Just photos

A VERY brave Stephen crossing a swing bridge on the way to Wainui Falls. For someone who doesn't like swing bridges this was a very scary one to cross.

Mick drying like a mermaid on a rock after diving into a swimming hole in the river. I also got a photo of him stripping off to get into his togs but maybe the blog isn't the best place for that.

A typical 'bush track' with small tree ferns.

A cicada which really drum up a racket once it gets warm enough. They've been the soundtrack to our trip.

Some colourful beehives that we've seen dotted here and there around the country.

some original advertising

Like in the U.S. the letter boxes are at the ends of drives and gateways here and there are quite a few inventive boxes like this milk churn along with the standard ones.

Jill and Steve.

Jill at Wainui Falls

An Australasian harrier or hawk which you see lots of here. Usually feeding off dead possums on the roads or hunting over fields

Jill with a (thankfully dead) Weta on her shoulder. Yuk!

Yet another weaving class

Tata Beach, our favourite. Mick, Emma and Matt are in the water in this one.
I can't really believe we've only three weeks to go before we're home again. Just a week and a half more here, then back to Wellington, on to Sydney for 3 days, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef for 4 days and Tokyo for 2 before flying back to Dublin.

Everything going swimmingly.

I waved goodbye to Jan, Sam, Holly and Charlotte in the tiny nelson airport feeling sad that we wouldn't be seeing them for another couple of months. They are staying in Invercargill until after Easter and will come back to Ireland at the end of April. Mick then made the same 100km journey to pick up his parents in Nelson the following day and they will stay almost next door to us for the next week. They have been in NZ since the start of February treking up glaciers and visiting a few of the same places we've been. Unfortunately we had torrential rain the first day they came which thankfully cleared that evening for Catherine's arrival.
On Friday Emma and Matthew had a school swim competition between the 4 neighbouring schools which Jill, Steven and I went to watch while Mick and Catherine sea kayaked. Matthew and Emma both swam their fastest and Emma won all the races she entered. Matthew's swimming has improved enormously because he's been swimming everyday in school. This is a picture of Matt's friends trying to cheer him up when he was getting bored of watching all the races he wasn't in. Emma getting out of the pool clutching the winner's orange stick.
Because the weather yesterday and today was absolutely scorching much of it has been spent on the beach. Today we went to Tata beach which has beautiful golden sand and turquoise water and spent the day dipping in and out of the sea and lathering on plenty of factor 30.


Hearing that it is -4 and snowing at home just doesn't seem believable and has made Matthew and Emma jealous of the snow they're missing out on all over again. This next photo is of PuPu springs which has the cleanest water in all of NZ.

I've slipped into a sort of Takaka malaise and I've let the blog slip a little. Also Jan, Holly and Charlotte came up on Sunday so having to test out all the cafes, beaches and river pools has been exhausting :) Charlotte is a dream baby just like Holly was. She never cries and smiles lots. It's been lovely for Matthew and Emma to have Holly and Charlotte up to play too and to show them our excellent swing over the river behind the house.

Last Saturday we had the Mardi Gras in Takaka to celebrate Waitangi Day and Matt and Emma were holding the Tungiwha for the parade. After the parade was over and we were waiting for our 'fush 'n chips' Emma and Matthew asked could the ride on the shoulders of Sugra the unicyclist which he very kindly let them do although my heart was in my mouth.
Matthew and Emma are both really enjoying school and are full of chat about all the fun they had when they come out each day. The teacher did have to have a word with Matt one day last week. She was talking to them (ironically about having to listen) and Matthew 'didn't think her announcements were that important so I carried on reading about what to do in case of a tsunami.'

Do you like....
your hair in dreadlocks
your food meatless
your boobs braless
your feet shoeless
your ankles with bells on
your trousers balloonish and of many colours?
Do you like to hang out on village greens and sell bead necklaces and then walk though the town playing a Ukelalee?
if a man do you occasionally like to wear a skirt?

If yes then you will love Takaka. We've been here less than a week but have settled in really well. We've moved house twice, emma and matthew have started school, Mick and I have been to a flax weaving class and Matthew and Emma are part of the Wantangai Day parade through town this evening.
Our first house was in a beautiful location but more 'bush' indoors than we were prepared for and after having set the rat traps indoors we spent one night there and resolved to find somewhere better. We were very lucky to find a prefect place 5 mins walk to Takaka and 8 minutes walk to school. Matthew and Emma have both settled into Takaka Primary really well and describe it as being more like a summer camp than school. They have a swimming lesson every day and often swim at lunch to cool off too. The beaches are beautiful around here so we've been driving down after school to do some snorkeling. Downside is phone and internet connection. Vodaphone have almost no connection here so I can't go online unless I'm in the library.