January came and went in a blur of Rain, Wind, Floods and destroyed gardens!

So it continues into February as we tentatively wait for Cyclone Gabrielle to hit our shores in the next day or two…the weather gods have been certainly throwing us a curveball this Summer (what summer most will ask?) It certainly isn’t boating weather with waves crashing our usually calm shores…

There has been a lot of working from home time, as floods closed our main highways and mudslides and fallen trees have blocked roads!

Last night as Trudi and I shared a quiet drink on the deck, it became eerily calm…

The trees behind my house standing still and quiet after several hours of wind gusts, waking this morning to the first heavy rain squall and wind rattling my gate! This time we are prepared – gas bottle filled for BBQ cooking, petrol tank full to run the generator if needed, bottled water in reserve, fridge stocked and fresh batteries for the transistor radio and torches! Overkill maybe…

On a brighter note – the Granbaby turned two last weekend and a window between storms saw a small road trip to Katikati for the long weekend..

A Birthday visit to “Bullswool” farm park

Water fun….

And Spider-Man antics all weekend! Welcome to the toddler madness…

A Monday of driving – back to our hood in readiness for a very long Tuesday (work day) and an anxious wait for the gran fur baby to be released from Dog hospital, having ingested a 3cm piece of glass (attached to chocolate pudding) over the weekend…Fast attention to the incident saved his life after a three hour operation to remove from stomach….

The cancelled Hot Rod festival is on (rescheduled) in Orewa today and a morning excursion (bus) for coffee may be in order. A slight reprieve, and house escape, before we are locked in by “Gabrielle”. Not looking like the usual colourful blue sky day for this event – but I am sure it will come with as many bells and whistles that the resilient Kiwis can muster!

On that note – let us just worry about our next meal ….. as these guys do…

The holiday break started off with the colours being of summer – sunflowers and sunshine

A Christmas Eve Egg Nog night with some wonderful people and lots of laughs!

The sunshine continued over the next few days, I got to spend some time, around work, with my Gran baby!

My friend Trudi was also working through but we both decided to vacate Waiwera and head to the West Coast for our day off! Little did we know this would be the last of summer we would see for the next two weeks!

Muriwai and Māori Bay, my childhood, teenage, early twenties, stomping ground! The tourist attraction here now is the Ganet Colony….

These “Smelly” birds have moved to the mainland, from that small island offshore, affectionately known as birds#it island in my youth! I’m guessing Department of Conservation fencing off all the cliff edges from humans has encouraged them to move inland! The day included a small hike over this hill, a lie in the sun reading our books, a swim in the West Coast sea, with its usual rips and undertows, and a not so flash burger from the beach shop where Kevin (my brother) and I started our careers in retail at the ripe old age of 13!

The facade has somewhat changed but the vibe is still the same! humans chilling around in the sun outside waiting for their takeaways, only to be disappointed if they have expectations of the food they used to get here in the 70s and 80s!

After a day of exploring my old backyard, we headed to another haunt ….

The Huapai Pub – as children we spent many hours in the car park (along with other children) while our Dads socialised therein! We were thrown the odd bottle of Fanta and packet of chips every hour or so! This time the experience was much more pleasant, and they even have my low alcohol beer on Tap!

In hindsight, we are glad we took this time out…. New years Eve was a fizzer, we made the wrong choice – should have hit the pub with the other locals! And it got cold, in more ways than one! We were tucked up well before midnight!

1st January 2023, and the flowers were blooming – these shots taken just before the storms hit! Two storms back to back, gates blown off, pots over, leaves blown off plants, chairs flying around the section Outside tables blown over….,and now 14th January 2023 – it looks like summer may be creeping back!

During this time, I had Dad at the cottage for a week! His babysitter sleeping overnight and me working and him reading at the table during the day! Cooking their tea and coming home at night to clean up the storm carnage, sleep and back to cottage during the day!

