I love summer

Hi there

I got back from Nelson two weeks ago.  Unllike my holiday up North earlier in the month, my Nelson holiday was planned way in advance.  I stayed at Tahunanui (Tahuna) Beach.  There was only a park between me and the sea, so I was in my swimming element.

Nelson, at the top of the South Island,  is close to the Abel Tasman National Park.  I went day return to Kaiteriteri by Abel Tasman Shuttle bus, and then caught the boat to Anchorage, my fave beach in the Park.  I sunbathed and swam.   I have hiked the park before in its entirety. But over last ten years or so I have mainly section hiked.  This time I just lazed around at Anchorage. It's a nice boat ride to and from Anchorage and other bays.

Here's a pic taken from Anchorage Beach.

above:  taken from the boat in the Abel Tasman National Park, on my way to Anchorage.

Merry Christmas, Happy 2019

Hi there

It's Christmas Eve.  What a rush around the shops today.  So many cars and people.  I went down to Kilbirnie and it was just so crowded.  Then I went to town - more crowds.  I also fitted in a swim - oh, naughty me, I was told by the hospital nurse last week that I shouldn't swim for a month.  She did relent and so I could swim in a week or two, provided I wore goggles..  Well, I wore big-framed sunglasses instead and I swam on my back, very very slowly so as I wouldn't get any splashes in my eyes.  Thank goodness, the water was calm.

Anyway, have a wonderful day tomorrow, wherever you are around the world....

I bought the above Christmas ornament, thinking it was a penguin.  When I got home and looked at it closely, I thought, "Uh oh..."   It's a snowman.

Do I need a granite counter top?

Hi there

A few years ago there was a programme where house hunters looked at prospective buys.  Every time a would-be buyer mentioned "shabby chic" in reference to decor, there would be an off-camera chorus of "Hoo-ray!!"  I loved this, I even joined in.

I so wanted to do it again.  But not with "shabby chic".  That fashion style came and went.   I watch loads of house-buying and renovation programmes, so I would just have to search for a new phrase.

I hit on "granite counter".  I decided I  would shout "Hoo-rayyy!" whenever a buyer, all but swooning in the kitchen or bathroom, shouted ecstatically, "Oh, wow, there's a granite counter" or on the other hand exclaimed in horror,  "Formica?  That will have to be ripped out and I'll have to replace it with a granite counter."

And with each "Hoo-rayyyy!",  I would  bottoms-up a shot glass of Pepsi -

One wet Sunday afternoon, I watched HGTV for over four hours.  I swigged down almost two  bottles of Pepsi.  I happily shouted  "Hoo-rayyyyy!" so many times that I lost count  (36 times).

I so enjoyed myself..

###
Next time,  I may go for "vaulted ceilings", or "French doors", or perhaps even "fire pit".  Fashions seem to change daily.

Wellington Hospital Christmas Grotto

Hi there

On Friday, I got back from a week in Nelson which is at the top of the South Island, and more about that holiday in a later blog.

On Saturday morning I had an appointment with the eye unit at Wellington Hospital.  I had to have another  eye laser-y something or other done to reduce the pressure in both eyes.

Anyway, while I was at Wellington Hospital, I was thrilled to see that on the ground floor, just as one enters the building, there's a Santa's Grotto.  Santa will be there all next week between noon and 1pm.  For sick kids and walk-ins.  What a wonderful thing!

Not a brilliant photo, but there were too many lights on to get a really good photo.

Dumping goods outside charity shops

Hi there

When I was in Taupo a couple of weeks ago, I visited the Salvation Army Charity Shop.  I adore rummaging around in charity shops.

When  I left the shop at about 2 pm on the Saturday, there was no rubbish outside the doors.  But when I passed the shop at 6 pm on the  Sunday night, I was absolutely amazed at how much stuff people had dumped there.  Why on earth, they couldnt take their donations in when the shop is open I just can't fathom -

Bad sight, eh?

But here's a lovely sight, also in Taupo (no, I don't mean the scenery, even though the scenery is mind-blowing) - There are lots of those small awful-looking electrical boxes or telecommunications boxes out and about around the country.  In Taupo, the Council have engaged artists to paint pictures on them.  Taupo is close to Mt Ruapehu (Mt Doom in THE movie trilogy) ski-ing area, and here's the most adorable ski bunny, painted on a "box" outside Farmers Department Store -

Unicorn Milkshake

Hi there

I took a snap-sudden holiday.  I adore making up my mind to go up North and by the following day I'm there!

I was in Mt Maunganui one day and I wandered in to the Hide-Away Cafe in a little arcade.  They had a Strawberry Unicorn Milkshake on the menu.  I decided to try one (except I had a lime Unicorn Milkshake).