Into 2016 - late!

Dear lovely readers, it has been a Long Time. I have no real excuses other than a month in New Zealand, and this time I didn't take my lap-top to keep in touch. Then,  on our return a heap of things to attend to, like…. broken washing machine, a burst radiator (NOT while we were away thankfully!) arranging for the removal of our Rayburn cooker and installation of new cooker… overhaul of kitchen in the process …. oh and a wonderful heavy head cold which attacked me for 2 weeks solid - but thankfully did NOT reach my chest!


So having made my excuses, I'll proceed with the post! It is going to be pretty photo-heavy, I'm afraid.

Jim at Orewa Beach, not the sunniest of days to be honest, but quite warm enough! The header photo shows Kit with the boys on a much hotter, sunnier day, jumping waves.

Beccie with her Very First Car, bought by herself. Kit and Krissie saw the reg plate two years ago and bought it in advance of the day! Poor Bex was heartbroken as she saw it disappear from ebay! And astonished that someone else has the same misspelling of her name!

Me on my throne at Mataka Pottery. Yes, I would like one for the garden! No I'm not likely to get one!

Me at Casblanca, a lovely Middle Eastern restaurant we fell in love with. And that is a glass of water!

Isablelle's House on the Hill in Wellington. Isabelle is a Burwell Bash friend of mine who threatened me with all kinds of wrath if I went to New Zealand again and didn't visit her! Jim and I took the slow train (11hours) from Auckland to Welly - wonderful trip - and had three fabulous days with her.

Jim and I - a Bridge too Far, in Zealandia, a native bird /mammals sanctuary just outside Wellington. This was a huge undertaking, an effort to preserve the integrity of native species. If you google Zealandia you will find the whole wonderful story.

I think Isabelle was searching for the Rarey Bird… but she didn't find it! Some great walks here.

Isabelle and I and our friend… taken outside the Roxy Cinema , which was bought and restored to its 1930's beauty by Peter Jackson himself. We had a lovely dinner there that evening.

The absolutely gorgeousl home of Lindsey, a Facebook friend I'd never met, who invited us to stay a couple of days with her. She lives in a beautiful valley just outside Auckland, and "lifted" that lovely bungalow from 'up-island' more than 20 years ago. I could live here!

                               Photo of the bungalow in its valley setting. How delightful is this?

View from Lindsey's deck. Over that fence we watched her neighbour train a new sheepdog - from her buggy! Up and down she went. Up and down raced the dog. Up and down shuffled the sheep!

Frankie and Benny, Kit's beagles. NOT trainable to herd sheep! I've never known a breed of dogs so led by their stomachs as these two!

So many of the better photos and the family photos are on Jim's camera so this is your lot (sighs of relief all round!) I wish I could show you the expression on Dylan's face as I produced the trumpet we had bought for him (yes, through customs, they didn't ask Jim to play…)it came with us thanks to Emily, lovely granddaughter of my friend Pat, who has upgraded her instrument and sold it on to us. I wish also I could show you a photo of the two Emirates cabin crew girls I gave a mini- crochet-class to on the way out there! I wish also we had taken one of the four of us as we enjoyed our last dinner at Casablanca on the Friday before we left. Never mind. Those times are in my head and my heart. We had an amazing time, thanks to Kit and Krissie, Isabelle and Lindsey. We didn't manage to get to see the South Island this time as we had hoped…. one day! However we did see a lot more of the North Island and revisited a few places we had particularly enjoyed on previous visits.

I hope you enjoyed the photos, and thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post; I promise to be back quite soon with more tales from Textile Treasury…. although they may not be very textile related!

New Arrivals.

Now I can't imagine what you thought I was going to blog about! But I'm not!  No, I'm writing about some new arrivals in the Gill Family, and first of all comes these two chaps, seen above being cuddled by Fraser and Dylan. Two Beagle pups found their way into the hearts and home of Kit and family, and here they are, meet Frankie and Benny.

                                                                      Kit - proud Dad!

                       Beccie has been agonizing for a puppy for years! Can you tell?

                        Frankie and Benny in their small fenced in puppy run - or play-pen!

Kit has wanted a Beagle for... oh I can't remember , years and years, but the time was never quite right. In fact even when we were out there this Winter his response was a firm NO! to Beccie's pleas. So when he changes his mind he changes it good and proper - two puppies are happier than one, he's read, so two puppies it is. They look gorgeous, and I can't wait until we go out there again and I can see them - though they will be full-grown dogs by the time we make our next New Zealand visit.

So that's the biggest new arrival excitement, but Jim and I have had our own New Arrival! Yes! We have been delivered of a healthy little ...... caravan!

Yes, me, a confirmed caravan phobic! But we have been talking about having some kind of permanent base in Wales near the river Jim fishes as often as he can get over there. We thought tents, but decided we are getting on a bit for tent holidays - despite my forays into tents at Molly Festivals! So we decided a small caravan on a permanent site, which we have been able to secure. I initially had wild dreams about turning it into my very own "Connie-van" which readers of Lucy's Attic 24 blog will recognise. But no, common sense prevailed. it ISN'T a vintage caravan, I think this is one instance where Jim would put his foot down quite firmly if I suggested I paint the inside in pretty pastels! It is in quite immaculate condition, so no excuse for ripping things apart and recovering, for instance. No, it will remain a 'grown-up' space, and I shall restrain myself, simply added some homely touches here and there. We are quite delighted with it and were just at the right place at the right time to snap this little gem up well within our budget. Lots of lovely plans going on at the moment, Jim will fish, I will stitch, read, walk into the village, catch a bus maybe to who knows where, and maybe even play a little music? And on the days Jim doesn't fish, we shall explore together. Sunshine or no sunshine!!

Well, there you have it. New arrivals are so exciting, aren't they? Have you had any new arrivals recently?