Well the cool (unseasonal) snap we had on arrival is over and our winter bodies are sweating into the Mediterranean summer (30+) Aircon a godsend!
Today we started our Saturday with a coffee by the sea, followed by a body temperature cool off in a swimming hole….plan for the afternoon to take the bus to Valletta and have a mid afternoon lunch at one of the many cafes. As today there were no cruise ships in, Valletta was not the tourist madness that it often is!
Off the bus by the gate and over the bridge to the city
We wandered around until we were welcomed in to a street side cafe by a very enthusiastic Ella (young chap with beautiful painted nails)….
We both were craving a full English breakfast meal, but settled for omelette and bacon(the closest option) then this arrived….
Not what we were expecting…. more a toasted sandwich with bacon and egg and seaweed, lashed with mayonnaise! nonetheless very tasty and filling…
Resisting (a beverage) refill we wandered in the shade back up to wards the bus until Trudi spied the ice cream shop…
Chocolate for Trudi and stawberry sorbet for Sue! A very refreshing interlude!
Bus home and a cool beer….book and TV time for the evening!
When the wind drops and the temperatures climb, it’s time to fold ourselves into our bathing suits, bear our white kiwi winter bodies and hit the beach!
What better place to start than Pretty Bay, aptly named for all the bathing beauties, tourists and locals alike!
Lucked out with a car park in the shade for Vivienne (our little blue Subaru) and coffee at the kiosk while we surveyed the scenery, carefully choosing our beach spot in the cheap seats….the other end of the beach sports rent a chair and umbrellas…
Spot with a view….for those of you who have never been here, the beach is on the northern side of the international container port in Birzebuggia, and while one may wonder, it is one of the few sandy beaches in Malta, and quite an entertaining venue! Lots going on….very safe for children (and old girls) there is no tidal ebb and flow(so no danger of the towel being washed away) and if we had body issues before, these fly out the door, as all shapes and sizes are donning bikinis….some a lot briefer than one would dare to wear on NZ beaches.
After the last week of wind and lower temperatures the water was cool by Maltese standards, but after a few false starts (for Trudi anyway) the sun rays got the better of us and we took the plunge….
Sue’s toes and Trudi emerging from her swim….Trudi then tried to get a picture of Sue….but this happened…
Obviously a deal on striped beach towels as the camera clicked!
Finally the mermaid pose…forefront scenery clear!
Midday, enough sun for the first exposure, we headed home to hose off on the very clean terrace that Sue had spent a couple of hours sweeping and hosing before the sun rose this morning!
This afternoon is an opportunity waiting to happen, after all it is Friday night!
Day two lasted longer for the weary travellers, it actually got dark before we hit the sack!
Fairy lights adorning our outdoor space…
And our quiet (for now) Paola street settling down for the night…good intentions of book reading at 8.30pm….which lasted all of five minutes.
This morning we took Vivienne (our little car) for a blast on the motorway north to visit my Maltese cousins….stopping there for lunch and catching up on the last 9 months!!! Fending off the frenchie (dog) who was overexcited to have kiwis in the house and took an overwhelming like to our legs….a few scratches to add to the wrinkles!
We left mid afternoon to beat the post siesta traffic rush….but things change and we sat in the motorway car park for over half an hour!
Warming up as expected we took a detour to the old cities, Bormla, Senglea and Birgu waterfront….
and took a walk amongst the rich and famous….
Actually working up our first sweat in the Mediterranean summer….a must stop for happy hour….
At Rouge Cafe….and our first, very refreshing Pina Colada! A habit that is hard to break!
Home to the (cool) Penthouse by 5pm in time for our evening refreshments!
Weather update: still windy, but considerably warmer….heating up to high 20s(Celsius for my American friends) and looking to crack over 30s in the next few days with no wind….beaches are on the agenda!
Monday NZ time we were dropped at the airport at 11am! The journey began ….
First hiccup the computer bag strap broke….$3 at the op shop couldn’t really get too upset!
Breakfast of champions – or not but needed lunch after checkin!
Then the first 10.5 hour flight to Singapore…. Great leg room, great food and not much sleep! Highly recommend the movie “the boys in the boat”…. True story!
