More Regular. Yea, Right!!!

---

I said more regular? Well, it,s been sunny and I haven't spent time inside so I haven't been sitting at the PC. Can't believe that we are into mid March and time is flying. I haven't been doing much apart from work around the house, spending time in the Hawkes Bay, a little fishing{not enough}, walking, biking and just living the life. We have had a magic summer since Christmas and today is the first rain for a long time. Di and I have been working on plans for our annual trip and we now have the majority of it planned. We head off to Norway in mid June to spend about 4 weeks with the kids and then we all head down to Spain for another couple of weeks. we leave the kids down there and go off somewhere {to be decided} until we pick up Viv and Charlie, and probably Pam and Warwick, at the start of August in UK and we head up to Scotland to tour around there for a while with the Edinburgh Tattoo included. On the way back south we will drop in and bike Hadrians Wall, spend time in the Lake district, then end up picking up a boat to travel the Thames for 10 days. Finally in September, back to Spain for a bike trip around the Rioja Wine Country and a bit of relaxation somewhere {to be decided}before starting the long journey home to NZ. So. Thats the plan so far with a few things to fill in.

Tomorrow we head down south to the beauty of Lake Wanaka to stay with Viv and Charlie for a couple of weeks, then Annemarie and Corardo arrive and we do a tour of house and gardens in Queenstown.

I will put some of the many photos of Christmas on here even though we are well and truly past it, but we had such a great time and there are so many that I would like to share, but I will keep it to a few. Pip/Rod.

---

Photos

Yum, Pork Belly.
Chris does most of the cooking for Christmas Dinner.

Kirkcaldie & Stains Christmas Bear.
Well, what a surprise. The Christmas Bear was named Spencer. Didn't really look like me. It raised a lot for charity.

Dinner Time.
The four girls supposedly eating dinner. It did take sometime most nights. To much chatter and I like, I don't like, type comments. They were such a giggle.

Cousins
Boxing day we had 10 cousins present but there were a few missing. Oldest 41, youngest 3. Chris, Amy, Katie in front, Leanne, Mark, Sam, Caroline, Jon and Paul.

Brothers and Sisters.
Wish Peter had been here then we would have had the complete set. May be next year.

Bike trips.
Taking the kids for a ride. Corado always manages to have some sort of unusual transport available.

More Rides.
I got tired so Hege took over. Lots of laughs.

Stella Loves Charlie
Lots of cuddles and hugs.

More Toys.
Corado shows Sarah and his two grandchildren, James and Amelia, how to use the speed boat. All the kids had a go and created havoc in the pool.

Pizza Maestro.
Corado whipping up another one for the oven.

Were is Nana.
Someone had to take the photo. We are at the top of the cable car ready to explore the Botanical Gardens

Trying for Flounder.
Chris and Richard took the net out to try for some flounder. No flounder but a scary Stingray. Huge and very difficult to get back into the surf.

Scary.
A monster from the deep. A large crowd gathered to look as we had to try to untangle the ray from the net. Finally got it out and managed to quide it back into the surf. A few comments made by people that they may not swim there anymore.

Silly Mothers.
Amy and Hege some times seem to be as silly as their daughters. The kids just loved it. And so did we.

Mates.
Nearly time to say goodbye after a fantastic time.

Comments

[Home and Away]

What a great itinerary you have planned for this summer in the northern hemisphere...
I'm looking forward to reading your blogs again.

[Pips Travels]

Thank you.
Hi, You have been so consistent with your comments thank you. I find that it is a quite a thrill to think that some one from overseas is enjoying my very limited blogs and finding them interesting. I keep on promising myself that I will be more detailed and consistent. Perhaps this year. I have never replied to comments before but wanted to say thanks as it does inspire me to do more. Hope this finds you well and enjoying life to the full. Pip