Lake Taupo, playground of New Zealand

In the middle of the North Island of New Zealand is
Lake Taupo
our largest lake of 238sq miles.
With miles of beach front it is a great holiday destination
in Summer.

These photos were taken in November
and I wrote this post back then but forgot about it!
Most photos were taken in the late afternoon
so I apologise as they are a little dark
(adds to the atmosphere - that's my story)!

Lake Taupo attracts many fly fishermen and women
both local and from overseas.
The lake is stocked with trout, both rainbow and brown.

These photos are of Huka Lodge a luxury lodge
where those looking for a special experience will stay.
It has beautiful rooms most of which look out on to
the Waikato river.
 The restaurant offers fine dining
and the current executive chef has worked in
one, two and three Michelin star restaurants! 

There have been a plethora of famous guests
but none more so than:

Image courtesy of Google

HM Queen Elizabeth; The Queen Mother.
Did you know she was a keen and
accomplished at fly fishing!

Lake Taupo is a great location for a bach
(that's what Kiwi's call a holiday home)!
It's all about life on the water, fishing and having
fun with the children/grandchildren!
What more could one want out of life?

Three majestic mountains stand guard at the
southern end of the lake.
Mount Ruapehu has two world class ski grounds.

Taupo has much to offer
as an adventure playground for the young action seekers
 and also
a special environment for young families and
older almost retirees like myself!


It's Sunday so I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday
Judith for Mosaic Monday
Bernideen for BTTCG
and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration.
Thank you ladies for hosting!

Thank you for visiting
reading my posts and leaving your lovely comments!

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt



Shane

Five on Friday

Our weekend breakfast often consists of

bacon and egg on toast

followed by a couple of cups of coffee

and enjoying eating at a leisurely pace!

I subscribe to this magazine and it

arrived in my mailbox during the week.

I love a good magazine

and there's lots to inspire in this issue.

A patio rose in my garden called
The Fairy
she's not a good picker but lovely in the garden.

This little antique french porcelain box
was given to me by my embroidery friends
for a special birthday.
It's only 2 inches (2.5 centimeters)
just to give you an idea of size.
It's one of my very favourite things!

Can you see the little bird
sitting expectantly on her nest?
As you know we are moving into Autumn
on my side of the world,
therefore she seems to have her seasons mixed up!

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday


Thank you all for your visits and
wishing everyone a happy weekend.

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt


Shane

Chateau farm fences

In the wheat cropping areas of France

many farms don't have boundary fences

as there are no animals to contain.

After driving for miles with no fences

I was excited to see this hedge

along the roadside boundary of

the Chateau farm.

The Chateau was hidden until we came

to a clearing and 

all of a sudden there it was....

a pretty chateau

complete with simple farm fences!

I'm joining Tex for Good Fences

Thank you for your comments

take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Obaibi Red Gumboots

Aren't these the cutest red gumboots ever?

I took this photo in the

Obaibi store in France while shopping with my

daughter last year!

I'm joining the team at Ruby Tuesday Too

Thank you all for popping and leaving your comments!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

All at Sea

This is Bean Rock lighthouse 
which has been guiding ships

into Auckland harbour since 1871!

It sits on top of a crop of rocks visible at low tide.

My husband sorting rigging on board 

on a magnificent summer's day

in the Bay of Islands.

Johnathan Livingston Seagull and friends.

I'm joining Sally for Blue Monday

Thank you for visiting and have a happy week
only eight more days and it will be March!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

A Sunny day in Noyers-sur-Surein, France

It was a beautiful mid summer's day

when we visited the charming village of

Noyers-sur-Serein.

This village is a commune of artisans

living out their dream in this beautiful

medieval village in the Chablis

wine growing region of France.

We wandered around the narrow lanes

most barely wide enough for a small car.

There were charming stone houses with

gardens spilling out on to the walkways.
Peeps of pretty gardens,
and self sown flowers lining the little lanes.

It is the sort of village one could imagine living in

and being part of their artistic way of life.

Things seem to move at a slow pace

and no one is in a hurry.

We stopped at a cafe and enjoyed a cool drink

of Orangina, so refreshing on a hot day.

Later we spread a picnic rug beside the river

and ate a delicious lunch

of ham rolls made by my granddaughters

followed by a piece of fruit,

what more could one want?

A perfect day spent with my family

in the middle of France!

A day when beautiful memories are made.

I'm joining 

Karen for Sunlit Sunday

Judith for Mosaic Monday

Bernideen for BTTCG

and

Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration.

Thank you for visiting and reading my posts

take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Highlights of my Week

Flowers from my late summer garden

it has been a long dry, hot summer

with very little rain.

However three days ago the Heavens opened

I wanted to race outside and do a little dance!!!

Yea!

This is Red beach on the
Whangaparoa Peninsula 
about an hour north of Auckland.
I took this photo on the edge of the cliff
where one of my friends has a beach house.

Summer means BBQ's
and one of the best things is Sweetcorn on the barbie!

My favourite summer tea is
Twinings New Zealand Earl Grey.
I drink my tea without milk or sugar
so I like it weak and this blend is perfect for me.

I've been wanting this dog for as long as I can remember
well not this particular one....
but a wire haired terrier.
I met him while I was walking through the park
however his mother had a tight hold on his lead
otherwise
I'm sure I could have persuaded him to come home with me!
NO - honestly I'm not a dog snatcher!
but all the same I would loved to have picked him up and run home with him.
A piece of advice - lock up your dogs!!!


I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday
Congratulations Amy on "Fives" first birthday!
and
Eileen for Saturday's Critters

Thank you so much for your visits

Take care and
be kind to one another


à bientôt


Shane

Galway Bay Fences

On my visit to Ireland last year

I would love to have seen the sun go down on 

Galway Bay.

I realised later that one of the downsides

of being on an organised tour

is that things don't always work out the way we want.

If we are lucky enough to return to the
Emerald Isle
we will hire a car as there is so much more
we want to see and do.

Being a keen gardener I was hoping to see
Helen Dillon's world renowned garden
but the open days didn't coincide with our tour dates.

It was a happy surprise when now and then
our bus ventured down lovely old country roads!

I'm joining Tex for her 100th link up for Good Fences 

CONGRATULATIONS TEX!!!


Thank you for visiting and your kind comments

Take care and
be kind to one another
à bientôt

Shane

Brocante Food Stall

A vegetable stall at a Brocante

in France last summer.

Delicious red tomatoes and strawberries

grown locally.

I'm joining Gemma for Ruby Tuesday Too

thank you for hosting.

Thank you for popping in to say hello!

Take care and

be kind to one another.

à bientôt

Shane