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

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!