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!
Its almost time to put up the feet or get busy with FUN…the last month has been crazy busy with activities, worklife and jobs…in readiness for a small break. It seems silly that to prepare for a holiday we decide we have a million tasks to complete before the big day.
The lazy Christmas tree is up!
Since we said goodbye to Dad in October, we have had two months of rolling into Summer, finally this last week the thermals are in hibernation, and shorts and T’Shirts have come out of mothballs! We are hoping the weather gods do not shower us with “El Nino” (whatever that is) rain and floods as they did last Summer.
Russell Rose is blooming
Russells family was up at the end of November and we took the opportunity to take Russ (ashes) on his final journey to his favourite fishing spot, having to pick the day and change it at the last minute, as the day of choice promised to be a rocky boat ride. The save a day was perfect and dropping Russ’s fishing rod in the spot – he caught 6 fish in 10 minutes! Possibly a record for Russ!
His usual spot (me driving)
Time (in between busy work weeks) has been spent….mowing lawns (far too often), gardening, cleaning, and more spring cleaning, Christmas shopping, the odd party, grabbing meals on the run and planning for a few days of leisure over the holiday period
A deck of Dahlias
This year has come and gone faster than one would like, with my three months sojourn in the northern hemisphere, catching up with family and friends, the exciting news that I have two more grandbabies on the way, saying goodbye to our people, deciding to retire one of the old cars (and finding a solution to dispose of it), and forever hunting that elusive sunshine and warmth….
As 2024 fast approaches we set our goals and dreams for the next little while – never looking too far ahead, and enjoying the moments……a problem is always the opportunity to find a solution, and while life (and jobs) can seem an uphill climb, the view from the top is always worth the ride.
Right now, as summer peeps through the clouds, we look forward to a few days of family fun, fishing and feasting. Merry Christmas to all my people here and around the world….
Coming up five weeks of being on home soil in New Zealand, it’s been a whirlwind of events….
I got the call in Texas that my dad was failing, and leapt on the next plane, to be home and spend time with him for his last week on Earth. Then followed a whirlwind week of my head in the clouds, trying to stay on top of work, sorting my house out and catching up with family and friends!
Labour weekend treated us to a glimpse of sunshine….
Shorts and beach weather for a minute or two…
Planting some veges with my little helper…
And preparing food for Dads last party!
We said goodbye to dad on Tuesday the 25th October – public speaking at funerals becoming my forte! A skill which I hope I can now retire!
A chance to see old friends – and share our dad stories!
This event was then followed by a familiar Auckland weather event – yes a raging storm! Trudi and I have joined a local group of “Dotteral Minders” These are little coastal birds (diminishing in numbers) who are currently trying to breed…
They obviously haven’t adapted to climate change (or coastal storm surges) as they make their nests in Sand!
Well with 100km winds the tidal surges washed away the three nests! We became quite invested in a rescue mission, moving the last remaining nest 2 times…
Finally up onto the last dune standing which became smaller and smaller with each high tide!
Until the sand didn’t hold and the tyre nest was washed off the remaining lump of sand along with the last eggs out to sea! A few days of braving the elements to get to the point in 100km wind and rain with spades and gumboots! Shovelling sand to no avail!
Two weeks later and there are three new nests on the flat sand! The dotterals have bounced back for round two! (no smarter for their last experience)
Last weekend I travelled to Katikati for a grandparents visit on the Friday afternoon! It was atrocious weather again and My grand baby just wanted me to take him home! We did manage a jigsaw with the help of another boy before getting out the door for a wet drive! Saturday and Sunday saw clearer days and we visited Auntie Barb, Mums dear friend in Tauranga. I was on babysitting duties Saturday night and all went well(ish) – bedtime is a bit of a challenge!
The end of this week bought us sunshine, still cool in the mornings and evenings, but at least some vitamin D during the day!
Russell Rose has bloomed in all his glory! The gardens actually needed water! Lawns had a haircut, washing got dry on the line and we have a busy weekend ahead with the working bee at Riverhaven (bach) today and more birthday celebrations tomorrow (not mine)
It is just so hectic back here, with a house to maintain, time in cars! Hours to and from work, (at least three a day), everyone is a bit sad after a long winter, and everyone is busy and stressed! I miss the miles and miles of smiles, the laughter and the time to sit and chat!
Last week found me relaxing at the homestead in the warmth of Texas fall (autumn) and venturing out (by Uber) to the township of Lake Jackson to explore the shops and meet Russell’s friend (Trudy) for lunch! Only in Texas do you get to ride in a Ford F150 when you call an Uber! My first ride was with Jack, the next one was with Daniel! Guessing the 3rd one will be George! Two degrees of connection wherever one goes!
