A bucket of kindness

Yesterday when I was with my granddaughters, Annika (4.5) was not in a happy mood - nothing was right! I ended up sitting her down and telling her I’d had enough of her grumping and unless she changed her attitude and the way she was speaking to us, she could sit in the car. She replied “you aren’t filling my bucket up”, I refrained from telling her what she could do with her “bucket” reminding myself that I was the adult and needed to act like one.

At Kindergarten the children have been told that everyone has a “bucket” inside them that needs filling up all the time. It can be filled by being kind to someone else, doing something for someone else, sharing, speaking nicely ,and also by being kind to yourself and by others doing these things for you. Her Dad explained to her that her behaviour had been “emptying Gran’s bucket” , therefore she was going home to be kind to herself so it would refill. Annika was interested in this concept so I explained to her that I was going home to read a book, which was something I enjoyed doing and by doing this, I would once again have a “full bucket” to share with others and that as easy as it is to fill someone else’s bucket, your behaviour can also empty someone else’s bucket. Hopefully she understood this.

I believe this “bucket” lesson taught to Kindy children is one adults should take note of too. We are all able to help others keep their “buckets” full, even by offering a smile and a hello to people we pass in the street. I thought about my day and the how my bucket had been filled today - smiles, cuddles and giggles with my youngest granddaughter, a hug from my son, encouragement at the gym, a chat with a friend, a thank you for the dinner I cooked from my step-daughters boyfriend and talking to my husband who is up in Darwin working and then I thought about how I had filled other's buckets - a smile to a stranger in the library, congratulating one of my "gym family" on her great workout, cooking a lovely dinner for the boys tonight and not making them do the dishes as I should have, instead doing them myself. The more I thought about this concept, the more I realised it isn't a difficult one to do everyday.

1 comment family

SCUBA diving

Adam (son) does a great deal of diving. He dives on wrecks and for crayfish. He brought his dive gear up with him, and spare equipment, so Pete could go for a dive with him, which he did one afternoon. He also took Jack, (grandson) out for 5 dives. Jack completed his Junior dive certificate in the last week of school, so it was good for him to get more dives in and cement what he learnt on his course.

Jack and Adam did two night dives, just to look around and then three daytime dives out of the reserve area, to see what seafood they could find. They got crayfish and a John Dory fish. We gave some of the crayfish away to others at the camp - who loved them, and Pete, Jack, Adam and Candice ate some as well. We took 5 home and gave them to my brother. I don't like them.

Leave a Comment Diving, family, Holiday

Camping at Matai Bay

On Christmas Day we loaded up the trailer and my daughter's car, leaving ours ready to have everyone's bags, the esky's (chilly bins) and camping fridge to go in on Boxing Day morning. We were up early Boxing Day and on the road by 6.20 am - facing a 7 hr car journey up to Matai Bay, in Northland, NZ.

We arrived at the DOC (Dept of Conservation) campground and found only one site empty, so we grabbed it quick and started setting up camp. Fortunately, another campsite, 2 away from ours was packing up, so we spoke to them and told them we'd take that one as well, as we were not going to fit our dome, 2 roomed tent and three smaller tents plus our vehicles on one site. Also, my son, his partner and grandson were arriving in another 2 days with a popup camper.

We were so fortunate to have beautiful weather. NZ summer can be quite fickle, and the further north you go, the more rain you can get, with some of the tropical storms that hit Australia, coming down and across the top of the north island.

There are toilets, cold water and cold showers provided at the campsite. We took solar showers and a shower unit that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car and had a shower tent set up, so warm showers for us. It's really good for the kids to be aware of water conservation - having to wet oneself, turn off shower, soap up, rinse off and get out. Hair washing is done in a similar way, although the kids were encouraged to wash theirs during the day under the cold showers after having a swim.

Cooking was done on gas cookers, dishes in a tub of hot water. Meals were simple, but nutritious and tasty. The kids spent ages swimming, walking on the beach, playing "spotlight" at night with other kids at campground and generally amusing themselves during the day. My son, Adam, took Jack, grandson for 5 dives, as Jack had just got his junior dive licence. He loved it.

Yachts moored overnight in the shelter of the bay

We stayed there for 9 nights, packing up in the rain on Jan 3rd, before a storm hit the North Island, causing quite a bit of damage and flooding in places. It was a long slow trip home until we hit north Auckland and then it was back to light traffic and normal speeds. We spent the next two days drying tents - hanging them up in the garage one at a time, and doing loads of washing. It was good to be home in soft beds with "real" showers, but I could easily have stayed there for several more weeks.

