2025 December Christmas in Nelson and a Nicholas Family Reunion

Some of the next generation of Nicholas's
(Nicholas, Cameron & Luke and families missing)

 Our first visitor (helper) to arrive for the Christmas gathering was brother Graeme. He was able to help out in the gardens and distract us with bike rides and visits to local drinking holes. We managed a couple of card games with Bob & Diana on wet days. Cut down a couple of branches off the Redwood Tree for our Christmas Tree, and a couple to give away at the bottom of the driveway. Rocky & Daniel with Lenny were next to arrive - Lenny's first Christmas in New Zealand 💖

Merry Christmas🎄

Family were coming from Australia and Switzerland and locally (Auckland, Omokoroa, Waihi Beach, Tauranga, Wellington and Riwaka), for Christmas and to see the New Year, 2026, in when we would all gather at our place. Our last big gathering of the Nicholas's was Rochelle's 30th back in 2018, at Claire & Graeme's at Waihi Beach. Unfortunately, Nick & Em and the Girls wouldn't be making it with only recently visiting NZ in October. Oldest brother Wayne & Kate's six children and families were all gathering at Simon and Nicki's for Christmas Day, while we were having a quieter one at ours with Rocky & Daniel and Lenny & Graeme. Shannon and AC and Chuck arriving in time for Christmas Dinner

W&K and Family at Riwaka

Boxing Day was out at Rabbit Island. We packed our now repaired Bus (thanks for the help Daniel) up and took it out there as a support vehicle with oven and hot water. Perfect venue for lots of energetic teenagers. Some were brave enough to swim, although it wasn't that hot a day. The little ones and big ones all enjoyed the day out there.

Nail's day and Coffee 

WhatsApp was great for everyone to keep in touch with the various activities over the days leading up to New Year's Eve. Visits to beaches around the area. Various cafe's and restaurants. And it wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to the hydro slide and bumper boats. Bike rides here and there.

Lunch at the Grape Escape

Graeme's Abby & Ben did a surprise arrival from Australia, with their kids Evie and Charlie, before the New Year event and were able to reconnect with cousins once again. It was lovely trying to recreate some family photos of the past, but sadly without Amy, Nick, Cameron & Luke. Brother Allan & Nicky arrived in time for the gathering after having Christmas in Christchurch. The weather played ball most of the time for outdoor activities. New Years Eve was predicted to be a wet one but thankfully didn't ruin the evening and with umbrella's and gazebo's we had a large area covered. Luna is the eldest of W&K's grandchildren and was amazing at keeping all the children entertained and under control.

Rabbit Island

We used neighbours and motels to help with the overflows of people; Bill and I were in our Bus of course. Alan & Nicky in their own motorhome. We even put our 39-year-old family dome canvas tent up incase an extra bed was needed. As sad as it was, this was to be the end of an era for the Family tent. It was time to say goodbye and let another family take it over for hopefully many more happy summers. It was put on Trade Me and sold the next day.

Brothers and the Sister

After New Year's Day, the families started heading off. Some to see more of New Zealand. Others to head home. We had a few more days with Rocky, Daniel and Lenny before they returned to Dunsborough. And Shannon & AC and little Chuck left soon after. It was back to Darby & Joan and sidekick Gman.

Preparing breakfast Christmas Day

Lenny tasting NZ bacon

A relaxed evening

Slightly manic Rocky with
Shannon & AC and Rico

Gman helping in the kitchen -
making amazing Vietnamese rolls.

New Years Eve 2025

Luna has everyone under control 😍

Lenny sharing stories with Amanda, Bailee & Marta

Another relaxed evening on the new deck

Daniel & Bill replacing the Bus springs, 
good timing with your arrival Daniel 😁

Gman helping cleanup the driveway

Sheryl underestimated the water for a swim 

Time for a little play in the playground

A catchup for Lenny with
Drew & Jana's children

A visit with Nana Joan

It's not summer without a pool
(even if it didn't have any water in it 😂)

Daniel keeping busy
in Bill's workshop

A catchup with Michele & Kris and families

Cards at Bobs

Goodbye faithful tent 😪 

2025 November - December - West Coast & Nelson

Neighbours Kathryn & Simon with Bill on Hector Beach

 We returned home to Nelson to spring full on. The grass had grown high and lush thanks to the dethatching of the lawn and a little fertiliser. Some of the Rhododendron's were in full bloom - looking stunning, welcoming us back home.

