It was a bit of a grumpy start to Christmas Day, yes those damn errant campers had us (and the Ranger) up until the early hours during the night of Christmas Eve, some people just should not be allowed to drink and then annoy other campers!! Then we were woken early in the morning by more of those same campers. Grrrr. Bernice with just a couple of hours sleep is not a happy chappy.
But the antithesis of this was the rest of our day. We left camp in the morning and headed off to have an “orphan parents” Christmas with Peter & Wendy as they too have a daughter in London. What an amazing day of chat, relaxation and laughter…oh and great food as well, just what we needed to reset.
Platters of nibbles were consumed throughout the morning, then Pete cooked up a huge pile of scallops, followed by prawns to start off the festivities.
Chef at workAnother serve of scallops on the goThis was just a one person portion of prawns! the same size portion was had of scallops!
Then it was onto the main course, a wonderfully glazed Ham had been cooked on the smoker/BBQ,
Glazed ham
accompanied by lots of delicious salads, we ventured inside for the main event.
The table setting“A glass of bubbly Roy?” Pete is asking, whilst Wendy takes her seatA cracker circle!
Dessert was had much later in the day which was a lovely way to end the festivities. Thank you so, so much to Peter & Wendy for having us for the day and for making us feel so much at home, we had a fab day.
The day ended in the early evening when we ventured back to camp ready for our video call to watch Callum open his presents from us. He was one very excited young man, as you can imagine, Christmas as a 4 and a half year old is magical.
And the London family….do you think Callum is excited?
Hope you all had a great day with friends and/or family and enjoyed a stress free time together. All the best for 2024.
Looking at life through a pair of rose tinted glasses is something that I have been accused of on several occasions of how I view the world. I admit it, I don’t like to think about the nastier side of life especially the people involved. But sometimes, just occasionally, real life comes up and figuratively gives you a slap in the face.
One such incident happened the other night when a family came into camp to stay, fuelled by alcohol and drugs, the domestic situation became vocal and volatile, so much so that after trying our best to cajole and soothe over many hours that in the end we gave up and rang the Police to have the family evicted. The so called adults yelled and screamed at each other for hours using the most disgusting foul language I have ever heard, but as soon as they were approached we were told “sorry, sorry, yes, we will keep it down” only for 2 minutes later to be back to where we started. The fact that 5 young children were witness/involved with this was most concerning and it was for their welfare that I rang the Police. For those of you familiar with the book/film Once were Warriors, this is exactly the type of scenario that we’re playing out in front of us. Scary stuff indeed.
Unfortunately the Police were busy with other serious matters but by 1:30am things had quietened down, so I rang the emergency number again, quoting the incident number and told them that everything had quietened down however we would like the Police to attend in the morning to evict them. I was told that the morning was probably the first opportunity someone would be able to attend as all their patrols were busy at serious life threatening incidents.
It all kicked off again just after 6am, other campers had gone over and called out for them to quieten down (from a safe distance), and just about the same time I had a call from the Police to say they were on the Park and just wanted a bit more information from me before they drove in. Later I found out that apparently the couple were still yelling at 3:30am but I must have slept for an hour or so by then.
The Police handled everything quickly, quietly and efficiently and it wasn’t long before they all left with the errant family having been served a trespass notice.
Not what one wants to see under the Xmas tree!
This made me think about what our Police and other emergency workers have to face repeatedly on a daily basis, it must be so wearisome. I guess they become accustomed to the torrent of abuse hurled at them, never mind the physical dangers that they must have to face everyday. I spent the rest of the day utterly exhausted from being on an adrenaline high most of the previous night plus lack of sleep didn’t help!
Oh and if you were wondering, we were well looked after by Ranger staff as well, but there was nothing they could do apart from support us and leave the Police to do their job.
So a huge thank you to all those who face this sort of stuff on a daily basis, I admire and respect your dedication to keep the rest of us safe.
I am now putting on my rose tinted glasses again to live in my own little bubble of a world where everyone is kind to each other and respects each other, the camp is full of happy people and the cheerful sound of children playing, the birdsong is beautiful and the weather is warm and sunny. Merry Christmas, good health and happiness to you all.
Pohutakawa from bedroom window
And this cheeky chappy brought a happy smile to our faces from London, happy Christmas Callum, enjoy having Uncle Antony with you this year.
I’m organised this year and have got myself into gear. I wasn’t sorted last year at all mainly because we were in the UK until November and then time just got away on me and before we knew it, it was too late. What am I up to? I’ve made my Christmas Cakes!
After being in Auckland for the weekend spending some time with Antony, on the way back we did the grocery shopping including buying all the ingredients to make the cakes. I make two different kinds, one is a whole fruit and nut cake, sometimes known as a stained glass window or cathedral cake as when you slice it it has the appearance of a stained glass window, pretty obvious really. I tend to use mostly dried fruit rather than glacé fruits only because good glacé fruit is just so difficult to find and especially at the time of the year that I want to bake.
Cakes going into the oven to be cooked. I forgot to take an after cooking photo as they are all now wrapped up tightly ready for consumption later.
The other cake I make is my grandmothers recipe and one that mum (Hilda) made not only for Christmas every year but also all of our wedding cakes. I have very fond memories of coming home from school to the aroma of fruit cakes being baked and a large note on the oven DONOT OPEN OVEN DOOR.
I still make them the way Mum did by wrapping the cake tin in brown paper and tying with string to protect the edges of the cake from cooking too quickly and drying out, and yes, I leave the cakes in the oven after they have finished cooking until the oven goes cold but I don’t have to leave a note attached to the oven door – someone can be told! Oh and I also measure the brandy the same way Mum did, ie. a good glug!
Cake wrapped up with brown paper, and yes, I save the brown paper to use every year!
This cake keeps exceptionally well, in fact we have only just finished the last little bit of a cake that was made three years ago. It tasted even better after all that time.
And all the cakes baked, cooled and wrapped ready to put away into the tins.
The “Hilda’s Cake” keeps for years, and we always eat it with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese – the Yorkshire way. With cheese? I can hear you ask? Where did this tradition come from? According to t’internet:
Cheese eaten with Christmas cake is a Victorian tradition and the first written reference we’ve found is from Joseph Lucas’s book 1871 ‘Studies in Nidderdale [Yorkshire]’ “On Christmas Eve one Yule Cake is given to each member of the family, along with a piece of Christmas cheese. As a rule, part of it is left for Christmas morning, and eaten at the breakfast.” It seems certain eating fruitcake and cheese started in Yorkshire before later spreading throughout the other northern counties. The tradition of enjoying fruitcake with cheese was and is strong in the north of England, but seems often frowned upon or ignored elsewhere in the UK.
The true origins of how and why it came about are shrouded in mystery – although Yorkshire is almost certainly the starting point. It may date back to the days when Wensleydale was traditionally a cheese to be eaten in the winter, especially at Christmas. In those days, Wensleydale was only made in the spring and summer, and then collected from the farms in the autumn at the end of the season. Thus the cheese reached full maturity at Christmas – so it was regarded as a special cheese for consumption at that time, not just an ‘everyday’ cheese. Perhaps Wensleydale was the cheese of choice to taste alongside Christmas cake for that very reason.
Whatever the history, it’s how we enjoy Hilda’s fruit cake with a slice of good sharp cheddar cheese, as well, a glass of port washes it all down beautifully. And no, the cakes are not all for us, we do give some away as gifts, and of course they are shared widely with friends and family.
The Christmas tree is decorated, as well the grass around our van has been mown. The pohutakawa trees in front and behind the van are out in bloom – yes, we have had ONE blue sky day!!! (This photo was taken before the grass got a haircut).This is the view out of our bedroom window
We had a family gathering a week before Christmas at Sarah & Shaun’s new house. It was so lovely to catch up with this side of the family again, and my how the children (great nieces and nephews) have grown, they are all so lovely and get on really well together. The weather was doing its usual thing, raining, but this didn’t stop the young ones having a great time in the new swimming pool.
That’s my brother Steve on the right next to Roy and Antony, Steve’s wife Leslie at the left end of the settee, the rest are their three daughters their husbands and their children.
The food was fabulous as usual and the days frivolities stretched out over the afternoon into the evening before it was time for us to head back home.
We wish you and your loved ones all the best of the festive season from us both and here’s to a great year ahead x.
We left Uretiti before 9am, I know, an early start for this usually late riser but we had packed most things away the previous day and so it was just breakfast then a quick tidy, hook up the car and we were off.
