Mumtraveller's Guestbook

90 mile beach
Oh what memories were evoked by the photos of 90 mile beach! The Pohutakawa tree in full bloom is magnificent - I have photos so will let you have one when you return! Now how is this for organisaton - we have provisionally dated your 'Welcome Home' lunch with the sewing group for April 18th!!!! Love Jill xx

It's a hard life
Hi Lynne, Thanks for your blogging, I feel like I am with you on this holiday, and I am enjoying it very much, I have been to N.Z. so I know what it feels like every place has a certain feel to it, do you know what I mean? We had a great night out with Maggie, Susan and Maureen and Co. last night, all thinking of you. Kind Regards, Wilma.

Far North
Hi Lynne So glad you had such a fine day for your trip to the top end. Great that you planted a Pohutukawa tree! You should still see some in flower further south though. They were particularly good this year. The plant with the lantern like pods is the Monarch Butterfly plant. We call it the Swan Plant but of course it must have a botanical name somewhere. The caterpillars of the Monarch chew it to shreds then hang their chrysallis on it. The butterfly hatches in about 3 weeks. That one looked way too healthy to me!! You can get cheap trainers in the Number One Shoe Warehouse. These stores are all over the country.( maybe only North Island?) Shoes are cheap and often "buy two pair get one pair free" kind of deals. Might pay to wait for Suzanne if you can hold out as they sell every type of shoe. I'm not sure where the nearest shop to Torbay is but there is definitely one in Takapuna and sure to be at the shopping mall at Mt Maunganui. You could look on line for locations of other branches. Have another great day in Paradise! Love Jocelyn

Catch up
Got a little behind with your blogs so have just sat and read through about the last 10 or so and everything continues to sound idyllic!! Glad you managed to have a good Xmas with Angie and family and jealous that you saw the Sydney fireworks, they always look so good on the TV. We actually went out New Years Eve for the first time in 26years and had a lovely time!!!!! Only went for a meal with a couple of friends at Pomodoro e Mozzarella restaurant, had the late 9pm sitting and there was a disco too so had a good celebration. When does Suzanne actually arrive with you, bet you are really looking forward to that now. We are on to countdown number 2 for our Caribbean holiday and hope we actually get there this time and not snowed in Gatwick, only 10 more sleeps!! Haven't actually seen the people that are currently in the house, they are very elusive but their car is missing a lot so they are obviously getting out and about enjoying themselves. Well, sorry for not being in touch but will try and keep up with the blogs better!! Much love from us all xxx

When does 90 = 60?
When I get a new fella! Hi there Lynne. I love your photos. The scenery really is great. Boy you're going to be fit if you aren't already. Chhers mate!

wildlife
Hi Lynne, I hope the kiwis (birds) are not as vicious as the kookabarras and the sharks. You seem like you have really settled in to the way of life there, and are enjoying it. The mob here went out last night to a fire works display, good company, good food and good wine, it was great. Maureen tells me you had problems with your lock on the suitcase ,I have not tried mine as yet? .So sorry I have not been in touch before as my computer has not been working, and it has just been returned. I hope everything goes well for you in N.Z. Talk soon. Love, Wilma.

Bay of Islands
I just love the Bay of Islands - Margaret and I walked the whole length of 90 mile beach - if you believe that you'll believe anything! We found that by walking a short distance along the sabd from the car park we soon found ourselves alone with the sea, the spray and the wonderful designs in the wet sand - oh bliss! Jill

I'm Jealous!
Lynne you sound as though you are having a fabulous time! I'm exceedingly jealous! Fire works in Sydney then hopping on the plane to the beautiful city of Auckland. You couldn't have planned it better. I've also read that you are meeting up with an MW in Wanaka. Wanaka is one of the places in NZ where I would love to live. Its beautiful and unspoilt. I'm trying to pull myself together after a very difficult festive period. I arrived home from Mum's funeral with a raging temperature. Consequently spent most of New Year in bed with Tonsilitis. 2011 can only get better! Enjoy your next three months in NZ. I intend to settle down to hard work for 6 weeks then enjoy my retirement in the Spring. Take care. love Anne xx

Glad to hear you've arrived in NZ
glad to hear of your safe arrival in NZ, Lynne. Do you think the New Zealander's got their individual style of spelling & pronunciation from the Welsh? It took me a while to grasp it when I lived there......... Have a great time. My daughter is now thinking of trying house swapping after I told her of your travels. Lots of love.

Patterns
Hi Lynne I remember that Margaret and I took lovely photos of the patterns in the sand - I took loads of nature photos with a view of making either a montage in fabric or doing a pattern painting - whcih have I done - well as you probably guessed neither!! I am also finishing Christmas cake - Dee made me a lovely individual one which she gave me with a bottle of red wine - needless to say the wine went quicker than the cake! Continue to have a fabulous time - gosh how on earth are you going to come home??!! Love Jill xx

Happy New Year, Lynn
Dear Lynn, I have read your blogs with wonder, excitement, and not a little envy! I do however, send you love and very best wishes for the new year, which surely can't be any more exciting that this one has been for you? Hope you escaped the awful floods there - my sister lives in Budaberg in NSW and they are experiencing the worst floods for over a 100 years - although she has not yet been evacuated. It just goes to show that the global climate really is changing, doesn't it? We had a lovely Christmas and New Year with our much-loved daughter and new son-in-law over from USA - they went back yesterday, so the house feels very empty. We have arranged sewing sessions for the second and fourth Monday afternoons each month, and can't wait to have you join us again on your return. Meanwhile, take care and love from us all.. Dee xx

Happy New Year
Happy New Year, Lynne & safe onward journey. Look forward to hearing your news from NZ. Lots of love, Pauline

Farewell to AUS
Hi Lynne You will find NZ fabulous! I love it and despite saying when I left the first time "I guess I won't be back" - I managed a second visit and armed with the info from the first one it made things easy in knowing where / where not to visit!! Just as enjoyable the second time. Have a wonderful time - looking forward to following the blog as you progress - hope you manage to pick cherries on the way from Picton to Greymouth and Margaret and I did on our visit - same time of year. The cherries were HUGE and divine!! Wonderful bags of apricots too. Love Jill xxx