The sun is yet to peep over the trees, but looking at the first dry day in a week – it’s washing and lawns morning!

As we crawled through the last week of work before the Christmas Break (for some) we reflect on a year of achievements, adventures and family times! Grateful we can still run and fly!

Our world has certainly changed, but change is what keeps us on our toes and if we jump at the opportunities – life is still a story!

I guess it’s time to wish all those who have joined me in this journey of 2022…

My family….Dan and Lexi living next door, Jaxon, Steph and gran baby visiting the cottage, George coming and going and meeting me on the other side of the world! And the fur baby hanging out on working from home days!

More family and friends from all corners of the world!

2022 found my feet in many corners of the world, finally returning to my roots in Malta, and escaping some of the kiwi winter – with a side trip to the south of France. Spending three months in the glorious heatwaves of Europe!

Watching the grand baby gallop towards his 2nd year around the sun! Celebrating his 1st birthday in Feb, teaching him to wash cars, explore the beach, and eat little red sausages!

Upon my return from Europe, I moved back into my newly renovated house, that Dan and his crew had been working on over the winter! It was time to grow some colour and life into my home…Russ taught me to grow veges and Mary(mum) the flowers!

My new hobby of growing stuff has seen us not buy a lettuce for 2 months, and added colour to what has been a very dull wintery spring! The incessant rain has at least minimalised my water bill! Weekend gardening has been interrupted with painting and recycling old furniture, tyres for my fruit tree surrounds and myself!

The last few days has finally brought some winter relief and the shorts are out! Summer is on its way at last!

The Christmas tree is up, the food shopping done, the presents wrapped and tomorrow(Christmas day) promises sunshine, family and friends!

Spring in November has delivered cold snaps, rain, humidity, more rain, glimpses of blue sky and torrential rain…

The hastily planted garden is thriving, no longer having to buy expensive lettuces and have in fact replanted the 2nd round!

Mary Rose and Russell Rose are standing tall and already blooming since three weeks!

It seems I have found a new hobby in my “Spare Time” Growing things! A legacy from both Mum and Russ – Mum with her flowers and Russ with his veges!

Add Painting and recycling to this and there is barely a spare moment as I make my house a home…

After a few days of torrential rain, a hectic work week, I wake to a glimpse of watery sunshine peeking through for the start of the weekend!

Today is Trudi’s birthday as she catches up to my years around the sun, and we will celebrate in good Thelma and Louise style…,starting with lunch out!

George has been away for a few days and arrives back tonight to shift into his new flat tomorrow, a month of living at home is enough for a young man!

The outside world is whispering noises about Christmas fast approaching – which for me means – franticness in the carrybag world, and a welcome break for a few days!

Meanwhile my story is full of flowers…

My Gerberas are loving their new home, shades of the 60s and the Kombi campervan! (Kevin)

And Mary’s Rose got battered in yesterdays storm, with a budded branch braking off, rescued by yours truly for some inside time…

My “Scent by an Angel” Mary Rose is blossoming inside and outside! In Bob Dylan fashion A Shelter From The Storm!

When another month of winter woolies and rain in Auckland has passed us by, we head to the mid Canterbury highlands for some sunshine!!!

Standing in the main hub of Staveley, the jacket is off by 10am! A welcome breath of sunshine and a long weekend, after a month of frantic work and home jobs…. And my house is nearing completion.

The Pink house is now yellow and blue….

The gardens are coming to life – one good result from all the rain…

And George is back home, into kiwi work life and exercise routine – planning his next adventure.

Now, a little adventure for Thelma and Louise, flying to Christchurch yesterday, renting a car and heading across the Canterbury plains to the foot hills of the Southern Alps, a few detours (one can never trust a Toyota GPS) to this beautiful place, our friend, John, now calls home “Staveley”.

Finding low alcohol beer is not an easy task down south, and after a few (too many) full strength ones last night, celebrating our reunion, I woke a little dusty and in need of my bi annual dose of Panadol!