We had a good run down through the never ending lines of road cones, there are road works everywhere!
Road conesMore cones
Just a slight diversion to Dairy Flat to fill with LPG. We have a large inbuilt tank so we need to find petrol stations that have auto LPG and we know that there is an easily accessible one at Dairy Flat. But there was a slight glitch, it seemed that they had run out of LPG but we were told that delivery would be before lunchtime so if we were happy to wait we could park up at the back of the garage. After waiting for what seemed like hours, Roy went back into the garage to ask if there was any news on when delivery would take place, just a minute said the other attendant, let me check the tank. She came back and said, there’s plenty in there, come back round and we will try again. Guess what? it worked this time so with tank filled we were on our way.
We rolled into the park and we’re warmly greeted by staff, and we are told it’s perfect timing as our favourite spot is vacant plus tomorrow evening is the volunteer park BBQ.
We were soon parked up, fortunately they rain held off until we were settled but it soon started to rain, and rain and rain some more. It seems as though there has been very little respite from the damp conditions.
Raining again, fortunately the pukekos don’t seems to mind.
Over the winter months the toilet block has been seriously upgraded and rebuilt.
Toilet blockTiled interior
We wake each morning to the dawn chorus of the tuis although I am not sure why the6 call it the dawn chorus as they start at 3.30am and by the time dawn does break the rest of the birds have joined in. Not that I am complaining, it’s a lovely comforting sound to be woken to.
The swans are back with this years brood
Other bird life is prolific and we were delighted to see that Jonathon is still here. I have written about this seagull previously, you can read about him here.
Jonathan is back!
Our first week back was filled with school groups in camp, for many of the schools this is the first camp that they have had for a couple of years so it was all rather new and exciting for many of the children.
Learning how to put up their tents.
Schools came and went, some cancelled as the weather was appalling, other campers came and went. But the overriding effect on everyone has been the constant rain, over half the camp is already roped off due to very wet and boggy ground, and we have had to rope off another couple of smaller areas as people got stuck.
As the time creeps closer to Christmas the rain hasn’t stopped, the grounds are sodden, camping conditions aren’t good, lots of people are cancelling their bookings and at the moment it’s going to take a long time for the ground to dry out. Measures are in place to try and ensure that those who do want to continue with their plans can do so,so long as they come prepared. Let’s hope that summer will arrive soon.
Merry salutations of the festive season to you all, we hope it has been all that you wanted. We have settled into routine of life at Shakespear but although I say routine, it is definitely not the same every day as each day brings something or someone new.
Christmas Day came and went and was very uneventful. Antony came up to stay for a couple of days and we had a very relaxed Christmas Day and dinner. It was a very hot day and even though we were under shade for the majority of the day, we all glowed somewhat by early evening. In my usual tradition I did not take a single picture the whole day.
We had the video call from Callum on Christmas evening our time, Christmas morning their time, and it was just delightful to watch Callum open our presents.
Callum showing off his spoils to his TV Grandma and Grandad
One of these days he will get a shock when he discovers that we don’t live in the television.
The advent calendar was dutifully hung ready for the countdown to Christmas.
Callum’s completed advent calendar
Callum also hung his stocking ready for Santa to deliver presents, although we are told that he was not overly impressed with the whole Father Christmas idea.
Finds from our container clear out, Antony & Alexandra’s stockings made in 1988 and Ian’s completed 2021. The latter two will be hand delivered sometime in 2022 all going well 🤞Callum making Christmas biscuits.And guess who got a drum kit for Christmas? Watch to the end for his epic conclusion to his performance!!
