2019 is rolling on, far too fast, in this kiwi summer, the last week has been a week of events and memories that brings us to another Sunday in February.

Wednesday, Waitangi Day, our national holiday in the middle of the week and Russ and I took Mary to our friends for morning tea, followed by a drive into the city to do some work on the flats.

Another couple of days work for Sue, one from the beach office…..working remotely on Friday and a weekend of Birthday parties.

Yesterday dad, Al, turned 85 and we celebrated in true Bonnici style with a family gathering and lots of food for the afternoon lunch.

Jaxon and Steph on balloon duties before the party began…after a grey morning the sun came out!

Dad (Al) and his cake, once again made by our gorgeous cousin Trish, the cake maker for all occasions in the family.

Back to the beach with a full house for a 30th birthday party in the evening…

Dan and Dane(nephew) took Floyd (Dans beautiful boy) for a romp on the beach, now bathed in sunshine and low tide, perfect for running of a young dogs energy!

Russ(the smart one) had a nap, while others partook in a quiet (?) drink and game of beer pong.

Then off to the Riverhaven Hall for the party!

Early in the evening….as the boys (Dan and Jaxon) caught up on the week.

Us less resilient (older) folks left them to it around 10.30 and crawled into our happy places….horizontal and quite ready to call it a day.

Summer for the Kiwis is rolling on…

And life in the old beach cottage at Waiwera is an easy place to come home to

Surrounded by sea and native bush with the option of beach walks, hill walks and valley walks…

Russ having a rest overlooking the estuary, surrounded by New Zealand greenery.

Temperatures have been hitting 30 degrees Celsius and the sea temperature is feeling like a warm bath – an evening swim after a day at work and a hot drive home (for Sue) is almost as refreshing as a cold beer!

Working remotely is the answer and discipline is the question….I am sure I can make it work!

We have some milestones ahead this year, Dad turning 85, Russ taking a trip to Nelson (because he can!), and another winter in NZ to escape. Plans are in place and we have some more bucket list lines to tick off….

American cars take over our town, we picked up Mary and met Sandy in town.

Mary and Russ in the middle of it all….

A Ford for every occasion – blue for the sea lovers!

Lining the streets, roads closed to everything apart from American Classics and people!

Just to prove the rest of the world can foot it with the big boys, a Volkswagen three wheeler and the British mini!

Coffee break at Shoreward – entertained by country music and the sights and sounds of USA….

A kiwi cheerleading squad performing in front of the stage – right on the waters edge.

A vintage beauty queen, not sure if it was an age or era competition – there were some very large spotted numbers walking the streets!

A beautiful Chev Impala – as a child I had the joy of being dropped at school in one of these – dad had a passion for large American cars!

A plethora of choice for the mustang lovers – yes that’s me, but given my lack of motivation for car cleaning probably best to just look and drool!

Another fine specimen of British design – the Wolseley towing a beautiful retro caravan, not unlike the one Russ and I sold last year!

This ones for my car collecting friend Don! One he hasn’t told us about! We do need to get our hands on this number plate!

Deep in the heart of Texas – longhorn Cadillac.

A truck for the discerning Tradies! Toolbox yet to be installed.

Sunshine yellow glowing in the summers day, three hours of pure delight – taking us through a journey of American (and a little British) nostalgia!

Perfect Sunday smooching……

Not the human kind the canine variety

Following an early morning walk over the hill last weekend my job for the weekend was to babysit this boy while his dad had a weekend away

Sleeping with grandma, but very happy to have his dad back on Sunday.

Another week of work and driving in and out of town – Russ being the house husband and keeping the home fires burning (or rather air conditioning)

Saturday and a long weekend again today – my oldest offspring, and his friend, took grandma fishing! Russ’s back still a bit dodgy for rolling around on the boat!

Leaving the shore and the day was ‘bluebird’ – Sugarloaf Island surrounded by sea and sunshine!

This happy face, Aaron, sums up the sheer enjoyment of being on the water!

Goodbye world – Dan the captain and I could relax! We moved around the Hauraki Gulf in search of the big one……alas….lots of babies and action, but only three snapper ready to smoke!

Marinating in brown sugar and salt before going in my smoker with “Manuka” wood chips! Lucky we got the sausages out as this will only be a pre dinner snack!

A balmy evening at the beach house…

Russ enjoying a ‘Lion Red’ the kiwi version of Cisk (Malta) and Coors (USA)

Two more days (with Monday as a public holiday) of what promises to be a great summer weekend….. more adventures to come.

Welcome to the weekend, not a moment to waste in Kiwi summertime!

Across the bridge and over the wenderholm hill (next beach up the coast from Waiwera) – a morning hike.

Shoe cleaning before entering the native reserve – a kiwi practice to preserve our native flora and fauna!

A well trodden path before the climb!

Looking back across the river to Waiwera beach – about to go up….

A small rest stop – not saying we needed it just enjoying the bush scenery.

