Waihi Beach - a Thirtieth and a Family Reunion

As good a "Family" picture that I was going to get! This time!

Rochelle (Rocky) wanted a big Nicholas family gathering to celebrate her 30th birthday at Waihi Beach where we have had many happy celebrations at Graeme & Claire's. Plans were made starting a year ago to bring as many of our family together on 7th July 2018 seeing as a few now live overseas, including of course Rocky and now Nick.

The lovely setting for the party - hard to find better.

Rocky trying to control Pinata

Uncle G trying to prevent Rocky falling
into the cake

This was an opportunity to bring our own little family together after 18 months - Joan (Bills mum flying up from Nelson with Simon & Nicki and family) Shannon & AC driving up from Wellington, Rocky returning after 10 days in Greece (bit of a shock after all that warmth), and meet Nick's girlfriend Emily also from Perth with Nick. 

Dodgy Uncles

Evie & Abby in disguise

All the Nicholas cousins managed to make the reunion which was wonderful. Amanda & Rico and family from Switzerland (leaving their summer weather!), Luke also from working in Europe, and Abby with new baby Evie (always lovely to have a baby at these family celebrations - not just us oldies! Pity Ben couldn't stay long enough for the party) from Aussie. And then the rest from as far south as Riwaka and as far north as Warkworth. Adding in the Godparents and a second Cousin, just over 50 attended the event - good turnout Guys.

Joan missed Pat (my Mum) but represented the Nana's well, although keeping track of all the extended family was hard to keep track of.
It was wonderful to have so much family together since Mum's memorial 18 months ago. Plans have been sounded out for the next family gathering - a 40th in Aussie or maybe celebrating the Farm House renovations in Italy!!

Even Donald Trump attended
(Paull with Claire)

Rocky flew in from Greece (after a Top Deck ten day tour which she enjoyed but we had to agree with her that it’s a long way to go for 10 days! But some stunning beaches and hot weather though.) to Auckland on the 4th July (Pat's birthday) at 5am and then onto Tauranga at 7am. So it was an early start for Bill & I from Waihi Beach, an hour away to meet her. It was then off to the Mount for breakfast where the sun had only just risen - a beautiful morning to welcome Rocky back to NZ. She managed to last till around 6.00pm before dropping off to sleep on the couch after we had a toast to Nana Pat - she would have been 96 this year. You did well Rocky to last that long without sleep! 

Rocky back on NZ soil - Mt Maunganui

We completed getting the last few bits and pieces for the weekend the next day and took possession of a Bachcare Property for the family to stay in for the event. Bill & I were fine in "Yella 2 Blu" parked out the front of G&C's on the beach front, but we needed a place to house our family. Through the Bachcare web site we found (thanks Shannon) a lovely newish home only an 8 minute walk away - nice and handy. Nick & Em turned up late afternoon on the Thursday after coming down from Auckland via Rotorua like you do when trying to see as much of NZ as possible. Em hadn't been to NZ before so Nick tried to show her as much as possible in the two weeks they were over from Perth, including some skiing in Queenstown - also a first for EM.

A walk along Waihi Beach with Rocky, Em & Nick

Nick keeping Bill's feet dry! How times have changed 😊

Mid-day Friday saw our family reunited after 18 months with the arrival of Shannon and AC (after a night in Taupo on the way thru to break the trip). Joan's arrival early evening (thank you S&N) completing our little reunion where we had a lovely relaxing evening just catching up on everyones news.

Saturday was all go with everyone arriving at G&C's from 11 am onward. It's always a worry early on when planning an outdoor gathering that the weather doesn't play its part - but thankfully it did both Saturday and Sunday for the brunch. It was cold but no signs of rain. There was certainly a lot of variation on the Mexican theme that Rocky had chosen, making it hard to identify one or two people.

It was wonderful having the Nicholas extended family altogether once again to help make the weekend, and of course made my weekend having my "Children" together.

Time for a bit of Drone flying the next day
(My three brothers, Bill and nephew Cameron)

But sadly I DIDN'T GET THE ONE FAMILY PHOTO I HAD REQUESTED! Guess I'll just have to cut & paste once again!

With Shannon & AC (returning directly to Wellington) and Nick & Em (returning to Perth flying via Auckland) 5.00am departures on the Monday - Bill & I moved in with Rocky & Joan into the Bach for another couple of days, which was lovely to just relax.

G&C were wonderful once again allowing us all the use of their wonderful home/location - it has many happy memories here. Thank you both so much.

We then headed to Auckland - the four of us in the Bus, to stay with brother Wayne & Kate once again for a few days before Rocky & Joan were to fly out. It's wonderful having my brothers so handily located - sorry Allan & Nicky, we didn't stay this time round. But once that house is completed and the pool filled - count us in.

Happy birthday Rocky 🎉- not a wine in sight 😊

Auckland City's changing landscape in the background

It had been a while since Joan had been to Auckland, so we decided to have the day in the City on Rocky's actual birthday. We caught the Ferry in, which was a free trip for Joan with her Gold Card (thanks Winnie) - $20 return each for the rest of us! But the weather was perfect and showed this ever expanding city off at its best.

Sadly the week came to its end and Rochelle returned to Perth (guess Daniel was missing you a bit after 3 weeks away and you needed to earn some money!) and the next day Joan returned to Nelson once again thanks to N&S, great service you two give.

Wayne washing

Bill checking out the photographer 😉

Monday started another week for Wayne & Bill to put up the scaffolding and complete the last bit of painting on the end of the gables of W&K's home. We did managed some time out to catch up with Terry & Robyn whom we haven’t seen for over 10 years but thanks to technology (Linked In) we managed to track down and catch up once again.
Now its time to head back to Waihi Beach where we are house sitting for the next two months while G&C enjoy Europe. Looking forward to it.