Christmas Came Early This Year

In truth, Christmas was over here a full 24 hours before it started in the UK.

Upstairs there was a sudden noise, but the rule of 'no starting until everyone was ready' was strictly observed. Then came the noise of unwrapping and squealing.

Sometime during the morning bacon appeared, but unwrapping went on throughout the day. This was broken by dips in the pool (to use the pool toys), making Lego and playing 'Risk'. Of course there was the food. By tradition a huge ham was cooked. Like the UK turkey it will last all week and be served in a variety of guises.

Irene cooked a traditional Christmas pudding which was shared between the adults. There were three Christmas cakes, one of which was the fruit variety, mainly for Irene and me.

The across the world wave in reverse.

Now comes the big confession; we watched 'Frozen'. It was not that bad a film.

Irene, Sally and I night capped on cherry brandy.

I have to say Sally and Ian were more than generous with the gifts they gave us. For us it would have been sufficient to have been with them on their special day.

Boxing Day was for what it is here and the UK; eating and chilling out. Unlike the UK it was a time for lengthy dips in the pool.

Christmas is Over - Welcome the Sun

There had been visitors on Boxing Day. This resulted in Zoe going off for a sleep-over and so in the morning the rest of us went down to La Fourchette's for breakfast.

We all returned home and then Irene and I headed out for one of our favourite locations; the Spit. We have been numerous times but this time the sea must have been further out than we have ever seen it. Not only was the Spit very wide but it seemed to cross over the whole Tamaki River. The Waiheke car ferry looked to be crossing the sand as it went through the narrow channel between the end of the Spit and Howick on the opposite shore.

 Irene was not satisfied that she had had a paddle so we drove down to St Heliers. Even here the distance to the sea was great and mostly gravel and slippery sea weed. By walking to the east end of the bay we did manage to find a clear channel into the sea. Walking in the sea was like a dip in a warm bath.

Having had our dip we returned. For tea fish and chips were collected on which we feasted.

We all set off in two cars to what the children call the 'Secret Garden'. It is a spectacular place on the side of Mount Eden. Whenever we see an 'up' labelled 'A Minimum Level of Fitness is Required' we have to do it. The views at the top were worth the climb.

The one disappointment was that the cafe was closed (It was a public holiday.) When we got to the bottom Sally and the girls had gone and Ian took us off to a super cafe. The place was called 'Circus Circus'. The theme was obvious. The children were well catered for and our food was good. Sally and I were both disappointed with the smoothy that we ordered. It came in a plastic bottle and did not have the thickness that we expected.

Ian took the girls home and Sally wanted to do some shopping at Sylvia Park. In Warehouse I found a dozen 'Tublers' for $8. I am not kidding it really did say 'Tublers' on the box. With the extra company the family seemed to getting through a lot of glassware.

Irene and I had a busy day on Tuesday. We started quite early with a visit to Parnell Rose Gardens. There is a wonderful range of roses overlooking the sea.

Next we dropped down the slope to a seat overlooking Judges Bay, the rail and road earthwork, then the sea and the mounds of Mount Victoria and North Head.

On the way back I decided to stop off at Orakei Marina. As we approached the gates into the landing we were met by a jolly, Samoan lady called Lou. She asked if we would like to walk along the yacht landings and swiped her card to open the gate. I asked her what her job was. That was when she told me she was security. Fortunately, I was unable to laugh inside or outside. Having showed us how to get back through the gate she left us to it. Occasionally we bumped into her, on her bike and had further conversations when we exchanged names and I took her photograph.

After lunch Irene and I walked up to our very favourite place, Glovers Park, to look over the view of Browns Island. The wind on top was still strong and we abandoned our attempt to sit and read.

When we got back the four ladies went off four a nail makeover. Then Ian and I drove over to meet the girls in Mission Bay for dinner. Despite the busyness of the resort Ian dropped into a space not far from 'Los Amigos Cantina'. For a second time this holiday I was to enjoy Mexican food. This time I has enchiladas. Irene had an ice cold Margerita with her food.

Ian drove off and we made our way to Kiwiyo. This was a frozen yoghurt shop. You take one of three sizes of tubs, put any collection of frozen yoghurts in and then put any trimming that you fancy on top. This is the unhealthy part of the deal. The tubs are then paid for by weight.

Today is generally a quiet day. I had my breakfast but at about 10.00 am everyone else was ready for their breakfast. Sally drove us out to Coffee Club. The children were very good at ordering food and sitting to enjoy it. Next it was time to be on the beach. Sally drove us all down to St Heliers. The girls had a good time. Emily spent an hour surf boarding and Zoe was building sand castles. Irene, dressed in her bathing suit and purple wrap, supervised and enjoyed a paddle in the sea.

Twas the Kiwi Week Before Christmas

And a pukekohe in a ponga tree.

Daffodils in Shenley. Really!!!
Snow in Auckland. Not really.

Actually our week to Christmas did start with snow in Auckland, but this was in Kelly Tarlton's.

We started the week with our first real day of spending time with both girls. The main entertainment of the day was to go to Kelly Tarltons Sea World. We have visited this numerous times since 2003. Two things struck me. Firstly, the girls were so grown up that we could spend a long time exploring. Secondly they have taken away the 'tractor ride' through the penguins. It makes it easier to spend time observing them 'playing' in the refrigerated snowy enclosure.