We made it! And the view from here, out to sea promised a very ‘warm’ summers day ahead!

Up and over, on the downward slope (Waiwera in the distance).

Home by 9am and it’s….

Slow cook BBQ preparation time – Today’s menu ‘Smoky Ribs’ Jaxon secret recipe ( although not so secret for those that wanted to listen to and watch every process)

Most of the day it was a gathering ‘Under the Gazebo’. Jax got the meat on and went and collected Mary for the day and friends dropped in on their way north! Lunch, swims (when it got too hot) and shooting the breeze was the order of the day!

Russ the BBQ assistant – very important job holding the tray! Seen here while ribs were being ‘Basted’

Janet headed north and I took Mary back to her Abode about 4pm!

Upon my return – it was ‘Meat carving’ time. Checking the quality – surely a post for “pitmasters” page…and then things got busy.

After a good stomach lining of Ribs, smoky sausages, beans and silver beat, it was beer and beer pong time. (For the younger generation!)

And the evening plans included a Karoake sing along , under the other gazebo, behind the boat sheds….and so it began…

Sedate murmurings and social intercourse with nibbles, lipstick and chairs, waiting for some brave person to knock out some tunes!

We have our own brave person….Steph got the ball rolling, owning some Adele and Ed Sheeran numbers!

Of course as the evening progressed, one had to actually fight for the three microphones and everyone was a singer!

And actually these guys are: Father, Son duet of a beach favourite ‘Sweet Child of Mine!’ Midnight rolled over and Sue called it quits – shortly followed by the rest of the team!

And it’s January 13th, we have been back in New Zealand only a month! And today is our youngest offsprings 23rd birthday! While freezing in winter temperatures on the other side of the world, we will celebrate for him in the sunshine!

It’s swim time George! Hello from the other side! (Steph sang this)

After a wet and windy return to New Zealand for the Kiwi Travellors, the sun and sea gods have given us the best!

Friends and family in the beach cottage (our home for the summer)…people come and people go and more people gather…

Gatherings and catchups with offspring and young people! Under the Gazebo (this could be a whole story on its own), the $79.00 Gazebo… protects from the Sun, the Rain, the passers by and is a general outdoor room meeting place for many events!

Local Mode of transport -Sues old Peugeot bike, a popular choice when having consumed a bevy to ride to the corner shop, or feed the dog! (down the road) and across to the boat shed.  Carrier basket comes in very useful needless to say!

Everyone is enjoying the beach, with its low tide running space for horses, and luke warm water to wallow in at full tide (after a hot 27-30 degree celcius day at work).  These beautiful Palaminos turned up last evening for their beach exercise session.  Actually Russ and Sues evening exercise session entailed walking to the beer fridge for a cold “Speights” and chilling under the aforementioned Gazebo!

Dog fun when the Horses are not around – young dogs and horses are not an ideal combination. However evenings are long (sun setting at 9pm) so there is time for everyone.

And of course there are fishing times…. Steph hooked this baby mako shark (well hooked into its mouth).  However, with the aid of the “Walmart” fish pliers all the way from Texas, Sue managed to free this baby and it swam off tackle free to continue its life in the deep blue sea!

While some of us are back at work, we have enjoyed two weeks of sunshine and vitamin SEA, and returning to Waiwera every evening, what more can one ask for! Choosing to live the life we love, makes every day a great one!

 

 

 

Calm seas, and what promised to be a hot summers day, greeted us yesterday morning, the day of the “Riverhaven Fishing Competition”.

On the water at 7.30am as planned, Sue, Jaxon and Steph! So far so good.

First stop 30 meters (100 feet) and free dropped the anchor – only to get a big knot around the feeder half way down! Having followed Russell’s instructions to the T, I was a little cross! Jaxon managed to unscrew some things and send the anchor to the seabed!

Then there was a message on my phone from Russell, the net was back at the cottage! So if we got a big one we were in trouble. We did have a back up in the Gaf (long bar with hook on the end).

Finally we dropped our lines and started fishing!

A couple of hours and Sue had hooked one keeper (36cm snapper) and we had thrown back a few babies, eaten our sandwiches and drunk our can of coke, all by 10am – time to move, if we were going to have any chance if entering the contest!

Out further, day getting hotter, more sunblock on our feet, to 42meters (just inside the shipping channel). Not a fishing spot and no other anglers around!

Success – Sue and Steph hooked a couple of 40cm Snappers and some mid 30’s as well – dinner sorted!

Still nothing to speak of to enter in the fishing competition, then this happened…

Jaxon swung into action – showing good patience as this fish took his line off the reel to the end…Sue waiting with aforementioned gaf to help get it into the boat – 25 minutes later.

An 80cm kingfish (well it was until we bled it and remeasured back on shore – checked in at 78cm).

We thought we had to be back on the beach at 3pm, so around 1pm we headed back in closer for the shore and decided to do a bit of fun fishing, close to the rocks of Motuora Island and only 20 minutes from Waiwera (by boat).

