not a lot of snow but fine. The house and attached flat was big enough for all of us with 7 bedrooms all told. A little chilly but we survived. The walk up Conical Hill nearly finished me off. I puffed a bit - no, be honest, I puffed a lot. Still, we had a picnic at the top and the trip back down was easy peasy by comparison! We finished the day with a trip "off road" - have to let the boys loose with their toys!

The following weekend I flew up to Auckland with Sarah to see Simon and Garfunkel in concert. Absolutely fabulous!!! They sang all my favourites together plus a few of their own, individually. Two hours of great entertainment. I was so pleased to have gone. On the Sunday we went up the Skytower and caught an idiot jumping off the top on camera. I cannot think why he looks so happy - it gave me the collywobbles just to watch! We had lunch with another Sarah - Bob and Margaret's daughter. It was great to see her again. Thought for a while that we might not get back to Christchurch due to 'adverse weather conditions.' Fog. After checking with the pilot that he had enough fuel to get back to Auckland (No, anything but that - Wellington is closer), we sat back and kept fingers crossed. It worked!

A nice surprise last week to go to Tekapo with Sarah, Matt, Joe and Ben. Again no snow except on the mountains so we didn't get to use the sledges. We did, however, walk to get a good view of Aoraki, Mount Cook; snow covered and beautiful in the sunshine. Another walk UP to the glacier had me huffing and puffing again! Joe went up like a mountain goat and Ben was clambering over boulders bigger than him! I did manage it and was really pleased. Luckily I had my trekking poles to help me come down! We spent the last morning in the hot pools. Forgot the camera so had to take it empty once we were dressed and ready for lunch. For most of the time we had it to ourselves - sitting and looking at the snow on the mountains.

Great!

This weekend I watched 2 rugby games. The first was Joe's and his team won. A cold morning but dry. After the previous week of watching in the rain I have decided that I will have to be a fair weather supporter. Sorry, Joe. In the evening Joe, Matt and I went to watch the All Blacks play Italy. They won too. Matt had to explain the rules as we went along and actually I only went to see the Haka! I enjoyed it all.

Yesterday we got together (except for Annie, Malc and Olive who have abandoned NZ to surf and swim in the sunshine in Australia) to celebrate the middle of winter - our Winterfest! We were joined by Anna, Chris, Amy and James. Roast dinner and a Secret Santa for the children. A lovely day, hosted by Katherine, Roy, Ash and India.

That is about it for our doings. I have been to the theatre and the cinema a few times since I last blogged and, at last, have got some curtains at the dining room windows. The blinds don't give that same feeling of shutting out the cold and dark. I have been enjoying helping out in Joe's class one morning a week and think I am useful. It is the last week of term on Friday and then 2 weeks off. The children all need the holiday. Terms here are 10 weeks long with no half term break. And four terms in the year. Matt starts a new job today so Good Luck to him and Happy Birthday to Malc and India. Annie, Malc and Olive are due home at the end of the week.

Well, I have got to the end again and don't think that I have missed out anything I typed in the first time! Take care all of you and enjoy the summer. All my love Carol xxx