Coming Up Close

Instead of dwelling on this nasty flu I'm still trying to get over, I thought to find some positives about my week:
Lots of red colour in my garden with Rhododendrons, Hibiscus and annuals are still flowering.Lemon and mandarin trees are now fruiting.Spinach in my vege garden is still going strong after being planted as seedlings nearly a year ago.My oldest son's girlfriend's mother gave me a mixture of lemon juice, honey and white rum so that has helped me tremendously to feel better.This morning I saw a lovely long rainbow in the skies outside our house. What positives have you had happen to you?

2 years ago when we lived in Tauranga we travelled through Lake Tarawera for the day. Te Pouwairua a Tuhourangi meaning Tuhourangi's cradle sits at the top of this look out. It is in honour of the Te Arawa tribe of Rotorua who honoured and respected their chief Tuhourangi who long ago lived in this area.

In 1886 the volcano in the background of this photo erupted and the Pink and White Terraces were buried. Recently I read a news article which said that scientists maybe have discovered them underneath all the water. I'm excited to see what happens...

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

This wharenui (meeting house) at Ohinemutu Marae is located in Rotorua that is named after chief Tama Te Kapua who came from Polynesia in about 1350. Te Papaiouri meeting house was first opened around 1873  but was demolished in 1939. It was rebuilt and opened in 1943.

Btw thanks to vitamins and honey I am feeling way better - apparently it's going around at my work so looks like it's not just me. We have had an extra member of the family move in with us. My oldest son's girlfriend we feel is in a better living situation with us. It sounds like things haven't been going well with her family and she hasn't had a very easy life. To me, there's always room for one more so the other half and I don't mind her being here.

Happy Matariki (Maori New Year) everyone!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

I am so glad it's the end of our week.

The other half's birthday is today, he's now 55 years old. I got him some treats; 2 bottles of his favourite wine, a packet of cigars, some lotto tickets and a nice card.

Early this week we were visiting his cousin who lives on the outskirts of Kaeo. This is the view she has from her kitchen.

We both have some decisions to make around our jobs, basically if something else up we'd be open to that.

And today unfortunately I am at home with a head cold while the other half has gone to do the food shopping. It's a menu of netflix and rest with loads of tissues.

Yesterday was our Winter Solstice. We don't get it too cold here since we're up in the far north - I think our coldest night so far is about 3 degrees celsius.

Hopefully your week has been good.

Mangonui is one of those places in NZ's far north where the fishing is pretty good. On our last stop there we watched a truck wait at the edge of the wharf while the fishing boats bought their catch in. These fish will probably be going to local restaurants and shops to be sold - can't beat fresh seafood.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Nestled on a small hill just around the corner from Ahipara township and bay is this little wee gem. St Clement's Anglican Church and cemetery dates back to around 1873 and was named "Pukemiro" after the hill that is stands on.


As per an old Maori story this area was chosen as a sacred burial spot for Poroa who was the Chief of Te Rawara - he lived here when times were peaceful. Most of the graves are from the 1800s with a few of them surrounded by old iron fencing.


Inside everything looks quite tidy, humble and well looked after. The church itself was built by local Maoris named Inoka Tutangiora, Rapata Wharawhara and Kihirini Te Morenga under the guidance of Richard Matthews who was the son of Joseph Matthews (part of the Missionary Society).


The view from the top steps next to the church looks out over miles of farmland. In 2012 restoration committee of the church were looking for funding to restore the church, I'd say since then alot of work has been done quite …

We were up in Ahipara Bay last weekend. It's a small beachside settlement about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Kerikeri just past Kaitaia.

 Rather a chilly windy Winter's day but it was still good to get out in the fresh air. I have a thing for driftwood, I like seeing all the different shapes and patterns made by nature and the ocean on the wood.


The tide was going out and this particular coastline is at the southern part of 90 Mile beach so you can pretty much drive your car or quad along the sand.


We had the other half's work 4 wheel drive so there was no way we could get stuck. Quite a few people here and there walking their dogs and sitting on the sand with their children.


Ahi means "fire" and para means "fern" - it's translate as "fire at which fern was cooked". Before the 18th century this place was named "Wharo" which means "stretched out" and considering the length of the beach I would agree with that.

I spotted this holiday bach in a secluded part of Cooper's Beach and estimate it to be possibly around 30-40 years old - looks retro to me. We're having a very blah Winter so far, mostly overcast gray cloudy days - typical when you live in the far north of NZ.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

We were up in Awanui yesterday driving through the Far North and stopped near a cafe. We haven't had alot of rain here where we are but it looks like they had had some. The river where these boats are moored was quite full and the ground very soggy with overgrown grass.


Back to work today, it's the start of another week...

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

As I said earlier this week Monday for us was Queen's Birthday Weekend. After I got home from work the other half and I ventured out to meet up with one of his very old friends from the old days. We caught up at a local restaurant and had dinner plus drinks. One of my favourite fish to eat is Salmon so that's what I picked that night.


It's definitely been a long week though. My daughter has her cat back from her dad's as her dad isn't home much to look after her pet. Mr Cat is a female tabby and was originally thought to be a boy but upon a visit to the vet they found out she was a girl. It looks like she will settle down here nicely.

This place doesn't look like much. A spectacular view over the Bay of Islands, a small fence around a well - what's there to say?


But if you dig deeper there's quite a bit of information about this spot which has been named as NZ's first capital from 1840-1841. The land and buildings that were here were owned by James Clendon who ran a very successful trading station. However when Governor William Hobson arrived here he had to find a site for a government settlement and Okiato was picked.


William Hobson had a surveyor draw up plans for a new town to be developed which was to be named "Russell". The site was never followed through with as intended and the buildings that were left there by James Clendon formed formed the first foundations of the area.


In 1842 William Hobson moved the capital to Auckland leaving the police magistrate at Okiato and in  a few months later the government house and it's offices were destroyed by a fire. This old well is all tha…

This weekend, the first one in June is known in NZ as Queens Birthday. Today is meant to be a public holiday however some of us still have to work. Monday is normally my day off but I've been rostered on so I'm hoping it won't be too busy for me.

I heard at work yesterday that it seems a tiny kitten has been taking refuge in the storeroom. Some of the guys have been feeding it cat food and trying to catch it so one of the girls can take it home.

It is getting colder here for us, although we don't have snow or ice here it gets quite damp. I remember when we lived in Tauranga having to wash ice off my car windscreen in the mornings. Time to get out the winter cardigans, jerseys and socks. Hibernation season has started...

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

From 29th May through to 3rd June we have the Weber Brothers Adrenaline Circus in town set up at our local domain which has been extremely popular. Now this is something where no animals are involved - instead it features various comedians, FMX riders, acrobats and a human cannon and it runs for about 2 hours.

Now for something else, I was having a play around with my blogger settings tonight trying to find a comment I accidentally deleted and found that for some reason alot of other comments had been put on moderation which is a bit weird because normally I get emailed when there is anything  to approve so if you've left me a comment and I haven't published it now you know why so I apologise for the strange stuff up.