Thought I'd just share some images of the slight flooding we had over the weekend. It is all cleared up now. It is nothing compared to the Queensland floods but I have never heard of our Motorway flooding.
A backyard.
Our flooded motorway, only one lane was slightly useable going southbound.
A Sailing club.
A beach/wharf/parking lot near where I work.
On the Saturday I climbed up to the summit of Rangitoto Island.
That is the view I get of Rangitoto from my work.
The circled red area is the view of my work from the summit of Rangitoto Island.
It feels so good knowing that I made it to the top. Knowing that I can do it. It is only two kilometres, so it doesn’t seem like that far to climb, but there was a lot of hiking up steep hills the majority of the time and the closer to the top we got the steeper it seemed to get.
Just over half way up one of the two lovely people who were doing the climb with me decided she couldn’t go any further, we persuaded her to keep going. A bit later an older lady walked by us having a quick break and told us not to worry the worst was over. SHE LIED! The worst part was just before getting to the lower viewing platform stairs.
At the lower view platform stair we thought we had made it to the top. We sat down and we composing ourselves when a lovely lady walked past, turned around and said “There is only five more minutes to go, you’re nearly there.”
To which I responded, “We’re not at the top yet?!”
We got to the top and were so glad to be there, and it was worth it. From the top you get a 360 degree view of the Waitemata Harbour. It is a beautiful sight.
At the top we realised that we only had about 100mls of water left between the three of us. It was a moment where we all realised we still had the walk back down to complete and that we were all quite thirsty. A miracle actually happened. Nid noticed three bottles on the far railing and no one around them. Everyone who had been at the top started to leave, then everyone was gone and there were still three bottles of water sitting on this railing. We were desperate and grateful. We tipped the water into our drink bottles and thanked the heavens for our good fortune.
Whilst we were enjoying the view at the top it started to rain. Us three huddled into an old Army shelter, built during World War Two, had a little party and I feel in love with my parka, the type that is made so that it is already in a little bag that then becomes a pocket when “pulled out” and turned in the proper way. It kept me warm and dry, it was perfect.
The walk down the mountain was defiantly a lot easier than the hike up. At one stage I tried to do a little sliding dance move, managed to save myself and then slip again. Half way down there are lava caves, if we had more time it would have been fun to explore them, it would also have been good to have a torch to do so.
We made it to the bottom with about 10 minutes to spare until the last ferry of the day arrived to take us back to Devonport.
I am so glad that I didn’t pull out, it was an awesome day spent with awesome people. I want to be able to do the Tongariro Crossing, an 18.5 kilometre hike. Its on my bucket list and I can’t wait to do it, according to others that have done it, it includes about three hours of stairs.
Meet Blob!
My brother and his partner are expecting their first child.
In other words, I am super excited cause, I’m going to be an AUNTY!
They are sixteen weeks along and in about three weeks they will be finding out if I am going to be an aunty to a niece or a nephew. I personally, along with a majority of everyone else, think they are having a boy.
I want it to be a boy so their next child, a girl, will have an older brother. But, just secretly, I will be overjoyed with whatever they have.
This is one of the best forwards I have received in some time, so I thought I should share it.
“Written by a 90 year old
This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!! Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . - "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.”
Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will,
forward this with the title '7%'.
I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.”
This weekend gone my mum, brother, his partner and myself flew to Wellington for the weekend. We stayed at my cousins Steve’s house, our usual residence when visiting the family in Wellington.
On the Saturday my mum and I got the train from Trentham, Upper Hut into Wellington City. We walked from the City train station to Te Papa, along the water front. The wind was blowing, one of the many things Wellington is famous for. There were stages where it felt like we had walked a whole block but in reality we had only managed to make it a meter.
At Te Papa we went to the European Masters: 19th–20th century art from the Städel Museum Exhibition. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The majority of the paintings and sculptures were brilliant. There were some where I thought that my four year old cousin could have painted, there were some where I was extremely amazed by the detail and size and just everything about it.
This was one of my favourites and the main reason is because although the male is holding a match to his “already lit” cigarette the match is not lit. It is called “After the luncheon” and was painted by Pierre Auguste Renoir.
The main thing I liked about the exhibition was the frames. I love frames. I think the make photos look a thousand times better. I will buy frames without having a photo to put in it. The frames that framed these paintings were brilliant. The craftsmanship was astonishing, the size and quality amazing and all in all some of the best frames I have seen. I would love to own one of those frames, not just for the look but also for all the history behind it.
The actual reason we journeyed to Wellington was for my Aunty B’s 60th birthday. Aunty B is my Godmother and one of my dad’s 8 siblings. She is the third of four sisters, and the fourth of nine children. I love her. On the Saturday evening we went around to her house for a good old Nicolle Family Shindig. There was food and drink, conversation and a bonfire, family and friends. There is really nothing like a good old family catch up and what better way to have one than celebrating a milestone birthday.
It was lovely to get away for the weekend after having just returned to work from the Christmas break. I am glad that I made the most of it and went into the city with mum for the day. I have been to Wellington several times throughout my life and we normally spend the whole time sitting around waiting to go to the family do or driving around visiting family (which I love), but sometimes it is nice to be a tourist.
Happy Sixtieth Birthday Aunty B!
As at the beginning of most years it is time to reflect and make new challenges and goals.
Read 10 books - completed September 6
I read 12 books last year
Visit Dad at least once a month
I made it by 7 out of 12 months. I would have like to have gone more but as bad as it is to say, you can’t just stop your life. But I do think about him every day.
Get down to goal weight
I have worked on exercising and eating better. However, this has been a challenge. Planning is easy, but it is putting those plans into action that is the challenge.
Go back to the US or plan for next year - completed July 25
I got the chance to go back to the beautiful Idaho and see my little sister get married. It was the best trip. I went with my Mum and we spent a week in Idaho and then a week in Vancouver, Canada.
Exercise at least twice a week
I did exercise a bit last year, but it was no where close to twice a week. On average I did active (go out after work for a walk type) exercise four times a month if lucky.
Save $200 a week
Fail! Epic Fail! I fail epically at money! Oh well, just have to be more “money wise” this year!
Buy world map to plan 2013 O.E.
This will be included in my Nannying plans
Pay off furniture and TV
I have paid off my TV and started paying off my furniture.
Buy bookcase - completed October
My cousin moved overseas and had some cube book cases which I purchased off here. They look great!
Get Ring! - completed August 5
When in Vancouver I purchased the ring, it's very pretty I just need to decide if I want to keep wearing it on my pinky or get it resized to go on my middle finger.
Read 20 books - I read the ten books I aimed for last year and a few more so let's do 20 this year.
Be more proactive and organized – I am the biggest procrastinator I know. This year I want to work on being organized, planning tasks I have to do during the week. I want to actively being trying to be my best at everything I do. I also want to start go on little weekend road trips to new places. There are a lot of things I want to do, so I need to be proactive and organized.
Exercise and health – my goal last year to get down to my goal weight did not happen, this year I am making it a goal to do more exercise and be healthier. I plan to lose 15kgs this year.
Money - last year I made it a goal to save and pay off my furniture. I started saving but failed and I started paying monthly instalments to paying off my furniture. This year I want to work harder at not spending money on stupid things like fast food cause I can't be bothered cooking and I want to start being more proactive about paying bills.
Finish Nanny Course – This is only a part year goal as I want to have this finished by my 21st birthday and no later. I can’t continue to let things drag on, life is short and I do not want to spend it putting off course work.
