Week Four. Park Four.

Just getting though the weeks is good enough for me. Yep, at that point again. Switching off has taken a back seat (how pitiful am I), but the parks we've kept going. Week four has us at the Botanic Gardens. It was one of those oh so summer days, grey, damp and threatening full on rain that turned into a warm, blue skied day that I was of course completely incorrectly dressed for. 

The Botanic Gardens is a very popular spot at the weekends, it is great seeing so many people enjoying the walk around the plants. We pick a different route each time, depending on the season, our mood, the weather, our energy. Today it was the roses (but those pictures to follow), plus a sneak preview of the sculpture going up ready for the start of the summer season Sculpture in the Garden which has become a annual blog feature. 

Week Two. Park Two

Switch off fail. I can sustain a habit for about 3 weeks. Need help with that. 

We did stick with the Regional Park Challenge though. After a Saturday of housework, shopping, job lists, BBQ and firework night with neighbours. Sunday was to be the first swim of the season. Waking up after the late night and the wine, I was wondering really?

But we went. 

We choose a favourite, Mahurangi and packed a picnic. Just getting out of the city I started to unwind. Stopping at our usual spot for coffee en route, watching the clouds and avoiding the phone (so I failed but didn't mean I still wasn't trying). 

That first dive, head under the water and then making a splash with the first few strokes, feeling alive and with energy. 

Then there is the important lying in the sun (I hide in semi shade), lunch, reading, listening to the folks around us, enjoying the wonderful day. 

Adam just lying and drying after the swim

I love it all. The anticipation, the dive under the water, the swim, the way my hair falls once it is sea soaked

A week in February

Well it's April and I am just looking at the photos I took on our week away back in February, we met up with friends from the UK here on their NZ adventure. OK, so I contracted some sort of rash, that didn't really help the whole holiday thing, but it meant I took things easy, swam in the sea most days and tried to sleep in. But I remember (and wrote in my journal) that I was cheesed off that I was sick on my holiday. Our friends were incredibly accommodating, I guess that's what friendship is all about. 

It took me about 3 weeks to feel back to normal (tragically this still seems to mean exhausted every day after work). I was supported by work folks and now over a long weekend can take the time to load and look at the photos. I had great plans to get copies to our friends, (my head is full of many a great plan) but today I will get them onto Flickr and the other great plans will just have to wait in line. 

What has been great looking at these photos now was the great memories, smiles and happy thoughts that came to me. Plus the warmth and the wonder of the sea. I need to remember how much I can be nurtured by nature. 

What I also think of, is all the things I did that aren't captured on a photo. I'm feeling proud of swimming to that pontoon, despite the panic that set in and then I jumped off it. Yep, cowardly scared me. Jumped. Didn't use the steps, I jumped. I felt great. Now how to bottle that. 

At Flagstaff Hill, before the rash set in. 

While on The Cream Trip. Lush tour of the Bay of Islands. 

Sunset cruise on the tall ship 

There aren't many photos of me during this time, the rash adding to my usual un-photogenic state, but this one makes me smile 

Russell pier from the Duke of Marlborough

The Hole in the Rock. Has to be done. 

Maori Bay after walking from Murawai beach 

Lush evening colours on the drive back to Auckland 

Day thirty. Thank you

I should have done a before and after shot but my garden was getting a bit crazy. In fact it was a meadow, rather lovely, but driving my hay fever mental. Which added to the challenge of cutting the grass. Hot sunny weather (not moaning) did send the hay fever crazy and then add in super long grass, what was I hoping for. I did a section - mainly to be able to see the vegetable patch if nothing else - found a dead rat in the long grass - nice - so knew this job was needed and soon.
We casually mention to the neighbour and heh look…..we come home from work today and the grass has been cut. "Oh well", he shrugs, "who knows how many dead rats you have in there and I had nothing to do, plus my mower has four blades and yours only has two, so it was easier for me than it would be for you".
Wow
Beers on us then. 

Day twenty eight. Love is

Love is this man…building me a (not that straight forward) garden thingy for my vegetable patch on a hot and sunny afternoon. 

Day twenty six. Sweet

Sweet As

Day Nine. Diagonals.

