The summer has stretched on unbelievably long and we now have drought like conditions. This is in complete contrast to the north island of NZ, which has had the wettest and most traumatic summer in decades, with a cyclone adding to the floods causing widespread devastation. It is heartbreaking and will take years to recover. …

He started Yr 10 today! Hard to believe, so grown up looking! He has a very full year ahead and came home after the first day tired but happy, stating “it was pretty good”, which is high praise indeed from a 14 year old boy on his first day back at high school 🙂 Although …

Luca finished school on the 9th of December. He has had a really successful first year of high school taking out some prizes at the end of year assembly, and getting a great report card, we are very proud of him, he worked really hard this year. The lead up to Christmas Luca and I …

The day Jen died a colleague gave me this rose, I put it on our deck and it has just started to flower, I went outside this morning first thing, and the smell from it is divine, another lovely way to remember her. Yesterday was Luca’s 14th birthday, Jen would have so loved to have …

Looking out the kitchen window these days is so different to when we first arrived…. We are having days and days of wonderful weather. This is unusual for spring here, and while it is lovely, we are always thinking about our water tank, it will need to be topped up a few times this summer, …

The next school term has started, it is a short one and Luca is counting down the days until his 14th birthday!!! Over the holidays I generally give a couple of extra chores on top of his usual, for Luca to complete. I am a big believer in chores. I think kids need to know …

Well we have had an interesting start to the school holidays. There was a polar blast that hit NZ and went up the entire country. It meant the largest snowfall we have had since living here. Our road was closed, as were all the main roads, but we managed to get out and Rich drove …

Fathers day at Carey’s Bay Pub was lovely, we don’t go there often but always have a good time when we do. Note the shirts, Luca thought it was time for a new matching pair, the last one Luca has well grown out of 🙂 It is just as popular today as it was back …

The rest of July and August disappeared in a bit of a blur and here we are into September already! On the 6th of September we have been in Tui Cottage 3 years, it is hard to believe! The fruit trees are beginning to blossom, so pretty and there is such an optimistic feel in …

The reason that Rich went to Canada in July was that Jen, his sister, had chosen to have a medically assisted death after a long, painful and traumatic illness. Luca and I got to say goodbye to her virtually, it wasn’t the same as being there, it is at times like this that makes us …