Christmas 2010

December 6th and it's the end of our life in Singapore.  We are moving to a new adventure in Kuala Lumpur.  Our apartment in Lilydale 06-08 is all packed up and empty.  Landlords had been around earlier in the week and did their inspection and gave all our bond money back.  We had been ferreting our stuff up to Kuala Lumper during the last term and now only have our bags that we taking home to NZ.

Arrival in NZ was so good.  We knew we were being met by Beth, we were also anticipating the smells, and sights we would see after a 9 hour fight on Singapore Airlines.  It was lovely to be met by my sister looking gorgeous and happy.  She took us back to Thames in time to meet the children from school and that was as much a treat for them as it was for  us.  They had grown so much since we last saw them but still as beautiful as ever.  Dinner was a BBQ with Sue and Bruce and Chris and that too was so lovely.  Watching and smelling the BBQ was like an early Christmas present to us.  The last BBQ we had was when we were home last time and believe me there is nothing like a good BBQ at home.

The next day Beth went to rock 'n' roll and left us at home to mind the cat! well the cat decided to follow us out onto the roadside as we were taking pictures of the sunset.  She decided to go into the drain and we were concerned that she might go too far and get lost so Wayne called and enticed her but she didn't want to come out.  Back up on the road we could see that she wasn't going to step over the big puddle in the drain so left her there and yes she did come out.

The ensuing photo of the sunset was worth while.  Sunsets from our house are usually spectacular, especially the first one we see when we come home.

On our way to stay with David we stopped off at Bluebiyou for lunch.  We were lucky enough to get a window seat overlooking the beach and then couldn't resist a walk on the beach.  White sand! Fantastic.  We are still looking for a beautiful beach in Asia...we have seen some nice ones but yet to find a pristine one~We will keep searching.  Here Wayne is looking towards the Mount and all I can see his white sand to the end of the horizon.

It was such a beautiful day and the reflections in the sand were superb. Although the water was a little cold!

While waiting for David to cook a BBQ, a little waxeye came to visit.  They are such beautiful delicate birds.

We were waiting and waiting and David kept txting...but it was ok

                                   as Wayne had a bottle of Waikato to keep him occupied.

and as you can see it was cold...well we were cold.  David assured us it was warm but we didn't believe him!

The next day we travelled back to Thames making a stop off at Paeroa to take a photo with the bottle.  People travelling over to see us can always pop a can or two into their case!

Then it was coffee time at a little cafe in Karangahake.  This use to be quite a big community in the gold rush days where as now it is very small but has some lovely walks in the hills detailing the history. We chose to do the Windows walk...so pretty and natural.

Looking into the centre of a tree fern.

And of course you have to take a photo of the koru.  Wayne and I set a competition between us to see who could get the best photo and of course I won!

We walked along the little path on the right side of the photo just above the river.  Was a cool walk to do.

This is looking back out of one of the mine entrances.

To do this walk you need to cross a swing bridge...easy as after some of the ones I have been on in Asia.  I didn't even mind the little bit of swinging.  We stood for ages on the bridge watching the fish in the river below.

New Zealand scenery at its best.  The Karangahake River which is tidal as its not really that far to the beach from here.

I am always amazed at the beauty that nature throws up at you.  This is a simple daisy growing along the riverside.  And below is a nursery web spider hiding in its web on a gorse bush.  Although not as big as some we have seen in Asian, still too big for me to touch.

After spending a night with Beth we thought we should make our way to our little slice of paradise and boy was it great to be there.

Seagulls abound and they are quite cheeky.  always hanging around the fish bins, and the boats waiting for a titbit.

Our little slice of paradise - Papa Aroha Beach.  A great place to escape too and a great place to fish.  Some of us catch them two at a time.  And yes we did take them home and cook them up for dinner...or was it breakfast.  There was nothing better than spending a couple of hours out on the water, catch a fish or two take it home to cook.   YUM YUM

Wayne is driving the tractor which we use to launch the boat.  It belongs to the camping ground for people to use to launch and bring your boat back in.  I am not brave or confident enough to drive this machine and would rather leave that for Wayne to do.

Sunsets at the beach are astounding.  I was amazed at the cloud formations this night.

Another night it was so pink that the water also turned pink.