The long awaited excursion on the boat – finally the wind dropped, rods all rigged with new tackle and reels and Sue Russ and Steph were ready for a big day out ‘Fishing’

We hit the sea at 8.30, yes the bungs were in, and motored our to the channel, anchoring up…so far so good!

The snapper were biting – a little small, but good fun reeling them in and setting them free again!

Then Steph, got a good strike and brought in a nice fish…

Our first keeper! So into the bin with the ice packs and Sue grabbed the bucket to add some salt water to the bin to keep fresh. Chucking the dirty water in bucket out (to get fresh salt water) and unaware Russell was thawing our bait in said bucket. Oops… as it hit the water, we watched half a bag of squid bait float away!

Oh well – feeding the fish!

Russ and Steph then proceeded to add good size fish to the bin, Sue kept feeding the fish with her bait, then the tide turned and all the lines tangled – Sues in the middle. Half an hour of untangling – Russ told me my tackle was free! So he handed it to me and I decided that best way to wind the excess untangled line was to throw tackle (and sinker) over and rewind up. He failed to tell me that he had unhooked it from my line. So I watched my new hooks, sinkers and all my tackle disappear into the deep blue sea!

I really should have been enjoying the scenery while my fishing buddies got down to business!

By 2pm we had run out of bait (thanks to Sue) and Steph had one last piece on her rod (while I was tidying up ready to up anchor and head back in). She got a kingfish strike and it was a big one as it roared off with her line!

And headed for the anchor rope – these guys are clever, they try to swim around something so they can break the line and get away! 20 minutes of fighting and this is exactly what happened – Stephs tackle (and last bit of bait) gone!

Back in to boat clean and gut fish (Sues job), three smoked and a fabulous dinner for eight of fresh snapper!

I (Sue the blonde) am a little out of practice – but even at 58, I can learn from my mistakes!

So Christmas Day has come and gone and we are in the limbo period between Christmas Day and new year celebrations – so here I am sharing some kiwi Christmas in summer (even though we had torrential rain)

Christmas Eve was celebrated in style with music, wine, beer and lots of singing! And torrential Rain! A great time had by all (lucky the neighbours are deaf or they joined us)

Christmas Day dawned (with a few sore heads) with a clearer morning and Santa at the Bach in Waiwera!

Christmas t shirts the elf and surfing Santa.

We opened the gifts!

Jaxs new beer pong table and the team!

Russ’s trolley from Jax – specifically to cart the empties to the bin but perfect cooling vessel for Chrismas day refreshments!

Preparing the ham!

Then waiting for mum and dad and sandy to arrive for our midday feast!

Mary opening her pressies!

Culminating in a beer pong contest on the back deck (as rain was again pelting down) – Sue and Trudi the winners!

A quiet recovery day on Boxing Day and summer slowly rolling in to Waiwera!

December 27tb and Summer is here! Picked up mum (Mary) for a day at the beach!

Getting up close and personal with Dans dog Floyd!

And down to the beach for a swim at high tide.

Our sleepy little bay bathed in sunshine and seagulls! (Middle post)

Finishing off the day with a smoked BBQ cooked by Jaxon (on his new Webber BBQ) and packing for a day out fishing tomorrow – hopefully we will have a story of adventures and seafood to follow!

Christmas last year at Orewa followed a year of changes in the Bonnici-Carter Household.

Russ had a shaky start to the year, diagnosed with IPPFE – a chronic lung disease that doesn’t do well in cold weather and we decided to get out there and explore some warmer places in our world!

Fishing days at Waiwera over January..

Road trip to Wanganui for Russ’s Brother and sister in laws 40th wedding anniversary, stopping off at Te Kuiti to visit some Rugby legends.

St Patrick’s weekend at Ruakaka with the kids and Trudi – the last of the kiwi summer!

Hawaii in June with Jaxon Steph, George and Kat….Russ decided to Retire and spread his wings further…we packed up the house in Orewa and rented it out ready for the middle age OE beginning in September (which is where this story began)….

We left Dan and Floyd (the newest addition to the family) holding the fort at Waiwera and headed to Malta at the beginning of September!

Back to my favourite waterfront in the world, Senglea in summer and sunshine!

The colours of the Maltese summer.

