Originally uploaded by beejayge
Back to work. Sadly I had to go back to work today. So here I am as I got out of the car outside work. Behind all that mirror glass is my classroom.
Daily Blog
Day 14
Day 14
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Memory Lane. One of the great things about living on the North Shore is you are never far from a beach. Growing up on the Shore meant you kinda took that for granted. Today is the last day of my holidays so I’ve had time to sort out which of the photos of my trip up north to print and head out to Harvey Norman to get them printed.
After that I thought where shall I go to take today’s photo. Harvey Norman is not far from where I grew up, so I thought, why not go to Campbell’s Bay for old time’s sake and see if the old beach has changed much. I went for a walk along the beach for a good look and a stroll down memory lane. Wow I didn’t recognize any of the houses there; they are all multi million dollar homes, not the little old batches that used to be there. Very flash.
Day 13
Day 13
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Cherry Ripe. There I was sitting in my courtyard enjoying the last two days of my holiday, working my way slowly through a box of Cadbury Roses chocolates, while drinking a beer and reading my book when suddenly… I bit into a Cherry Ripe. I love Cherry Ripes – they are one of my favourites – how long have they been a part of the Roses selection??? Yummmmm.
Day 12
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Getting organised. Just mucking around at home getting super organised by doing things like transferring important dates and information from last year’s work diary to this year’s. Oh and reading a bit more of my book in between tasks. I’ve managed to read three books these holidays. There are some people out there who will read that and fall off their chairs.
Perfect weather too, able to sit outside in the shade and do my work.
In case you are wondering… the legs are much better, the pink is changing to brown in some parts, but wearing pants is still only performed on a needs must basis, like going outside to hang out the washing or collecting the mail.
Day 11
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Bye Bye Xmas 2008. Time to take down Mum’s Xmas tree and pack everything away for another year. Was a bit difficult with the bright pink lobster legs bumping into prickly tree bits, plus they kept blinding everybody, well that’s what I think was happening every time I walked into the room and suddenly everyone would gasp and look away in pain.
Now I have to do my tree and stuff… but that will have to wait till I can comfortably wear pants again.
Day 10
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Tomatoes. Thanks to my Dad the tomatoes live. I have never grown tomatoes before; so far they are doing really well. I was a bit worried about my little garden while I was away up north, coz if the weather was as great here as it was up there my plants would have died. However Dad was able to pop round every day and water my garden. Thanks Dad.
Day 9
Day 8
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Homeward Bound. With very pink sore lobster legs I set off for home.
First stop on the way back was the Waimate Mission House, which was a really cool place to stop because I learnt so much history, but also because there wasn’t too much walking to be done (walking is very painful with legs like overcooked sausages).
Here is some of what I learnt about the Mission House: it is the 2nd oldest building still standing in New Zealand, it was built in 1832 as part of a mission station, established by the London-based Church Missionary Society.
The mission’s role in fostering contact between Maori and Pakeha led to it being the scene of the second signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
The Mission House is a reminder of early interaction between Maori and Pakeha, with Maori providing land and labour in return for wages and missionary expertise. It is internationally important as part of an early attempt to create an English-style landscape in New Zealand and spread European agricultural methods. (Source: www.historic.org.nz)
Next and final stop was the Whangarei Falls, it was here that I discovered if I hitched up my shorts past the painful bits I could walk a lot more easily. It just wasn’t a good look for oncoming tourists. But they didn’t seem to care, actually from the looks on their faces they thought it was quite funny and definitely obvious why I was walking around like that.
Being around 2:30 it was also the hottest part of the day and surely the hottest day of the year so far, this didn’t help, but the falls were beautiful and walking through the native bush down to the base of the falls was lovely – but my friend thought it was a bit humid.
Finally I am home and the traffic was great all the way. I’ve had an awesome holiday, eaten loads of fantastic seafood, seen some of New Zealand’s most awesome sights, taken hundreds of photos, enjoyed some great hospitality and made some new friends.
Day 7
Ahipara
Originally uploaded by beejayge
Quad Biking in Ahipara. Luckily one of the people we know up in Kaitaia is good friends with the people who rent out the quad bikes in Ahipara. From here you can go riding up 90 Mile Beach and the sand dunes. As this was our first time on a quad bike (and it was way cool) we stuck to the shoreline heading south from Ahipara. All the way along the coast were private little bays and people fishing, amazing sights and beautiful weather, but I got a bit burnt and am now sporting a bright pink pair of “lobster legs”.
Day 6
Originally uploaded by beejayge
I made it. At Cape Reinga Lighthouse, the furtherest place north you can drive to in New Zealand. On the way we stopped at 90 Mile Beach and the Gumdiggers Park, where you can see the ancient buried Kauri forest. Visiting the Gumdiggers Park gave me a renewed appreciation of how tough life used to be. On the way back we stopped at the giant sand dunes. Would have stopped at more places but a sumptuous seafood dinner awaited.
Funny thing about the lighthouse… it is way smaller than it looks in pictures, it’s almost cute!
New Horizons 