The Lakes Golf Course & Resort Pauanui

On our recent trip to Coromandel we checked out
The Lakes Resort and Golf Club
a short distance from Pauanui.
There is also a gated resort style community there which we could
only see from a distance. The houses all looked very upmarket
but not our cup of tea!

While neither of us are golfers we enjoyed our little tour.
I had always thought I would like to take up golf when I retire
but now with one of my knees giving me grief
I feel I may be past it!!!

Do you play golf, I know it is a great way of exercising!

These are the 'bunkers' which look very tricky for a non-golfer like me!

I'm joining Maggie for Mosaic Monday
and I hope to catch up with you all there!

I may not visit you until the weekend because work gets in the way
of my fun blogging time!
Meantime, thank you all for your visits.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Five on Friday - Summer Down Under

1
A bowl of Catmint and Lobelia

enjoyed by both Mr and Mrs Goosey Gander and

the visiting neighbourhood pussycats!

I've observed several cats eating both the tips of leaves

and flowers - hence the alternative name of Catnip!

2
Chimes in one of the gardens I visited last year.

This country garden was filled with bird houses and feeders

all beautifully crafted by the owners.

3
The Light Between Oceans is the first book I've read this year

and I loved it!

I know the film is already out but if you haven't seen it yet

do try and read the book first.

 It is set on an island off the south west coast of Western Australia.

4
Boats moored at the new marina in Tairua, Coromandel Peninsula.

Photo courtesy of New Zealand Herald

5
This photo was in our newspaper last week.
I couldn't resist showing my friends in the northern hemisphere!

It was taken at a ski field at Cardrona in the South Island

where there was a freak snowfall in Summer!!!

Usually at this time of year the mountain

is a haven for day trippers - mountain bikers and walkers
clad in light tee shirts and shorts!

I'm joining Amy for

Five on Friday

(sorry I'm late Amy)

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Coromandel Sojourn, sun, surf and bird life.

On Thursday we travelled south east to Tairua a small coastal village
on the Coromandel Peninsula for a few days relaxation 
staying with friends at their iconic Kiwi bach (you can google bach)!

Tairua sits on an isthmus with
a tidal estuary on one side
and a typical east coast ocean beach on the other.
A favourite for the young surfies.

Each evening we enjoyed drinks and nibbles on the deck
overlooking the estuary.
It's ever changing movement from the rise and fall of the tide
made for great photo opportunities for Moi!

The Estuary

This time we had a special visitor join us each evening.
A poor little seagull with a broken leg whom our friends have befriended.
In the first photo you may be able to see how her right leg is hanging loose.
She has come to trust Don and he saves
fresh morsels of scallops and fish for her each day!
I nicknamed her Gammy.

The Ocean Beach

The New Zealand Dotterels (Plover family) make their nests in the sand dunes

on our northern beaches.
They are well camouflaged and blend into their surroundings
but still vulnerable to dogs if they are not on a leash.

Being a bird lover I feel dogs should be banned from these beaches
during the breeding season.

I'm joining Maggie for Mosaic Monday
and Eileen for Saturday Critters
and Jeanne for Blue Monday

However I'm so sorry to see because of the internet issues in her area
Jeanne feels unable to continue hosting Blue Monday.
I'm hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed that someone will take up the baton!

Thank you ladies for hosting!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Visiting Gardens with my dear friend...

In March last year one of my dearest friends moved out of Auckland.

It took me a long time to come to grips with Jen not being here.

We've been friends such a long time, 

in fact since I was 18 - that's 56 years! 

I think I've mentioned before that Friday is my MahJong day

and I would usually catch up with Jen for a cup of coffee or lunch afterwards.

She's also my best shopping mate - we like the same things

and I've missed our shopping sprees hugely.

However she is happy in her new home at Mount Maunganui

a seaside town in the Bay of Plenty.

She made the right decision to move out of the big city.

In about October Jen phoned to tell me there was an

Art and Garden Festival in her neck of the woods in November

and suggested I pop down for the weekend!

This was our first catch up in person since she stayed with us

before her big move.

It was so good to be together again and see her new home,

and catch up with her children

Annie her Labradoodle and her cat Molly..

We talked and talked late into the night - as all old friends do. 

The Gardens

We picked out several country gardens to visit

and they were all well worth while seeing. 

I take my hat off to the organisers who managed this event.

