This time last year we shared a lockdown Anzac service on our Waiwera waterfront….today a party of eight relived the experience…
As the sun came up and Russell’s boom box competed with the lap of the sea against the Seawall, we stood once more and thought our own thoughts…listening to the live broadcast of our Capitals (Wellington) ANZAC service.
We are blessed to live in our covid under control country, sharing a coffee with our waterfront buddies and watching the sunrise.
While we might be lonely and sad(that’s a big word) sometimes we are grateful for the friends and family we have in our lives!
My small rock garden is still blooming and holding strong with the autumn sunshine and rain!
The container and skip have gone and my front lawn is rejuvenating.
The sunshade on my deck finally gave up when a mini twister swept up from the estuary and threw it against my house…no windows in the line of fire!
My house is slowly finding its personality with some of the long locked away treasures finding their place on my new (2nd hand) boat shelf!
And my doors are open to share my whole new world!
This gorgeous baby (my nephews daughter) finding joy in Russell’s childhood trucks! (Made with love by his dad more than 50 years ago!)
As we face the next few months of what will probably be a wet winter, we find our joy in the small things, a night out here and there, Super Rugby games to watch, a canine cuddle and a drink(or two) with close friends!
I and my plus one (Jill this time) headed out of Auckland on Thursday afternoon for a long awaited break over the last long weekend of Summer! Not the smartest move, as we sat in queues of traffic from the minute we hit the highway with the other several hundred thousand humans heading south! (All of us getting ahead of the expected traffic jams)
Finally breaching the Auckland borders and enjoying a half hour of cruising….just to hit the next City, Hamilton, in time for their mid afternoon early exodus, and another bumper to bumper, patience testing, 45 minutes before some blue sky, open road on our way to the first bathroom stop and lunch at 3.30pm!
So far the weather had been kind, the promised thunderstorms hovering around the horizons….until just after halfway point the skies opened up, giving the car a much needed water blast and once again reducing speed capacity on winding mountain gorges!
The middle of the North Island (NZ) closed in on us with only an hour and a half left of our journey to go with clear skies and crisp air. A quick comfort and refreshment stop at the pub, soaking in the mountain (enshrouded in cloud) views saw us hit the road one last time for our final destination. Our goal to get through the mountain range before darkness hit…
With very few vehicles heading our way, mission accomplished, we cruised along the side of the Wanganui River as darkness rolled in to a kitchen of smiling faces, homemade bread and pumpkin soup! Aah family!
Brenda and Graeme (Russ’s brother) welcoming me and whoever I bring with open arms and kindness as usual!
Friday brought a cool overcast autumn day as Fraser (nephew) headed to Auckland and the Wanganui weekend crew caught up on the last six months over hot cross buns, leftover pumpkin soup, a beautiful fresh snapper for dinner!
Saturday was market day, and Wanganui provided sunshine, crowds, music food and all the crafts of the area! It was also the day I learned some new skills! Graeme and I had swapped vehicles, he headed to a show in my car and I had the new van to drive the gals around….custom built for Brenda’s wheelchair! A five minute lesson, on the ins and outs, ups and downs(the back kneels to the ground), locks and unlocks and we were away! My practice run circling city streets in search of a car park…as it appeared everyone had the same idea to enjoy the local culture.
A jazz band blasting out tunes from a 100 (almost) year old balcony filling the streets with a Deep South Louisiana vibe. After all Wanganui is renowned for its riverboats.
City wall art added to the Art Deco feel of inner city streets, many of the original 1900’s buildings still alive and well, not having succumbed to modern day high rises of concrete and glass. Main Street shopping concluded our market morning, taking us on an adventure of bespoke local shops, antiques, new, shoes, crafts, books….both Jill and I bringing home some treasures!
The afternoon promised another outing for the girls, including Brenda’s friend Lindsay, who declined the morning adventure, ready for an evening at the Speights Bar in Palmerston North. Jill didn’t quite make it, having ingested some market food that suddenly came back to bite her just before we left. So it was a team of three who headed off (in the spaceship van) to meet Graeme and more family for Thomas’s birthday dinner (oldest nephew). Speights Bar…perfect destination for a Speights Gal! But limitations are on when one is driving, one half pint before dinner and cake, then heading back in my car this time, the hours drive in darkness, to check up on my travel buddy….still horizontal and sleeping it off!
Daylight saving wind back, gave us the leeway we needed to accomplish our early morning start for the journey back on Sunday, before the rest of Auckland on Monday we hopped!
