So Love You All !

      

Poppy (our Popstar)

Robert (our cuddly Rob)

Toby (our little champ)

Shhh.. Says Henry

         

How you are growing, Henry.

Is that Granma Barbara's chair you are sitting on Henry?

Middle Earth

Come with me, let me take you on an adventure...

In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit...

~:~:~:~:~:~

 As we enter the Shire we upon two very neat and tidy hobbit holes.

I wonder who maintains this productive vegetable garden?

Happy little bird houses.

Lets take a turn, a twist,  a step and see what we will see -

 

What a quiet shire it is today, not a hobbit to be seen.

Ah - two hobbits say hello.

What is this up ahead?  What a lovely shaped tree.

 No it isn't...is it?

The door is open...should we say hello?

Bilbo...Bilbo Baggins, are you home?

Perhaps Sam is home, Frodo's workman, he will know where those Baggins hobbits are.

 No Sam's hobbit hole looks quiet as well...hmm

I know!        I know!  

Where would hobbits be on a hot sunny day?

Off we go on an adventure.... 

 Over the bridge and through the woods

 Past the mill...

 Here we are - The Green Dragon Inn

Open the door...

The perfect hobbit gathering place.

A cooling ale had by all. 

 Everywhere evidence of clever hobbit workmanship.

 Farewell Hobbiton you have left your mark.

We shall return.

New Zealand Trip - What ?

Potatoes in a box - what?

When I saw Felicity get potatoes out of a box I thought "I've got to have some of that!"

Who wouldn't buy potatoes in a neat little box.  Love the idea!  Come on Aussie get on board.

New Zealand Trip 2013 - Whakatane Arts Festival

Beautiful evening for a play - Twelfth Night

 A bucket of KFC, glass of wine and all is right with the world...aahh..

What the heck...  a kiwi creeping through.  Those whacky kiwis.

New Zealand Trip - Whakatane

View from the look-out by Seaview Drive Whakatane.  Whale Island out at sea.

Whakatane Heads.

In the centre of town is this huge rock, a Pohutukawa tree somehow grows on top.

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/pohutukawa-flowers

New Zealand Trip - Ohope Kiwi Walk

Nice look guys!  At the entrance to the Ohope Kiwi Walk.

I asked them not to look so posed all the time...hmm...

Tarzan ! Well not really, he was on his cell phone, hence  being so far behind.

But hey, happy accident, look at that wonderful bush!

View from the top.

Nikau Palm endemic to New Zealand.    [Huge fronds, and thick trunk]

Mex [Robert] and Lisa generously offered their bach at Ohope.  

What a wonderful area.  

We played Putt-Putt golf many times, walked the beach often, learned to surf, great eating, handy to Whakatane and shopping.

  http://www.whakatane.com/attractions-activities/ohope

New Zealand Trip 2013 - At Kevin's House

Kevin and Fliss's home and diary farm are at Waimana where Percy's other brothers, Burnie, David, & Malcolm, as well as cousin Robert Mexted, live and run dairy farms.  Percy's sister, Carolyn, also has a dairy farm on the way to Opotiki. Just over the hill really...

Fliss [AKA Felicity,  sister-in-law, married to Percy's  younger brother Kevin] took a break from preparing dinner to teach us Bocce.

Looks like Fliss's shot was a good one.  

Your turn now Jules!  Duncan has a snigger, nice one.

Big brother, Burnie, in overalls.  What the heck has Kevin got on???

Standing - Claudia, just off to boarding school.   Sitting - Thomas & Monique.  Monique is Kevin and Fliss's oldest girl.

New Zealand Trip - Ohope Beach

 Views from Ohope Beach.  White Island (active volcano) off in the distance.

Vistas from the bush walk I did while waiting for the surf lesson.  

Looking through huge Pohutukawa trees out to sea. 

We must visit when the pohutukawa trees are out at Christmas, bright red flower must be spectacular.

New Zealand Trip 2013 - D & J Learn to Surf

Beaver Porter is his name.

Surfing bum is his game.

Duncan and Julia have been surfing before but this is their first official lesson.  The boards are long for stability.  As Beaver said, "Come tomorrow, the surf is narly today".  

Booking was made, 10am the following day.  8am we receive a call, surfs good, head down at 9.  So off we went.  Mum went walking on the point in the background of these shots.  Just beautiful, photos to follow.   

2 hours + later Dunc and Julia are certified surfers...cool.