I nearly got lost in the lush grass 😍

We got back into the gardening (mainly me) and the deck for Bill with Christmas on the horizon adding a little pressure. Two thirds of the decking was finished, just in front of our bedroom to go. But there was always time to go fishing and this season was a good one for Rod and his scraggy crew, whether it was Bill & I, Bruce & John, John & Bill, and other combinations - Rod never had an issue getting a crew! Or catching snapper. It seemed everyone knew it was a good season by the amount of cars and trailers in the carpark, but we saw very few actually out on the sea. Plenty of room and fish for all.

Rod teaching Bill some special fishing techniques 😉

Kathryn on Bill's trail/tail!

Neighbours Kathryn & Simon organised a weekend for us to meet up down the West Coast at Simon's place in Hector, just north of Westport. He bought a 100-year-old Villa back in 2018 as a restoration project. Not sure he realised how big a project it was going to be 😕, we saw it when over halfway through being restored and weren't expected to contribute to the hard work. Our weekend was about Bill joining K&S on a section of the Old Ghost Trail - the beginning from the Seddonville end. They did 18km returning from Anderson's Creek. Bill loved it but realised he does need a new bike - his isn't up to the ruggedness of such trails. It was a stunning day through the beautiful bush. 

While they were galivanting through the bush, I walked into the Rough & Tumble Cafe near the carpark at the trail entrance, and bought a coffee (had to make my own instant coffee from a jar on the counter 😂) and sat outside in the beautiful sunshine and read my book.

On their return, we drove back in our own vehicles to Gentle Annie and ate our picnic lunch. And as we were in the Bus, we could make our own hot drinks. Very pleasant beside the Mokihinui River. That evening we had a BBQ with Simon's sister and family. A lovely, relaxed evening.

Bill's happy place 🔥

Kohaihai Doc Camp

After a morning stroll around Hector (you have to be careful not to blink or you will miss the town) and along the beach, we packed up the bus and headed north to Kohaihai. Another favourite DOC camp. We love the beach front camping spots and the fact you can have a fire on the beach, but not the sandflies. We called into Karamea for a sausage roll & pie for lunch on the way through. There were only two other campervans at Kohaihai on our arrival. We love off peak travelling. We walked our sausage roll / pie off with a walk through the Nikau walkway - the Nikau thrive in this area, giving beautiful frond lattice foliage above our heads. We got back to camp in time for Bill to light a fire on the beach. Beautiful starry skies here without any light pollution.

Nikau Walkway

The next morning, we walked over to Scotts Beach. It was too early in the season and the sea too rough to even think about a swim. But very pleasant for a walk. Once we got back to camp, Bill checked out what was making the noise under the bus in the last part of our drive to the beach. Unfortunately, it wasn't good news, discovering it was a broken spring. The good news (hopefully) was that we should make it back home, with careful driving.🤞🤞 As the gentle rain came in later that afternoon, we settled in with our books. Very relaxing and so peaceful.

Kawateri Trail

We travelled carefully back to Westport the next morning. Things didn't seem any worse, so we thought we'd have the night in Westport before carrying on to Charleston to have a night with friends Sarah & Shane. We parked up at the NZMCA camp on the Beach Front and got our bikes off for a ride into town along the Kawateri Trail, via Westport's harbour. We found the trail from Westport to Carters Beach was closed due to earlier flooding, so our plan the next day was to drive to Carters Beach and ride south from there to Tauranga Bay and return - 23km. Earned our lunch at Donaldo's before heading onto Sarah & Shane's in Charleston. We had an enjoyable evening catching up with S&S and their friend Vi, and the gossip of Charleston.

Poor Bus with two broken springs

It was a slow trip back to Nelson the next day, nursing our Bus home and hoping nothing more would break under the bus. Thankfully we made it safely home. With further investigation, Bill found there were two broken springs on the one side! After dropping out the water tank, he had better access under the Bus but unfortunately needed to call a mobile mechanic to give a hand with special gear to drop the springs down. Together they got the springs down, packaged them up and sent them off to Christhurch for two new ones to be made. We were hoping for a quick turnaround time but sadly it didn't happen, so we were unable to make it Totoranui with Kathryn, Simon and Co.