Everything went like clockwork,

as well as stunning gardens and friendly hosts and hostesses.

Directions and signs were spot on too - thank you!

There were delightful watering holes along the way to stop

and enjoy a cup of tea, sandwiches and other yummy goodies!

I hope my Northern Hemisphere friends enjoy my Summer photos!

I  must tell you how much I'm enjoying your "snow" photos.

Being a bird lover, I'm particularly interested in seeing photos

of your bird feeders and the birds who visit your gardens.

Where I live in New Zealand, it doesn't get cold enough for snow in winter

so maybe that's the reason we don't have a good selection

of feeders available here.

My friend Mary who blogs at A Breath of Fresh Air

welcomes all birds who venture into her garden for winter snacks.

In fact generations of birds have been taught by their parents

to include Mary and Bob's garden on their Winter food GPS route!

Do pop over to her blog and say hello

you will love her amazing bird photos.

She ensures there is an unlimited supply of food available

during the cold winter months,

in the form of suet, seeds and peanuts 

(which sometimes the naughty squirrels devour)!

On behalf of all those hungry birds and squirrels

Thank you Mary dear!

I'm joining Maggie for

Mosaic Monday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Under the Red Sunshades

A summer market in Kerikeri 

with music under the red umbrella.

A stop for lunch on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Paris

A glass of wine at Wynyard Quarter, Auckland

I'm linking to

Mosaic Monday

and 

Ruby Tuesday Too

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Five on Friday - Boats

My post today is all about boats

I may have told you before that

Auckland is known as

The City of Sails.

Auckland is surrounded by water so many children

learn to sail at a very young age.

Westhaven marina is a favourite haunt for us.

Both Reston and I belong to the RNZYS

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

Today we had a lunch at a cafe called 'The Sitting Duck'

as the Squadron restaurants etcet don't open again until next week.

Afterwards we drove around the harbour looking at boats!

It was fascinating watching the crane lifting large crates

on to the top deck of this luxury super yacht.

She is named Vibrant Curiosity and as she was flying the

Union Jack she must be from the UK.

We imagine she is here for a refit.

The exchange rate makes it worthwhile for many

overseas boats to come to Auckland to have work done.

Our local shipyards build many new boats too

for overseas owners.

Our nephew is a boat builder who works on these new builds.

Near the New Zealand Maritime Museum

are several heritage boats.

This yacht is the Aramoana built in 1938 by Gordon Pollard

a cousin of my father-in-law Russ Pollard.

They were great mates and sailed together on her for many years.

Notice there are no staunchons or handrails,

one needed to be sure footed moving about when under full sail.

Those were the days!

The Menai is a heritage launch which we owned in the 1970s.

It was the perfect boat for when our children were young.

It always brings back many happy memories!

I'm linking this post  to Amy's Five on Friday

Thank you Amy for hosting - it's been a while since I've joined in!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting and especially my friends
who have left me a comment!

It's lovely to be in touch again!

2017 - Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
from Auckland where I live.

Wishing you all good health
and a safe and peaceful world 
for each and every one of us to live in.

This year is very special for me as
 I'm looking forward to the arrival of my French family 
coming to live in New Zealand!
For me this will be a dream come true and
something that has been on my New Years wish list
for a very long time.😃

Here are the latest photos of

my granddaughters in Paris for

Christmas week

They visited Disneyland Paris

and Galeries Lafayette to see the Christmas Tree

and meet with Papa Noel!

For me the last six months of 2016 simply flew by.

My 2-3 days a week working

more often became 4 and sometimes 5 days

which sadly left me no time for writing blog posts.

However, I feel fortunate to be valued as a team member
in a young working environment!

With both of our children living overseas
I enjoy my contact with the younger generation.
I admire their 'can do' outlook on life
they all have dreams, plans and long term goals
and in today's market of higher salaries
life is good for them!

So here I am back in this wonderful world of
Blogging!
My goal is to post as time allows
I'm very much looking forwarding to rekindling
the wonderful friendships I've made while blogging
and I feel blessed to be part of this great on-line family!

Thank you to the special friends who popped in to say hello!

Please fill me in on what's happened, what I've missed
out on and any updates you think I should know.

Let me know if there is a new party you think I would enjoy
what books, CDs, movies you recommend not to be missed
special recipes you consider "must haves" and so on.
Whose had babies and grandbabies?

I'm way  behind the eight ball after missing 6 months here!!!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane