The weekend culminated in a 6am start for Thelma, this time, hitting the road solo to share the momentous occasion of her friends parents 60th wedding anniversary lunch in Tauranga.

Step back and Friday saw the inside painting of the new house complete and was celebrated by earlier than usual beverages, followed by the waiwera residents drinks on the waterfront.

A pleasant evening after a stormy week and a few more beverages….

As the sun went down lighting up the island like a pot of gold. Strolling back to the cottage while the legs were still operating, dinner and bed after a busy week, somewhat oblivious to the world.

Saturday brought uncertainty weather wise (and the need for sunglasses even though it was overcast) but a trip to bunnings (hardware store) was in order before any painting could be done. Dan had all his tradies working so the final job before returning was smoko for the crew! And it was almost lunchtime.

The rain held off and the painting of the pink house was almost complete! A couple of touch ups and second coats needed but on the whole the green house is now marshmallow pink! Finished in good time to head back to the cottage, build a couple of plates of asparagus rolls and tidy up (myself) for the evening birthday party.

The girls with the birthday boy, well fed and watered(in my case) and cocktails and wine for the walkers and non drivers!

A party next door was not to be missed by the canine family as the joined us at the fence.

Home before the evening storms rolled in around 10pm which deterred any notion of staying up half the night watching rugby (atmospheric conditions blanked out the tv reception). Possibly a good thing by all accounts and comments about the game and an early night was needed for my early start today.

It was ambitious to do a return trip in one day, getting in a visit with mums dear friend Barb before lunch and another drive by another friends house on the way back….so I’m a south Auckland girl tonight in readiness to get a quick trip to work in the morning before heading back to Dads for the week.

Choosing to drive from one end of Auckland to the other on the predicted wettest day of Spring may not have been the wisest call. An early start 5am avoided the morning madness but a two hour crawl home topped off an overall crazy day…

Unloading containers in the torrential rain called for kiwi ingenuity, building pallet wrap sides for the gazebo to protect our precious cargo!

Another week closer to 2021, the US still holding its breath to see who will lead their country, and the Auckland water crisis may be averted for the upcoming summer. I am sort of excited to be able to get behind a water blaster or hose again!

Russell Rose is flourishing in the current climate, being well cared for by his good friend!

There are shorts days, jeans days, hard days and good days. We try to celebrate the successes, Dans house is looking like a house with windows and weather boards, mine is sporting a fresh coat of paint inside and out, George is exploring new activities…

Not always winning, a game of touch produced a damaged shoulder, for a 6’7” human, the bigger they are the harder they fall! But the new toy in the background is producing dulcet tones morning and night! My office is getting very full these days.

With Christmas looming we are thinking more often of those loved ones far away and all we want is to hold and hug them. But as usual life in NZ is busy, as we manage several projects in our lives and try to keep up with friends. Dreaming of a cold coors by a pool in Texas or a Cisk at the cafes by the grand harbour in Senglea (Malta) partaking in crazy Kareoke nights with my very musical cousins! (And not very musical self)

At least I am blessed to have my three sons near and not in far off parts of the world!

Now it’s time to get through a Friday, fight a few more fires and roll into what looks like a very social weekend ahead, rain or not!

All week stuck inside behind my computer screen the sun beat down…perfect painting weather!

I can’t understand how the weather forecasters are finally getting it right! A weather forecast of fine weather used to mean Rain, and thunderstorms probably meant it would be sunny!

Saturday’s forecast said a 60% chance of rain at 2.pm and that’s what we got!

That meant the morning was the only time for outside work, which are all my jobs as leaving the inside to the experts!

I had to drive down as the bag of sand was a little heavy to carry the 600meters! My first job was digging, leveling, filling with sand,compacting and throwing a couple of heavy pavers on top making a pad for the heat pump motor thing!

All relatively simple, but under house, on hands and knees with a meter height restriction added a little more complexity (and agility)

Then it was off for kitchen/bathroom supplies for both Dan and I, and of course Floyd…

Battling Saturday shopping traffic is almost worse than workdays, first stop McDonald’s breakky!