Party time celebrating Russ’s 61st birthday with family and Trudi, who spent the first five weeks with us exploring Malta.George joined us for a week in Malta from his English home and enjoyed a welcome taste of Maltese warmth and hospitality.We spent my 58th birthday with a mini break to the northern Maltese Island of Gozo. Trudi headed home and Russ and I headed to Italy to explore Rome and the Amalfi Coast with another friend Jill.Eight days of sightseeing, walking, shopping, eating and ancient ruins in the busy crazy city of Rome. We then headed off to the Amalfi Coast for a further 10 days.Our balcony view from our home in Vietri Sul Mare, a perfect place to explore from, at the start of the Amalfi Coast.Dizzying heights and clear blue sea – a day trip to Capri Island.

Rocks and ruins at Pompeii!

Caught in a system (storm) in our last couple of days, Jill headed on with her travels and we made it back to Malta!

Next Stop Oslo – Norway, arguably the most beautiful city in the world. I will say no more, just read the earlier blogs.

Family time with George and Kat before crossing the Atlantic to Texas….

Thanksgiving and red Stangs!! (Heaven)

San Antonio and the cousins! And many adventures!

Riverboat trip and alligator hunting ….

90th birthday party! And a few other celebrations.

And back home in time for Christmas. A summer in the cottage at Waiwera!

The boys had missed us, and decorated our cottage in Christmas cheer.

So…in brief, the year has been a big adventure and lots of good changes…

The boys are all doing well and getting on in this world, we look forward to what the next twelve months brings and will keep you updated!

Its summertime in our seaside town of Waiwera

Dan and the kids at dusk on Waiwera Beach.

It has been a big few days for the travellers catching up with family, friends and the seaside.

We now drink water from the tap and drive on the left hand side of the road!

Several trips to the supermarket to stock up on the essentials in the “Bach” for summer. We are living in our beach cottage for the summer, Russ in his retirement and me back at work today! For a week at least….then a little break over Christmas and new year with the family.

The Sun gods came out to greet us in all their gloriousness, so glad I resisted the temptation to buy a winter wardrobe from Oslo (beautiful clothes there), as we are back in shorts and singlets… all the posted boxes with our summer clothes have arrived.

Kevin and Mum came to visit us on the day of our return at the cottage, and I spent time with Mum on Friday and Saturday, in between coffee breaks and the shopping episodes.

Russ enjoying Orewa Beach Coffee break! (a kids surf carnival in the background)

Life is back to normal, as normal as normal ever is…and yesterday was a big day with the Bonnici Clan.  The unveiling of Uncle Doug (Bonnici) and Auntie Kats memorial Plaques followed by the lunch at Als place. Catching up with all the cousins and family friends the lunch turned into a whole afternoon, and as we are still in holiday mode, in good fashion, we were last to leave.  Bar ONE, the Gilbank Clan  from Bathurst! Fun to catch up.

A big shout out to all my Maltese Family, Oslo Family and Texas family for making the last four months the most memorable adventures of our life.  It is not over, we will be back…..

 

 

 

 

As we left our dear friends yesterday and jumped ship (or plane) back home to our little beach paradise, we hoped that everyone is recovering from the lethal bug sweeping lake Jackson.

I slept for 10 of the 15 hour flight and woke up, a day later, in NZ feeling back to normal.

This is our home, at Waiwera for the next few months.

A few steps down the road the beach.

The pohukawas (our native Christmas tree) are in full bloom, summer is here!

Dan and Mel picked us up at 5.30am and drove us to the cottage! And our wonderful kids, these two and Jack and Steph had done this for us….

Christmas is alive and talking in NZ.

Wow what a lovely surprise. And a gift parcel and beer in the fridge!

And here I was saying to our hosts that we don’t do too much!

Kevin brought mum for a drive and visit, Russ and I still wearing protective face masks so as not to chance giving anyone the “Texas Tummy” thing.

We did a little grocery shop and rest time for Russ and beer time for me! I must be recovered!

Sending warm kiwi hugs to all those we couldn’t hug when we left, and thanks for some fabulous adventures in Texas!

I will keep this story rolling for ya’ll and share some kiwi summer adventures with you, wherever you are in the world.

Last night the rain came in to southern Texas, deterring the plans of all our house guests travelling on Friday night – about 8 inches overnight and in this low lying part of the USA instigates severe flood warnings.

Woke up this morning to a very damp landscape, even though the rain had subsided.

The jetty was under water and the lake banks almost up to the grass level.

The temperature had also cooled off.

It was party day today for Polly (Chucks mum) and Don (Tonas dad), 90 and 80 respectively.

Tona, Chuck, Russ, Sue and Mary (Tonas sister) went to the church hall at 10am to set up and decorate for the 1pm party kick off.

Plenty of practice for these Kiwis, as many a ‘Bonnici Day out’ has been had and party set up is par for the course.

Pink for Polly (strawberry cake)

Chocolate for Don!

Plus a lot of food for lunch. The rain held off and a great time was had by all.

Polly and Don being serenaded (happy birthday) and ready to blow out the candles.

Polly and her two Boys, Chuck and Garry!

It was our hosts work Christmas party tonight, so the kiwis are hanging out at the homestead with family members down for the weekend!

This weekend is all about socialising and catching up with friends before we pack our bags….

The reason we are in Texas is for Polly’s 90th birthday and this is today!

Winter months and a balmy humid 22 degrees Celsius! The rain is coming they tell us!

We headed off this morning to visit the state park that houses the oldest plantation in Texas!

First stop coffee, first coffee shop we found….telling us to have a relaxing morning!

Inside the cafe, sporting an old Texas fuel pump aptly named ‘Texaco’.

And a garden full of teapot flowers!

Then off to the Varner-Hogg Plantation.

This is the historic of the home of :

‘Austin colonist Martin Varner, sugarcane mogul Columbus Patton, and Texas Gov. James S. Hogg. This property hosted sugarcane production, rum distilling, and oil drilling as it transitioned through families.‘ (Copied from website to save iPhone typing!)

The homestead – rebuilt after the 1900s hurricanes.

Front of home getting its Christmas decorations by its volunteers.

Three photos from inside the homestead – redecorated to the time of Govenor James Hogg and his family.

The river that divides the owners residences from the slaves quarters and sugarcane fields.

The first oil rig named Ima – after James Hoggs daughter, which was the start of the oil strike on the property which made this family (Hoggs) one of the richest in Texas.

Site of the slaves quarters in the 1800s sugar cane era – during the time when it was home to the Patton family.

James Hoggs bathing tub, fed by a spring that still runs today, now actually home to a number of frogs.

The run off from the spring and Tub produced this swimming hole.

We then went into what was the barn housing some old modes of transport!

Wagon wheels (this reminds me of a song)

Carriages and Russell – both magnificent specimens.

Carts for the big boys and little boys. All these were pulled by horses.

This state park is a valuable piece of southern history, run completely by volunteers and very well maintained. Well worth a visit, although we were the only ones visiting today! Wide open spaces all to ourselves.

We headed back before the predicted rain (which hasn’t arrived yet and it is still very humid).

I have made a macaroni cheese pie for dinner and baked a chocolate cake while Tona is home early having a tidy up before the party weekend (lots of house guests due).

We are in for a big weekend, our last weekend of our big adventure!

This morning started off well, if a little overcast.

The kiwis went into town for a little shopping – mainly larger bag to accomodate belongings.

Every shop has a plethora of Christmas bunting!

Big stuff, musical stuff (ok so you can’t hear it) and sparkly stuff.

Peppa pig Christmas style and every other ‘Thing’ you can imagine.

Sooo….leaving Walmart, this is where the day deteriorated! (And not talking about the weather)

Reversing out of the car park in the Toyota Corolla (not so small car), almost out…and BANG – a truck reversed out of the opposite side (and a little back) and hit me.

The usual reactions from the kiwis, and hunting for a pen and paper (to get details) we realised our co-crasher was a Mexican lady who didn’t speak English!

A witness translated, and off we went, again, to the rental car agency to report the crash!

Luckily we had taken the damage waiver insurance, however it seemed it was our responsibility to call our insurance company? Duh! It’s their insurance company! Oh well they have our phone numbers if they need to call. I will cancel my credit card when I get home, so they cannot charge me any more!

They seem to want us to say who was at fault – both cars backing and not seeing each other, I question the logic!

Russ is a little tired, needs a lie down after all the excitement and I think I need a beer (yes I was driving).

We say, it’s ok, no one was hurt!