A brief stop before we exited the Paraparas, and headed to the first coffee bar destination…National Park. That is Us and all the other punters who chose an early start. The mountains still under cloud but otherwise it looked like a clear travel day ahead. Very cool, single digit temperatures.
The Macrocarpa Cafe produced an excellent Flat white and bagel for Jill’s very empty tummy!
A six hour journey (including a couple of pit stops) meant we had made the right call to travel on Easter Sunday. After depositing Jill at her house I arrived back at mine around 4pm…unloaded, not unpacked poached eggs for Dinner and an early night!
Feeling relaxed and refreshed, and a little bit of me creeping back in after being around family who love me for who I am…
A little over one year ago today, we (kiwis) all went into Lockdown for the first time….
Maybe it is because we have had the time to focus on the world around us (without rushing off to foreign exotic places) that we have experienced, or noticed, more in 12 months than we would have done otherwise. Except if you’re a dog, life goes on as usual….eat….sleep….and more of my humans time!
For me, it’s been a year of…
Work….I was lucky enough to keep my job
Kindness…from strangers and my good friends
Unkindness..from those you “thought” were friends…,but strange times brings out strange behaviour in some.
Heartbreak..,again as another family member passed away
Isolation and isolated…working from home or staying at home
Blessings….granbaby, graduation, and wedding celebrations
Sold a house, bought a house, and didn’t buy a house ….
Sold a car, bought a car.
Loaned more, borrowed more and gave some away!
Road Trip, bike trips, traffic jams, no traffic.
Happy family, unhappy family, the sadness comes in waves!
Three generations of this branch of the Bonnici Clan, Granma Sue, Dad(Jax) and Tyler Russell! Scrubbing up for a wedding last weekend (it was a big job for the oldest member).
Actually last week saw two visits to the city centre for this old gal..usually a once a year excursion…the wedding occasion above and…
George and I shared Ovin’s graduation day….(Ovin being George’s longest standing friend from primary school)
Then a Pie and a pint at O’hagans on the viaduct! (not shared as this was only the 3rd meal of the day). A lovely afternoon at an Irish pub in the middle of America’s cup racing finales! The next day was St Patrick’s day and NZ took out the America’s cup, so it was fortuitous that our city visit was the day before!
A day after earthquakes, Tsunami warnings and lockdown we rolled into a perfect weekend at the beach
A morning stroll to watch the sun rise on the last day of lockdown before our city moved to the freedom of Level two last Sunday.
This meant we could visit the grandbaby, go shopping and plan for a work week of traffic jams and activity!
Trudi met young Tyler Russell for a cuddle and we headed back to our home stays and home work places. Trudi was back to work as retailers could now open and I had a frantic week of work from home, day in office, meetings and dog sitting as Dan was back to work offsite! I think Floyd (dog) thinks my place is jail as he is so used to working with Dan.
Friday night rolled around none too soon, and I took myself (on bike) to my friends on the waterfront for Friday refreshments!
As the sun went down and the speights (beer) went down , we gazed out on our little world at Waiwera. After which I pedalled home (carefully) to eat and sleep!
Saturday was filled with community working bees, hanging curtains and home jobs culminating in a beer on Dans deck watching the America’s cup yacht racing.
George and another canine friend hanging out after dealing with bush weeds!
Sunday opened its eyes with blue skies….and a day to prepare for the week, the boring activities of food shopping, washing and cooking before settling in front of the TV for a dash of Rugby and more Yacht racing – if the wind decides to blow!
Lockdown day six saw the Kiwis hit by a series of earthquakes out in the ocean, largest one of 8.1 threatened alot of our coastline with Tsunami warnings…..this all began as we were starting our work from home day, as we do in Level 3!
Dad, who is 100meters above sea level was panicked when his caregiver insisted the car was ready and the bag was packed to head to higher ground. Us at Waiwera, 2 metres above sea level, continued on our busy day. Dan cleaning cars, contractor installing benchtop, George doing a bit of housework for me and cleaning out gutters that were blocked up and produced a waterfall outside his bedroom window in the heavy rain earlier in the week. Listening to reports coming in all day, and phone calls from Dad to say we should be moving….we had a water bottle and the dog leash in readiness if the Tsunami alarm went off, until the all clear was given about an hour ago and all those who had to evacuate were able to head home.
I carried on working all day and it is nearing my weekend, friday afternoon….our bubble of 5 still limited until we hear the 4pm report today to see if we gain a little more freedom on Sunday. The first friday of the month, local drinkies on the beach Im guessing is not happening today, so with our bubble doing a swap over…..Trudi to mine and George to take care of Dad for the night, it looks like a Thelma and Louise evening on the Deck at 17A Waiwera Rd, as the sun sets on another sunny late summer day.
Rolling into Autumn, with Earthquakes, thunderstorms, heavy rain sunshine and humidity, the earths magnetic fields are throwing us some curveballs…..just so we forget about Covid. We are all tired of the Covid rollercoaster so it is refreshing that Nature is taking first place, albeit a little unsettling when we think of the damage that could have been done with Tsunamis hitting our shores. Erring on the side of caution is good, and we are learning (fast) not to panic and listen to the facts….taking action or non action when needed.
Meanwhile the washing is dry, didn’t get an extra rinse from seawater, Beer is chilling, Dan is one step closer to a whole house (now he just needs to put stuff in there) and Thelma and Louise are still standing. Australia on hold for a little bit for Louise, until those Aussies decide we can step foot on their soil again, without a huge expense and 2 star quarantine accomodation. Who would survive without a wine for 2 weeks! Especially when there is nothing else to do…..
The end of February 2021 was looking promising….with triathlons to run, planes to catch, normal work life and plans for more renovations.
A sunny summer weekend ahead and many headed to their favourite holiday spots! But for us it was a bit of a sad start, a funeral for a dear family friend. I picked up Dad early afternoon and headed to muriwai, my childhood (and teenage) stomping ground to the surf club for a very sad funeral of another young man taken too soon. A gathering of 300. Dad and I didn’t stay and mingle (a good choice in hindsight) and headed back to waiwera for the night.
The Wild West coast….
We got Dad settled in the cottage for the night and George and I were about to hit the sack for an early night before an early rise to head south for his (trained for) triathlon….when…news alert (9pm) we (in Auckland) were all being locked down at 6am on Sunday! No triathlon, and after a few panicked calls from dad after some old man came and disturbed him to tell him he had to get out! (of the cottage at 9.30pm) HOW RUDE! I told dad not to worry, go to bed and I’d sort it in the morning. After last weekend, it was the last thing he needed. One good thing, he had taken his earphones out and probably didn’t hear too much!
So, Sunday was a flurry of packing and locking up, shopping and arranging Dad for the week ahead and getting him settled for the week ahead!
That was the mornings activities at least and by the time I got home…it was washing and getting ready for another week of work from home life! My little house becoming an office for George and I.
Chores done it was beer for lunch (early afternoon) on Dans new deck! Finally relaxing…
Makeshift ice bucket and shade….
Floyd and I relaxed!
This Kereru(wood pidgeon) joining us in the overhead tree..
Then swooping over next door to hang out with his partner…
Trudi locked and loaded and extremely hot and bothered called in on her way to her lockdown home…
Finally relaxing for a moment before her week of isolation begins…our bubble of five, Sue, George, Dan Trudi and Dad….as we have all been together all weekend we can see each other!
So now it is, shorts and tee shirts, walks up the road, innovative cooking (from freezer and cupboards) and bedroom offices for the week. Here we go again, a community outbreak in South Auckland, as stupid people do stupid things, and spread the dreaded virus! We must be kind, it’s getting harder and harder, just when you make plans….this is testing even the most open to change people in our world!
Another week has sailed away….in lockdown, out of lockdown… with work, Dad care, legal battles, more tragedy and yacht spotting!
Out of lockdown 3 to a looser lockdown 2 on Thursday, meant a road trip to wiri for work duties. A long day of interviewing for a warehouse person, and subsequent related HR tasks, meant a loaded end to my work week.
Legal battles with a litigious property vendor has also added weight to a hectic week. Dad doctor visits (maintenance trip) followed by a Saturday spent in, yes my 2nd residence, North Shore hospital with dad under covid restrictions and another 12 hour day of sitting on a vinyl chair (not ideal for a now healing back or mental wellness) Saturday culminating in the very sad news we have lost another close family friend in a tragic accident.
Sunday broke with clear sunny skies and an on again trip out on a 57 foot yacht to watch the America’s cup racing was planned for the afternoon. A little much needed time out! Dad sorted, home from hospital and other family members and his carer taking over to spend the day with him, meant George and I could get our sea legs on, picnic lunch and hit the seas at midday
Sails up and sunglasses overboard! Yes early into the adventure my $2 sunglasses fell off my face and floated away in the wake! Not so easy to flick around a large yacht in full sail to scoop them up with the fishing net…
Squinting the afternoon away (at least I’d taken a hat) we picniced by Tiri(island) and sailed to a position on at the edge of the race course!