My biggest snapper ever!

Bill has got involved back with the Nelson Canoe Club and become the maintenance man for repairs etc. There is talk of a rafting trip coming up which he is keen on, I leave him to those adventures these days. Too much adrenalin for me.

Rod cheating with the size of his fish 😆

He has continued finishing the deck, almost there.

 I water blasted pathways and continued in the garden. The backdoor got a facelift after 30 odd years. 

We had a few more days out fishing, one on which I caught my biggest snapper ever!!  It was a quiet 41st wedding anniversary but lovely to enjoy the evening on the deck watching the sun set. Bike rides and lovely walks along the beach when time allowed it whilst getting ready for Family to arrive for Christmas - the first Nicholas gathering since Rocky's 30th in 2018.

Back door reno

Happy 41st Wedding Anniversary 💕

Renovated with Aldi 
doorhandle

A stunning day at Nelson Marina

Poor Big Blue

2025 December Rafting Trip

Stowing away

Early December the Nelson Canoe Club, with whom we have not be very active with in recent years, were having a combined rafting/kayak trip down the Maruia River (yes, the one with the big waterfall). They had some spare seats and were offering the opportunity.....sounds like a Bill trip - just one night, and a river I'd never been on but often wished.

Stowing & sheltering

An overnight...well I'd need a sleeping bag, and probably a tent ....well, 1night, might get away with a blue tarp.....food might be an issue.....a coupla wraps will do the trick, and a tea bag. Easy....let's do it....oh and a biscuit or two.....too easy.

Sheryl dropped me at Three Brothers corner for a rendezvous with a character called Mike Harvey and another guy, also coming along, part of a carpool.

The weather was forecast cool and wet but not a problem. Low risk....just damp. It was a good two hours south from Nelson, past Murchison & over the Shenandoah Pass to reach the Put In. Quite damp but not cold and the river running clear. Assembling there was a collection of pack rafts, inflatables and kayaks, with two larger rafts. Mikes raft was professionally set up as a single paddler expedition raft with all the gear you would need and room for more. IE any spare gear from the other paddlers and spare bodies such as myself and my car pooling buddy, Bruce.

Mikes Raft without Bill😕

After some distribution and secure stowage of gear we set forth. A happy band of several kids and adults, into the light drizzle. The river proved to be as hoped, easily navigable and scenic, not challenging to any great degree, just a pleasant meander down looking for a suitable camp site. Which was found after a couple of stops to reconnoiter. About 3 hours on the river saw us find a spot where two other paddlers were found, their tent up, fire going. And enough room for several more. These were fellow club members who had set out the previous day and had spent their time fishing (successfully) and shared a freshly baked trout with us, which altogether was interesting and if not for my wrap I'd have had more.

Food Break

Mike's set up is worth noting...He resided in America for many years and has done the Grand Canyon River amongst many and still maintains over there a large single person raft set up for multi day unsupported rafting. His NZ raft, which I did travel on, was similarly equipped with so much gear including a thunder box and a kitchen sink! Amazing! He was also generously sharing his resources, which made us all that much more comfortable, even me scrounging hot water for my tea bag (1 of 2).

Camp Lux

The night under the tarp whilst comfortable enough, apart from waking to something😧sitting on my chest, me yelling and throwing it off, was ok for a night. And surprisingly, though not heavy windy rain, stayed dry enough. On reflection the creature sitting on me could only have been a possum or feral cat, most likely though, just a dream.😣.

The next day was a little like the day before, though with the weather lighting too warm and sunny. After another 3hrs on the river, above the falls we made our take out, soon after midday. Then the long process of getting the gear sorted, into cars and trailers packed for the return to Nelson, with a stop at Murch for a welcome filled roll and a sugary soft drink. A great two days was had, appreciating the scenic isolated places a little harder to find with a fun paddle to go.

Meandering

Mike keeping his eye out.

One of the few Technical Bits