Last stop at Bunnings on the way home around 1pm for some more paint (I swear a big expense of renovating are the bunnings trips as an extra brush, roller, drop sheet usually gets thrown in for good measure).

And yes it rained, but that doesn’t deter a gal on a mission!

One uses what nature (or in this case man) has provided…Eaves and the sheltered west side! Good to know wet drop sheets still contain the paint!

Yoga workout exhausted by 5pm and a few patches sporting the colour of choice. When your house has a backdrop of trees the green is obsolete!

Back to the cottage for showers, dinner and preparation for the 3rd All Blacks (rugby) test!

And it’s Halloween, killing three birds with one stone! Skincare, rugby support and a face to scare the children who come knocking for sweets!

The rain has passed and Sunday morning is presenting a great painting day! It is back into it for me and maybe a helping hand! But first a coffee!

While the weather gods have produced a perfect long weekend marking the start of summer, and the fishermen are fishing, boaties boating, foodies eating and relaxing….the Bonnici’s at waiwera are putting in a big working weekend. After all it is Labour weekend…

Saturday morning 8am, saw Dan on site at his mates digging and landscaping back yards…payback for work on our houses. And yours truly was climbing under the house, clad from head to toe, clearing out 30 years of past inhabitants rubbish. There really was everything but the kitchen sink, which is a shame as I do need a new one of those!

The find of the morning, and only thing kept, a piece of old tin turned out to be a national treasure! (Maybe from a dubious source), and will find a place of pride at the new abode!

Thank goodness I had Lexi to help me stack and toss filling up the final skip, as I was aiming to showered, dressed (actual dress) and make uped by midday, for a celebration of our dear family friend Joys life. A wonderful lady who died 10 days into the first covid lockdown and was two weeks off her 95th birthday! A select few had lunch at the surf club and reminisced about this gorgeous lady. I knew only the son and wife, from Wellington but had a few more friends by the time I left! Then the mahi(work) continued, planter boxes to fill and paint and a shared bbq to throw together as all the workers needed a good feed and early night!

Sunday bloomed with a visit to Russell Rose who is flourishing at my friend Johns house, then off for another painting day! Clad again from head to toe to minimalise the body paint. Inside wardrobes, interrupted by dads arrival and a leaky bag! So it was off to unload, repair and reassure at the cottage. All settled, dad having a nap in his car (his choice) I raced back to finish the painting before my paint set in the tray…by now it was nearly 4pm and Dan still working on his house, I had promised the crew a Roast! Time to get the tea on, and set dad up for the night! Had to give up my double bed and sleep in the lounge! But he seemed to manage with the cottage comings and goings!

Sheets, cottage clean and more bits to be done at the house before packing up and heading back to suburbia! Dad is tootling back this morning and waiting for me to get back later to cook tea I’m sure! What does one say, give a busy person a job and it will get done!

Meanwhile, the gerbra is loving its ice cream container full of water! George had been concerting it up on the East cape and Jaxon been entertaining in-laws and looking after a sick wife. The waiwera crew have been ticking away at job after job, every bit gets us closer to our goals and we are grateful for the hands that open and help in any way! Sometimes just a chat is good!

So here I am sitting at work, waiting for the unlocking person to arrive, having slept for five hours after a productive weekend…

Angels come in many forms, and if we open our hearts they are all around us. A week of activities has provided me glimpses of the angels around me.

George learning a new skill painting my deck, the beginning of yet another renovation.

To the ongoing support of Dan, who is up every morning with a mission in mind; fixing, painting, laughing, providing the music and a cold beer at the end of the day. His friends who come and do the odd jobs in their weekends and listen to the ideas of an old lady! (Not so old but 60 is getting there). My dad who appears while I am on the roof painting, to offer a helping hand (bless him) and make sure I have eaten! My friends who hear me out when I have a heavy heart and tell me to take care of me! (I guess jiffing my legs to remove the paint on a weekly basis is not ideal for old skin – however effective)

Then there’s George (again) and Jaxon, making sure I take time out to hold onto the things I enjoy! An all blacks test on a sunny Sunday afternoon and a young man “Caleb Clarke” providing the standout performance, the beginning of a promising rugby career!