Friday saw (and I listened to live commentary) the All Blacks finally pull up their socks and provide a much needed win in the Rugby World Cup giving us Kiwis some excitement for the rest of the tournament!
This guy (banana spider) decided to pop in for the party weekend – thankfully outside my closed window.
Friday afternoon shopping for the family party (for my birthday!) A great evening with my hosts (Tona and Chuck) a few beers by the pool and listening to our favourite music!!!
Saturday, Tona and I began our day early with a drive north to watch Emma (one of the gran babies) play her five year old soccer game! Followed by a breakfast of champions (cooked by her Dad) crepes!
We then headed back to prepare our Grazing table for the party!
Expecting 20 Adults and seven grand babies, Chuck prepared the pool toys and Tona and I built our table of food! With the Fall theme….around five the party began! And the girls added to the spread…
Kelly(Tonas and Chucks daughter) had provided the Key Lime Pie birthday cake to herald in my 63rd celebrations and Ashley (daughter in law) had made her famous apple pie to ensure we were all totally sated! I of course had both!
Then it was time for the water balloon fight!
When it’s in the (90s farenheit) mid-high 30s Celsius – what’s a little water between friends! Drying time 20 minutes! The party wound up around 10pm with a (Travis) margarita, food pack up, tired kids and big kids and we collapsed into bed!
I had lots of messages and calls from my family and friends in NZ, as being 18hours behind here, my NZ birthday was on Saturday USA time.
My Texas birthday began on Sunday, and more cleanup before Church, then off to visit the kids and grand babies!
The afternoon visiting number 2 son and family and the evening watching baseball grandson play, before post match hotdogs (just what the stomach ordered after a busy day)
Arriving home in the red sky Texas sunset and a graze on the leftovers from the party – we will be grazing all week!
I have certainly been very spoiled with my three day birthday celebrations!
The weekend loomed, Friday afternoon, we took off on a Road Trip to Greune (pronounced Green) near New Braunfels north west of Lake Jackson – inland…. a three and a half our drive. Tona and Chuck had arranged the weekend roady to attend one of their grandbabies (9th) birthday party at an amusement park, and catch up with more family….
We arrived at our hotel in Gruene late afternoon, checked in and took a wander….
Right on the Guadalupe river….wedding venue of Choice (three in a row this weekend)
However we did not have a wedding in our plans and headed into the township of Greune – planning a little shopping hunt before meeting Tonas Niece and her three boys for dinner…
Temperatures rising late afternoon and a cool beer was in order, flagged the shopping and chilled out in a garden bar listening to live music…a unanimous decision. Lucky we had to meet family, or we may still be there.
A great dinner on the edge of the river, in the air conditioning (outside temperature 38 degrees C) and by the time we left, shops were closed and the travellers were weary!
Next morning, I took a walk around the grounds and spied these little guys playing in the trees….
Far too noisy for birds!
It was then in the car to meet the family for the birthday adventure park at 10am….again temperatures rising, good we were there early, as car rides, train rides, playgrounds, ferris wheel, merry-go round, sensory house and waterpark were not too crowded…
Morgans Wonderland, is a Theme Park for kids of all ages, abilities, and accessibility for anyone….25 acres of playland….very special place. the kids and big kids had a great time.
We packed up around 2pm and headed to Fredricksburg, another 2 hours north west, for the next part of our adventure…checking in at next hotel, ready for a cool shower and freshen up, the heat rising, nearing 40 degrees Celsius. Tona and Chucks Daughter and family joined us and their cousins also for the evening….
Halloween decorations, we checked in at an infamous (no bookings taken) restaurant around 5pm to get a table for Nine – folllowed by a great meal and trip into town, settling in a bar to watch the college football….and listen to live music!
All washed up by around 9pm it was then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Next morning A Breakfast of champions…
Followed by Girls shopping, and Boys Navy Museum visit, meeting for lunch at a German Restaurant…..
A final grandparent (including Gran’ma Sue) and grandkid photo, before embarking on the 4-5 hour trip home to Lake Jackson (by 7pm) ready for the working week.
Today in Texas would have been Russ’s 66th Birthday and he will be here in spirit celebrating with his American brother from another Mother!
Throwback to one of the great trips we shared with Chuck and Tona to New England!
He will be happy that I have finally made it back to visit with his Texas family!
Since I arrived on Saturday evening, I have coughed my way through the week…relaxing at the Lake Jackson homestead, in between split working shifts. (A little difficult to juggle the 17 hour time difference)
Sunday, was social, church in the morning, and one of the grand kids birthday parties in the afternoon. Everyone welcoming me with southern hospitality!
