2024 is nearing its end and I have been back home (NZ) now for 9 weeks…. although not so much at my house. The wanderings continue…
2024 has welcomed two new members to the Bonnici-Carter clan…. Dan and Lexi now have Luka in their family
and Jaxon and Steph have Henry
Both boys will be 7 months old in the middle of December, crawling and rolling and trying to get up and running….Tyler my first grandson will be 4 in february and is following in the footsteps of the busy Bonnici boys!
Dan has been growing his building business this year and Jaxon has been studying for his real estate career, will be licensed after Christmas ready to go with his new job in Auckland. George has been beavering away in his IT world and continues to have contracts extended…he and Jess took a 2 month holiday in the middle of the year to Japan and other Asian countries…and will be looking forward to the next one!
I retired in the middle of June and Trudi (my friend) and I embarked on a Thelma and Louise 89 day adventure, visiting Malta, Sicily, Fumel (south of France), Barcelona, Lisbon and Paris before returning to NZ at the end of September, tanned and healthy.
NZ weather was not so kind to us for the first 6-8 weeks and our tan disappeared and home jobs (Sue) and work jobs (Trudi) kicked in with a vengeance…
A couple of weeks of planting my summer garden….
From this
To this…already enjoying lettuce and courgettes!
Cleaning gutters, spider spraying, car maintenance, and lots of grandson time…
Three weeks after my return, my friend Carolyn visited for two weeks, and we embarked on another Thelma and Louise Road trip in my Cortina (Rubi) to the Cortina Nationals with a 100 other Cortinas from around New Zealand, road tripping to New Plymouth with Dan for a (cold) weekend of fun activities.
Then continuing to Tauranga for a few days and catching up with Auntie Barb for her 90th birthday
Before Carolyn left, we had a girl’s night out with “Cooper Alan” at the PowerStation, my favourite singer of the year…such a great concert!
I then had a week to gather myself (do more home jobs) before heading to Katikati (Jaxon and Stephs home) to help with sick kids and celebrate their success in selling their house and buying another one in Red Beach (10 minutes from me) so we will all be on the Coast by Christmas, except George and Jess who are happily ensconced in their own town (Auckland) flat..
From Katikati I cross countried to Wanganui to spend a week with Graeme(Russ’s brother) and Brenda….lots of op shopping, yummy dinners and topped off with a christmas show before heading back to Katikati for a few days …
Back home yesterday to my flourishing garden
…and overgrown lawns….all slapped into shape with pruning, weed eating and lawnmowing. Trudi has been house and plant sitting so all was well and healthy.
As the year comes to a close …. With the fat man in the red suit looming large in our little peoples world, we celebrate another year around the sun with everyone following their dreams and aspirations. For me, still not at pension age….a restful retirement is a myth, don’t think I have ever had such long lists!!
A few Random snaps..
All who wander are not Lost girls 