Lots of bites and small fish catching (throwing them back of course) but it was Jaxon’s day!

He hooked a 45cm Trevally (legal size for this fish is 25cm) and beautiful eating!

Russ sent us a message that the finish time was actually 4.30pm but, knowing that all the boats would soon be heading in, we aimed for the beach pick up at 3.30pm, just beating the queues!

Boat clean up, official fish measuring, and Sue’s hour of gutting and filleting.

Just had time for a quick shower and made prize giving at 5.30pm

The girls caught dinner and Jaxon caught the winner (well 2nd biggest other fish – not snapper – in the men’s)

To be fair, Stephs and my 41cm snappers were not far off the mark – the cup was won with a 44!!!

All in all a good days fishing with only a few blondish moments!

Fifty meters from our cottage at Waiwera is the beach – perfect for a barefoot stroll at any time you need a sea fix.

After a cleanup day yesterday and then today, a day of Jaxon cooking Slow cook BBQ brisket (Texas style) on his new toy (Webber burner), culminating in a delicious meal (It was a long day for the chef who started his cooking process at 4am this morning), we took an evening stroll on the beach with Floyd (Dans dog).

Dogs are allowed on the beach before 10am and after 5pm during the summer.

It had been a really windy onshore breeze, with choppy sea all day, but by 8pm the wind had dropped and the water really warm!

Still plenty of sunshine in these long summer evenings and plenty of sticks, for a dog to play with, washed up with the rougher sea today!

Floyd needing a rest and protecting his stick

In and out of the sea (trying to avoid swimming) up and down the beach and covered in sand – time for a shower and bed for these boys.

A spa for me and off for an early night, ready for an early start tomorrow, as we have the annual Adults fishing contest day! Russ is taking a rain check as he has hurt his back again.

Brisket sandwiches on the boat for lunch!

The first day of 2019 ticked over with the three kiwis (the Malta travelling trio) still standing and then hot footing it to our beds to ensure we could function on New Years Day.

New Year’s Day is a big day a river haven in the lives of the Bonnici-Carters.

In the 20, or so, years we have been coming here (to the Bach at Waiwera) there has been the athletics day races on the 1st of January each year.

As each new addition to the Bonnici Carter Family has arrived we have enjoyed success in the events through the ages (and aging)

This years event was no exception as the Bob and Siobhan cousins joined us for a fun afternoon!

Russ and Jaxon Run the events! (They took this over several years ago as this was one of the activities all were keen to attend)

Trudi hands out the prize money! (After last year with a slight injury decided competing was not for her)

This day is mainly about the kids….

Our crew with a supportive older adult crew in the background!

Running races for boys and girls – we had two entries in this one!

Sack Races, cousin Rico listened closely to instructions and went for gold!

Potato and spoon race – Niamh securing a solid 3rd place! And no potato drops!

Three legged race – this one takes practice…..and meeting someone for the first time with your legs tied together and arms around each other can be awkward!

And we still have races for the big kids!

Beer race for the big boys – a sprint to the finish line to secure a can of beer (can numbers less than runners)

Always a big turnout for this one – oldest guy running this time was 67! Jaxon still manages to be a winner, diving for his can, and there is always a few hamstring, muscle strain injuries as a result!

And the wine race for the girls

Yes I am still a mug and I don’t even like “bubbles’. At 58 you would think I would qualify for a ‘small’ handicap! But no, at least 20 years older than every other competitor, I still had to run the full distance!

A great afternoon was had by all, catch up with kiwi Cousins and a bit of exercise to blow the cobwebs through before a very early night for all!!

The last two days of 2018 did not give us time to dwell on achievements or losses as we filled it with adventures, family, friends and fun!

A swim at high tide with Sandy and a visit from Dad.

Denis (our neighbour) all decked out after a successful haul of pipi picking (small shellfish dug out from the sand at low tide and about 50-100 cms if water)

31st December, 2018, out to sea at 7am to catch the dawn fish (that actually didn’t happen) but it was a great morning to be out on the ocean, one of our favourite places, with a Rod dangling over the side.

Back on the beach just before 1.00pm (almost to plan) boat wash, shower and Russ and Sue went into Orewa town to see Mary (mum) and do some last minute shopping for New Year’s Eve.

Returning to our busy cottage by 5pm – time for Russ to have a rest!

The boys had cooked an early BBQ for all to eat

And a card game was in Process!

Time to get ready for the Mexican night New Year Eve Party!

The girls are ready!

The boys not quite so! A packet of Mexican corn chips taped to chest!! Oh and a hat!

The guitar came out (Jax friend Aaron) and a great time was had by all before heading to the hall at 11pm to dance in the New Year Mexican style! Well most of the time the hat stayed on – just a little tricky when giving new year hugs and kisses! (The odd tilt)

And we awake to a brand new Year of fun and adventures!