The Italians taking charge and producing a clean swept to secure a spot of challenger to NZ in the finals of the America Cup in a couple of weeks!
The closest we got to these massive sailboats was when a training Team NZ flew past our moored boat – looking large and fast!
George learning the ropes(and on a boat this size there is a lot of them) and he got to play the main man as we motored back to the marina at the end of the day!
Helmsman for a moment! They journey back on calm seas, boat cleanup and home for leftovers before crashing into bed! A wonderful afternoon thanks to the kindness of Russell’s boss’s Richard and Isabel.
So a Southside (this time) family is covid positive, and spent most of their infectious time in another north island city, New Plymouth, but Auckland is in lockdown?
What a great day to be in lockdown just as torrential rain hit Auckland – this lockdown has probably saved lives on our slippery roads! Nothing to do with covid but inevitably there are crashes in this weather!
And lucky I have a pile of bricks to scrub with a wire brush! Plenty of mindless jobs to fill in my time! That is outside of working remotely which is just the new norm.
Dan got a lot of work done on his house over the weekend, dad came to stay and tripped up and down my steps (bit of a danger zone for dad) but he’s home for the lockdown with his carer, which is a lot safer.
Had a cuddle with my grand baby yesterday before the lockdown loomed, spent all day with dad, watching very loud TV (tennis and yachting and more tennis) and bought Pizza for dinner….
So my little house is seeing lots of action – Dan and Floyd move out, dad moves in, dad moves out and George moves in! Never a dull moment. Forever a cook and bottle washer!
Another long weekend gone, and back not screaming at me so much – I managed to paint a bed frame, go fishing and visit with my new grand baby!
Sooo Friday began early 4am as I raced to the hospital to say hello to Tyler Russell Bonnici! Who in great bonnici voice yelled the minute he joined our world! I could hear him through the wall. The tired and proud parents (Jax and Steph) soon retired to the birthing centre for a couple of days a bit further north.
It was a long day for Gran’ma Sue too with an early start.
It was all action around the building site on Saturday, with diggers, drains, boys (George too) on barrows and Lexi and I painting and feeding the troupes!
Then the visit to the new addition, after a quick shower….
First cuddle and Tyler slept right through it!
Sunday dawned a little windy, but that didn’t deter the girls planned fishing trip… although the trip was slow we settled in behind an island and Trudi Lexi and I had a great day! Lots of bites, lots of small fish, a bird or two and Trudi caught the winners for dinner!
Somewhat pinker faces and big smiles brought us back to earth and a cool drink dinner (of fresh fish) set us up for a great sleep!
Monday off (another public holiday) and the anniversary of mums passing was a bit of a lost day, and we were all ready for a short four day week!
And here we are with one day of the working week left…and my friendly beachfront neighbour sent me a picture of today’s visitors..
Photo credit John Murray
Not the usual motor boat or jet ski – a Maori Waka! Calling in to say hello before paddling off towards Orewa! Life is always full of surprises in our sleepy little village!
One year ago I was lying beside Mum, listening to her breathing, and not knowing I was spending the last three hours with her….
Today is about Mum ‘Mary’ I will spend the day doing things she and I liked to do!
Unfortunately that doesn’t include: exploring Paris, hanging out in cafes in Senglea ‘Malta’, taking the ferry to Gozo, or going to charity shops. (Public holiday they are closed)
I will go get a coffee, from wild bean, and stroll to the Beach, sit on the bench and relax for five minutes as we did most weekend days!
Little did we know what was ahead of us after Mum left us, with lockdowns and limitations left, right and centre! So glad she didn’t have to go through all that!
There has been little time for reflection or mourning the loss of my beautiful mum, one of my best friends throughout my life and my support and sounding board when times got tough!
I don’t think I appreciated my parents until I was one, then life is so busy that the next thirty years just seems to disappear!
However filled with some wonderful memories of the adventures Mum shared with us….family holidays (when the boys were young) in Rarotonga, Fiji, Samoa, Gold Coast, Cairns… and later, with Russ and I, several excursions to Europe; France and Malta!
Mum spend the last 13 years living with Russ and I and our Boys…before moving to Maygrove for a couple…and we were blessed to have her support and mediation skills as the boys were growing up into young men.
She shared the good times, the not so good times, and we all came out the other side, one big happy family!
Mum, since you’ve been gone, the world is a different place, the boys have moved in different directions to get on with their lives, and family gatherings are a non event! But most of all I just miss your kindness!
All who wander are not Lost girls 