The little things…the dove that jumps onto my foot when I am sitting at the cottage and talks to me, letting my know the connection to my loved ones is never broken.

We are lucky to live in a relatively Covid free country where we can attend sports events with 46000 others (while I missed the donut opportunity as the queues were too long), where we can hug, where we can still laugh and be human as know it! Whilst travelling to far off places is on hold, we fill our lives with activities, canine cuddles and human kindness. I just want to thank the angels in my life and hope I can add wings to theirs from time to time!

Two weeks since the mini break and our world has been spinning, back into the reality of daily routine.

We celebrated my 60th on a Thursday evening, with a baked cheesecake, and Australian sky news!

Last weekend saw the big shift, with one offspring move out of Waiwera. Followed by a week of frantic work stuff, battling the broken harbour bridge traffic to hit meetings and appointments, catch up with friends and yes it’s Friday again!

George and I hung out with Dan and Lex at the bach, for Dans birthday, home made pizza and baked cheesecake (again).

So in this crazy world, birthdays are kind of a non event, just spending time with your nearest and dearest!

I’m going to really try and keep my Gerbra alive, Until she has a home.. homelessness is becoming not so attractive! Covid life is definitely not the time to enjoy being a Gypsy!

Spring is throwing us cool fast winds, the odd sunny day and very little rain…last night George and I thought we would end up in OZ with the wizard! As the neighbours door slammed all night and the tin on the roof rattled and the wind whistled around every corner of the cottage! Think it is with us for the weekend, but we have activities to do so just be mindful of the windburn!

Last night Thelma and Louise were Settling down for an early night….Louise decided to pack up for an early start and then leapt on Thelmas bed squealing and a rat had made its home in her clothes. Not just any rat, this guy was the size of a house cat! We rang the managers who stupidly asked “how did it get in?” Actually we don’t care, sort it out, while we were cowering on Thelmas bed, making sure the intruder hadn’t moved. He finally came, moved Louises washing bag and out it ran, out the ranch slider! Time to relax, another wine and off to bed!

The girls left Mahia beach at 7am and headed north taking the east cape coast road, McDonald’s in Gisborne and the roadie began…a quick right, a dirt road and a marine reserve…off the beaten track

Fur seals come in winter, but this one gave us a show in spring, posing for a photo shoot!

Louise rocking her new hairstyle climbing sand dunes.

Back on the coast road and next stop Tolaga bay….historic wharf

Thelma had a thought to walk the wharf, but that didn’t last long…

On the road again, and a lookout point, which was actually a small challenge. Path blocked by fallen tree…

Climbing skills honed and the view was well worth it!

Looking north to Hicks bay, which after a few detours we finally found at ground level.

Lifeguards not on duty and no Port at this place…the locals just chill out

A four hour drive still ahead it was through hill (big ones) coastline privately owned and more hills and finally…

Our friend from 35 years ago (hockey pal) lives here but we missed her as she had gone south to Ruatoria for a rugby game, however the pub was worth a visit…

Minus Venus (our friend), but at least we have visited her hood!

New friends in Waihau bay wanting to join the roadie!

It was then to Te Kaha, Thelma, was dreaming of the old pub, but no…it burned down and they have built this ugly modern attraction that didn’t even warrant opening the car door.

The day was getting long, and Opotiki then, Whakatane….where we have settled with our friends….Carolyn & Brian

The canine roomie, but the best thing here is we can sit on a toilet seat, after three days of hovering and elbow door opening!

Louises hair done and dusted, and “ almost”a quiet evening at the motor camp last night.

She looks happy – a little shorter than expected, but as we have learned hairdressers are somewhat sissor happy.

After making friends with all the people from the Funeral, who had booked in for night, it was time to cook our steak. The rooms have been renovated, but to the bare minimum and an expel cooking fan was absent. Around 8.30pm the fire alarm burst into action and Louise was jumping around on the bed with a teatowel. Threw open the ranch slider to greet the other 7 groups in our motel block, yes we had set off all their alarms as well and they had all vacated their rooms, while Thelma continued to cook the steak to perfection.