Since Monday, we have all got on with our work days, mine much more relaxed than theirs! A few hours work, a walk around the area (short) … deer spotting
Sit by the lake….
And look for alligators! (Yes I saw one yesterday) watching me from a couple of meters away, but he dived down the minute I moved for my phone (camera)
Afternoon swim in the pool….
Reading and recovering from my summer travel cold….which today is feeling decidedly better!
A healthy lunch and a cool beer in the evening before another healthy dinner….followed by my 2nd work shift between 7-10pm!
Rinse and repeat…and NO I am not bored or lonely – just loving the R&R and getting spoiled rotten!
So today as we celebrate Russ’s birthday and the good times we shared with friends and family….a couple of collages!
About nine hours into my 10 and a half hour flight from Frankfurt (Germany) to Houston(Texas), I assimilated my experience to childbirth…long and painful and seeming like it will never end….then it does and you will do it all over again! Maybe learn a few tricks on the way!
So today I have no beautiful pictures, just some not so beautiful words. I boarded the plane in my designated group “5” and took my middle seat next to a women from Azerbaijan (near Russia), a quite large women who looked like Jennifer Coolidge (Tanya in the White Lotus) ensconced in her window seat. I slid into the one next to her and waited for my Aisle seat companion! A hundred and 50 Kg black man, with a lovely smile and very nice, sandwiched himself into the seat next to me.. knees touching seat in front- enormous thighs that sat two stories higher than mine and three times as wide, and shoulders that overflowed over the armrests onto my seat back! Yes I felt like a sardine, the middle one in the can!
So the one on the left needed my armrest and the one on the right needed my armrest and a quarter of my back seat (while sleeping all the way) ! No other option for yours truly except to sit in a straight line and read for most of the journey – elbows tucked inside the, otherwise occupied, armrests! Looking forward to the two snacks offered on the way! Daren’t drink too much as I couldn’t escape to the aisle over the sleeping giant (very nice man though) !
Needless to say I was very pleased when we touched down in Houston (10.5 hours later) and I could unfold and stretch a very sore back and cough with abandon!
Tona and Chuck collected me and we travelled to their home in Lake Jackson, where I have a very very spacious apartment to spread out in.
Work from and relax in for the next week while I try and recover from my recent ailments, without bothering anyone!
Yesterday morning I left Zurich after a week with the Swiss Family, and caught the day train to Frankfurt!
First goodbye to Benjamin as he was heading off to school…
Verena guided me to the station and Florian met me to make sure I got on the right train!
Having pre booked a window seat – I was a little dismayed to find my window seat actually meant the wall between two windows. So I settled in for the four hour ride to read my book…
Arriving at Frankfurt main station around 2pm…despite having googled connecting trains to my airport hotel – I found myself rather lost! I went to the information centre to ask which train and which platform would take me in this direction, only to be given a ticket (number) to wait for assistance in about 35 minutes! And waved away without a smile from the very abrupt women (who’s job it seemed was to only had out tickets)
Uber app to the fore! I walked out a door (there were hundreds of them) and booked a 19€ Uber door to door! Standing on the footpath with a hundred other confused travellers, I was watching out for the rego number, when the phone rang. My Uber driver was there! No he wasn’t – he kept suggesting I go somewhere which I didn’t understand but eventually we made a sensible (to me) communication and he agreed to come to my spot, which was probably safest before I got lost (even more).
Then it was a smooth ride…to my hotel in a business park near the airport! Checked in, joined their club (for free) and got my (free) token for an early morning shuttle to the airport. Beautiful room with a “bath” so was pretty excited (being a bath gal and only showering for the last 2 months!)
After a long day, I went off in search of a beer and something for dinner!
Both of which I found – a salad, grapes and a nice cool Pilsner at an Italian cafe…
Relax! Still with troublesome back and nagging cough, one was enough, so I headed back to hotel, ran a bath and soaked! In my Jammies by 6pm I decided to eat my salad, with a teaspoon! (Didn’t think about a fork when purchasing)! And snacked on my grapes…while trying to find a German TV channel that may be playing the 2nd All Blacks rugby World Cup game! To no avail, so it was back to the book and sleep for my early wake up and this mornings shuttle to the airport!
AirNZ codeshare with Lufthansa meant I couldn’t check in online, and by the time I found the counter, could only be allocated a middle seat of three! Yay this is going to be a fun trip, lucky I have my noise cancelling earphones for the 11 hour flight! I hope the window person does not have a weak bladder!
All who wander are not Lost girls 