 

Although the entrance walk way was not moving we held on tight as we succumbed to the illusion that it was swaying. 

Emily en-tanked

Before coming home we took the girls for a play on the climbing stuff on the Orakei Domain. It really was a hot day and the girls finished their time with a long swim in the pool.

The next event was not a day for us grown ups as it involved bouncing up and down at a place called 'Jump'. Basically this is a warehouse mostly covered in trampolines. There is also a cafe area where Irene and I spent a peaceful hour with our coffee and cakes. They have an amazing menu.

This time the way home included, deliberately, a visit to MacDonalds for lunch. We were somewhat saddened to see that they would be open on Christmas day.

The girls had a brief time on their own trampoline and I had a chance to photograph a monarch butterfly on the swan plant in the back garden.

The last of our major outings, for the time being, was to Butterfly Creek.

Girls on train

Dinosaur Kingdom Safari

  

In the Dinosaur Egg

I am not afraid. Yet!!!

 There are no prizes for guessing what was the main attraction. There was also a farm.They had 'petting' animals, but it was too hot for the children to be allowed to pet them. Next came the train ride. Then came 'Dinosaur Kingdom'. In addition to the roaring mechanised monster, another dinosaur roamed the area. For some reason it decided to chase Zoe into a hiding place. Finally came lunch in their restaurant that had a large variety of food. The chai latte was over the top with flavour and we shall avoid it there next time.

After the girls had made their souvenir shop purchases we returned home and the girls were looked after by their child minder and friends for a couple of hours. Sally popped in to do present exchanges and we found the girls in the swimming pool.

It is now Christmas Eve. We are doing a few jobs, minding the girls and waiting Sally's return to get stuck into Christmas preparation proper.

Suffice it to say; this is Auckland at Christmas time and it is raining.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Santa seems to have disappeared. He was last seen in Aztec's office (See facebook). Will he be around tomorrow?

Week Two-ish

For most of this week we were mainly at home. On Thursday, having gone down to do some shopping, I persuaded Irene to indulge in some mince pie ice-cream.

The girls went off to 'Guides' camp on Saturday morning and so in the afternoon the four adults went off Christmas shopping at the Albany, Westfields, shopping centre. We had our evening meal at the Thai restaurant in St Heliers. Having experienced how hot their curries were we more careful with our ordering than when we ate there in 2014.

It was good to be able to talk to Joe and Julia on Skype the next day.

We did succeed in having a picnic by the beach in St Heliers.

Pohutukawa tree in blossom
New Zealand's Christmas Tree

The girls broke up for the long summer holiday on Wednesday. During the afternoon Irene and I went up to our favourite seat in Glover Park, overlooking Brown's Island. I was able to take a few pictures before the wind and the the threat of rain sent us back.

Brown's Island

Rangitoto and Brown's Island

Part way back we crossed the road to have a close up look at a vivid purple flowered tree. It is not a lilac and the leaves are fern like.

It is the end of the school year here. Both girls bought home good school reports and information about which classes they would be in when they return to school in February. Our first day of child minding started on Thursday. Zoe had play-dates booked for the first two days of the holiday and so our work was quite light with mainly Emily. 

We were free to use the car on Saturday. Irene had an errand to run. Teresa, our friend from Leicester House, had given us a calendar to deliver to her cousin in a retirement village about thirty minutes away. She is an interesting lady but has no family. Her rooms in the home are very spacious and she has a private veranda. On her floor there are two lounges. One is very large and the other is smaller. Both are very well furnished. Having said our goodbyes and promised to visit again after Christmas we made our way back. 

 Cornwall Park (given to the people of Auckland by a man of the same name) is right next door so we parked up near the restaurant. This was not available as it had been booked by a private party.

After ice-cream we visited the main house to learn something of the man who gave the park to the people of Auckland. It seems that back in 1840 Cornwall and his friend, Brown, took over ownership of an island. (This is one of our favourite islands to look out at.) Later they landed on the mainland and decided that they would own Auckland.

Ice-cream near colourful flower beds

With time to spare we chose to do one of our walks consisting of half an hour out and then turn round. Cheerfully we began the walk out of the park and in to the 'One-Tree Hill' domain. The next thing we knew we had walked to the top of the hill. It was quite windy so we were not long before we made our way back.

Stone writers in the sacred crater

The afternoon was short as we, Ian, the girls and I, left to be at the cinema for a 5.30 pm start of Star Wars. The theatre was. itself, an interesting experience. We started by ordering beers and food for all four of us. Our seating was couches with individual, powered, recliners. During the movie our food arrived. It was the first time that I had seen a movie in 3-D. It worked well.

From the cinema looking over Silvia Park

 I remember that it was about 40 years ago that I took Tim and Sally to see the first Star Wars. Back then we queued. The first time we did not succeed in getting in. Even 40 years ago the movie was spectacular. I do not intend giving anything away, but the two hours passed remarkably quickly.

Sally and Irene had enjoyed what was, by all accounts, a first rate meal down in St Heliers.

The next morning Irene and I set of for the 'Auckland Domain'. The Winter Gardens are spectacular every time we go. It was interesting to notice the different collection of flowers to those were used to in January and February. In particular I noticed the lack of Hibiscus plants. 

Using my old knowledge of Auckland I left the domain with SAT Nav off and found my way to the garden centre and then on to 'New World' supermarket before getting back.