Three hours in Singapore and then the next 12.5 hour flight to Paris! Definitely a sleeping pill journey, missed the meal and got 4-5 hours sleep… devoured the breakfast before landing, where we had to collect bags, process through immigration and transfer (by train) to another terminal…. Anxiety levels a bit elevated as Trudi’s bag came out and Sues bag only arrived half an hour later….tiredness levels certainly elevated!
But we legged it to the train, and final flight to Malta with a good 20 mins to spare!
A very full, budget airline flight with no service and lots of circling before landing and the usual Malta chaos getting out of the plane (felt like jail) and finally feet on the ground in Malta, taxi to apartment by 3pm local time (1.00am Wednesday NZ time) – a total of 38 hours travel!
Then there was the apartment set up, a cold beer and wine, a quick trip to supermarket for an easy snack and asleep by 6pm…. Waking up brand new this morning….
Winter (travel) clothes washed and on horse for a couple of hours of drying…and off to sort out the arrival admin…
Car battery connected, Maltese phone sorted, bank card working, coffee break at my local, and Trudi making new friends already….
Carrying this old ladies bag home for her!!!
Then it was off in Vivienne (the car) to get my Maltese wheels back in action to do a big supermarket shop ready for the holiday…
Stcking up on our drinks! For all you vodka lovers
Cannabis chips (R18) for ultimate relaxation, yes sold in supermarket!
Laden with our grocery bags – up to the penthouse
The top one with the plants we need to nurture!!! To unpack and relax for the arvo!
P.S. weather update: a very pleasant 23 degrees Celsius! With a breeze….cranking up to beach weather by the end of the week!
Therma and Louise (aka Sue and Trudi) are off on their big adventure today – A Big welcome to Trudi’s friends who wish to join our stories!
Our homeland threw a couple of sunshiny days in before we leave – single digit temperatures but dry…. Which provided a pleasant interlude!
A quick visit to the Tauranga Historic village, in search of a JP to witness some documents…and….
Two weeks of family time for both grandmas, toning arms lifting babies, toddler tantrums, and cuddles!
For Thelma (Sue) the first 6 week smiles! and for Louise (Trudi) a sore back (frontpacking a 6 month old) and a cold! ….. a minor hiccup after spending two weeks of love with her Aussie family.
Now it’s time for three months of summer in the northern hemisphere, and adult time and a well earned holiday…as our feet take us wherever our whims decide!
A win by our Blues (rugby) team in the super rugby…
21 years in the making – on a very wet night, Barry and I celebrated in his warm house in front of the big screen, bayleys in hand!
And an interlude at George’s football as I revisited my years of a soccer mum….
That was until I got rained on and was assured the team was well on the way to winning!
Last load of washing on! Coffee in hand as the winter sun struggles to rise through the cloudy skies…
….skies we will be spending the next 30 hours in as we wing our way to Malta!!
The last month has been a whirlwind of wonderful new beginnings….two new grandsons within 30 hours of each other, adorable 9lb babies, dog sitting, babysitting, cooking and working towards my change of life (not the female one, didn’t have time for that) as the countdown to retirement begins!
Yes, it is time to remove myself from the Monday to Friday business work life and focus on fun and family! Feeling blessed to be able to do this, thanks to my hardworking life with Russ, just a bit sad he is not here to share with me!
So here we go….on the 14th of May Daniel and Lexi welcomed Luka Joseph Bonnici into their family
And…while Gran’ma was babysitting a very confused dog
Who snuggled up on my couch for five days….then on 16th May Jaxon and Steph and Tyler(Mr 3 year old) welcomed Henry James Bonnici into their family
All boys, as the Bonnici’s in my family produce, I am the only female in four generations of the “Allan” Bonnici bloodline!
Moving on from babies, we are watching our Auckland “Blues” rugby team storm to the Super Rugby playoffs!!!
Work wise I have two and a half weeks to go before I escape the Kiwi winter and jet off to Europe for three months!!! This time for a holiday, no 5am starts to connect with Kiwi work colleagues and customers! And no more Auckland motorway carparks travelling to the office!
After a short summer, we have had a month of one digit temperatures, wind and rain – the garden has gone to sleep and the lemons have come to fruition early this year
I have also said goodbye to my boat and non profit producing rental properties, in an attempt to unclutter my admin and physical jobs! It has been a huge amount of admin and physical getting to this point! Now with my ducks in a row I can spend more time with family and friends and pursue more creative projects and adventures…..