This morning promised to be a bluebird day and the girls set off up the coast to a beach called Mahunga.

Jacks inlet and the road became only suitable for 4WD’s. We circled back around to the main beach and went shell hunting in our shorts and t-shirts (a little ambitious as a very cool breeze was sweeping along the beach)

Shells and driftwood that are but a forgotten memory on Auckland beaches.

And yes, you guessed it, we had the beach all to ourselves. While we were prepared to relax and read on the beach, having brought water and snacks, we felt the dress code was not matching the cool temperature. Back to the motel and across the road to our own Mahia beach! 20 minutes of being sand blasted and pretending to enjoy our first summer lie on the beach, we realised it was not very pleasant. We decamped to a sheltered grassy area and got bitten by ants. Was just not our day for soaking up the sun in the great outdoors.

The afternoon on our beds was much more our style, until we thought; last night in Mahia, let’s go find some humans and check out the local pub, about a kilometre up the road. Was fairly empty, fairly pricey and the pokies gobbled up our allocated $10 in a very short time.

There was, however, a good view of the bay from the upstairs deck, which we had all to ourselves.

There were activities happening later, but our stomachs decided the lure of fish and chips for an early takeaway dinner was too hard to pass up.

It is now 5pm on a Friday night and we are sated and relaxed, ready for a big day on the road tomorrow.

Waking to a new day at Mahia beach, Thelma was hoping yesterday was all a bad dream. No such luck, and it was a grey morning so the mood was a little subdued. Ok girls snap out of it and off for a walk.

Whoever said there is nothing in Mahia is wrong the local pub appears to need a visit from T & L, especially Friday night Karaoke…

Great overcast morning for fishing

Obviously not a huge tidal flow, just leave the tractors on the beach. A lot of empty Bach’s, a few residents racing off to work and a couple of barking dogs greeted us on our walk.

And of course “driftwood” Floyd (Dans dog) would be in pigs heaven. Walk complete almost and Thelma felt a small glimpse of the hairless chicken might be ok…

Trying to look nonchalant and almost succeeding. Then it was off for a drive to the other side of the peninsula, now threatening rain.

The calm before the storm, but the promise of sunshine on the horizon. We had managed to purloin a local map that gave us the idea of heading to the Morere hot pools for a dip. This is where we nearly got into trouble!

Thinking to take the road less travelled, we decided to head up and over a “Saddle”, to get to the lookout view at the top, rather than the main drag.

A little into our trafficless journey we came to a very congested area, in the middle of nowhere, cars lining both sides of the street. We slowed, a little, as kids and people were descending on some event, at this time we didn’t know what. As we got to the crowded area, yep people on the road, we realised it was a marae. A woman came rushing towards us, and motioned for us to park in the last free (reserved for special guests) park near the meeting house entrance. Radio blasting out Glen Campbell’s “in the ghetto, we quickly killed the noise and very politely mentioned we just wanted to drive through. In hindsight maybe the wrong decision, as a local Tangi, and being VIP guests may have been the highlight of our day. Seconds later we found ourselves giving away to a convoy of patched mongrel mob lads en route to the funeral, wise decision for T & L to keep moving. Then the turnoff we were heading for was a narrow dirt road so after all the excitement it was back to the main drag after all!

Thelma decided she needed to get over her haircut and

Louise really didn’t want her photo taken, but focus on the beautiful coastline and as the sun was coming out, it was going to be a good day!

A soak in the hot pool, donning bathing suits for the first time this spring, no people and warm to the bone, the girls enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sun.

Donning the charity shop bathing suits, Thelmas like a corset and Louises a bit large and saggy (hence no photo)

Time to head back as we had a $12.50 appointment with Louises hairdresser (Thelma). A small bottle of bubbles to steel the nerves as a repeat of yesterday was not on the agenda..

So here we are, music blasting out of the TV, bubbles in hand and a smiley face! The cut is still pending, before the evening looms!