New Years rolled around very quickly, Antony came up for the weekend and in our usual manner, we were all in bed before midnight letting others see the New Year in. Although it was not an entirely uneventful evening, late afternoon I saw a woman hurriedly running across the camp toward us. She explained that her husband had gone to sit in a chair, the chair collapsed catching one of his fingers in the framework chopping through his finger and bone resulting with it basically amputated only hanging on by a strip of skin!!! She wanted to know where the nearest A&E was, we made the quick decision that it was better to call for yan ambulance. Antony took on the role of lead coordinator ringing the ambulance as I, along with two off duty Rangers, went to see if we could do anything practical. They already had him in the car with his hand tightly wrapped in a towel, with his hand raised above his head, ready to head off to an emergency clinic. He was in pretty good spirits, telling me he felt no pain, hmmm shock had obviously set in, meanwhile Antony was coordinating with the ambulance a meet up point to get the patient to emergency services as quickly as possible and making sure that he was ok. The Rangers headed off to unlock the gate and Antony went off with the patient and his wife Sue in the car as he was now the main point of contact, being instructed what to do and where to meet. They apparently met the ambulance at the Manly Fire Station, where he was duly seen to, given pain medication (pain was starting to kick in by now) and he was taken off by ambulance. Of course in these Covid times, no one could go with him in the ambulance nor go to A&E so before long Antony was returned to the park. Antony got a message from Sue the following day to say thank you for all his help and to say that he had been taken to North Shore Hospital then transferred to Greenlane Hospital for surgery to insert a pin and stitch together his finger. Ouch!! We understand that he now recovering at home, relaxing in front of the TV watching cricket. I
Serious card playing on New Years Eve.
Funnily enough we had just been talking about the fact that our First Aid certificates needed updating as our refresher courses had been delayed due to Covid, however Antony had just renewed his First Aid and was telling us of the extra things he gets training for with the Police (sucking chest wounds, gun shot wounds etc), hence his calm head in this situation. All in all an eventful end to the year.
Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2022, best wishes to you all.
We left Tauranga in the pouring rain which fortunately did not last for too long and it had stopped by the time we got to Waihi. After a brief stop for LPG in Paeroa we continued on our way to our destination Ray’s Rest (nest Kaiaua).
We are seriously thinking of renaming New Zealand to Aotearoa, Land of the long line of orange cones!!
The never ending line of conesMore cones
It wasn’t too far for the days drive, a couple of hours in total if I remember correctly. It would have been a lot quicker due to the endless line of cones and slow moving traffic through the work zones, but hey, we weren’t in a hurry.
Parked up by the sea at Ray’s Rest
This would have to be the quietest we have seen it at Rays Rest, with just one other van in when we arrived and only a further two joining us later in the day. The weather wasn’t the greatest, dull, overcast, with heavy rain at times and strong winds but we hunkered down for a couple of nights to wait for the Auckland border to open.
After two restful and peaceful nights we were soon on our way again, heading to Ardmore NZMCA park for a night so we could catch up with Antony for a day and to make a start on sorting out the last of our stuff we had from our storage container we emptied earlier in the year. What a mission, we managed to go through all the art works, but what we will do with it all is a problem for another day.
Time to hit the motorway and head to Shakespear Park ready for our summer sojourn.
After a very warm welcome from Rangers, the formalities completed by signing all the forms now necessary due to Covid, we settled in our temporary parking spot until the weekend when our usual spot would become free.
Things are a little different this year, we now have a double row of fencing up in front of our bay with a metre between each row of tape to ensure campers keep the requisite 1m away. We won’t go into the Councils decision to require all staff & volunteers to be double vaxxed, and with passports required for entry into all council facilities ….except for campgrounds!!…..needless to say, we are not impressed. Our interaction with campers is greatly reduced, masks are to be worn (by us) during any interactions, which does not make it feel terribly friendly. However, we shall see how it all goes.
Parked in our usual spot, behind the double row of orange tape
My garden is back in its place beautifully planted up (thanx Emma) ready for summer, we have a new tent up (thanx John) for our guests to stay in when they visit, and a new double shower tent (thanx Pat & Sue) to take advantage of solar heated water.
Shower tent to the right and garden to the left. This was before we conjured up the energy to put up the tent.Settled into our usual spot and Decked out with Christmas lights
With borders around Auckland coming down we can finally get back into Auckland and our usual summer location at Shakespear Park. However, this year, our role will be slightly different due to Covid restrictions with less interaction with campers.
But before we left Tauranga we had a few final things to do, sort or achieve, nothing major but just those silly little things that you keep putting off until you can’t put it off any longer.
Whilst we were at Keith’s one day, we noticed he had a rose bush that was starting to spill over the deck and patio area and causing a bit of a hazard especially when his grandchildren are around. We set to with wires and eyelets and espaliered the rose in a fan shape along the fence and now it’s looking so much better.
The rose before on the left and on the right after it was espaliered along the fence line.
