I hope we can get close to those farm animals before we leave NZ :)
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Enjoying the kiwi view
He loved looking through the window - we kept hearing "woow! cow! sheep!"
I hope we can get close to those farm animals before we leave NZ :)
I hope we can get close to those farm animals before we leave NZ :)
Uncle Alistair
I have an uncle in Japan who is funny and always friendly. I think all families have one of these great people.
Here is Uncle Alistair
Here is Uncle Alistair
Mystery bus trip - Part II
Yes! Our next stop was a winery - Coopers Creek Vineyard. Matthew and I were really hoping one of the stops on this tour would be a winery and there we were!!
While other visitors were sampling the wine, we enjoyed some tasty fresh apples. Especially Oliver, he ate a whole apple and still went back for seconds. They were so crisp and sweet!
I have done wine tasting a few times but not like this one. We had over 10 different wines - how generous! The vineyard collects different grapes from many different places in NZ as well as growing some in their own vineyard.
I thought a couple of wine tastings would be good for our baby in my tummy but after 3 or 4 tastings I had to give up and pass my glasses to Matthew. I liked the reisling and the dessert one tho.
While adults tasted fine wines, the kids were occupied by special snack packs prepared by Merryn - she is wonderful!
The vineyard had an excellent facility for lunch. Instead of offering restaurant food, they offer picnic tables for people to bring their own picnic. After a good rainfall the grass looked nice and green and the air was very fresh - fantastic!! (I ate too much again...)
After the lunch we had a little walk in the native garden. I love NZ plants : )
And some games of chess
Richard vs Rory
Having a few glasses of wine and full tummies we were ready for more mystery bus rides and more stops.
The great fun continued...
While other visitors were sampling the wine, we enjoyed some tasty fresh apples. Especially Oliver, he ate a whole apple and still went back for seconds. They were so crisp and sweet!
I have done wine tasting a few times but not like this one. We had over 10 different wines - how generous! The vineyard collects different grapes from many different places in NZ as well as growing some in their own vineyard.
I thought a couple of wine tastings would be good for our baby in my tummy but after 3 or 4 tastings I had to give up and pass my glasses to Matthew. I liked the reisling and the dessert one tho.
While adults tasted fine wines, the kids were occupied by special snack packs prepared by Merryn - she is wonderful!
The vineyard had an excellent facility for lunch. Instead of offering restaurant food, they offer picnic tables for people to bring their own picnic. After a good rainfall the grass looked nice and green and the air was very fresh - fantastic!! (I ate too much again...)
After the lunch we had a little walk in the native garden. I love NZ plants : )
And some games of chess
Richard vs Rory
Having a few glasses of wine and full tummies we were ready for more mystery bus rides and more stops.
The great fun continued...
Wet wet mystery bus trip - Part I
We were woken up by very noisy rain this morning. Our big family day out... I was very optimistic and was sure it would clear up by the time we got on the family mystery bus tour. Well... not quite.
There was a great big party bus waiting for us in the rain in front of M&D's.
The kids didn't care about the rain, they were on the bus!
Rory and Gus
Devon and Corin
Hamish, Talia and Saskia
All on board!?
The first mystery stop was Mt. Wellington which is a 137 metre volcanic peak. According to Wikipedia, it is the youngest onshore volcano of the Auckland volcanic field, having been formed by an eruption around 9,000 years ago.
It looked like the rain was easing when we got there, but by the time we all dressed in rain coats and started walking towards the peak, it got stormy again :(
Oliver with Caroline (you can see they were still dry...)
The rain is back! Run everyone run!
Matthew and Oliver got quite wet! But it was fun!
We didn't give up on our hopes and carried on to the next stop - Mt. Eden (you can see some pictures taken on fine days here)
It was getting slightly better though, just a very slight shower.
Can you see the Sky Tower in the distance?
We got back in the bus and carried on our tour. It was a good 40 min ride until we got to the next stop. There was lots of catching up going on in the bus which was lovely. The kids were very excited to be with their cousins and we were very curious where our next stop would be!
There was a great big party bus waiting for us in the rain in front of M&D's.
The kids didn't care about the rain, they were on the bus!
