Camping Rules

No 1 -  do not pitch a tent under a clay cliff face
No 2 - do not set up camp next to a floodable river with no road access
No 2 - do not borrow a tent from someone you can't hide from

An awesomely fun time had camping at the stunning Rakaia gorge.  Lots of lessons learnt and a bruised head and destroyed tent to show for it!

Cooking on fire in a cave, blanketed in the brightest starry sky, seeing a shooting star and the milky way, fishing in the sunrise, mighty breakfast sandwiches, long open roads and the sound of a running river to fall asleep too.

Very much enjoyed going back to basics, simplicity, to enjoy the beauty that is all around us.  Peace and quiet was bliss. 
And we survived what nature threw at us, so that's the main thing!

A dramatic workplace walk out was to thank for the time for a trip away.  I need to start listening to my very wise body, it knows best!  Next time, I promise. 

I am now re grouping will soon be reassessing.  I was doing too much, working for someone who brought me down, that's not what its about.  Falling into the rat run is never going to work for me, plan B or more like Q will be in the making!

Pics to follow
Rxxx

Easter Pics

 Campy breakfast

 The Morning View after the stormy night

 Beautiful Sunrise

A spot of early morning fishing!

Rxxx

Mary mary quite contrary

She  came she brought 2600 people to our we're town, she went.
The excitement of last week was the visit fom the Queen Mary 2, a big old girl.  Sadly couldn't see her from work, but I felt her presence, through making 35 orders of fish and chips over lunch.  It seems to be a cruise ship thing, they go nuts for fish and chips and of course all come at once!  Was fun though, love it when its busy. 
I relaxed after my shift, Akaroa style, rather than flaking out in front of the tele, went kayKing!  Yes I know!  It is still me, honest.  Then wine and pizza,  see told you it was me really!
We tried to kayak up to Mary but she was quite far out, but got to see her, quite smart looking compared to the others, but not that special really.  But cruise ships don't ding my bell anyway.

A rainy day off today.  It rained (proper nz rain, none of this drizzle nonsense!) All night and hasn't stopped.  I briefly awoke and back to snoozly land for an epic lie in!  I have popped out to check emails and get a coffee ( working in cafes has made me a coffee fiend again!). And fully intend to go back to bed now!!  Maybe a cuppa and a movie, yum.
My musings to go into the city to geg brake pads and a toothbrush seem a distant snoozy dream.

I have just got a piano book out the library, so maybe a tinkle later, oooh and I got sausages for tea.  Rocking Monday!

Bysie bye for now

Rxxx

Hurrah for Hector

Well after 4 months I have finally seen a dolphin, whoop whoop.
I was blessed with beautiful weather for my day off and wandered down to book a boat trip out around the Harbour, I blagged it for free, due to being a non tourist.  All I have to do is rave about how great it was, won't be hard.

Looking out to sea with a gull getting in on the action

 Sea Cave

 Fur Seal, showing off!

 Hector Dolphin

 When the Harbour meets the Pacific Ocean.  (and now I know who Magelen is!)

 Albatross (they are big despite the look in this pic!)

 Gorgeous Hector

 Blow Hole, glad it wasn't too calm!

Still blows my mind that I can do this on my day off, by walking a few hundred yards down the road.

Rxxx

Rosie's Road Trips

I have been making the most of my days off and been on a couple of Road trips, making the most of my new found freedom thanks to the sexy penfold.  We have been out and about twice in the last few weeks, once up North to Hamner springs, just the two of us and also inland to Methven, in the mountains with an extra one.

Hamner Springs

 Penfold at Hamner Forest

 The Thermal Pools

 Me in the Forest

 Fairytale Toadstools, I sat  under them to drink my teeny cup of tea.

 The stunning Forest Canopy

 The Lunch of Queens

 My Fantail friend

 Sharplin Falls

 Top of our walk near the base of Mount Hutt

 Rakaia Gorge

This country is beyond stunning, at every turn.  What a lucky bunny I am.

Rxxx

Road Trip

Rosie has been super pooped and a little less shiny. 
Work is crazy and pushing my very small limits.
So rather than sleep for two days this week, I brought Penfold for a Road Trip up north.
We both loved the drive, roaring around long sweeping bends with a backdrop its hard to believe isn't a painting.
Sitting at lunch time with wine and my book, bliss.  But not as much as visiting Thermal pools, like sitting in a bath in the sunshine!  I kept almost falling asleep and came out so relaxed I was space cadet number one.

Eating out on my own was always something I enjoyed and has been a while.  Its fascinating watching how other people behave and interact when out for dinner.  Laughing to myself how rude and arrogant people are to people who are just doing there job. I just feel sorry for them, they lose so much being that way.  But contrasted by lovely kind, laid back people who arn't self important,  seeing the glow around them.  It was like watching a play from the back seats, love it, people are fascinating.

A playing kitten and tortured mum wandering around the resturant.  One of the waitresses telling me how much she liked my skirt, that she saw me earlier and was admiring it.  Dipping in and out of the world in my book to the world I'm in, perfect.

The mountains here are glorious and regal, they are always there, no matter what is put in front of them.  Like a deep soulful place, just out of reach, always seeming far away.

So my second day off will be filled with a walk (meander), brunch and the smile inducing drive back down to the penninsula.
To what feels like home at the moment. 

I feel slightly discombobulated at the moment.  I can't work it out in my head or write it down, so hopefully the spin cycle will sort it.  I guess its just down to so many new things a big change in life and discovering the real Rosie.  All good and realising thelovely happy thing still will bend and bow in the wind.

Over and out Rxx

The Dream

I have been in Akaroa a month, it is stunningly beautiful and it is not wearing thin.
I thank everyday for being here, feeling so lucky and very happy indeed.
Yesterday was a gorgeous day, roasting hot, the sky deep blue, the ocean sparkling and the mountains shining in their green glory.

I enjoyed a yummy ice cream on the beach:

I made a picnic and headed off to a little cove for the evening:

I am still working hard but loving it and who wouldn't working somewhere like this, or not like this but this:

Loving life here and savouring every moment.  Everything seems to have slipped into place here and however long that lasts it feels great.

Rxxx

Akroa does Africa

Everyone knows about it, but no one really knows why or how or who.  But someone has created this amazing sculpture and plopped it on a hill just outside of town

.

He is so awesome, down to the gear stick for his tial and the birdie on his head.  Spent ages working out all the different parts that had been used.  Very tempting to make friends for him.
Apparently there is a Giraffe somewhere, but no one seems to know where..............

Rxxx

Firsts

New world, New year, New things;

Eating Paua
Kayaking
Watching the stars on the roof of a house
Seeing a Rhino in NZ
Making a Latte

Other awesome things;

Walking to work along the beach
Having a Maori Tattoo designed for me
Sitting on the wharf watching the sun set
Drinking fizzy wine in bed in the middle of the afternoon
Hearing the waves lapping
Baking food for paying customers

Content and warmed

Rxxx

Rosies day Off

A Day off work in Akaroa look s a bit like this...........

R xxx