Katikati

Hi everyone,
Yet again sorry it has been a while since our last post. We are still working on the orchards and keeping very very busy doing all sorts of things, Simon is currently helping to build huge dome covers to go over the orchards while I am helping to  look after all the new plants that are growing. We are curently renting a cool little flat in a place called Ongare point near Katikati which is a little village where everyone knows all their neighbours and they are allways playing darts or going fishing or most often having a few beers!! One of our bosses aranged the flat for us and she lives just across the road, Simon has decided he doesnt want to go anywhere else now Im going to have a job to get him to move on to go see some more of NZ!! We have been on a couple of trips at weekends one of which was our anniversary weekend where i managed to get Si to come horseriding with me, unfortunatly it ended in a few fractured ribs for me and a few bruises for Simon, but hey we had fun anyway and pretty much all ok now!! So here are a few pics of what we have managed to do

Above and below is Ongare Point, this is a bout 20 seconds walk from our flat!

Our little flat, well part of it anyway!

Everyone owns their own little old tractor to tow their boats out to go fishing!!

One of the neighbours, Danny, took si out on his boat, he caught 3 red snapper and one Kauwai ( think thats how you spell it!) He was as you can imagine really chuffed with himself! The boat name sais it all!

This is the ranch we went to for our anniversary, it was a horse ranch with about 30 horses and they also had cows, chickens and sheep too, and a little vege garden which we could help ourselves too, It was near Whitianga in the Coromandle.

The bush bath at the ranch, it was wonderful but got very hot as you can probably imagine!

Simon looking very scared!!! This was pre falling off for both of us!

View over the Coromandle Peninsular, was stunning up there, glad we had horses to do all the hard work for us though!

Simon messing with his new toy in Whitianga.

Had a little gathering for my Birthday, Pip and John our landlords lent us this cool table. Clockwise from Andrea is Lynn, Bex, Max, Crocy, Ray, Bernice, Bo, Pip and John.

Well that is about it really. Now that the weather seems to be getting warmer and we're getting more sunny days we will hopefully be able to have a few adventures and some more photos to post soon!

Living in the Mount

Hi everyone,
Sorry it has again been a long time since our last post,  but we haven't really been up to anything exciting!! We are still working hard on the orchards, we have moved on to pruning and other jobs that need doing over the winter and only get one day off a week (unless it rains) We have moved in with 2 of our friends from work Liam and Natalia, and another flatmate Vicky, whilst we are working. It is great to spend a bit of time out of the van and in a house again forgot how nice it is to have some space!
The weather here is still pretty good considering it is mid winter, we are still getting sun tanned when the sun is out, it gets a little cold at night but usually brightens up. Looking at the news it seems we are probably having better weather than all you poor souls in the UK!
 I have posted a few pics  of what we have been up to



Went to watch the All Blacks play Ireland in Hamilton on 23-06-12, they beat Ireland 60-0 was a fantastic atmosphere and the stadium was packed. Had a great night.

Sunrise, yes thats right sunRISE at the campsite we stayed at in Katikati. We have to get up pretty early for work but it is worth it as every morning no matter where we are the sunrise is so pretty.



From left to right, Simon (think you might know him!) Bernice,Bo, Bex and Max. Bo is one of our bosses at work, and is great, Max and Bex are 2 of our friends that we work with, Bex is from Germany and Max is from France, they are tring to teach us to speak French and German but we are both useless, luckily they both speak English very well!! They are also in a camper van and somehow manage to free camp everynight (except one when they came to our campsite for the night) They cope without all the frills of a campsite a lot better than we do!

View from Bowentown near Katikati, the photo really doesn't do this place the justice it deserves!

Trafalgar Square New Zealand style!!

Mclaren Falls park, near Tauranga on a beautiful winters day.









Liam, Mike, Vicky and Natalia. Liam Natalia and Vicky are our housemates. Liam is a kiwi and Natalia and Vicky are Brazilian. Mike is Natalia's kiwi brother in law. They deserve a beer after putting up with us two!!

