Clive Square, Napier

Hi all, After having Sky installed this morning, we had to pop to Napier to get a few jobs done, on our way we had a stroll through Clive Square. The atmosphere there is relaxing and everyone is so friendly. The gardens are so well maintained and the flowers we're stunning.

Bay View

The closer we got to Bay View the more drift wood there was on the beach...

This must have been the dad.....

and this must have been the baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Graham watching the wind surfers...in the background you can see Bluff Hill where we have been looking at houses for sale.......

New Zealand christmas tree

The weather has been gorgeous again here today...we decided to go for a walk from our house to Bay View. The street we live on is a cul de sac and at the end there is a pathway that leads straight to Bayview. On the way we took some pictures of some flowers. There is also a picture of a pohutuKawa...also known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree.

Tuki Tuki River

After viewing a few houses in the morning, we went to Helen and Jon's house for lunch and then visited the Tuki Tuki River for a nice walk. There are stunning views from there you can see up to Te Mata Peak. We ran out of land at one point and ended up having to cross the river!! The water was so so clear...and Graham started murmering something about having to get another rod for Trout fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better late than never.....

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/30315/I-m-leaving-Britain-for-a-better-life-at-age-of-102

J and G x

New Year 2007

Miss you all loads...and hope 2008 is a great year for each and everyone of you. Stay in touch.

Graham and Jade xx

Happy New Year to you All in UK

Well, woke up New Years Day and got ready for celebration number 2...the UK New Year!!Had breakfast in the garden, and then at about midday we all huddles in the lounge with party poppers and listened to Big Ben Strike.....lots of cheering and hugging and probably confused neighbours!!

We then went for a walk on the beach...came home and started the BBQ...the sun was shining, the weather was lovely and we had good company. At about 5.00, Lee left for home back to Wellington, which is approximately four and a half hours away!

We packed some bags and went over the road to the beach, where the boys had ............A FISH! It was sunny, but a little windy so helen and I came home after about an hour and started preparing BBQ number 2.

With the promise of some fish for tea...we we're really looking forward to the BBQ but the boys came back empty handed...'its all about the experience' though apparently!! ( Lucky I had bought stuff for BBQ then isn't it!?!)

Had food in garden...and did a BBQ'd dessert.....a concoction of banansa, chocolate chips and marshmellows....seemed to go down well!!

All in all a good New Year....................

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE BACK HOME XX

New Years Eve 2007

New Years Eve we went food shopping in the morning to get ready for our friends arriving. Lee, a friend from Wellington who we know through a forum we belong to, arrived at about 4pm and Helen and Jon came around about 8.00pm. Had a drink before we left and then went to Ahuriri for a few drinks. We went to the Gin Trap for one drink and then straight to the Thirsty Whale for a bit of a dance!! It was quite busy by New Zealands standards...but you could still move and get a drink within a minute of being at the bar...so wasn't like a New Year back in the UK!

Helen and Jade we're on the dance floor most of the time, so much so, we ended up cutting it a bit fine and didn't leave the bar until 11.35pm! Went straight to Napier, parked up and followed the crowds!! We all stood on the promenade waiting for the big countdown and fireworks...everyone seemd to be sober...apart from 4 of our party!! We all stood in a circle and sang along to 'Auld Lang Syne' holding hands....surrounded by quiet reserved Kiwi's!!...it was a bit of a role reversal!

The fireworks we're fantastic and lasted around 20 minutes...we then went back to our house had a toast and some champagne...

Alarm went off at 4.50am to watch the sunrise in one of the first places to see it in the world...the end of our drive!! All five of us agreed to do it...and at this time in the morning it ended up being only Graham and Lee who actually got up!

Woke up about 9.00am ish New Yeards Day , had brekky in the garden.......

New Years Day...to be continued....off to bed we're shattered!!

PS- GET WELL SOON to Rio and dad xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx