Rainy Day in Bay of Islands

Oh well, I expect it had to happen sometime. The rain has come to the Bay of Islands, which actually has pleased most people as it was needed by the gardens and fills dwindling water tanks. For Brian it provides the opportunity to sit at the computer and update the blog; for Dawn she stands behind radiating joy while doing the ironing......

The adventures for Brian of riding Harley's around California and Nevada with his brother, are now just memories, wonderful memories, especially visiting backstreet bars, meeting the locals and staying at a hotel that could have inspired the song Hotel California (there are some stories to be told, but not in this blog!!).

When we finished the last blog we were in UK "waiting for the Grandchild to light up our world". Well, Esmée-Rose arrived safely on 7th Nov and our world was well and truly lit up. We had as many hugs as we could in the time before we had to leave for NZ, but it could never be enough. As with most Grandparents we now proudly bear the title of besotted.

















Getting back to NZ we found the house in perfect condition and a garden where the weeds had successfully made a take-over bid. Brian's first month has therefore been spent outside pulling weeds, or on the golf course recovering from pulling weeds. Dawn has been pulling weeds and going shopping, yoga, kayaking, visiting old friends to recover from pulling weeds. As you can see we've quickly settled back into life in Russell, which now has a cinema!!! A local film buff shows films projected onto the wall of the village hall and Dawn's volunteered to help.

After some hard work you may be surprised that the garden is shaping up, slowly....










Daughter Dominique and her lifetime friend Sara arrived in Russell 2 days after us. They have been well behaved and respectful of us elders, although they have not lived up to the expectation of "slave children". Tinkered at weeding might be a good description. Dominique practices yoga while Sara trots on the treadmill. They have now both found jobs so I expect they will soon be coming in exhausted from hard labour. To be honest, they're great to have around and no trouble, cough. They have also been adventurous and bought motor-cycles, which Brian may play on while they are at work....



Christmas and New Year will be hectic because as well as Dominique and Sara we have Susan and Tamara coming to stay. The youngsters have to give up their rooms and will probably sleep on the covered deck. Brian will have 5 women to amuse and make smoothies for, more time in the garden and at the golf course perhaps.....

We wish you all a joyous Christmas and that you achieve all you aim for and desire in 2011.