Many fruit farmers were very worried and picked as much as they could of the grape harvest etc, but the rain was much needed in the dry Canterbury plains.
The waves crashing on the beach were superb even though the storm was not as bad as expected.
Tuesday 24 March 2015
Cyclone Pam
While Malcolm was away the news here was full of the big category 5 Cyclone heading our way. It devastated Vanuatu, but was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it got here - thank goodness.
Many fruit farmers were very worried and picked as much as they could of the grape harvest etc, but the rain was much needed in the dry Canterbury plains.
The waves crashing on the beach were superb even though the storm was not as bad as expected.
Many fruit farmers were very worried and picked as much as they could of the grape harvest etc, but the rain was much needed in the dry Canterbury plains.
The waves crashing on the beach were superb even though the storm was not as bad as expected.
Monday 23 March 2015
Back to NZ
So lovely to see Malcolm home again, although the journey this direction is very tiring.
He arrived back on Thursday 19th at 1am local time and is still catching up with missing several nights sleep! We stayed up in Auckland as he had a conference there on the Saturday, so on Friday we went over the West coast at Piha and enjoyed some fun body boarding in waves that felt like walls of water towering over us - all very exciting and a bit scary!
I think he is glad to be back in the sun.
Shona has changed her look a bit too (back to pre NZ hair length!!) - after being 'bullied' by Malcolm, Rhian, Callum and Iris!
During a short walk from the Jandals Palace hostel to a local waterfall we met a Channel 4 film crew making a new C4 advert!! - what a brilliant trip for the crew for a 10 second ad!
Apparently it is about re crystals floating up out of a waterfall to make the 4?!?
While Malcolm was at the conference, Shona went to the beautiful island of Waihiki. It is certainly somewhere we will go back for a longer visit! Lucky Hamish is off there on Wednesday for a week - he will love it.
Boing on the water is always wonderful especially with the superb views of Auckland city form the harbour. Todays visitor was the Queen Mary 2 looking very majestic.
He arrived back on Thursday 19th at 1am local time and is still catching up with missing several nights sleep! We stayed up in Auckland as he had a conference there on the Saturday, so on Friday we went over the West coast at Piha and enjoyed some fun body boarding in waves that felt like walls of water towering over us - all very exciting and a bit scary!
I think he is glad to be back in the sun.
Shona has changed her look a bit too (back to pre NZ hair length!!) - after being 'bullied' by Malcolm, Rhian, Callum and Iris!
Apparently it is about re crystals floating up out of a waterfall to make the 4?!?
While Malcolm was at the conference, Shona went to the beautiful island of Waihiki. It is certainly somewhere we will go back for a longer visit! Lucky Hamish is off there on Wednesday for a week - he will love it.
Boing on the water is always wonderful especially with the superb views of Auckland city form the harbour. Todays visitor was the Queen Mary 2 looking very majestic.
Farewell
The last 6 weeks have been a strange and sad time, which has made us both think of family and realise how far away we really are despite the Skype and Whatsapp connections.
The family gave Iori a good send off with about 40 to 50 people at the church and about 30-40 at the tea afterwards at the Beaufort hotel. The funeral service and graveside was very dignified, with Malcolm and Callum walking with the coffin and Rhian doing one of the readings. Everyone was very composed and strong during a very emotional day.
The family gave Iori a good send off with about 40 to 50 people at the church and about 30-40 at the tea afterwards at the Beaufort hotel. The funeral service and graveside was very dignified, with Malcolm and Callum walking with the coffin and Rhian doing one of the readings. Everyone was very composed and strong during a very emotional day.
Saturday 7 March 2015
Wandering Minstral returns
Hamish our young friend has completed his month in the south island and has come back for a wee while to relax and chill.
It is lovely for Shona as Malcolm is back in the UK with the kids at this sad time until the funeral on 16th March.
Malcolm enjoying a pint of REAL beer! - he has missed it!
It has been lovely to see where Callum is studying and meet (properly not just on Skype) some of their super friends. And it is the first time that we have been to stay in Rhian's home, she felt dad was so tired that she gave up her bed with the electric blanket so he could have a good nights sleep!
Shona and Hamish have been to a Chiefs vs Highlanders rugby match (the Highlanders outplayed the Chiefs unfortunately 20- 17). And had some fun swimming in the sea with friends
It is lovely for Shona as Malcolm is back in the UK with the kids at this sad time until the funeral on 16th March.
Malcolm enjoying a pint of REAL beer! - he has missed it!
Shona and Hamish have been to a Chiefs vs Highlanders rugby match (the Highlanders outplayed the Chiefs unfortunately 20- 17). And had some fun swimming in the sea with friends
Difficult time
The last week of February has been a very distressing and upsetting time, Malcolm's dad Iori who had been in hospital for 2 weeks became very ill. The family kept vigil for a full week until St David's day 1st of March, when the sky was blue and the daffodils were dancing that Iori passed away. A true Welshman to the end.
Everyone has found this time very hard but we are so grateful to Wynford who kept Malcolm and I in very close touch through Whatsapp. Rhian and Callum said their goodbyes on the Saturday. The funeral will be on Monday 16th March.
Malcolm left last Tuesday to fly home, it took a day and a half to get there direct. He arrived back to a chilly 3 degrees, and he had forgotten his hat!
Malcolm is staying with his mum while he is in the UK but has gone down to Cardiff this weekend to see Rhian and Callum.
Everyone has found this time very hard but we are so grateful to Wynford who kept Malcolm and I in very close touch through Whatsapp. Rhian and Callum said their goodbyes on the Saturday. The funeral will be on Monday 16th March.
Malcolm left last Tuesday to fly home, it took a day and a half to get there direct. He arrived back to a chilly 3 degrees, and he had forgotten his hat!
Janine Departs and Bob and June arrive!
February visitors number 3!
After a lovely week catching up of spa days, hot pool swims and many hours of catching up, Janine headed back to Brisbane to complete the sale of her business and become a travelling lady of leisure!
2 days late Malcolm's old friends form Uni days, Bob and June arrived to stay for a long weekend at the start of their 3 week tour of NZ, again lots of catching up and reminiscing!
We went up to Hahei our favourite place in the Coromandel (nothing to do with the fact that the backpackers is right next to a micro brewery of course!). The sea food platters were delish!
This time Steve and Jen had lent us the 2 man canoe so we did some serious (or Shona thought it was tough!!) canoeing to see Cathederal Cove, snorkelling in stingray bay and into the huge blowhole. Our exit from the beach was pretty cool calm and collected, unlike when Malcolm and Bob tried it later - sorry no photos was laughing too much!!
Second try the did manage to get out over the waves!!
We popped over to Whitianga on the wee ferry and saw this HUGE blue marlin being weighed and photographed, it was 186kg (no idea who the random lady is, and it is not blood on her tee shirt just a red design!!)
After a lovely week catching up of spa days, hot pool swims and many hours of catching up, Janine headed back to Brisbane to complete the sale of her business and become a travelling lady of leisure!
2 days late Malcolm's old friends form Uni days, Bob and June arrived to stay for a long weekend at the start of their 3 week tour of NZ, again lots of catching up and reminiscing!
We went up to Hahei our favourite place in the Coromandel (nothing to do with the fact that the backpackers is right next to a micro brewery of course!). The sea food platters were delish!
This time Steve and Jen had lent us the 2 man canoe so we did some serious (or Shona thought it was tough!!) canoeing to see Cathederal Cove, snorkelling in stingray bay and into the huge blowhole. Our exit from the beach was pretty cool calm and collected, unlike when Malcolm and Bob tried it later - sorry no photos was laughing too much!!
We popped over to Whitianga on the wee ferry and saw this HUGE blue marlin being weighed and photographed, it was 186kg (no idea who the random lady is, and it is not blood on her tee shirt just a red design!!)
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