I’ve been keeping my hand busy too, making sure Ian doesn’t miss out on a Xmas stocking, I set to to embroider one for him as well.
On the left is the main embroidery done, then highlighted and outlined on the rightThe finished article…and why owls you ask? Maybe because Ian is a bit of a hoot!!
I also decided to design and make a couple of smaller stockings,
The main embroidery done on one of the smaller stockings And the pattern for the other one. First of all I had to find some graph paper, Mr Google helped and I downloaded and printed off some sheets, before setting to to draw up the pattern.
I just have the finishing touches to do then make up the stockings and they are already for us to deliver to the UK next year!
Our last weekend at Pyes Pa and a farewell potluck dinner was held for us and Mike & Jean. We had a great meal with our new friends at Pyes Pa, it was a lovely way to end our stay.
Farewell dinner at Pyes Pa.
The following day we had a farewell lunch at Keith’s with his daughters and grandies as well as mutual friends Carol & Glen. I forgot to take any pictures of the fun afternoon but between a yummy BBQ lunch and laughing ourselves silly with the antics of the little ones and the not so little particularly with a water fight, I did capture the final moment of another funny event.
Amy holding onto Keith’s legs as he lifts Isla out, who managed to get the “alligator” aka elevator, stuck on the ground floor. Answering the plaintiff cries of “I’m stuck, help me!”, Isla was quickly lifted out. I think the poor alligator was very tired after being sent up and down numerous times by small persons!!!
With the weather forecast not looking particularly bright, we bade fond farewells to all the lovely people at the park over property we have come to get to know over the past numerous weeks! We thank Rona the owner, Rosie & Baz the caretakers and all the lovely campers we got to know so well – Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, entertainment, and friendship, we shall return.
I’ve had a few requests from some of our overseas readers asking for an explanation of the Kiwiana set of figures for the advent calendar I recently sent to Callum. As it’s now across the other side of the world, I only have the photo that I used previously and it is not the greatest quality but anyway, here goes.
Here is the set I made.
Starting with the top row left to right are as follows:
Minties (a paper wrapped NZ confection/sweet noted for being very chewy and sticky)
Chocolate fish (pink marshmallow covered chocolate shaped fish noted for its use as a reward for a job well done. Also happens to be a favourite of Roy)
Pāua shell (similar to abalone or ormer, polished it is used in jewellery and ornamental uses, highly prized in Māori culture)
Tomato sauce bottle in the shape of a tomato, (classic NZ summertime, beach and bbq icon)
L&P bottle (Lemon & Paeroa soda pop drink, Paeroa is the place where it was made originally combining lemon with the local carbonated mineral water. It’s advertising slogan was “world famous in New Zealand” . A large statue of the bottle stands in Paeroa township)
Greenstone fishing hook Hei Matau (carved from jade-like greenstone, the stylised hook shape means good luck and safe travels across water
Hokey Pokey Icecream cone (hokey pokey is the NZ version of honeycomb toffee, pieces of which are folded through vanilla icecream),
Red-band Gumboot aka Wellington Boot (an iconic NZ brand favoured by all self respecting farmers)
Buzzy Bee (a child’s pull along toy in the bee shape, when pulled along the wings turn around and make a clicking noise)
Middle Row (L-R)
Poi (Māori traditional dance use poi – which are lightly weighted balls on long rope which are skilfully swung to make patterns and noise.
Fairy Bread (a children’s party favourite, thinly sliced white bread, buttered and sprinkled with 100’s & 1000’s (nonpareils), cut into triangles).
Pavlova ( a NZ culinary dessert – although the Australians try to claim it as theirs – crispy meringue on the outside, pillowy marshmallow interior traditionally covered with whipped cream and slices of kiwi fruit).
Jelly tip icecream – icecream on a stick or ice lolly for UK audiences ( vanilla icecream with the top third made up of a raspberry jelly, the whole thing is dipped in chocolate).
Kowhai flower (NZ native tree, flowers in the spring with bell shaped bright yellow flowers with long stamens. Birds love this tree for its nectar producing flowers).
Lolly cake (an uncooked slice made of crushed malt biscuits, chopped up fruit puff sweets, condensed milk and melted butter mixed together and formed into a log and rolled in coconut, served sliced). NB. Sweets/confectionery are known as Lollies in NZ.
