Gloomy weather... and we thought it was summer!!!

I know you expected to see
photos depicting

 our beautiful summer

in New Zealand!

Unfortunately, we encountered

the tail end of the

cyclone that had caused

major flooding in Queensland.
(Image of the car ferry which transported

us to the road to Russell)

This view of our deck

looks more like winter

with wind and rain

and poor visibility,

not the way I planned it!

 

The tides were extremely high

(as in Spring)

but not expected in Summer!

The Russell wharf

is almost submerged,

we've never seen this
in the 40+ years
we've been coming here.

The boating club is almost

under water too.
We were surprised to find
there was not a soul
in sight.
The locals seem to go "bush"
in the weekends!!

Swamped dinghies on
the boat club jetty

So instead of our usual activites
of sailing around the islands,
we enhanced our fitness
with some great hikes
over the headlands of the area -
whew (puffing and panting)!
I think of myself as quite fit
I walk every day.
However,
they of the 'super fit brigade'
tell me
"you need to do more hill work"
...and so another resolution is
added to the list!!
but will she keep it you ask?
just you wait and see....

Naturally, the morning we're due

to head home, the fickle weather
decides to improve and
even the sun makes an appearance.
Isn't that always the way?

A cruise ship in the Bay.

From November to March

this is a very familiar sight.

And a welcome one too

as the tourist industry

is a huge part of our economy.

....and as the Mother Goose

nursery rhyme goes...

"home again

home again

jiggety jig".

With a view of Auckland city

from the motorway.
I love going away
as we do a lot in summer,
but always

the best feeling
is coming home
to our little nest

and one's own bed.
Bliss!

Thank you all for popping into my blog,
I love reading your comments
be kind to one another and
love life!!!
hugs
Shane x


Summertime and the living is easy.....

 With such fantastic weather

I've found it impossible

to sit indoors at my computer!!

Forgive me dear friends

for not posting before this

 ...but we're on the move again,

up North to the Bay of Islands,

I promise I'll have some photos

of our trip when we return

 so it's au revoir to the city

for another week or so!

(it's great being retired)

free as a bird

enjoying the sunshine and life

on the ocean waves!!!

Thank you all for popping into my blog,

I love reading your comments

please be kind to one another and

love life!!!

hugs

Shane x

Bonne année et bonne santé!

Very best wishes to you all!!!

I pray that 2011

is a very happy year

for us all

with all good things

in store !

  I took these photos

on Auckland Harbour

as we arrived home

from our 10 day holiday

away on the boat.

It was a perfect evening

as we moored in the

middle of the harbour

enjoying the fireworks.

Happy New Year

to you all!!!

Hugs

Shane x