A minor hiccup as we set out to the local cafe for coffee and brunch!

Sitting in the sun, gazing at snow capped mountains and blossoming cherry trees…food in the stomach and a good coffee later – our tour guide (John) had a big day planned…

Appropriate vehicle for the occasion as we headed into the high country mountains and lakes…

The mountains got closer, the roads got dustier, the sky stayed blue and the sunshine made this a perfect day for roaming the wilderness!

From high country stations to….

360 degree panoramas and…

Mirrored reflections on the mountain lakes…and the peace and quiet surrounding only three humans and one little dog!

We left the wildlife undisturbed and headed back into a little more civilisation to find a pub for a late lunch… basking in the garden bar sunshine and eating again. Mountain air is good for the appetite!

One last stop, and detour, to Methven for some liquid supplies – in search of some low alcohol refreshments! This time we hit the jackpot and I could enjoy a cool (not very strong) beer while getting tea ready for a home dinner!

An early night in my luxurious super king bedroom paradise suite at John’s exclusive BNB “Rotherwood of Staveley”

Russ ….. on the 14th of September three years ago Russ physically left us….

Here we are 25 years ago embarking on our journey of “raising boys” – before the grey hair and wrinkles. He is daily in our thoughts and hearts! We then celebrated, a week later, what would have been Russ’s 65th birthday and a day he was going to relish – when the govt finally paid back some of his tax money (nz pension age) …. He would be cross he isn’t here to celebrate this one!

Outside memorials, it’s been two weeks of adjusting to nz traffic, nz workalike, nz human stress and nz weather!

All of the above a lot more challenging than Malta life!

Traffic and travelling is a part time job in itself – at least three hours on the road Monday to Friday ( most days longer especially if it rains ) and that’s just getting to and from work!

Work had been huge – leaving home at 4 am and returning home not before 6pm most days with staff shortages and other issues!

This leads to human stress, everyone here seems under the pump and a little cross! Bring back the laughter shared with my Maltese family!

On a positive note! The butterflies flew home! All the goodies intact- bag not so lucky and took its final journey to the rubbish dump!

Two frantic weekends of getting house sorted, garden planted (lettuces are still $6.00 each) and the plants have doubled in size in a week! Lots of cleaning, more cleaning, moving stuff, trying to sort cottage, and squeezing in some family time!

…..and Dad time – he has had a couple of turns and is feeling a bit anxious about leaving home, so just when I was about to have a couple of hours Sunday afternoon relax time, I was summoned to visit ( another three hour round trip) before dinner and bed on a Sunday evening ready for work this morning! A later start thanks to the queen…. Public holiday for most – late start for me!

Today is work, tomorrow is work and remembering one of mums best friends with an afternoon trip south to Thames..

Sylvia in the middle has gone to join mum and auntie Norma – seen here enjoying mussel fritters at the infamous coromandel caravan campsite (where we had our retro caravan) – Sylvia never liked mussel fritters and we always cooked her sausages!!!

My new (fully renovated) house is fantastic – Dan has done an awesome job getting it ready for my return. I’m hoping we get a temp at work this week and I can do some work from home days! The price of diesel and road user charges only adds insult to injury to the three hour daily round trip!

Now it’s coffee time! Have a great week everyone! Looks like it’s a windy wet one in my part of world.

Slowly getting my feet on the ground and my head out of the clouds – sleep patterns still in euro timeframe, and still working 9 hours a day …. And still waiting for that Elusive bag who chose to continue being lost and wandering!

Yes that little (15kg) black and white one in the middle covered in butterflies is still spreading its wings!

Consequently after a whirlwind of socialising, working and cleaning the last few days, we arrived back on NZ soil Wednesday afternoon, being the last gals standing at the baggage roundabouts waiting for the elusive butterflies! To be clear, this is the bag with all the little treasures I found over the three months for my family and friends, my nasty old bag of well worn op shop clothes happily landed!

