Happy New Year

Nick & Bill enjoying (I think) each others company once again.
Beautiful day at Waihi Beach

The past few weeks of our return to NZ have flown by so fast, it was the end of another year before we knew it. Welcome into 2017

Lighting Chinese lanterns and sending
messages off to Pat

Within two days of returning, we found the vehicle that ticked almost all of Bill's boxes - a 2005 Suzuki Vitara. Very similar to our CRV that we owned before heading overseas, except a bit bigger. And a V6 so will guzzle the gas (Bill has told me I'm not to put my foot hard down on take off, but it sounds sooooooo good :))
That all sorted, we headed down to Waihi Beach to catch up with our three kids, my three brothers, partners and families to have a final farewell to Mum. Meeting Shannon's partner Andrew for the first time, he coped well with the Nicholas Clan. We had a stunning weekend, very reminiscent to the weekend we celebrated Mum's 90th 4 years earlier. As sad as it was to say our goodbyes, it was lovely all being together again. Mum would have loved it. With Mum's passing, not sure when we will all get together again as she was the pull (centre!!!!!!) for us all.

Jacky & Bill doing a little tiling. 

Rocky & Jacky decorating the "Christmas Tree"

One week later it was Christmas at Nick & Jacky's in Wellington. Arriving a few days before, in time for Bill to help Jacky do the tiling in the kitchen to almost complete the renovations of the kitchen/dining and lounge areas. They have done amazing transformation of their home in just over the year that they have owned it.
Joan (Bill's mum) flew over from Nelson to join us, along with Rochelle's Daniel later that night from Perth.

Jacky, Bill, Me, Claire, Rocky, Joan, Daniel, Shannon & Nick
Lovely brunch to start Christmas day

Daniel bowling to Bill
(With being an Aussie, we told Daniel no "Underarm")

With the large deck they have added on, and Wellington putting on a beautiful sunny day, 9 of us (including Jacky's sister Claire) enjoyed a lovely Christmas brunch before playing cricket in the park at the end of the road. Just the right amount of food, wine and exercise for the day.
Boxing day was the perfect for some to tube down the Hutt River - entry into river just across the park. Bill, Nick & Jacky, Rochelle & Daniel had a pleasant couple of hours travelling down toward Lower Hutt, making friends with some of the local ducks on the way. Apart from Rochelle's frozen feet and a few with sunburnt legs, they all seemed to enjoy the trip.

Preparing for entry into the Hutt river

Nick, Jacky, Daniel and feathered friend

Bill, Daniel, Rocky and feathered friend

Daniel's mate Kano (Jordon) flew in from Perth a couple of days later to travel around the north island with him checking out all the best surfing spots NZ has to offer over the next two weeks.
Nick, Jacky and Shannon headed north for New Year, Shannon to Andrew's family at Matarangi on the Coromandel and N&J to Waiheke joining old friends from Nelson.
Poor Rocky drew the short straw and saw the new year in with us here in Wellington with Geoffrey the cat. Pretty exciting wasn't it Rocky? particularly watching the Rolling Stones playing a concert when they were in Cuba earlier this year. Mick, Keith & Ronny looking pretty wrinkled & thin but still playing and singing like they were 50 years younger than they are. Pretty amazing musicians.

One of the walks over the xmas break with Joan
and Shannon. Walked out to the radar dome on
Hawkins Hill (amazing views over Wellington)

Bit confused as which direction to take on the Petone foreshore

Bill doing a bit of flashing!
Nick, Jacky with help from her brother Joe had re roofed the house
just before we arrived.

We are pleased to be back in our own country without all the crowds, catching up with family and friends. Still waiting for more of summer to show, hopefully it's just around the corner. A few swims before we head south would be great. We are here in Wellington till the end of the week, crossing over back into the south island and to Nelson on the 7th January, the day after Rocky flies out back to Perth.


Hoping the earth settles a bit more (the 5.5 shake the other day was a reminder our country is still settling).