Visit to Tutukaka

During our stay we went up to Tutukaka for a night to catch up with Mum and Dad. Tutukaka is just lovely and we were lucky enough to have beautiful blue skies while we were there. We did loads in the short time we were there - meals out, hiking around the headland, exploring the nearby surrounds, a bit of cruising and of course the obligatory partying that night! We had a great time and I am already making plans to go back. Love it.

Showing our support on the drive up

A beautiful little beach at the marina

Me and Mum - not sure what Toby is up to in the background there

Dad's yacht

The kids quite fancied this lifestyle

A nice picture of Mum and Sophie

Stopping for a quick plank on the way to lunch

The boys

Dad and Sophie

The cruise around the nearby bays was awesome

Another quick plank at Whale Bay, which is quite possibly the best little bay in the world

Crystal clear turquoise water, but icy cold (well for us Brisbanites anyway!)

A bit of a paddle to the beach

Leaving our mark on the beach (it says Go All Blacks in case you can't read it)

The cruise back to the marina - it was all windy and salty and stuff, again, loved it.

Cruising back into the marina at a more sedate pace. The hotel in the background is where we stayed - The Oceans Resort. Highly recommend it - very nice.

All too quickly it was time to head back to Auckland for our last couple of nights.

More All Blacks supporters

Trip to NZ

In October we went home to NZ for the first time in many years (too many!) It was great to get back and see everyone again, and we had organised it so it coincided with Ricks 40th birthday and the final of the World Cup rugby. Bonus.

We left Brisbane with all the appropriate gear on

Luca and Toby had a great time catching up and there was a driveway just perfect for ripsticking on

Sophie and Zara partaking in more electronic pursuits

Rick and the girls

Linda and the girls.

We did a lot of sightseeing around our old haunts. This is taken at Waiwera.

Rick spent many a weekend here in his younger days ...

No visit to Auckland would be complete without a drive to Piha ....

.... and a climb up the rock

That's as far up as you can go these days

Yes, that's Ricks head in the middle of us! No show without Punch ...

Some of the Mason ladies

A bit of beach rugby

Pausing for a breather

Zara!

Taken from the Aratiki Information Centre in the Waitakeres

Classic New Zealand

There was lots of eating ....

And a bit of quiet time too.

Storm season starts

We had an interesting little storm here today ....

The clouds looked like they were boiling - unfortunately we didn't get video of it but it was actually quite scary watching them and wondering just what they were up to ...

And then the hail started ...

Sophie just couldn't help herself

We kept some of the evidence in the freezer

Nice.

Tomorrow is a balmy 29 degrees which should make it just nice for a dip in Ange and Zanes pool while we are there for lunch.

Sunshine and soccer balls

It was one of those really beautiful, crisp and clear Brisbane winter days today, the type that confirm just why we don't live anywhere else. We took advantage of the Sunday afternoon sunshine and made our way down to the local park to have a kick around ...

Toby contemplating his target ...

He just got this new tee today and was keen to try it out

Meanwhile Sophie is in Canberra in sub zero temperatures on a school trip for the next week. It's very quiet here in our house tonight. I wonder what she is doing right now ......

Kerrie

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We found Ricks old scout jumper today while having a big sort out of things. Toby thought he would try it on for size ...

It was a perfect fit!

Just need a photo of Tricky in it at the same age to compare.

Hard to believe Rick was once that size .....

Kerrie

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Sophie turns eleven

The photos seem to have landed themselves all out of order here so this is a bit of a jumbled update.

The main news is that Sophie had her eleventh birthday on Thursday, however it all started the Saturday beforehand with a party at the local ice skating rink. The boys were not game to party with the girls so took off for a bit of car racing . While they were out doing laps in Grouch with other car fans Sophie and ten friends tackled the ice .....

Rick and Toby on the track

The party is started

Sophie with her besties ...

more cars ...

Sophie and the gorgeous Ella at the family lunch the following Saturday (today) to continue the celebrations

Me and Ella. She is such a happy wee thing. She was all rugged up for the cold today in her winter party dress and tights ... just delicious.

Kerrie

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