Visits to Balloons over Waikato Festival, Candyland & Hamilton Gardens - 8 & 19 April 2006

In early April we went to the "Ballons over Waikato Festival" in Hamilton for the first time. It was rather a disappintment, as the high winds precluded the hot air balloons from taking off, but Camilla, Louise, Gill and Hannah enjoyed a ride on the fairground attractions anyway.

Then, to celebrate Camilla & Louise's birthday on 19 April, we took another trip across the Kaimai Hills to Hamilton, where we visited Candyland, a sweet factory, and Hamilton Gardens. The first photo shows Camilla and Louise.

Hannah, with her handmade lollipops.

Camilla & Hannah at Hamilton Gardens - 19 April 2006

Louise, Hannah, Camilla & Gill in the Indian themed garden, Hamilton Gardens - 19 April 2006

Lesley & Brett in the Indian themed garden, Hamilton Gardens - 19 April 2006

Back to School & miscellanous - February & March 2006

Hannah & Louise getting ready for school

Hannah on her first day at Pyes Pa School - 7 February 2006

Francesco, teaching me how to make pecorino, Oropi - 9 February 2006

Me, negotiating purchase of sheep's milk for pecorino production - 19 March 2006

Hannah's 8th birthday: Louise, Hannah (cutting), Camilla & Gill, Oropi - 22 February 2006

Louise, Oropi - 22 February 2006

Lesley, off to school at 7.30 am, Oropi - 7 March 2006

Hannah & friend Sarah Coleman, at inter-school swimming competition, QEII Memorial Pool - 27 February 2006

Waitangi Day Dawn Service on Mauao - 6 February 2006

To celebrate the seventh anniversary of our arrival in New Zealand we decided this year to attend the Waitangi Day dawn service at the summit of Mauao, at Mount Maunganui. Although not the "official" national day of New Zealand, this day has great significance for most New Zealanders, being the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. We, too, feel that it's a very special day, and although we only left Zimbabwe on the 7th and arrived in New Zealand on the 9th February 1999, it feels right to us to have this as our national day. We've been trying to attend the Mauao dawn service for some years, but it's such an early start that we haven't ever got our act together ... until this year. Friends Paola and Francesco had moored their boat in the harbour the previous evening and slept over, joined us on the beach at about 4.30 am. Fortunately, they had been woken up by the Maori warriors in their waka (war canoe) passing right next to their yacht, chanting in time to the paddling. We hadn't brought torches, but plenty of others had, and we fumbled with not too much difficulty up the hill, following the procession of warriors, who had by now disembarked on the beach. Once at the top, we were rewarded with a magnificent view of the bay, which slowly unfolded as dawn broke.

After a karakia from the local kaumatua, the Maori warriors did their hakas, the dignitaries made speeches, and there were prayers.




... and at the end of it all, everybody went back down to Pilot Bay, where the paddlers got back into their waka and paddled off around the harbour, while we adjourned to a cafe round the corner on Marine Parade for a huge breakfast. It had been an early start, but apart from that, not strenuous at all, and well worth it. I can't see us doing it every year, but it will be repeated!

Summer sporting events - February 2006

Training with the girls on the lawn for the Weet-bix Triathlon - 5 February 2006

Camilla, setting off on the cycling leg of the Triathlon, Pilot Bay, Mt. Maunganui - 26 February 2006

Louise, waiting to do the running leg, Pilot Bay, Mt. Maunganui - 26 February 2006

Louise, Anya (Hodge) and Camilla with their medals after completing the triathlon. Anya did the swimming leg of the course.

Louise, proud Dad, and Camilla, showing off their medals

9 March 2006 - Camilla & Louise, about to start the Inter-Schools Quadathlon, where each of them they swam, cycled, kayaked and ran. Fortunately, not too competitive an event!

Camilla, finishing off the cycling leg

Camilla, hauling her kayak into the water

Louise, about to start the swimming leg of the Quadathlon

Louise, finishing the swimming leg of the Quadathlon

Boating on Tauranga Harbour - 28 & 29 January 2006

Our friends Paola and Francesco launched their newly re-christened boat, the "Frapetta", on the Tauranga harbour, and we went along to enjoy the experience. On the second day, we were treated to some excursions. Here, Camilla, Louisa and Gill are on board for the leg from the Harbour Bridge Marina to Pilot Bay.

... and there's me, running to tie up before the boat crashes into the jetty, back in their berth at the Harbour Bridge Marina after the second leg, with myself, Lesley & Hannah on board.

Camping at Anaura Bay, East Coast (3) - January 2006

Gill, Tolaga Bay, East Coast - 11 January 2006

Hannah, Poverty Bay view - 11 January 2006

Brett and a friend of the girls (Ruby), with kayak & crayfish, Anaura Bay - 12 January 2006

A walk on the beach with Ruby and her family, Anaura Bay - 13 January 2006

Hannah, Anaura Bay - 13 January 2006

Gill, Lesley & Hannah inspecting bull kelp, Anaura Bay - 17 January 2006

Lesley & Gill, Anaura Bay - 17 January 2006

Louise on her boogie board, Anaura Bay - 18 January 2006

Picnicking on the way home through the Waioeka Gorge, between Gisborne & Opotiki - 18 January 2006

Camping at Anaura Bay, East Coast (2) - January 2006

Francesco & Paola, Anaura Bay - 8 January 2006

Francesco & Camilla, Forest walk, Anaura Bay - 8 January 2006

Hannah & cabbage tree, Forest walk, Anaura Bay - 8 January 2006

View from the top, Anaura Bay - 8 January 2006

Hannah, Camilla & Louise, evening walk on the beach, Anaura Bay - 9 January 2006

Camping at Anaura Bay, East Coast (1) - January 2006

Camilla on the beach, taking a rest from a game of cricket - 5 January 2006

Lesley on the beach - 5 January 2006

Louise, Hannah & Camilla playing petanque on the beach - 5 January 2006

With friends Francesco & Paola at our campsite at Anaura Bay - 6 January 2006

Louise, Hannah, Lesley & Camilla, with Paola in the background, about to play cards outside Paola & Francesco's motorhome - 7 January 2006

Francesco de Sanctis, Anaura Bay - 7 January 2006