HAPPY NEW YEAR

First, thank you to everyone who commented on my post yesterday.  I had a wonderful day, ending with a delicious meal at a local Thai Restaurant.

Still find it hard to believe I am now 70 but then it is hard to believe that tomorrow will be the year 2014.

I wish each and every one of you a very happy and HEALTHY year ahead.

CAN IT REALLY BE?

                                               Up to date photo taken this morning.



I am 70 years young to-day and find it hard to believe.  That was one of the reasons for the walk over Mt. Aubrey posted yesterday.

For years when I was still caring for Max I was unable to have a decent walk so really appreciate the walks that Doug and I go on.

In spite of the odd ache I am still fit and aim to keep that way.

One of the reasons for lack of time and energy to blog is that at the beginning of August I started on the Lumosity Brain Training games.  I had always been too tired when caring for Max to attempt a Crossword or Code Cracker but had started doing them and felt the brain training may help.

It is amazing - now I must admit how low my "Brain Performance Index" was as in August it was 296 but has now risen to 1141 and I have noticed a huge difference when doing Code Cracker.  Yesterday, I had got nearly to the top of my age group but today move into a new age group.

I have decided that 70 is the new middle age.

Main present was a fishing rod!!!!

Mt. Aubrey

Yesterday, Doug and I walked over Mt Aubrey.  It is next to Mt. Manaia which we climbed in February.  We were very lucky as rain was forecast and arrived just as we returned to the car.  It took us just under 2 hours walking from the carpark along the Reotahi walkway then up and over Mt. Aubrey to Tiller Park and back along the road to our starting point.

                                          Looking across at Mt. Manaia

We were not having Christmas presents (I had already been given a new camera among other things) but on Christmas Eve Doug decided to make me a box to have by the front door.  Previously I had a basket full of all sorts of bits and pieces including a knife, secateurs etc.  This is now out of sight in my lovely "rustic box"

He "knocked it up" in a day.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I haven't posted for some time.  Life seems to have got in the way.  Still it is good to be busy.  The following are a couple more photos from Gibbs Farm.  Two live giraffes and a giraffe sculpture.

We have done a lot since then - mainly walks including a couple up Parihaka.  The plan is to walk up (or is it over) Mt. Aubrey during the holiday period and also re-do Mt. Manaia.  A lot of this is to with a birthday coming up this month with a zero on the end.  Feel I must keep my fitness up.

It also helps with the stress.  I am finding it hard not to feel guilty as far as Max is concerned.  The Home had a Christmas lunch last week but I don't think he knew what was going on.  I will visit him in an hour or so (It is Christmas Eve here) and then again on Boxing Day and try to enjoy Christmas day without any guilt.  There will be ten of us at Doug's so I will go straight after church and help with the preparations.  He is roasting a leg of hogget and I will glaze a small piece of ham which we will have hot tonight and cold on Christmas Day plus a joint of beef and someone is bringing a couple of roast chicken.

Weather here has been good, 27 degrees C forecast today - a bit cooler with showers for Christmas Day but that will mean I won't have to water the garden.  Up at 6 a.m. watering the garden for an hour or so this and most mornings.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2014.

Gibbs Farm - 2

Some more photos from Gibbs Farm (Doug's this time)

Gibbs Farm - 1

I seem to have been so busy lately, I have photos to post of a walk at the Taheke Falls and up Maungatapere Mountain but have been too tired at the end of the day to post them.  As well as doing numerous walks, visiting my hubby every other day there is general living and gardening going on.

Anyway, yesterday we, Doug and I, went on a bus trip to Gibbs Farm.  It is situated on the Kaipara Harbour, the largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.  Alan Gibbs bought the farm in 1991 - it is rolling countryside and is now scattered with major art works as well as various animals, zebras and giraffes to name a couple.

The farm is open once a month except January and is well worth a visit.  To read about the artworks go here

Anyway here are some of the photos I took.

This white faced heron was alongside the water at our morning tea stop on the way to the farm.

HOKIANGA 3

On our full day in the Hokianga we went to the Heads where we could see the waters meeting at the bar and the wonderful Hokianga Sandhills.

We went in to Rawene stopping off at the Memorial to Opo, the Dolphin, on the way.

The Ferry runs between Rawene and Kohukohu.

Apart from having morning coffee with a delicious lemon cake and lunch of flounder cooked in foil at the Boatshed Cafe we also walked around Rawene including the boardwalk through the mangroves.  The photo below is the only one I seem to have of that walk.

We then went on the road south to a puzzle museum and shop and outside found this lifesize elephant which was previously at Auckland Zoo.

Just by the Puzzle place was a bush walk to a waterfall.