Reading list

A years worth of reading laid out before me. The goodreads challenge exceeded. A lot of learning and some light relief. Could well sum up the year in general. 

Photo Challenge

Failing miserably at my 41 walks challenge why not start a new one, maybe one will help the other. A happy synergistic event linking the blog love with Pinterest obsession and the ease of sharing on Flickr. I found the pin below a wee while ago and thought that it would be worth a bash. Something to help get through the wet days of autumnalness in Auckland while still trying to adjust to both of us working a 'normal' routine. I also thought it might be a cunning way to entice Adam into the Flickr world and share some of his photos. Now of courseI have the new spangly sparkly singing dancing new camera I'm even more excited. So our June photo challenge is launched.

Thank you Pinterest for this



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Walk 8 - Maungatauhoro

It may be a repeat - this was walk number one - but heh, this is my game and I can decide what counts. But this was an exciting walk for two reasons. Mainly my ability to do any exercise in the course of a week appears to have shrunk from a little to none at all, so that fact that I was out walking, all 3km of it was a positive stepIt may have only been 3km but heh, it was hard work. I dragged my stodgy self up the hill and got very out of puff, but it did feel great. So it was great to do a familiar walk, that you know doesn't take too long but made me feel like I was making some effort at last. It brought air into my lungs and mud to my shoes, what's not to like.
Secondly and the most excitingness of all was that it gave me chance to play with my new camera and have a private photography class with Adam. So yes, I happened to write in my last post  maybe I should buy a camera to ensure I actually take photos rather than rely on the iPhone, which is fine for an awful lot of stuff but i don't think about it much and really just play with the apps.
We happened upon a camera shop on a Saturday afternoon and we leave with a spangly new flashy camera. So there I am actually trying to grasp what is aperture, thank you Pioneer Woman for this series, very very helpful. Combine that with a practical lesson with Adam and I was making some progress. It also meant I stopped a bit while dragging myself up that (little) hill to get my breath back. Please don't test me on what aperture actually is, but for a woman who has lived on auto mode for cameras her whole life, i was using and sort of understand the various settings and dear me at one point shot on manual mode as that's what i needed to do. Dear me, a new hobby maybe.

Walk 6 - Wanaka

Away again and a bit of walking. Two weeks in the South Island, heaven indeed. We started with a few days in a hired little camper van thingy. Headed back to one of the best campsites we know. We decided we'd walk to Wanaka, there was a path, it was by the lake. It was two hours of loveliness, which ends in Wanaka ready for second breakfast. A bizarre air show watsit - Adam has amazing photos - then the walk back which didn't take as long for some reason. A warm day that called for a swim in the lake when we got back to the campsite. You can tell this is going to be a tragic holiday. Boy are we fortunate and blessed folks. Then it was lunch time.

The photo ops may explain why it took us 2 hours one way and not so long on the return

This is just as you are leaving the campsite

Looking so happy as we were getting very close to Wanaka and that second breakfast

Walk 5 - Waiheke Island

In our 2013 spirit of doing more, we haven't stopped and caught the five o'clock ferry out of Auckland to Waiheke Island. We came to catch the last weekend of the sculpture trail and hence our walk. We camped, we walked, we took a fair few photos. We lost the photos.

You'll have to trust me. It was a warm, sunny day. We had lazed around a bit, then strolled the shops before heading to the marque set up and the start of the sculpture trail. You catch a bus to the top of the trail and work you way down, past all the treasures. It was fairly busy but quite entertaining. We got on the cat walk and became part of the show, but still no photos - all gone.
It was a slow walk, with lots of photo stops.  You can read all about it here on the website, it was well worth the visit and the walk, but you are spared my photos and my random thoughts about the sculptures.

The weekend also included swimming and wine, topped by a spectacular lunch at Cable Bay, so a perfect Waiheke weekend. It was also the first time in two years we'd been in our lovely tent. Still not too old for camping, it was fabulous.