So beautiful

Maori totem poles

Clear clear water

The grandies got my phone - aren't they delightful :)

Fishing in the evening. 

2 comments Camping, family, Holiday

Homeward Bound

I'm sitting at the Auckland International Airport, waiting to board my flight in 2 hours, so thought I'd do my first blog for 2018. Happy 2018 everyone, I hope this year will be your year, bringing you all happiness, contentment, love and laughter.

I have had a wonderful 3 and a bit weeks in NZ with my family. Pete and I had Christmas at my daughter's with my parents, my brother and his family and of course my daughter and my grandchildren. We spent the afternoon packing ready to go camping on Boxing Day, but more about that in another post.

My grandchildren and Mum.

I'm sad to leave, it's hard to leave behind family and friends, even though I'm going home to family and friends. New Zealand will always be home and one day, we'll live there again. My mum brought me up to the airport and is now driving the 1.5 hrs home again. I've asked her to text me when she gets home - hope she remembers!

Mum and I went blueberry picking one day - picked just over 6 kg - of which I free flow froze 3.5 kgs's for my daughter to use in smoothies. Both Mum and I ate quite a few while we were picking - one must taste test each bush to ensure they are worth picking.

I got upgraded to business class - a first for me and I'm excited. Silly isn't it, to be excited about sitting in business class for three hours, but I am, and all because I asked if I could possibly have an isle seat. There were none available in "cattle" class, and I obviously got the hostess/check-in person at a good time.

Pete flew home on the 1st January and was meant to return to work on the 3rd, however the spike of a palm frond he got in his foot on Christmas Day put paid to that. He had surgery to remove a 16.4mm piece of it that was still in there on Monday night - only after insisting to the Dr that they do an ultrasound to check that there was nothing in it as it was still very sore and inflamed. So I'll have him home until the 23rd when he will be cleared to return to Darwin.

My morning walking companion - Millie

Grandkids got hold of my phone!

1 comment family, Holidays

NZ for Christmas

Pete and I flew to NZ on Monday and I brought along a head cold, courtesy of Pete - yah! My mum picked us up from Auckland airport and we drove back to Hamilton. My daughter was waiting for us at Mum and Dad's along with my nephew, where we all had tea. We were fortunate enough to hear some of the residents and staff going around the village singing Christmas carols. 

Mum has this beautiful pink delphinium out in her garden at the moment. Last time I was here, she had a gorgeous blue one out, it is now finished and she is waiting for the seed pods to ripen.



We are staying with my daughter, just out of town. It is lovely to wake up to country sounds, instead of traffic and street lights.  The first morning we woke up to a good old Waikato fog. It didn't stay long and burnt off to a lovely sunny day. The Jacaranda's are in flower here at the moment.

Tuesday it was my grand daughter's 13th birthday. We went out to tea at Mexicano - which was really, really yummy. We also bought her a Chocolate Mudcake from the Cheesecake shop, which she was very happy about. Here she is cutting her cake.  Pete and I went for a walk one afternoon and came across a hedgehog. They are quite common in NZ. I guess the Echidna is the closest we get to them in Australia. 

We have been getting ready to go camping - pulling out all the camping gear from the shed, cleaning it, sorting it and buying a couple of new solar showers and some gas canisters for the cookers. We are heading way up North to Matai Bay to stay at a DOC (Department of Conservation campsite. My eldest son and his partner are coming up from the South Island to join us. We won't have power or internet up there, so I'll wish you all a Very Merry Xmas and the best for 2018. I'll be back here writing my blog after the 8th January 2018. 

I'll leave you with a photo of the breakfast I had yesterday morning. 

1 comment family, Holidays, leisure

Grandchildren, baking, beach

The little girls got dropped off early this morning as their Mum had a days work training and had to leave at 7 am and their Dad, Ross worked last night and doesn't get home until 9am. So Hollie looked after the two littlies until I returned from the gym and what a marvelous job she did. Both had been fed breakfast and were happy playing when I got home.

I did some baking with Annika, who once again pinched the cookie dough to eat raw. I also cleaned out the inside of my car - it had rather a build up of sand, etc in it. Trouble is, I then had to find homes for all the things I took out of it; still a job worth doing. I find it quite amazing how much 'stuff' I end up with in the glove box, centre console and under the seats. Annika got quite a haul of 10, 20 and even 50 cent coins, which she quietly put in her "special" box the fairies left for her last night. She tells me her Daddy told her she needs to get some money and learn how to save it, so she thought it would be a good idea to take what I had found and put on the bench to deal with when I had finished cleaning the car. Hmmmmm ....... 