Kiwi fruit (fruit originally known as Chinese Gooseberry, green interior with a brown furry skin). Known as Kiwi in the rest of the world, NZers always call them kiwi fruit to distinguish them from the National bird.
Silver Fern (iconic symbol of NZ sporting teams, the fern itself is green on the top side and silver underneath.).
Fantail (NZ bird, Piwakawaka as it’s known by its Māori name, is a small bird with a fan shaped tail.
Bottom row L-R
Pohutakawa flower (also known as NZ Christmas tree as its red flowers adorn the trees at Christmas time. This version of the flower is my stylised version of it)
Vogel’s bread (NZ brand of bread, a dark dense moist texture and very nutritious, first made in 1967 and named after a Swiss man Alfred Vogel who had a lifelong interest in health and nutrition)
Four Square (iconic NZ grocery store started in the 1920’s, found mainly in small towns).
Tūī (NZ native bird known for its white tuft of feathers at its throat. It has a beautiful song and a distinctive flight pattern.
Jandal (NZ name derived from a contraction of Japanese and sandal also known in the rest of the world as flip flops, thongs)
Kiwi (NZs National bird, flightless and nocturnal)
Sheep (self explanatory really, NZ is known for its wool and sheep meat production and export)
And that is all, I did make a list of nearly 70 items that I could have made, in the end, I did the “easy” ones, the ones that had a bit of colour and enough for the advent countdown (plus a spare). I hope this clarifies the meaning of each of the items.
With no sign of change in levels coming anytime soon, we decided to stay on at Pyes Pa until things settled into some semblance of normality however I’m not sure that what we thought of as ‘normal’ will ever resume. Meanwhile, we are managing to keep busy and entertained with the great group of people here at the POP but the big plus is being able to spend time with my nieces and great nieces,
We’ve shared time together, talked, put the world to rights, played, laughed and shared lots of nice food. We went shopping with a Jenna and 5yo Isla one day, Isla kept us well entertained and provided lots of laughs.
Great uncle Roy and Isla at lunch
Another day was spent with Rebekka and 15month old Amelia, again it was so lovely being able to spend some time with them.
Amelia thinks we are funny!
It’s not quite the same as being with Callum, but we do appreciate being able to spend time with young ones. Speaking of Callum, we have our regular calls with him every couple of days and it’s lovely to be able to do that. He is a lovely young boy, his Mum & Dad are doing a great job and we are forever grateful that Ian’s family and in particular his parents Chris & Barry are supporting them so much.
Callum saying “good morning Grandma and Grandad”
I’ve been busy completing Callum’s advent calendar that I’ve been putting together over the past however long. I’ve been putting off the sewing of the hanger but I finally gave myself a good talking to and got on with it.
The makings of the advent calendar. Can you spot the mistake? I was so intent on concentrating on measuring the spaces for number placement, telling myself 10mm from the bottom when I wrote 10 instead of 9…..doh! And of course I had not a slither of material left over so plan B had to be instigated. It’s not too noticeable and it makes it unique!!The traditional set of figures to go in the pockets of the calendar….and yes, there are extras which can be put on the Christmas tree as decorations. They are all made from felt and hand stitched, stuffed and embellished.The Kiwiana set I made as an alternative…..just so Callum doesn’t forget his Kiwi heritage!!
They have now been posted off with lots of other goodies, and I’ve just been informed that the parcel has indeed arrived safely although Ian tells me that when he got home from work, one of the packets of Jet Planes (sweets) had been opened and half eaten! Shocking!!
And speaking of Christmas, this week I made my Christmas cakes, thanks to Rebekka and Keith for the use of their ovens. I made four of my whole fruit and nut cakes, some for us whilst others will be gifts, I cooked those in Rebekka’s oven. Another day I made the traditional cake which was my grandmothers recipe and one which mum used to make. This is a rich fruit cake with just currants, sultanas and raisins making up the cake which we enjoy eating the Yorkshire way, that is, with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. I made one large one for us and a couple of smaller ones to give away. It’s a good keeper of a cake too as this week we have just finished off the last of last years cake. Hopefully we will be able to share the cakes with the Rangers at Shakespear, if and when we can ever get back into Auckland….watch this space.
The Vanninis' Manoeuvres 