It's been a lovely summer with the kids finishing school on the 15th of december giving us heaps of time to go to the pools and the beach before Christmas.
For the first time in eight years of living here we attended the local Christmas Parade and handed out 250 candy canes. It was loads of fun seeing all the imaginative floats and various friends and local identities all dressed up.
Our first christmas was at our house with Chris and Renee coming over with the kids and Oma Ali and Opa John joining us for the day. We had second christmas a few days later with Opa Noel and Granny Rosie joining us from Auckland. The kids had heaps of fun playing with their presents and getting more....
New Years Eve was pretty quiet and we all fell asleep just before midnight. But he next day we went camping at the caves with our friends. We took the kids for a good half hour explore slightly off the beaten track through the caves which was a good challenge for them and we got to do some more serious caving ourselves. Phil emerged from a especially squeezy bit saying he never wanted to do it again but i think wse moight get him to have another go one day.
At the last minute we decided to join the extras for the Grand Pageant. The Pageant told the story of the migration of the original settlers to this area. It was exciting to be a part of it, with cowsw, horses, vintage cars,and a cast of thousands... not to mention all the pipe bands and fireworks at the end. The Clydesdaes were a little scary becouse their hooves were so big. Ali thought the heartrending wails were quite humourous!
Mum and the girls went on their first overnight tramping adventure with friends Cindy, Tanya, and Patrece plus their assorted children. We walked up and over the hill to the hut (840 steps down the hill) and spent two night there. We walked through the tunnel magnificent and over the bridge of beauty as named by Ali. next to the nut was a giant rock with a huge pohutukawa growing on top which we all climbed up. It was very high and a little scary to stand on but once you go t used to it it was really fun to explore. On the first day we made a raft and launched it to much hilarity in the afternoon. Ali got to have her first snorkel with Cindy and saw some fish. We spotted an octopus and a fluorescent nudibranch in the rock pools. The kids made pet octopus out of seaweed and we found shark eggs and loads of kina.
We came back for one day which we spent at Playcentre with all our old friends and then we packed up and went camping with Tanya, Mal, Cindy and Ian. We had a lovely grassy spot in the bush not far from a gorgeous beach. We went exploring in the bush and swimming in the creek. The beach was the perfect spot to snorkel on the first day and later on the kids learned to boogie board and body surf in the waves. We enjoyed ice creams at the shop and exploring around a bit.
Now we are home and have just about unpacked and got everything back in order at last.
Hopefully photos and a fix up of the spelling is coming soon!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Hi Auty Sarah, it's Jervis Bay
We had the most wonderful time. After a hassle free flight we took the one hour hire car from the airport and drove down to Jervis Bay where Aunty Sarah and Grandad were waiting for us at a great house just a stone's throw from the beach. It was lovely to see them both again. That night a possum came to visit and the next morning it was King parrots. The kids thought that was pretty special.
Both the girls were fascinated by the shells and rock pool fauna, so different from home. The "sea hares" were a particular source of fascination, along with the wrasse in the tiny rook pool and the many fossils in the rocks.
Phil got to play golf with Granddad and Uncle Dave (that was probably his highlight) and the kids got to go and see the kangaroos at the golf course which was one of their highlights.
A big THANK YOU to Aunty Sarah, Granddad, Uncle Dave and Aunty Robyn for organizing everything and making it such a wonderful holiday. What could be better than hanging out with the rellies at the beach?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
My name is Karen, it's been three mnths since my last blog
Well.... I certainly hit the ground running when I got home with all the crazy busy stuff that comes with the end of the school year and Christmas/ New Years etc. And now the dust has settled and yesterday I took some lovely ohotos of the kids with their pet chicks that I just have to share. Hopefully I'll get back to finish my holiday stuff and it will be all out of order. But I'm not sure when that will be. Anyhow thats enough rambling and excuses. here are yesterdays photos.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Singapore
It was a bit of a short stay in Singapore but I'll attempt to get the photos on and do a bit of a blurb about it in the next week or two.
We got home last Saturday but there was no time for jet lag with two girls and a husband waiting for me. I started work again on Monday and it feels like I've been running to catch up since then!
Phil's birthday is today and his sister Sarah and Dad, Ron are here for a visit from Australia. Right now we're off for a special birthday lunch so I'd better get my skates on...
...
We got home last Saturday but there was no time for jet lag with two girls and a husband waiting for me. I started work again on Monday and it feels like I've been running to catch up since then!
Phil's birthday is today and his sister Sarah and Dad, Ron are here for a visit from Australia. Right now we're off for a special birthday lunch so I'd better get my skates on...
...
Monday, November 14, 2011
London
Yikes! Where is the time going?
On Sunday we went for another walk around the Roman ruins next to the Colosseum. We admired the cats, fed the birds, marvelled again at the building achievements of the ancient Romans and nibbled on pastries.
Then it was time to catch our Taxi to the airport. After squeezing through the narrow back streets with only inches to spare our driver picked up pace on the autostrada cruising at 140-160 kms/hr. Luckily he slowed down a little when we reached the terminal! Then it was time to join the leisurely queues at the airport... ... ... after an uneventful flight where Mum got friendly with a nun we touched down in Heathrow., navigated the buses and the tube to arrive at our hotel.
Our first day in London we caught the hop-on/hop-off double decker bus for a look around the town. Our first "hop-off was at Hamley's toy store. We nearly didn't make it back on the bus! There were so many amazing toys and games that we had never seen before. After a few careful purchases (it was soooo hard to decide) we managed to leave the store.