Rory and Gus
Devon and Corin
Hamish, Talia and Saskia
All on board!?
The first mystery stop was Mt. Wellington which is a 137 metre volcanic peak. According to Wikipedia, it is the youngest onshore volcano of the Auckland volcanic field, having been formed by an eruption around 9,000 years ago.
It looked like the rain was easing when we got there, but by the time we all dressed in rain coats and started walking towards the peak, it got stormy again :(
Oliver with Caroline (you can see they were still dry...)
The rain is back! Run everyone run!
Matthew and Oliver got quite wet! But it was fun!
We didn't give up on our hopes and carried on to the next stop - Mt. Eden (you can see some pictures taken on fine days here)
It was getting slightly better though, just a very slight shower.
Can you see the Sky Tower in the distance?
We got back in the bus and carried on our tour. It was a good 40 min ride until we got to the next stop. There was lots of catching up going on in the bus which was lovely. The kids were very excited to be with their cousins and we were very curious where our next stop would be!
Friday, 15 April 2011
Visit to the city center
We have been so lucky with the weather since we got here. Everyday it has been over 20 degrees and we can enjoy the blue sky.
This morning while others were busy picking up more family members from the airport, the three of us took a bus into town and did a bit more coffeeing and shopping.
Here is Matthew and Oliver waiting for the bus.
Wonderful blue sky!
We had lunch on the waterfront. Oliver was more into wandering around than his food.
We didn't do anything special but we felt so good - Love NZ so much!
This morning while others were busy picking up more family members from the airport, the three of us took a bus into town and did a bit more coffeeing and shopping.
Here is Matthew and Oliver waiting for the bus.
Wonderful blue sky!
We had lunch on the waterfront. Oliver was more into wandering around than his food.
We didn't do anything special but we felt so good - Love NZ so much!
The family is gathering
We are going to have a big family day out tomorrow. More of our family members arrived today.The English Roses arrived from Nelson and Uncle Alistair and Aunty Avette arrived from Christchurch.
We all went out to have a very yummy Vietnamese dinner. It was fab.
After we came home it was time for some rugby watching over some beer and whiskey! As you do on the weekends in New Zealand! Of course our team the Crusaders WON, Yeah!!!
We all went out to have a very yummy Vietnamese dinner. It was fab.
After we came home it was time for some rugby watching over some beer and whiskey! As you do on the weekends in New Zealand! Of course our team the Crusaders WON, Yeah!!!
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Auckland Domain
Caroline and Richard took us to the Auckland Domain this afternoon. It is the oldest and one of the biggest parks in Auckland.
When I took his shoes off he felt the soft green grass he said "Wooow" and loved walking on the grass with bare feet.
Oliver with Matthew and Caroline
We only visited a small part of the park but it was just what we needed. Lovely weather, nice coffees and just chilling out, catching up while Oliver chased some pigeons and seagulls.
When I took his shoes off he felt the soft green grass he said "Wooow" and loved walking on the grass with bare feet.
Oliver with Matthew and Caroline
We only visited a small part of the park but it was just what we needed. Lovely weather, nice coffees and just chilling out, catching up while Oliver chased some pigeons and seagulls.
Park across the road
Merryn and Dennis's place is fantastic, it is right next to a bird sanctuary park with a playground!!
Oliver went to check out it out this morning with Matthew. It was another beautiful day and he had so much fun!!
This is the view from their driveway, can you see how close we are to the park?
Oliver and his cousins will be spending lots of time in this park for the coming week : )
Oliver went to check out it out this morning with Matthew. It was another beautiful day and he had so much fun!!
This is the view from their driveway, can you see how close we are to the park?
Oliver and his cousins will be spending lots of time in this park for the coming week : )
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
The excitement is building!!
We got this invitation from Merryn and Dennis for this weekend for their 60th birthday blast! How exciting!!
1. A multi-stop mystery bus excursion on Saturday, leaving outside M＆D's place at 10.00 am, returning for . . .
2. Festivities and dinner on Saturday evening at M&D's, commencing on our return from our excursion at about 6.30pm.
3. A recovery brunch on Sunday (beginning after 10.30am.)
Bring:
· Camera
· Warm jacket (hopefully not necessary)
· Waterproof jacket (hopefully not necessary)
Wear:
· tidy casual clothes
· walking shoes
· sunglasses, sunhat
We are looking forward to a fun weekend with you.