Hollie and I went to the beach this afternoon. We did some sunbathing and swimming; the water was a bit chilly, but we still got in once, then we chickened out the second time and decided we'd just sunbath a bit more. After lying in the sun for about for a while, we decided we'd had enough sun for the day and got an ice cream each. Hollie's was enormous. I just had one scoop. Half way through eating hers, the cone broke in half - I thought it was really funny watching her try and eat it - she got rainbow coloured ice cream all over her hand. She finished it all though.

Back home it was time for a shower to wash sand off places sand just does not belong! I had my body scan at the gym as it is the end of the 12 week challenge. I'm fairly happy with my results, just need to get rid of the visceral body fat - it's the stuff that will cause heart attacks etc. Back to cutting out sugar (pouting lip here), no more ice cream or cakes. Healthy eating here I come again, well, until Xmas Day - calories, sugar, fat. consumed on Xmas Day do NOT count.

4 comments Baking, Beach, family, leisure

The days activities and Tamahere Eventide Gully Garden

Monday, I went for a walk with Mum first thing in the morning and then I had acupuncture again at 9.30 am; 22 needles in my shoulders, back, hips and calf muscles of which 10 or 12 had electric pulses running through them. It is the weirdest feeling I have ever had, however, the instant improvement I get, is amazing. The Chinese lady doing it said that not everyone responds as I do. She was rather horrified at the tightness of my calf muscles today and said they were too inflamed for her to massage or do cupping on (for which I am eternally grateful).

After that it was back to Mum and Dad's for lunch and then Mum and I headed into town to post mail, do banking and get books for her great grandchildren, my grand-daughters and great nephew, for me to take back to Aussie with me for their Xmas presents.

I then went to Te Awamutu to pick up Hollie, another of my grand-daughters and take her home, where I helped her start sorting out clothes to take to Aussie with her, she is coming home with me for a couple of weeks. Here she is looking grumpy because I'm taking a photo of her, she isn't a fan of having her photo taken. While there, I folded all their washing, a nice surprise for my daughter when she gets home.

Back at "the village" I decided to go for a quick walk around the Gully Garden. The residents, well, some of them, maintain and develop the gully garden. Pete and I got married nearly 4 years ago at the Village and had some of our photos taken down in this garden. It is not a "garden" of flowers, but of native trees and ferns. While down there I heard a Tui call, fantails and lots of other birds as well as lamb baaing away across the stream somewhere. It is so peaceful. I also met one of the gentlemen who 'work' down the gully doing all the drains. I chatted away to him and he told me, when I asked that the gentleman who does most of the planting is 92 and the one who maintains the little waterwheel is 94! When I asked if there were any younger ones coming along to take over when they were unable to, he replied "yes, me". I asked him how old he was and he told me 84, I swear he didn't look a day over 75. He told me he loves pottering away down there, digging drains and widening and smoothing out the paths. His aim is to make the paths wide enough for two people to walk arm in arm beside each other as "that's how lots of the elderly like to walk", (his quote, not mine).

Lots of little pathways around the gully

Enjoyed sitting on a seat looking out across the gully to this Claret Ash

NZ Kauri with cones on!

One of the many seats dotted around for the residents to sit on for a rest

The view from the seat above

A fern "koru" unfurling

Another quiet, shady sitting area

Pete and I had some of our wedding photos taken on this bridge, the water wasn't so high then

Reflective pond

Cabbage tree in flower

I also took a couple of photos of the gardens around the "village". The gardens were pruning the Lonicera Nitada 'balls' today and I had to have a little chuckle at how they had left this one.

Love 'his' mowhawk.

This rose is growing along the side of one of the villas - I'm pretty sure it's Wedding Day.

Some of the residents choose to plant and maintain their own gardens, others are happy to leave it up to the gardeners. Those that do their own have lots of colour, the others are all 'easy care' shrubs.  

Then it was off to have dinner at my brother and sister-in-law's with them and their three son's, all in their 20's and all living back at home at the moment. One has returned from Brisbane to complete his Engineering degree, the other completed his Police training this year and has yet to go back flatting and the third, well, he just likes living at home. All the boys are hard workers and do their share around the house and with the meals.  

I'm off back home tomorrow and by the look of the weather forecast, returning to rain. Hollie is not impressed as she was looking forward to lying on the beach every day. Oh well, we'll have to find other things to do. 

2 comments family, Gardening, leisure

Mt Karioi - Raglan

Mt Karioi from Raglan (innocent looking isn't it!)

Today, Sunday, I am suffering; my calf muscles hate me and my lower back isn't being too friendly either. My knees are forgiving me, although when I got up during the night, my right one reminded me forcefully that I am no longer in my 20's and I had to have a second attempt at standing on it. Thank goodness I've got another round of acupuncture tomorrow morning.