The bus took us down Regent St, around Trafalgar Square, and then along to Westminster where we got off for a walk over the Thames back to see Big Ben and the houses of parliament with their beautiful gothic achitecture. Westminster Abbey was just next door and we saw where Kate and Wills got married.
Next we got on the bus and went to Lizzie's house. She was home but she didn't come out to say hello (maybe she was having a Nana nap?) so we made friends with the squirrels at Regents Park instead. We had a pocketful of almonds left over from Rome which they really liked. It was surprising when they climbed right up my legs to try and pick my pockets. Luckily we are on our guard against petty thieves.
By this time it was getting late so we headed back to Marble Arch and our favourite Lebanese restaurant. Unfortunately the sauteed vegetables (which are the best thing on the menu) were unavailable but we enjoyed our lamb shanks with fragrant rice and sala, especially the first time.
On Sunday we went for another walk around the Roman ruins next to the Colosseum. We admired the cats, fed the birds, marvelled again at the building achievements of the ancient Romans and nibbled on pastries.
Then it was time to catch our Taxi to the airport. After squeezing through the narrow back streets with only inches to spare our driver picked up pace on the autostrada cruising at 140-160 kms/hr. Luckily he slowed down a little when we reached the terminal! Then it was time to join the leisurely queues at the airport... ... ... after an uneventful flight where Mum got friendly with a nun we touched down in Heathrow., navigated the buses and the tube to arrive at our hotel.
Our first day in London we caught the hop-on/hop-off double decker bus for a look around the town. Our first "hop-off was at Hamley's toy store. We nearly didn't make it back on the bus! There were so many amazing toys and games that we had never seen before. After a few careful purchases (it was soooo hard to decide) we managed to leave the store.
The bus took us down Regent St, around Trafalgar Square, and then along to Westminster where we got off for a walk over the Thames back to see Big Ben and the houses of parliament with their beautiful gothic achitecture. Westminster Abbey was just next door and we saw where Kate and Wills got married.
Next we got on the bus and went to Lizzie's house. She was home but she didn't come out to say hello (maybe she was having a Nana nap?) so we made friends with the squirrels at Regents Park instead. We had a pocketful of almonds left over from Rome which they really liked. It was surprising when they climbed right up my legs to try and pick my pockets. Luckily we are on our guard against petty thieves.
By this time it was getting late so we headed back to Marble Arch and our favourite Lebanese restaurant. Unfortunately the sauteed vegetables (which are the best thing on the menu) were unavailable but we enjoyed our lamb shanks with fragrant rice and sala, especially the first time.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Roman Forum and Colosseum
It was yet another magic day in Rome today. The sun was shining and it was interesting roaming around the old pillars and excavations where people used to live and work so many years ago. How they built such amazing buildings without cranes and heavy machinery is really mind boggling.. It's also surprising how much of it is still standing after such a long time and so much recycling (looting) as the marble was borrowed for other projects around Rome.
After the Roman Forum we took a deep breath and admired the queues for the Colosseum. Then we walked straight past them with our tickets from the Roman Forum and straight in the main entrace (Thanks to some good information from hotel reception) The Colosseum lived up to its name, it certainly is enormous and interesting to walk around and imagine what it must have been like.
This afternoon we went shopping, but true to form the boots we have been searching for eluded us. Perhaps we will find them in London? or maybe at overland in Albany NZ next winter. We spent about 3 hours packing and repacking our suitcases to get them under the weight limit before we fly out tomorrow. We certainly have bought some stuff while we've been away!
After the Roman Forum we took a deep breath and admired the queues for the Colosseum. Then we walked straight past them with our tickets from the Roman Forum and straight in the main entrace (Thanks to some good information from hotel reception) The Colosseum lived up to its name, it certainly is enormous and interesting to walk around and imagine what it must have been like.
This afternoon we went shopping, but true to form the boots we have been searching for eluded us. Perhaps we will find them in London? or maybe at overland in Albany NZ next winter. We spent about 3 hours packing and repacking our suitcases to get them under the weight limit before we fly out tomorrow. We certainly have bought some stuff while we've been away!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Via Appia Antica
Today was another lovely sunny day in Rome. We caught the metro and then the bus to the beginning of the Via Appia Antica where we hired a bicycle. It really was a highlight of the trip cycling along this road which was built 2200 years ago and wondering about all the other people who had travelled this way before us.
There are many old tombs, sentry posts and the remains of castles along the side of the road. We loved the countryside, the birds were singing, butterflies and bees were going about their business while the warm autumn sun shone down. We only wish we had arrived earlier in the morning to be able to explore a little more.
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| ruins of a tomb on the Via Appia Antica |
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| The road is quite quiet in the off season |
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| Peeking through the wall on the side of the road |
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| The Romans built many tombs and other buildings along the road |
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| The original parts of the road have great big stones and they're a bit rough for cycling |
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| The new cobbles are much more friendly to cyclists bottoms |
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| More ruins - I wonder who used to live here |
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| Excavations show the floor mosiac at the the entrance to the Roman Baths circa 96 AD |
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| Someone built a new house on top of this tomb |
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| This was just on the side of the road where you can climb up and have a look |
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| Its very tall looking up from the base of the wall |
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| behind the cactus you can see the remains of the aquaduct in the distance |
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| This friendly pussycat came to say Hello at the tomb of St Cecelia Mettela |
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| Ah - a nice warm lap |
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| we would love to have had a better look around here but it was too late in the afternoon |
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| The cafe where we hired the bikes from |
There are many old tombs, sentry posts and the remains of castles along the side of the road. We loved the countryside, the birds were singing, butterflies and bees were going about their business while the warm autumn sun shone down. We only wish we had arrived earlier in the morning to be able to explore a little more.
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