Needless to say, it was a longer than anticipated (or needed) after 35 hours of travelling, sojourn at Auckland airport whilst filling in missing baggage forms!

And that my friends is the last I have heard about the missing butterflies! I had one email telling me they are working hard to find my bag (that was on the 7th) now it’s the 10th – no update, no one answering phones, no call, no email, NADA! so sorry team – if you are waiting for your surprises, it doesn’t look like this is going to happen anytime soon!

My people here were happy to see me, help me settle in my now new home, Dan and his team having worked like slaves to get it ready for me! And as sleep has been evading me all the extra waking hours have been dedicated to rearranging and unpacking my possessions, and finding new homes for them!

Today, as it is the weekend, I need to collect my car and do a grocery shop! An expensive exercise in NZ where I hear a salad is out of the question!

Slowly I am getting my house in order and watch this space for the Mediterranean oasis in sleepy little Waiwera – will just need to get my hands on some fireworks and church bells! So there is life!

Many friends will appreciate the Maltese attitude to wine!

A big glass and almost to the top – half the price of kiwi pubs and not gone in one gulp! While possibly not so good for the liver – certainly good for the soul!

This last week is flying by in a blur of work and beaches! Up before the birds, 3-4am to clock my work day by midday and off to the beaches, swimming holes in the afternoons!

Sandy beaches

Rock swimming holes! Spoilt for choice and all only about 10-20 minutes away! Usually followed by a late afternoon lunch (doubling as dinner) ..

Yesterdays cafe of choice was in the top of the right building looking down the cliff into the Crystal clear water – certainly a room (terrace) with a view!

Too hot for cliff top playgrounds – the playground being the Mediterranean at this time of the year!

Well another work morning in progress, until I go to pick up George from airport for his one night stopover before he heads to Northern Europe and back to the States! A big family dinner tonight…

After a busy day yesterday, the 7am visit to the Carboot market had limited enthusiasmy this morning and a preferred slow crawl of coffee (and tea) on the deck was much more appealing as the sun rose in another clear blue sky!

Jill had a book to read and I decided to relieve my Monday work pressure by clearing the weekend emails (Before Monday NZ time kicks in while I am sleeping)

Around midday we took off in the car (GPS on help mode) and drove to the Dingli cliffs on the rugged farming side of Malta..

On the edge looking down on cliff side farming

The sheerness is not actually portrayed in the photos!

Further along the cliffs we came upon the Church of St Mary Magdalen first discovered in 1575 in this remote area and restored for public worship in 1646 – while I fail to imagine where the parishioners would come from as even today this is a sparsely populated area!

The breeze however on the cliff side was almost a wind and extremely refreshing! We then supported the locals and brought a prickly pear chocolate, from the food truck, for Sammy (my cousin) as we were headed there for a mid afternoon lunch!

However, as we were not far from Ghar Lapsi, the much talked about must visit swimming hole (known as a beach to locals) at the southern end of the cliffs, a short visit there before our lunch date was in order

We paid our one euro and parked at the front (of course) and refrained from a swim, we have an afternoon of swimming and lunch planned for later in the week with our cousins!

We did however enjoy a cool drink from the terrace restaurant on the cliff edge looking down at the Sunday swimmers.

It is much quieter during the week and we will be able to stake a rock claim with ease!

Back in the car and GPSing it to Attard for our traditional Maltese dish of rabbit! One of Russell’s favourites! Anna and Sammy and Jill and I had a delicious (huge) mid afternoon lunch – doubling as dinner and a sweet treat as well! We are getting very spoiled! Sammy sneaked off for an afternoon nap while Anna and Jill and I spent the rest of the day chatting (as girls do)

Home around 6, a quiet evening on the deck as the sun went down and an early Sunday evening – ready for work (Sue) and exploring (Jill) in the morning….and maybe a beach afternoon!

With only a little over a week until we leave this second home of mine, the days are flying by!

Looking relaxed? Don’t let looks fool you, life here is a hive of activity! The end of last week disappeared into a blur of work and shopping days!

Friday morning got up at 3am – 1pm nz time to get through work by 10am – when everyone in NZ had finished for the weekend! Jill and I had a plan….Valletta then Sliema for the day before meeting Tracey(our new friend) for 2 for 1 cocktails at the Rouge cafe at 5pm (this gave us an hour of happy hour to set us up for the evening)

On arriving in Valletta around 11.30am we discovered that a festival (of Maltese beer) “Pinta” was happening over the weekend – a few hours of shopping, coffee and exploring put paid to the Sliema side trip, as we had to get back to Paola (drop shopping and shower) before heading off for our night out! The beer fest was not met with much enthusiasm by Jill and as I’m not keen on shoulder to shoulder crowds we opted for pre arranged Plan A for Friday night! So Rouge Cafe it was!

Ok, so it looks like I was having a little rest – but towards the end of the night (having missed the last bus home) I was contemplating an Uber, while the girls finished their wine! Having been up since three am and falling into bed at midnight I had probably earned a little shut eye time!

Today, Saturday, Jill had a nail appointment at 8am so we got up early, if a little dusty and decided a big brunch (after nails) was in order before exploring my favourite part of this world – the old cities of Senglea (breakfast) And Birgu!

Breakfast was accompanied by the blasts of fireworks from Birgu who were gearing up for the feast of St Dominic! Having secured a park for “Vivienne” (the car) we set off on foot to jump on a luzzu harbour cruise on the other side of the harbour!

Cruising past the superyachts in Birgu harbour

The army training (pirate) ship – moored at Valletta.

Chased by a police boat when our skipper looked like we might be getting too close to the fireworks at Birgu!

The tankers fuelling up in Rinella bay

Circling the grand harbour gates and lighthouses! Luckily I was familiar with the landmarks as our skipper had very poor English and I could give Jill a commentary of sorts!

Cruising back down the southern side of Valletta – the beach and summer holiday baches.

Caves

And Rocks that are the foundation of Maltas capital! Back to rest on the Birgu side and another coffee needed! So we headed up to the square which is usually sporting some nice peaceful (and in the shade) cafes!

Not today! The lead up to tonight’s feast was in full swing! (at midday)

Band powering out music (really loud)

Folks singing and chanting (really loud)

And streets adorned with bunting! We did find a little side alley were we could get a coffee (the push button type) and some shade! (Still really loud) The city was gearing up for a big night!

There was one tourist attraction we were determined to get under our belts – The Malta at War Museum – a little further up the streets of Birgu! Having visited several air raid shelters over the past few weeks, this was a must….so underground we went again!

The story of the Second World War from the Italian attacks to the Germans almost claiming victory and the destruction these seiges wreaked on the Island of Malta from 1938 to 1944. You can certainly admire the resilience of my ancestors! From stories, movies, relics of the war, to poverty and almost starvation of the Maltese people – there was so much to read and see, I only took a couple of photos!

A range of Bombs unleashed by the Germans!

And the all important care package for the soldiers and sailors who defended this country!

Again there was also a maze of underground shelters – self tour – which took us well underground, ducking and descending into what felt like airless rooms, where the Maltese people lived for up to four years while the city above them (and their homes) were reduced to rubble! Two hours later we emerged into the afternoon sunshine and the last stop of the day was a much earned dip in the sea off the Senglea harbour point! Cooling off our hot bodies and feet!

But wait there’s more, one more stop I spied – La Guardiola gardens lookout above our swimming hole at the northern tip of Senglea

The watch tower – surveying the panorama of todays adventures!

A quick trip to the supermarket and home to clean decks and floors – with the ongoing construction surrounding us this is a daily task!