The taste of summer. Diagonals inside

Day Three. The Best day of 2014

Given some of the news I have had over this year I would say the best day is every day I have been alive and upright. The question though, at a time when I am underpar  thoughtful and contemplative was a good one. I considered looking back over my blog, my flickr photos or even (heaven forgive) actually sorting my photos into some semblance of order and getting organised to make the calendars for christmas presents. None of that happened, my cold, my body and my mind told me to sit and read and that actually I already know the answer. 

Me and my mum at Cathedral Cove

As I walk up from the beach after our trip to Cathedral Cove, this was the view.
Happiness beyond belief. 

Day Two. Light

A walk in the garden after a day of sleep. Light. Sun. Suncatcher. 

Walk 32 - Russell

Hurrah for friends who visit and want to walk. Well I'm not sure if they wanted to walk up Flagstaff Hill while we were enjoying the brief stay in the Bay of Islands but that is what we did. An uphill walk must reward you with a view and this one is not bad. We also got to take in another version of history by the flagpole. We found the church with the musket holes and of course the oldest licensed pub. The Hell hole of the Pacific indeed.

Their words, not ours. 

The view

The view 

At the start of the walk

On the way up 

The view looking back to Russel from the ferry
Oh and the pub we'd had our post walk refreshments in 

Working Backwards

WOMAD 2014 marked the end of a fabulously frantic time of travels, family and friends. It also happened to coincide with a cyclone working through New Zealand. Having missed last years festival  it was reassuringly familiar, with great music, weather not that bad and a long drive in the van. Happy Days indeed.

Van and tent looking very snug in the wind

Plannning

Heading home, thank you WOMAD

Walk 31 - Cathedral Cove

I inadvertently called this post 'Walk 41' oh that wishful thinking first draft of mine. It's been a busy little time of late but I was excited to realise that I have been walking without even thinking about it. A dear friend (or old boss depending on how you look at it) has been for a visit and I played host for a little time at the end of their trip. Travelling with a friend of hers we met them in the Coromandel (tragic suggestion of mine). A sunny Saturday, what to do. Now I know Hot Water Beach is supposed to be 'the thing to do', but I favour Cathedral Cove and that means a walk.

2.5km return with DOC allowing you a generous one and half hours we walked a little further by starting at Hahei Beach. It is a stunning place that we have seen a different times of the year. This day was clear skies, even clearer sea and we had no swim stuff. Tragedy, but still so lovely. The tide was in so we got wet walking through the Cathedral part. It also served as a research trip for my mothers upcoming visit.

At the lookout point - and the start of the walk if you can get parked in the car park.
We did't so headed down to Hahei Beach and walked from there. More exercise and the great views of Hahei beach on the way. 

On the walk back 

Scooter

A public holiday, a birthday, February 6th is all good here. Amazingly I had planned something, pre-booked no less. Up and off we went. Onto the 9am ferry to Waiheke Island were two bright yellow scooters awaited us. That may be a stretch. We joined the queue at the hire place to sign the various forms and then had our trial run to make sure we weren't lunatics about to be let loose on the roads of Waiheke. It was rather exciting. I had one of those grins of wonder. Personally it was the right balance of control and adventure. Neither of us have rode/ridden (oh dear which one is it) scooters so it's about time really.

I must say the car drivers are incredibly courteous and patient. Plus they seem to factor in that the lunatic on the scooter may be completely incapable of actually managing the upcoming corner and will need all the road and maybe a bit of the other side as well thank you. (For the record this only happened once but I did find the corners a challenge at times). 

The other point to note is that Adam didn't realise the scooters would be bright yellow when he decided on his birthday outfit for the day. 

There was lunch at Cable Bay and a glass of wine but it was less about the wine and more about the scooters. That must be a first. 

Ready to roll - ride that is

Palm Beach

Official Birthday Photo

Back home, now safely not in charge of scooter, it is time for a drink 

Late night at the Zoo

Summer time and a Wednesday after work. We crawl through the delights of auckland traffic after leaving work late. Off to the Zoo we go. Armed with an iPhone, chewy pizza and a large coffee we stroll around, unwind and start the birthday times for Adam.













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