3rd August 2020, we really are deep in the kiwi winter, and adjusting to the new normal without our three loved ones.

Sue, George and Trudi have moved out of Waiwera (for now), frantic final shifting day yesterday. Russell Rose is being cared for by our friend John, so he can stay at Waiwera and listen to the sea. The cottage has reclaimed all its treasures, and the humans are displaced again. Our Australian neighbours are well and truly locked down (kiwi style) to try and send the dreaded virus packing. We are still getting cases at the border and international travel seems a far off dream.

Meanwhile, life goes on and another Southland seafood treat…

Bluff oyster fritters in (Speights) beer batter! George made the mistake of going out this night and only ended up with two! Al and Sue had a feast!

Another working week begins, the first of George’s last four working remotely as he has secured a kiwi job starting on the 1st of September. Dan starts ripping his house apart in readiness to rise from the foundations, 12 months of planning. Jaxon and Steph almost have a new bathroom and Sue and George are set up in Silverdale!

The boys, Jax and George headed to town for a night out….George certainly missed out on the maltese height genes…..another time another place….

Two years ago George in Malta with Cousin Sammy…

Now, it’s time for work as I ponder the list of jobs behind the scenes. I have sheds and storage of Russ and my stuff to sort, cars to fix ( the punto is slightly rearranged where I backed into her when racing to the hospital one morning), merc to sell, and stuff to sort for Al! Life is full of fun…but first a coffee and a breath.

The “only” good thing about a funeral is that you get to see lots of family and far flung friends who travel to farewell their loved one and support the living ones!

Sandy had a huge following and her life celebration was shared with 300 people….one of whom was my dear friend from Te Anau, laden with seafood (vacuum packed) from Stewart Island! For those offshore followers, Stewart Island is the third most southern of the New Zealand islands! A diamond in the south.

Monday nights dinner was Blue Cod, pub wedges and beans (for Al) salad for me! It’s a bit tough to smile these days but “blue cod” certainly helps.

Whitebait fritters and lemon wedges last night – another South Island delicacy! George and I added a few greens to our plates.

Continue reading “South Island Seafood” →

Saturday 25th of July 2020. Who would have ever imagined such a year of direction changes….

A week of canine visitors, visits and scraps – Floyd and Alfie (the black one) didn’t realise the other was allowed at Al and Sandys house. After a quick sniff the small one (Alfie) decided to stake his territory and bark….big mistake when the one you are barking at is 40 kgs heavier and doesn’t really like many other dogs anyway! Luckily Dan was “Johnny on the spot” to grab Floyd and save the obnoxious little ones life!

We now begin our journey without Sandy, Dads partner of 46 years who was snatched from us a week ago and who we laid to rest on Thursday in true Sandy Style….she at least had a few days to plan her farewell and the cousins, Sandys friends, Steve, my friends and boys worked so hard to make it all happen her way.

Daniel spent two days, second one under Dads direction, painting some of Sandys world on the coffin lid (chosen by Sandy, artwork directed by Sandy and Al)

Dad and I, after a hectic morning of asparagus roll making, garage cleaning, beer icing, vacuuming and three pairs of pants before we found the right ones! Lucky I had my two mates, Pam and Trudi, and my sons here to help get the house ready for the aftermatch activities. Steve, his wife and family arrived around 11am then went and had lunch before meeting us all at the church.

A mass of 300 turned up at the church, most staying for the afternoon tea and refreshments prepared by a wonderful team of Bonnici cousins and then back to Dad and Sandys (and now my new home) for an evening of story telling and more refreshments!

So we can’t all be angels all the time and my breaking point was when I got back to the house and realised the alcohol was limited to Heineken and wine and ginger beer. Those that purchased the liquid supplies (Steve and Dad) had forgotten that the chief cook and bottle washer actually drinks Speights! My reaction, while a bit harsh was nothing to what Sandy would have let them have! My sons to the rescue…and raced up the road to return with a box of the golden stuff! Seriously I don’t ask for much!

Crisis averted and not too many guests had to witness my tantrum…Sandy seemed very much with us all evening (probably even directed my tantrum) at a Bonnici et al family gathering…

People tell me to look after myself when I am too busy looking after others. The only time this year (2020) I have worn make up is to Jaxon and Stephs wedding in January(didn’t do a very good job) and it’s now July.

I think maybe my friends are saying it’s about time to put some lipstick on and brighten the day (Or face) and I might stop getting asked for my gold card (the senior citizens over 65 discount card!)

You know what, it doesn’t matter what you wear, what you look like, how much money you have in the bank when it’s time to say goodbye.

Another page in our lives closed yesterday, with Sandy taking another piece of our hearts with her (and her friends and Aussie family too).

Covid 19 has been bittersweet! It meant I was here (no travelling) for Al and Sandy through this and out the other side (whatever that journey is). It also meant Sandys beloved brothers, their family’s and friends could not be here to hug her through this. A casualty of Covid 19 that many have had the pain of not being where they really want to at critical times.

This most recent journey has been cruel and fast, and leaves us all gasping for breath. Just when you think you are treading water, a tidal wave swoops in and knocks you for six!

So Today is Sunday 19th July 2020….and we are in for a whirlwind week with a celebration for our Beloved Sandy on a Thursday! She wanted a party and she will have one….46 years is a long time for a McInnes to hang out with the Bonnici clan!

And maybe a little makeup will be in order for the second time this year….grey hair, well that’s kinda blonde now!

We keep searching for that ray of sunshine….even in Winter it can break through the clouds.

The joy of standing on the side of a soccer field, even if you are the only mum! Poor George, his support team is his mother….

Number 7 (behind the flag) George Bonnici-Carter ronaldo….in action. A close fought game.

Years of being a soccer mum to three sons and now that we can play team sport again in New Zealand we take whatever moment presents itself.

While I know the sun will be shining and the sea will be warm in Malta, my destination of choice, right now I am happy to be in our New Zealand winter with family.

A road trip out west to “brains park” heralded a typical bi-polar winter afternoon, with rain, sunshine and shadows…

Just me and my shadow(and umbrella) hanging out with all my mates on the sideline! A welcome respite in the wilds of the west!

Now we have sport, Saturday night TV offers a much more attractive reason to snuggle up and be entertained and support our Rugby team! Not quite the result we wanted but we have another Crack at the south islanders on our home ground in a couple of weeks! Belief is a wonderful thing!

So that’s the excitement for our last week as we battle on through July 2020.

Once again New Zealand is an Island, disconnected from the rest of the world! It’s a whole new world for many of us who have taken for granted the options of leaping on a plane and following the sun when winter rears it’s chilly head!

As many countries open up and welcome back the humans from other countries to try and save what has become one of their biggest industries, tourism, Kiwiland is sealed off in a relatively virus free world.

The stock market is volatile, the young people are bored, the older people are happy and safe and pets are relishing having their humans working from home!

On that note..This little branch of Kiwi Family has most team members set up from home…

Jaxon having been made redundant from the much reduced hospitality sales environment, is now back at his previous job, working at home, surrounded by his new workmates (washing and Floyd)…

My workstation is totally remote. It’s like our wardrobes in the 70’s…you know, when you opened the car boot and there was an outfit for any occasion. I am now set up at Dad and Sandys place working remotely!

George swings between the rented house at Waiwera and my new abode, depending on work and Gym schedule (and dinner menus). Dan is working locally in a Waiwera, building and renovating the world! Which is lucky, as his truck decided to hibernate in the cold weather and wasn’t going anywhere..except off on a tow truck to the doctors! Oh well have tools will walk (next door).

Soooo, the only one, in my crew, battling the frustrating Auckland rush hour traffic. is Jaxon’s wife Steph. Who’s new job (before lockdown) is moving her all over the place, instead of local as envisaged. It sure is weird times, saving travelling time and work clothes expenses while balancing the fine line between work time and home time (when all is in one place)

Kiwis (and most humans) are like ants, we like our routine…and this new work environment, for many, takes a bit of adjusting to. George and I are quite good at it; I’ve been doing it for a couple of years while travelling the world with Russ, and George has had almost a year of being in NZ and working for his UK Company!

The good bits are, we all have work and we live on a post covid Island where we can play sport, go shopping, see our friends, hit the slopes (now they are covered in snow) and discover adventures in NZ…that many have travelled from the other side of the world to experience. And most importantly we are surrounded by family and friends! (I do miss my Maltese and American families though…just saying)

Sunday 28th June, year half gone and grasping onto a glass half full…

International travel appears to be a thought for 2021! and work (if you still have a job) in many cases is very different.

Thunderstorms and tornadoes are waking us up at night and surely….the water shortage is diminishing with the buckets of rain being unloaded on Auckland.

We are aware of our fragility as another one of our own spends time in hospital. I always seem to be trying to drink more water, drink less beer, eat the right stuff, smoke less….as we know how fragile our lives are.

I see daily my memories of Russ and mum and it brings a smile to my face knowing the good time’s we all had! And I’m sure there are more ahead!

I think covid has brought more to us than a virus that is ravaging the world….we have all had time to listen to our bodies and realise that some things we cannot ignore and now is the time, when we are not racing all over the world to repair and rejuvenate what is most important to us all….our health!

Some memories from 12 months ago – boating in a world on the other side of the world – my second home “Malta”

And a sunset on the city of superyachts, family and wonderful friends!

This time last year Russ and his old friend Dave were soaking up the sights and sounds and cocktails (2 for 1) in the magical town of Bormla, Malta….

While Lizet and I (bronzed babes in the Mediterranean) where soaking up the evening sunshine!

Landlocked in our home countries where no planes are flying, we hold on to our precious memories which brings warmth to our hearts!

Gypsies – that’s easy; Sue, Trudi and George. Roomies with your mother! And couch surfing at 60 (not in the 60’s)

Tramps – covid lockdown has created more homeless, jobless and crazy desperate people in 2020

Thieves – desperation boredom, addiction or what ever drives humans to invade others domains is rife and took a visit to our sleepy little seaside village in broad daylight yesterday….the story begins:

Yesterday as a normal Tuesday, Trudi off to work, Sue and George hitting the screens before 8am and Jaxon (currently jobless) appearing around 8.30am. The start to the week has blown in high Tides, strong winds and waves…

The morning rolled on (working) and the tide rolled out…around midday I took a break and raced over the hill for a few essentials (food). Only away for 30 minutes, back into working at about 1.30pm the action began! A phone call from a concerned neighbour, our friends house alarm was going off (said friend away for a couple of days) and the thieves had been seen running out and driving off. Miss Marples (me) job was to get hold of our friend, the diligent neighbourhood watch and locals had already taken photos, taken down numberplate, staked out the entry point and were on the phone to the police, who by this time were racing over the hill en force.

While the hunt for the perpetrators was on, no entry to the house allowed, it was a matter of providing updates to absent friend and placating a couple of old bikies, who had been followed into Waiwera by the police. They thought they might have been in trouble and were a little nervous as they had had a couple of drinks at lunch! I assured them the police were not interested in them and suggested breathing in the fresh sea air for a bit before heading on their way!

Until it was time for Miss Marples help…back to the drawing board and a few more emails answered! When entry allowed to unlock and see what may have been taken! My neighbourhood watch neighbour (the 1st responder) and me went with the police, who first armed themselves (it gets real with guns) and did a sweep through to check no nasties were still lurking.

All clear, but another lock up and leave until forensics arrived, the idiots had left a drop or two of blood where they entered the broken window! A forensics dream – makes their job easy.

Back to work again, then the call to unlock and let in the CSI team! Actually one chap, but being a TV watcher of forensic investigation programmes, I sort of felt like I’d climbed into my dream job! By dusk it was time to call in the builders to secure the broken door, lucky I have a builder and apprentice (sons) just down the road! As the sun went down, the calm returned to our little world, and a beer less week promise to oneself was broken. After such an eventful day I enjoyed a couple of cool Speights. And today is only Wednesday!

In a blur of activity, it’s now Sunday evening and the shortest day of 2020, dark at 5.00pm!

Saturday morning Sandy and I went to the farmers market at Silverdale, and found the health shop, $8.00 pair of jeans (charity shop of course!) and a new blanket for the canine grand baby!

I guess he owned it! The afternoon saw us off to watch the two youngest offspring play a game of football….family day out to the other side of town!

The sun stayed out, the legs got sore, and I’m sure Russ was pleased he didn’t have to run the sideline (his least favourite sport – but he always supported the boys in their endeavours). A leg injury and a slight loss, two tired (and smelly) lads, followed by an hours drive home…..in time to turn around and head back to Dad and Sandys for a family dinner and a TV night of live rugby!

Dan fell asleep on Floyd’s new blanket and Floyd fell asleep on Sandy….snoring loudly through the second half, which saw our team come out with another win!

This morning George and I took off to our storage in search of some winter clothes. Russ and I packed these up two years ago, not expecting to spend a winter in the Southern Hemisphere! But here I am and It was time! With the punto loaded to the roof we stopped for a coffee at Orewa…

Some brave wetsuited surfers looking for a wave! We came back and spent the (wet) afternoon unpacking, followed by washing three loads! We now have a living room like a laundry with clothes drying racks surrounding us!

Social media and Facebook memories have been throwing up Malta, Hawaii, overseas adventures, family and friends! Russ is always with me and reminding me of our fun times!

As the saying goes, when all appears too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Complacency was starting to creep in to all our behaviours as 25 covid free days loomed. And then two new cases, from the UK released from isolation, travelling the length of the north island and “Boom” positive. Followed by another border entry the next day! Wake up call Kiwis, we are not invincible…

The winter Blues are settling in as Kiwis break out, looking for conflict it seems…wanting to tear down historical statues, change the names of towns and cites and streets to words that my generation cannot pronounce, road rage incidents and just yesterday, shooting two (killing one) policemen at a random traffic stop! Not to mention a lot of political Grandstanding and throwing each other under the bus (metaphorically) by our ministers around the return of Covid to our communities!

Safe to say, some of us are not unhappy to be eating, sleeping, working in the one place and leaving the craziness to the rest of the kiwi population, as we notch up another week on our belts!

Let’s talk about the good stuff!

Long evenings and cold weather brings out the puzzle in me as I jig saw my way through another masterpiece!

My wonderful landlady gave my “Russell Rose” some love, a winter haircut and tidy up and he is looking like a healthy plant again!

George and I managed to get our flu vaccinations before the rest of winter hits and I had to get another one (immunisation) on the other arm, so there followed a couple of nights of rocking and rolling to avoid sleeping on either shoulder!

Just yesterday the beach looked (and felt) like a summers day, when George and I took our screen break. All the washing dried on the line! Prior to this we had had Rain for a whole day, freezing cold temperatures and then singlet days in the sunshine! That’s a kiwi winter for you, a week of all seasons!

So here we are on Saturday morning (I’m awake before the first bus), the weekend begins…… After a race around with the vacuum, and a couple of cleaning chores the weekends our oyster! There are plans afoot and of course a Rugby game to watch!