Brazilian BBQ, Simon has never been so happy, there was pretty much just meat!! The two chefs Antonio (Natalia's brother) and his friend. There was a whole side of beef, a lamb shoulder, chicken legs and hearts, sausages and some huge chunks of rump steak!!

Anyway hope you are all ok and not getting too wet in all the rain!! Will keep posting!!

Kiwi picking galore!!!! In it for the winter!!!!

Hey everyone,
We are still very much alive and well. We have been working our socks off picking, eating and dreaming about picking kiwi fruit. Its quite a laugh we are working with a good group of people. seeing some sights and swapping some stories. We look forward to Fridays because its a cheap sauna, steam room and jacuzzi day after work £2.50 each mmmmmmmmmmmmm very relaxing. We have some great neighbours where we are staying, Noleen and Jim (next door), I made them my world famous, well levi root's world famous, Cariabian chicken and they enjoyed it (i think) Then there is Gav the south island fisherman, he always comes back with a fish and gives me most of it! And Dave who we play Rumicub with sometimes in the evening. They are all, like everyone here, very nice!

Hi Steve (Dad) and Sandra we were working here the other day and thought of you both. Does the veiw remind you of anywhere in particular???????

Here is a picture of us both sporting the latest fasion accessory for picking kiwi fruit. The aim of the game is fill it up with fruit and tip it out when full. Fascinating stuff hay! feel like i've got kiwi fever!

Back to the kiwi fruit. This is just $30 (£15) to us for picking this amount, so as you can imagine we have to work fast. We usually pick 3 1/2 times this each, per day! Crazy!

We went on a day trip the other day on our day off. We were told to go to this nice little town in the middle of no where. Unfortunatly everything was closed because it was Sunday. But this is one of many cool old cars parked up there.

We are split in upto teams when we pick the fruit. This is our picking team. We are the A team, well the b+ at least.



Well the plan so far is to work up until September time, and save as much money as possible! We only have a week left of picking but the pruning begins after that. In about October (spring) we will do a bit more exploring in Bertha. Thanks for tuning in, its been fun!

Getting back to reality

Hi its us again, been a few more places since last blog, we came down from ninety mile beech to a little town called Rawene, then went to a marine reserve called Goat island to do some snorkelling which was great fun, but the fish were massive and a little scary! We headed back down to Auckland for the day to pick up a few things, another night in Piha (because it was so nice) then headed down to Tauranga, which was our favourite place last time we were here and we still love it, the weather has been great and we were staying in a campsite right on the beech at Mount Maunganui. Unfortuntly now the holiday is over, we have to do some work, and have found  job picking kiwi fruits which is  hard work really, but pay is pretty good at £7.50 an hour (well it should be, not been paid yet lol) We are trying to get some work on a vineyard over the winter which will then fund some more travelling in Spring time (about September) so fingers crossed!!

The sea at Piha on a not so nice day! People actually surf here!

Back in Tauranga ( well Mount Maunganui technically) and my first glass of Rose wine for a couple of months!

Part of the view from the top of the mount, is alot higher than it first appeared, to reward Simon for climbing to the top with me we had to go to the thermal pools afterwards!

Sorry there aren't many pics this time, we will do better next time!!



Starting our travels in the Northlands

Well it has been quite a busy few days! We have gone from Auckland to Cape Reigna right at the top of the North Island via a few places on the way. After our night at Piha we went on to Whangerei which was a long drive but we were meeting up with some friends to go and have a tour around the Lion Man sanctuary with the Lion man himself! that was amazing, they all come up to him and start rubbing their heads against the cage like they are a little house cat! After that we went on to the Bay of Islands which is very pretty, found a couple of really nice spots there. Next stop was Ninety mile beech, which runs all up the north west side of the island with a load of really huge sand dunes right at the top. Next day we went right up to the top to Cape Reinga where the Tasman sea and the Pacific meet, not quite the most northern point but pretty spectacular all the same! Started heading back down yesterday (23rd) and we are currently at the southern most end of Ninety Mile Beech. Will put on some pics now so you can see what we have been up to!