Merryn and Dennis
1. A multi-stop mystery bus excursion on Saturday, leaving outside M＆D's place at 10.00 am, returning for . . .
2. Festivities and dinner on Saturday evening at M&D's, commencing on our return from our excursion at about 6.30pm.
3. A recovery brunch on Sunday (beginning after 10.30am.)
Bring:
· Camera
· Warm jacket (hopefully not necessary)
· Waterproof jacket (hopefully not necessary)
Wear:
· tidy casual clothes
· walking shoes
· sunglasses, sunhat
We are looking forward to a fun weekend with you.
Merryn and Dennis
Coffee break
While Oliver was having fun with Merryn at the kindy and the farm, we enjoyed our shopping. We were quite efficient knowing which shops to visit and what to get.
It was another lovely summery day here in Auckland so we sat outside for a nice cuppa! Very relaxing - we could even have a proper conversation for a change!
Just the two of us : )
It was another lovely summery day here in Auckland so we sat outside for a nice cuppa! Very relaxing - we could even have a proper conversation for a change!
Just the two of us : )
A day out without his parents
A parent report from Kindy (Merryn) was very good : ) He didn't cry, he played nicely with the other children. Loved the farm visit - he touched baby rabbits, loved watching the piglets, wasn't too impressed by Eddy the donkey as he was too noisy.
After the visit to the kindy he went to pick up his cousins from school and went their house for a playdate.
He had such a wonderful day!!
Quiet morning just the two of us
Oliver's exciting NZ excursion has started! (I am sure he loved shopping with us yesterday too)
This morning Merryn and Dennis kindly took Oliver to their kindy - Old MacDonald's Country Kindy here in Auckland. He will be spending all afternoon there, playing with some kiwi kids and visiting the animal farm attached to the Kindy - lucky boy!
That means Matthew and I get to have a quiet morning just the two of us - enjoying our first hot cross buns of the year.
We don't waste our precious time tho, we are off to Dress Mart very soon - my favourite shopping place in Auckland!
Here is Oliver's new friend "Big Teddy" with my breakfast.
This morning Merryn and Dennis kindly took Oliver to their kindy - Old MacDonald's Country Kindy here in Auckland. He will be spending all afternoon there, playing with some kiwi kids and visiting the animal farm attached to the Kindy - lucky boy!
That means Matthew and I get to have a quiet morning just the two of us - enjoying our first hot cross buns of the year.
We don't waste our precious time tho, we are off to Dress Mart very soon - my favourite shopping place in Auckland!
Here is Oliver's new friend "Big Teddy" with my breakfast.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Cool present
Oliver was lucky to get this cool lunch box from Merryn & Dennis.
So when we went shopping (that's what you do on a sunny gorgeous day in NZ right?) we packed him a pasta lunch in his brand new lunch box!
Monday, 11 April 2011
Oliver's routine
When he gets on the plane, he puts his seatbelt on by himself (we let him sit by himself until take off) and reads the emergency procedure leaflet : )
Hello NZ!
We took a night flight this time which was a fab idea! Oliver was showered and in his pajamas when we checked in at Brunei airport. He was so funny putting his carry on luggage on the belt at the check in but was very confused why his luggage didn't go though like daddies ones - bless him.
He slept 5 mins after taking off then woke up 20 mins before landing, so we could actually enjoy the inflight entertainment etc.
And we flew into this gorgeous NZ weather, scenery, and beautiful clean air!
Clear view of Rangitoto Island.
We were welcomed by the nice summery weather of Auckland and lunch in the courtyard. I love sitting outside without sweating : )
We love being back in NZ!!
He slept 5 mins after taking off then woke up 20 mins before landing, so we could actually enjoy the inflight entertainment etc.
And we flew into this gorgeous NZ weather, scenery, and beautiful clean air!
Clear view of Rangitoto Island.
We were welcomed by the nice summery weather of Auckland and lunch in the courtyard. I love sitting outside without sweating : )
We love being back in NZ!!
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