Another lockdown week of wild, windy cold weather and work, washed away into our past!

The Punto, on the berm, is looking like an abandoned, neglected, unused little car! Definitely a rescue mission for George today.

The sea turned a dirty brown and all the seagulls left the foreshore for refuge on the green near the entry to the village, retreating inland to shelter from the onshore gales. We did survive, unscathed unlike our fellow Aucklanders who were flooded out of their homes in the Westside! We hope this was winters last hoorah as we slide into spring and the shorts and T shirts creep out of our wardrobes!

Thursday evening saw a break in the rain, and the BBQ relocated to my deck, with MasterChef Dan cooking our steak to perfection!

For me, at least the sunny weekend ahead will bring outdoor activities, painting, dirt relocation, water blasting, anything that doesn’t entail sitting behind a screen!

Jaxon is sending me pictures of the grandbaby, keeping me in the loop. Since last I saw him, he has learned to Kneel, crawl, stand, eat biccies and rock the Dinosaur suit I found him in the “Dump” (recycled) shop in Nelson when George and I were there at the end of May! They (Jaxon and family) will be gone before I can connect again, however, I can at least watch him grow in pictures!

The sun is shining on the trees out my window and the motivation is high to tick off the list!

Another week gone of kiwi lockdown, morning coffee on a Saturday morning after a night of heavy rain and the sun is peeping through. The weekend lockdown list that encompassed only indoor activities may need reviewing!

Last weekend saw a rexample of the driveway fence – all hands on deck – now waiting for level three to weedmat and rock!

Midweek activities (for those not sat in front of computers) saw Trudi paint garden and paving edges to match..

And the last corner of my house (which was still green from where the heatpump had been wall anchored) got a slap of pink to match last summers overhaul!

The week was interspersed with short strolls after work, outdoor activities, a relaxing beer or wine or two and hearty dinners prepared from our very full fridges – only one trip to the supermarket and we eat like Kings!

As we (in Auckland) roll into the next two promised weeks of lockdown and the first day of spring looms, we notice the temperatures rising (apart from evenings) and look forward to our Summer! Lockdown is a little more miserable I must say in winter!

Floyd has certainly reconnected with George – his new 2nd best friend (after Dan), Trudi and Sue well down in the food chain….unless they are cooking food!

One thing we have learned with this whole new world is that there is no point in looking too far ahead and enjoy the moments. We are lucky, I have two sons and my BFF in my bubble and to be honest it’s pretty much our regular social network!

I talk to Dad most days as he is bored in town and Jaxon and Steph are packing down the road – still hoping they can make their anticipated move to Katikati in a couple of weeks. The grandbaby is now crawling and sitting in his high chair and Jaxon sends me pictures of his milestones daily! Long distance Grandma…good practice for when they move!

Day four of Kiwi lockdown and a weekend of bubble activities. Yes here we go again. This time we know what we can and can’t do and the supermarket excursion is not so daunting, as we circle our fellow humans.

Here in Waiwera the buses still keep the roads active, not a person to ride, the birds are loud and the fridge is stocked!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of work, family stuff and house stuff! Visits with Dad, final clean on renovated flat (which now can’t get rented as no one can view), a cultural outing to the NZ Ballet(thank goodness not a covid hotspot) and rugby tests to watch.

Then on Tuesday night we found out the inevitable (delta) covid had hit our city and all activities ceased. Thank goodness we are all au fait with the working from home lifestyle and for some of us…it’s business as usual! For others it’s the opportunity to take a much needed rest.

And for Floyd…he’s the happiest dog in the world as he has all his humans at home!

Mealtimes means the broom and mop doggy gate goes up blocking (?) the entry to the kitchen!

George is bubbling with Dan and using his work station, Trud is bubbling with me and communal meals and activities!

Yesterday’s grocery stock up (I waited three days fir the rush to be over) saw the last 2 boxes of Speights, last 2 bags of rice, and an organic(very) expensive flour jump into my trolley – lucky no toilet paper was needed as aisle was empty!

Well, another four days of this until we know if we can venture out our gates – somehow doubt it in our part of the country!

Happy days! And family time!

Another weekend has flown by – the new dishwasher is in but doesn’t work, the rain is halting the painting jobs, the colds and flus are making our loved ones lie low, covid is keeping us locked out (not locked in), the ongoing debate about vaccines is a personal choice and we know we have another month or two of winter!

BE LIKE FLOYD

When the winter sun peeps through just LIE

When your favourite human is due home from work don’t take your eye off the target (even though a day with mumma Sue watching artistic gymnastics had been riveting!)

Wear the hat! Even when it is monthly Friday drinks with the locals (who no doubt question your wardrobe choices) – there is nothing like a warm head – sporting your new favourite (free) acquisition from the very successful trade show!

AND

When one of your people are sick, you do your best to make their world a little better – with the biggest hug you have to give!

While we are free to go about our days here in relatively covid free NZ….we wait for vaccines…..we wait for borders to open…we work……we watch the crowd less olympics….we eat…..we sleep….and we wait for our world to open and provide us with a freedom lost!

We rush from A to B and fill our days with busyness when we all should take a moment to “BE LIKE FLOYD” and smell the roses!

Winter is throwing it at us – ice on the cars, flooding rivers and Rainbows

At the end of a wet Saturday the sky lit up with hope in the form of a double rainbow.

Another year has flown by as 12 months ago today Sandy left us and we embarked on caring for Dad, who has had his struggles, a number of hospital visits and a major shift to a new abode in Panmure! The worst place in the world to get to. Having visited two times this week on my way home, I encountered an extra two hours behind the wheel each time navigating – more road works and traffic jams!

Another day was spent working at Jax’s and helping with the baby as Steph stepped back into the working world. On top of the coronavirus the baby’s are battling a respiratory virus outbreak here and his kindy has had a few cases – so safer to keep him at home! A little bit of Granma Sue time.

And Sunday gave us sunshine – time for planting, weeding, cooking and ironing (only under duress). I finally planted the feijoa trees and the lemon tree – making some marks in the ground.

And the world catches its breath as we prepare for another working week….5am start and battling the traffic for another day!

The Nelson Trip came to quick end…rebooking first flight back last Saturday….not cleaning campervan….and weekend in hospital, with Dad. This time Steve doing nights and the Bonnici family (mine and cousins) daytimes. He’s a fighter and flicked back into action to get back to his home on Thursday.

So my “holiday” week is a distant memory as the aftermath (last week) has included four days to the other side of Auckland (for work) hospital visits and hours on the road (driving). It seems that every crash on the roads this week decided to happen just before I passed through – needless to say, sitting in stationery traffic on motorways has been a big part of my week.

New Zealand continues to remain relatively covid free (apart from border isolation) while Australia (our travel bubble partner) struggles to get outbreaks under control. As only a small number of the population is fully vaccinated – we will never achieve immunity or confidence to move far from our own doorstep! Us 60 plus’s should be offered the vaccine by the end of July, but many are hesitant! (and information is scarce as to who can book and when)

In the small world..we now live in, the youngest family member visited the cottage yesterday…

And (Tyler) took a nap on Russell’s blankey!

The All Blacks continue to dominate the pacific test challenges…and provide Saturday night (in house) entertainment.

Winter is throwing its usual dampness and cold…interspersed with a few hours of Sunshine and the odd polar blast. Thermals, Jackets and scarves are all out in force.

Sunday morning dawns with more of the same and a grocery shop on the agenda! Winter life can be a little dull!

After a dinner of nuts and peanut butter sandwiches we woke to another golden bay day!

As our final destination yesterday was at dusk, and our tummy’s were rumbling the pack up and ship out was fairly prompt – back to Takaka for the first whiff of bacon and eggs we could find!

Street parking the bus and a full cooked breakky in front of us, our travel feet relaxed into a morning of exploring the coastline!

Just out of Takaka road tunnels and

George rocking the Pohara coastline!

A very coromandel like drive around the coastline with holiday settlements culminating in the golden sands of Ligar Bay

New Zealand coastlines never fail to delight! As we had the reverse of the Takaka hill ahead, we u-turned at this point and headed back to the climb! George’s turn at the wheel this time, as we climbed and wound our way over the ranges. Dropping into Motueka for the next coffee and George meal! A leg stretch, a winery visit and a catch up with Uncle Ron for the third coffee of the day.

Now back in camp (Tahunanui) to spend our last night with Brenda and Graeme at the “Speights ale house”. What more could a gal want!

The day started at 9am leaving Nelson heading west! Clear skies and frosty feet. First stop supermarket for supplies and out to Mapua

For a coffee and a loo break

Then an executive decision to take the coast road west…through Motueka, Riwaka and kaiteriteri beach!

Golden sands on the top of the South Island.

Then chauffeur number one (George) still at the wheel we wound our way over the Hills towards Marahau

Not an easy feat in a 7 metre bus…praying no oncoming trucks. And down into Marahau – the memories of family holidays at the “Blair” bach. George was so young he can’t remember.

We stretched our legs on the boardwalks at the start of the Able Tasman National park.

George has been rocking his timer so we can capture the moments with the both of us

It was then my turn to drive as we headed out towards the Takaka Hill. Did I draw the short stick…one way up and one way down, lots of corners and steep climbs!

The view from the top, once again snow underfoot and sun overhead…then the descent…

Into Golden bay…a walk to a lookout and a grand view of the “Bus”. Next stop Takaka and Dancing Sands Gin Distillary. Found it, but not my client (the owner) who apparently lives in Nelson (from whence we had come)!

The journey continued to Collingwood, where we luckily found a gas station and we were rocketing towards empty. No free camping signs everywhere and no eating places open! So further west they said, there’s got to be something! Actually in the middle of winter no!

Farewell spit, the northernmost point of the South Island and campground closed for repairs until May! Now being the 1st of July, we realised not everything you read is true! Sun setting and nighttime hitting us at a great rate we hightailed it back (east) to a camp we had passed at pakawai, just before closing time of 6pm. Non powered camp and peanut butter sandwiches for dinner, but here we are in the wilderness of Golden Bay!

Room with a view – at least George has while I am bundled up front. Gas heater on, no room to swing a cat…but winter camping at its best!

Today would have been Russ’s mums 100th birthday and the letter from the Queen!

The morning started with George and Sue exploring Tahunanui beach!

Chilly and sunny – if these two words pop up in the same sentence we know it is winter.

Triple thermals and puffer vest temperatures ….

Such a beautiful beach and the holiday park we are staying at, Russ used to clean the loos at this place in his uni holidays. Maybe not such fond memories! Then we were off to the Marsden Valley cementry for morning tea with Mrs Carter – flowers, Louise cake and Raspberry slice! And of course coffee!

Graeme and I chopped and dug (Graeme mostly), I did the girls tidy up (trimmed the edges) and we had a lovely morning!

Here we all are! Chatting and reminiscing! Then it was off to visit the homesteads of our ancestors! As time goes by all looks smaller and not the same without our humans

A view from the hills – where the Carter’s had their retirement whare! Which they never got to!

After an afternoon of reminiscing Graeme dropped George and I at one of my clients and we walked home via the the Dump (op) shop….

George rocking his new drug dealer sunnies and holding my new handbag – maybe the backpack will take a back seat for a while!