Red Cascado - Bottlebrush
Toi toi
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Daddy plane!
Oliver's words developed so much while we were in NZ. It is like someone pushed an ON button in his brain. He can even say his own name now!
One of his favourite sayings is "daddy plane!" every time he sees any RBA plane he shouts out and get excited, he is just so cute!
One of his favourite sayings is "daddy plane!" every time he sees any RBA plane he shouts out and get excited, he is just so cute!
Home sweet home
We arrived safely back home in Brunei. We had almost 2 weeks in Auckland but the time flew by! It was full of fun family activities. I haven't caught up with photo sorting and blogging about the last few days of our stay. They will be up soon : )
We are already looking forward to going back next time. Thank you everyone for making our holiday such a special one!
We are already looking forward to going back next time. Thank you everyone for making our holiday such a special one!
Monday, 18 April 2011
Rain rain go away...
We had such lovely weather (except for Saturday am) until today, it is very very wet and stormy...
Well when it's raining here in NZ, you need a good raincoat to go out. Oliver was given his first raincoat - ready to go out!
We visited The Auckland Museum - a great way to spend a rainy afternoon! I like this museum. They have great displays of volcano's, Maori culture, and a kids zone where kids can touch and explore things. It is located in the Auckland Domain so when the weather is nice, you can spend lovely time outside.
When we came out it was cold but sunny again!
Grandparents with 7 grandchildren shot : )
Well when it's raining here in NZ, you need a good raincoat to go out. Oliver was given his first raincoat - ready to go out!
We visited The Auckland Museum - a great way to spend a rainy afternoon! I like this museum. They have great displays of volcano's, Maori culture, and a kids zone where kids can touch and explore things. It is located in the Auckland Domain so when the weather is nice, you can spend lovely time outside.
When we came out it was cold but sunny again!
Grandparents with 7 grandchildren shot : )
Sunday brunch
M&D organised a family brunch on Sunday. We got to see more of the family members including those who couldn't make it to the mystery bus trip the day before.
Before everyone got there, the Rose children presented a special surprise to Merryn and Dennis.
It was a lovely painting of Lake Wanaka where the family had lots of memorable holidays over the years. The painting included a portrait of Merryn and Dennis looking over the lake.
We had a 120 candle birthday cake (60+60 if you are wondering why 120?) and delicious Great Aunty Maureen's famous gingersnaps!
The kids had a blast dancing around and swimming in the pool!!
Thank you M&D for a relaxing fun weekend, we all had a ball!!
Before everyone got there, the Rose children presented a special surprise to Merryn and Dennis.
It was a lovely painting of Lake Wanaka where the family had lots of memorable holidays over the years. The painting included a portrait of Merryn and Dennis looking over the lake.
We had a 120 candle birthday cake (60+60 if you are wondering why 120?) and delicious Great Aunty Maureen's famous gingersnaps!
The kids had a blast dancing around and swimming in the pool!!
Thank you M&D for a relaxing fun weekend, we all had a ball!!
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Family dinner
When we arrived at M&D's place for dinner and more party!, Caroline had decorated the house with a 50's theme!
Check out the detail!
Dennis
Merryn with a great afro!!
And dinner was served, it was so delicious, I couldn't stop myself getting seconds. Yuuuummmmmyyy!
It was actually very nice to come back to their place for a low key dinner. The kids were easily put in bed and it was a relaxing atmosphere for adults to eat and chat. A perfect way to finish off the big day!
Check out the detail!
Dennis
Merryn with a great afro!!
And dinner was served, it was so delicious, I couldn't stop myself getting seconds. Yuuuummmmmyyy!
It was actually very nice to come back to their place for a low key dinner. The kids were easily put in bed and it was a relaxing atmosphere for adults to eat and chat. A perfect way to finish off the big day!
Dry part of our tour
After the lovely picnic lunch we continued our mystery trip to the West Coast. The bus stopped at the Murawai Beach where we could see a colony of Gannets. The last time I visited here (2.5 years ago, it was mating season) the place was full of beautiful gannets. We were lucky to see some this time as they have just left their nests.
"Hey Oliver follow me I will show you something cool" (Devon).
Oliver's intense observation of the gannets.
Time for cousin shots! Look at the camera boys and a girl!!
Talia, Alistair, Oliver and Dennis.
Oscar and Rory whispering secret plans...
NZ is such a beautiful country - breath taking...
We hopped back on the bus and arrived at our last stop of the tour - Hopping Good Beer where we had a tour of the microbrewery and great beer tasting (I couldn't drink any more after all the wine over lunch time).
I really liked their beer tasting room, nice and cosy and they even had a children's play corner! Wonderful idea!!
We had such a lovely day, full of activities, it rained quite a lot but it wasn't a cold rain at all. So we enjoyed every part of it. Thank you M&D for organising such a great day for all of us!!
"Hey Oliver follow me I will show you something cool" (Devon).
Oliver's intense observation of the gannets.
Time for cousin shots! Look at the camera boys and a girl!!
Talia, Alistair, Oliver and Dennis.
Oscar and Rory whispering secret plans...
NZ is such a beautiful country - breath taking...
We hopped back on the bus and arrived at our last stop of the tour - Hopping Good Beer where we had a tour of the microbrewery and great beer tasting (I couldn't drink any more after all the wine over lunch time).
I really liked their beer tasting room, nice and cosy and they even had a children's play corner! Wonderful idea!!
We had such a lovely day, full of activities, it rained quite a lot but it wasn't a cold rain at all. So we enjoyed every part of it. Thank you M&D for organising such a great day for all of us!!
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!
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