Baking with Mr 3 year old grandson…..a cake for his father’s birthday….it didn’t take much for him to work out licking the mixing bowl and spoon is the best part!
Gymnastics classes, yes I can still walk the floor beam with extreme concentration and clenching of muscles that barely exist!
And as the winter sun rises in Waiwera we launch into another day…so far looking like we are in for a taste of sunshine …or Thunderstorms and rain as I write
When you wake up at 6am, ankles crossed and arms folded, you know that retirement hasn’t really kicked in….
In less than two weeks I will be on the other side of the world, and catching my breath
So far, Retirement life (5 days in) has been filled with babies, toddler, lawn mowing, spring(autumn) house cleaning, car wash, the odd beer and dreams of Mediterranean sunshine! And house maintenance…
Spending time with the next generation, who have taken over our lives (for now)
My last week of work was hectic, saying goodbye to clients who have become friends, and workmates who have become family!
The post work list of jobs is long….slowly getting ticked off, a book is anxiously waiting for the first page to be turned. The washing machine has been working overtime and the dryer keeping the garage warm…as our days are littered with clouds and rain.
I have a new shed…waiting to be filled. Great babysitting option as Mr 3 year old took control!
We are looking forward to our “Blues” (rugby) clash with our Waikato neighbours on Saturday, to bring the Super Rugby final home….(everything crossed)
Now a week ahead, of crossing off the list, finally catching up with friends and more family time as I settle into the next phase in life, making plans for new adventures and lots more travel!
Officially summer is over in our kiwi world as the clocks go back, but not the body clock, as we swing into the next trimester in more ways than one!
The Gran’ma of one is about to become a Gran’ma of three (boys) in the coming weeks… as we continue our circle of life.
The summer flowers are finished and going into hibernation for the winter, which seems to have come early…the 1st of March saw the shorts packed away waiting for their annual trip to Malta and the Jeans and thermals are taking the front seat!
It’s been a busy couple of months…road trip to New Plymouth staying at belt road holiday park with my cousins and paying our respects to a dear family friend, Okie, at his Marae then Wanganui with my Carter family.
Followed by a couple of days at Easter, camping it in Bowentown with Jaxon’s family! Beaching, pedal cars, playgrounds and bunking down with the mr three year old in the caravan…whilst navigating the never ending roadworks on my travels resulting in a new windscreen on my car!
Meanwhile battling with work life and the media led Kiwi recession, resulting in a very nervous client base!
However, my world is about to change….this year I am actually taking a break, and no computer on my European travels. Since Russ left me, I have not had a week off without work (4.5 years) and the 60 something body is telling me it’s time to slow down! Rather than just growing the roses….its time to smell them!
A couple of months ago I decided it was time to make some changes and drink Champagne instead of beer (occasionally) I am taking the leap of faith and leaving my 9-5! (Actually 5-9) job before I head off in July to once again explore the northern hemisphere and return in October with a fresh start and new projects!
When you get up in the morning and only need to dress in four pieces of clothing, when the only thing you can think of is jumping in the sea after cutting the grass, when the beer is never cold enough and the rain showers are a blessing ….you know you are enjoying a summer as it should be…
January has been a month of warmth, humidity, the odd summer thunderstorm and great growing conditions for the garden!
The Tournesols (sunflowers) have popped – grown from seeds and over 5 foot!
The roses and Dalia’s (a first for my garden) are colouring my world!
And my lemon tree is laden with fruit….all adding another dimension to my world – a watering job daily as they are all very thirsty in the hot weather! (Some days hitting 30 degrees Celsius)
A month of work has flown by as kiwis slowly wake up from their summer holidays…and the motorways are once again becoming a car park!
This weekend (the first long one in 2024) I have my granbaby visiting and a trip to the zoo for his 3rd birthday treat meant an early start …. In the summer drizzle…not enough to postpone the adventure and just enough to keep us cool!
On arrival the family photo under the tin elephant ……. Then a race around the zoo jungle in search of the lions and tigers – mr nearly to be three just wanted to see the lions and tigers! Needless to say the female lions (without the mane) do not look like a lion to a toddler, and there is no longer the maned one there, the tigers were hiding at the back of their enclosure in their wonderful jungle habitat making it very difficult for little eyes to spy! While the giraffes were magnificent and on full display
The Zebras were noticeably absent! Hippos underwater (out of sight)
Rhinos sharing their patch of dirt with a small antelope species!
The Urangatangs were a little closer (to the glass) and…
The Meerkats has certainly changed!
We tried to wake the cheetah…and got up and close with the elephant
It was a three hour excursion, and a lot dearer than the many times I spent there with my young brood! the picnic area has gone – the old cafe and playground (spider web rope climb) has been replaced by huge glass and steel eating places! And all that remains is the dragon (no eggs)
The crooked house is now a family relax area! Was a little disappointed to see most of the (kid) fun things no longer there and I’m sure the animal happiness is way up there as they are hidden away in so much “natural habitat” that they don’t notice the humans and the humans (especially little ones) can’t see them!
As Jaxon and Steph had a date night planned I brought Mr nearly three year old home to the cottage for a Gran’ma and Grandson night! We were straight to the beach…to cool off!
Followed by copious amounts of food that were probably not ideal for pre bedtime snacks! Had a little (well big) battle winning the going to sleep thing but a peaceful night was had thereafter!
The next morning was off on the bus…
To the hot rod show in Orewa – go check out the old cars!
This one was our favourite – and Ty was adamant that we should buy it (and every other one we liked)
Distraction from car purchasing came in the form of a very soft ice cream covered in sprinkles….
While full focus was on devouring, melting seemed to win the race, and over half the ice cream certainly made it inside mr little human, the other half was spread over face, footpath, clothes and Gran’ma! Nothing a few serviettes and quick trip to the bathroom didn’t fix!
Final stop; coffee for Gran’ma and hash browns for Ty from McDonald’s as we headed to the bus stop to make the journey back to the bach!
Final activity before the parents returned was a dip in the spa….which is where I handed over my charge.
2024 has started with warmth and sunshine, for the first time in 12 months watering the garden has become a daily activity!
Christmas Day was wet, like torrential wet, and the last week of 2023 was a mixed bag of four seasons in one day….this being my 3 days annual leave in a row (even when I was travelling in 2023 I only had 3 full days off)!
Twas a busy Gran’baby time – Jack and Tyler bacheloring at my cottage for this week…and Gran’ma being the main distraction (I like to think attraction)
There was lots of swimming – in the sea, trampoline jumping and Walks to Gran’mas house….
Beach time and a couple of firsts – Tyler’s first ride in (drive of) Gran’mas boat…we picked our day…
The sea was calm, the sun was out with some welcome cloud cover and the fish were biting…
Tyler reeled in his first fish, a little overwhelming as it flapped on the end of the line…then he curled up in the cabin and had a two hour nap! Aah…what the sea air does to us humans!
And Mr Two, (nearly three) year old was the captain! For his first time.
It was a lovely week of precious time spent with this determined young man and my middle son….who is a great (tired) dad!
Dan and I took the tinny out for the annual fishing contest and I caught a couple of Kawhai(which if I hadn’t already smoked for dinner would have won the best other women’s fish) this was won with a 41 cm Kawhai and mine were 45cm!
New Year’s Eve, in true Kiwi style, threw us torrential rain and possibly dampened some spirits! However bach 10, once again came to life (awning at full extension) with a gathering on young people, and ME! I cooked a roast lamb for the crew, and we migrated to the pub for some dancing, heralding in 2024 at the hall….after which Gran’ma called it quits! The younger generation partying on until 3am!
1sr January 2024, broke with sunshine and summer! And (fingers crossed) we haven’t looked back!
One last Gran’ma excursion before they headed off back down the line….a bus trip from the beach to the supermarket!
Another first – a bus ride, after explaining the lack of seatbelts, the hold on tight and don’t press the yellow button until we are ready to get off rules, we then migrated to the back seat….middle! What is it with boys and back seats of buses! On the way back, with our shopping and treats, there was no hesitation – straight to the back seat!
First week of January, back to work…for the short week of catch up! By this time I could no longer ignore the toothache that had been creeping up on me! So a week of dentists, doctors and various antibiotics followed with a very miserable yours truly sporting a swollen fat face! Trying to work and get well for yesterday where George and I had tickets to the men’s ASB tennis semifinals!
Alls well that ends well and a great afternoon was had by both – mother and son date, watching these athletes, and dinner in Newmarket on a glorious sunny afternoon, as George clicks over another year around the sun!
All who wander are not Lost girls 