School Holidays

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Hi, No, I am not back at school, but I have spent the school holidays in Hastings entertaining Holly while Amy and Jeramy were at work and Ella was at day care. Thats the sort of thing you do when your retired!!!This is for the morning only as Amy picks Ella up at 12.30. This meant that I could shed my responsibilities for the afternoon and go and explore some rivers for trout fishing. I will do a seperate story on these later. I had a ball. Every morning Holly would suggest what she thought we should do and most times we would do it. This included the Napier aquarium, parks, mini golf, the beach, the aquarium again and lots of parks. We would jump into the car and head off from home, and of course the first port of call would be a coffee shop so that I could get my fix of a coffee and scone and Holly could get her fix of a Lolly cake and water. We now know the best place in the Bay for the best Lolly cake. Cappadonna in Napier. I have discovered the Bay has got so much to offer and fun things to do. Holly is so into every thing and kept me going the whole time and Ella in the afternoons/evenings is full on. So much fun. Di came up for the weekend and Warwick and Pam came down from Gisborne. Lots of talk and fun. A few coffees and a few drinks. Only a couple of bike rides but plenty of exercise walking/fishing the rivers and running around with Holly. This weekend, Labour weekend, we are off to Waiheke Island for Phillipa's wedding. Another big family get together which are so much fun. Pete,Helen and the two girls, Alex and Georgie, are out here from England, for the event and have been staying with us for the last couple of days. Great to catch up.We drive up tomorrow, Thursday, and come back down on Wednesday. I have been home from Greece for 5 weeks and hardly seem to have been home. I was home for a few days, then up in Turangi, then home a few days, then up to Hastings, now home a few days, with visiters, and off for the next 7 days. I will get settled soon prehaps. As people say, you wondr how you had time to work. Catch up soon with my thoughts on the Bay fishing, a couple of walks with Pete and general stuff. Pip/Rod

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Photos

Holly being swallowed.
napier aquarium and a large sharks mouth from centuries ago.

Tapestry on Palm.
Napier is an interesting place. T hey had the palm trees in the main street dressed with these tapestries. they were great and had been done by groups and schools.

Ice cream time.
Holly with an ice-cream at the coffee house on Clifton beach. Worth a visit out to this as it is part of the old sheep station and the starting point for a visit to Cape Kidnappers.

Enjoying ourselves.
The start of the access for walking to the cape.

Holly and Ella
Enjoying themselves having a snack in Holly's bedroom.

Holly and Ella
Climbing up the back of the chair. A helping hand from Holly.

Coffee Time
At a place out off Havelock North called Birdwoods. great place to visit, and for Kirkcaldies people, a place to catch up with Julia White, ex Interiors dept. working there on the weekends. Neat setting with a magic sweet shop

Temptation
Holly making her selections.

Train ride.
One of the best rides I have seen or been on. The kids, old and young, loved it. In a very beautiful spot in havelock Nth.

heading home.
Di and Ella heading to the car. A magic place and a great weekend.