Walk 4 - Sydney

Did I mention we went to Sydney. It's been on the list - well more Adams list, I'm easy, I'll go anywhere. We walked. A lot. So it must count. One specific walk, with less stopping at coffee shops, bookshops, beaches or bars was the walk across the harbour bridge. I've been trying to explain my excitement at seeing the harbour bridge for the the first time. Maybe it comes from living in the UK, Sydney with it's harbour bridge and opera house is the other side of the world. It's a long expensive trip away, but these are images we know well, but can I really be here, looking at them, standing in front of them, having a drink. Maybe. I was very excited about peeking my first glimpse of the harbour bridge, that's all there is too it. Back to the walk then (the one without the beaches, bars and bookshops). We followed map and sign to the pylon lookout, which starts way back at the start of the footpath over the bridge. Now when I say over the bridge, we are talking road level here. What a clever bridge, cars, trains, bikes and walkers all have their own special segment. So we walk, we then climb the pylon lookout, which is as brave as I'm getting. Actually the actually road level path was a wee bit disturbing to start with (I must have issues). The pylon lookout was great, we then figure we might as well walk over to the 'other side'. There are security guards on this bridge, I really am most impressed. I feel braver already. The walk takes us to the other side, under the bridge and round to lunar park, where we wait, in the sun for a ferry ride back to our starting point and a bar of course. No idea how far we walked but our feet, legs and hips ache so that must be good right? It counts cos I say it counts.





















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Walk 3 - Tawharanui

The highlight of this day, which some lesser minded folks could have seen as not the best of days was the sea. Swimming in a clear sparkling ocean on a beach we had to ourselves - well the other people were very far away.
The day started grey and cloudy, I think there was rain on the way to Tawharanui Regional Park. I'd forgotten my glasses, Adam had forgotten his hat, we didn't bring the swimming gear. We stopped at Matakana Sunday market and then missed the turning. Strange but true. Heh ho. We arrived and off we went. This is the most amazing place with many a walk to choose from but on this day we picked the West End Track. 5.8km over the hills, past the sheep, up to the predator proof fence. Seriously a combination of Pet Shop Boys and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then down to the glorious sandy beach and along back to the parking spot. By the time we cross the predator proof fence - I do so like the sound of that - the sun is beating down on us, the sky is clear and I've already decided that the lack of swimming costume is not going to stop me getting in that water. The last part of the walk before hitting the beach is over dunes and very wild, I can hear the water splashing onto the sand and I walk faster having a strange Bear Grylls moment. Well, the sand, the beach and in I go. Marvellous moment in time. I so so love swimming in the sea. And it counts towards 41 walks. Lush Sunday.





















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Puhoi River Trip

Well it's been on lists, here, there and everywhere. Written in notebooks, scrappy bits of paper and mentioned every summer. It took one phone call and heh presto we're booked in.
It's a popular day to go, it's the 2nd January, in kiwi land, this is a public holiday, joy of joys, another two days off this week. The transition from shift work may be sinking in.
The sun is shinning, there is a light breeze and a few clouds in the sky, perfecto.
We go upstream first, tranquil and full of bird life. Heading back down we maneouvour around the just starting folks and make our way towards the sea. Kayaking under the main road is kind of fun as we're not in a car in traffic. The noise quietens and the river starts to widen. There are lots of extra books of the river to explore, but eventually we make it to Wenderholm. The very efficient staff are there, help you out of your kayak and then your transported back to the starting point.
Our plan was to return to Wenderholm but the place was seriously packed so we headed to the next regional park north. Blessed we are in this part of the world. Kiwis love the beach in the summer so this one was busy but not in the same league so we were in that water. Bliss. Then some serious soaking up the sun time, with picnic and book. Bliss.
So why did it take us do long, why do 'to do' lists stop you actually doing! I'm addicted to lists but I need to move to the action state. So we may even be painting those chairs soon.