Why am I being reminded that I am not as young as I'd like to think I am? My daughter and I climbed Mt Karioi yesterday. An ancient volcano, the summit is at 756 metres above sea level. We started off about 100-150 metres above sea level at the car park. As I've said before, both of us are part of a team of 4 completing the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge next July, so need to get lots of km's under our feet of mountain climbing to prepare.

Christina told me there were two ways up Karioi, the easier, quicker way which doesn't have many views, or the harder, longer way, that has great views, and then asked, which did I want to do. I said the one with the views - silly me.  About 3 minutes into the walk I said "ok, my legs are tired now and I'm puffing, time to turn back", just joking though. It takes a while for the legs to get used to it and the lungs to get their "2nd wind", once that's happened, it isn't quite as hard.

The cars are way down the bottom.

We started off walking through low native bush and then out into grass land. The initial climb up to the main bush line is steep and the cars parked below quickly look like matchbox cars. The path is very narrow and quite rocky. We were reluctant to forge a new path through the long grass, as you couldn't see the rocks and we weren't that keen on breaking toes, or twisting ankles.  In the photo to the left you can see the narrow path following the fence line. The car park is the white blob in the middle of the green way down the bottom.

Once in the bush, we struck mud, ankle deep mud - oh yah! I did manage to keep my shoes relatively clean on the way up, but on the way down, I gave up, I was too tired to hop from dry spot to dryish spot, or pick my way delicately around the edges of the mud puddles. Thankfully not all the track was muddy, in fact it was probably only 1/4 of it. Parts of the track follow a ridge line, with the sides dropping steeply off on each side of the narrow path. Christina commented that she couldn't stand with her feet side by side on some of it. I tried not to look over the bush lining the edge of the path. We also had to be careful not to plant a walking pole over the edge, expecting it to give us leverage.

Tree roots and rocks provided steps up some of the path. In one place, were there are chains to assist, we estimated it was a good 6 or metres up, using the chains to haul oneself up with, while using tree roots as ladder rungs as well as the occasional rock. Going up wasn't difficult, coming back down took a little more time. Here is Christina making her way up the chained area. It is hard to depict in photos the steepness of the track here. I so wish someone would make a camera that showed exactly what the eye sees.

It was here we meet a gentleman coming down, who told us it had taken him an hour, yes only an hour to reach the summit. Recommended time is 3 to 3.5 hrs. He is a trail runner - idiot. He hadn't realised how "technical" this track was and hadn't been able to run it very much. His shoes and lower legs were covered in mud, obviously he wasn't like us and just jogged straight through it. I'm picking he went down in half that time. Amazing to be that fit and agile.

Tree roots are great steps and hand holds. 

Another part of the track where a chain had been installed to assist, however, we found it easier to just use the tree roots that were conveniently placed as steps and handholds.

The views on the way up, up and down the coast line were amazing and if my stupid phone's battery hadn't gone flat so quickly, I would have taken many more photos. Next time, yes there will be a next time, I'm taking a small camera with me.

Raglan Harbour

Kawhia Harbour

We reached the summit in 2 hrs 50 mins, had a bite to eat, and then started down. Going down was torturous - our knees protested mightily and to be honest, the exhaustion hit. I hadn't really eaten many carbs the day before and half a banana and an egg for breakfast, wasn't really a clever idea. I should have carb and protein loaded for dinner and breakfast. While the snacks we took were nutritious, an apple each, nut bar, sweet and salty popcorn, a nut/fruit mix and lollies, they were not really sufficient for the amount of energy expended climbing up the mountain. I'll be better prepared next time with protein balls, electrolyte tablets and protein bars.

It took us 5.5 hrs approximately, with stops for "catching the breath", knocking mud off the shoes, our lunch at the top, getting caught behind a large group of tourists, who weren't really prepared for that type of hike and a very slow descent. Five hours of that was actual hiking. I am now much more aware of how much exercise I need to do to get fit enough for the GC Kokoda Challenge. I need to build up my knee strength and general cardio fitness and ultimately, I just have to get out there and climb mountains, one after the other. 

My watch is trying to cheat me out of height climbed (it's actually 756m to the summit), but this gives and idea of the terrain profile we climbed.

Below are some other photos taken of the bush, and the rocky cliff below the carpark.

Rock climbing anyone?

NZ native bush.

The dark hole in the middle of the bush is where the track goes. This is after the open grassy area of the climb.

It's a long way down and we aren't even 1/2 way up yet. 

2 comments family, Fitness, leisure, Mt Karioi