Us with the Lion Man !!!!

Whangerei Falls 5 min walk from our campsite.

Bay of Islands, well part of it anyway!

This was a tiny little bay in a really remote part of the bay of islands, we were the only people there, it was stunning.

Simon was happy, we stayed in a campsite where you could have open fires, only problem was that there was only a tap and the toilets were a big hole in the ground. He managed to cook up a feast of black potato's and sausages, and bannana's with chocolate inside (definatly the highlight!)

Cape Reinga where the two oceans meet, the waves cross over in different directions.

We are on our way back to Auckland now we need to pick up some thiings so we can look at getting some work. Will probably try some fruit picking. We will keep you posted!!

New Zealand at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We finally arrived in Auckland on 13th April 2012. We stayed 6 nights, long enough to arrange a camper van, then we headed off to the west. We will work our way north from here. Auckland is a nice city and although it sprawls out as far as you can see, the center isnt really that busy and the people are still really friendly. On 18th April we picked up our camper van which we have bought, her name is Bertha, she is 23 years old but still chugging along. She will have to carry us two around for the next couple of years!

Received some bad news today (19th April) that Nan Piv passed away on the 17th. We will miss her so much but hopefully she is back with Grandad now. Just want everyone to know i am thinking of her, and my Family and wish i was there with you all.

Marker at the top of Mount Eden, a volcano just outside Auckland city

Bertha Willamina Waite, our little van who has to lug us two around!! If we dont kill each other that is!!

Auckland city center from the top of mount Eden

At the top of Rangitoto island after a 3 hour climb to the top. The views of the bay from here were stunning

 

At Phia beach where we are currently staying, surfing here is meant to be great so im sure we will give it a go. The sand is black and sparkles in the sun it is really pretty. ( Steve (Dad) you would love it here!)

Hi Everyone!

Hi guys, just a quick note to say we have just heard the Tsunami warnings etc on the news. We are in Bangkok at the moment so not near the sea ( and 6 floors up!) All going well we will be flying out tomorrow eve (12th). Will keep you all posted. xx

Koh Samui

We are now in Koh Samui, it is an island off the east coast of Thailand. After Koh Lanta it was a bit of a let down coming here! Everything is geared up for tourists who want to get pissed!and you feel like you are getting ripped off the whole time, funny thing is there is hardly anyone here! Just lots of very empty pubs, one bonus is you can get some normal food yey!

 Some parts would have been really nice if they hadn't been trashed or completely overrun with resorts, you cant even get to the beech without going through a resort! It hasn't all been bad though, we had a good night out where we saw a ladyboy show, found a great rock pub that played everything we asked them to and then followed by a band at a reggae bar!! Bad heads in the morning!

Did manage to find one quiet beech and some good waterfalls for Simon to try and climb up! and the hotel is really nice, even got a balcony, for the bargain price of £10!

The happiest Simon has been in Koh Samui!!

Waterfall, what more can i say!

Yes we are shiney, was very hot!!

Sun set from the beech near our hotel

Grandmother rock!! we have been reduced to going to see this to keep ourselves ammused!!

And of course grandfather rock, was actually right next to grandmother rock too.

The only empty beech in Koh Samui, the water was so shallow, it had actually got hot, it was like having a bath!



The magic gardens, at the top of a mountain that our poor scooter only just made it up! was quite eerie, just needed some mist and it would have been in a horror movie, old statues everywhere staring at you!

Koh Lanta

We stayed on Koh Lanta for 5 nights, it is an island off the west coast of Thailand. The island is only small ( about 35km long) and the roads quiet so we rented a scooter out, was great, we got to see a lot more of the island that way, Stayed in a budget hotel which was brilliant as they had a toaster and fridge that we could use. Met a really nice Aussie couple Reece and Cheryse who put up with us for a few days and came to the beaches and animal sanctuary, and of course played cards in the evenings. One of the nicest places we have stayed so far.

Our scooter "Napoleon" 

Bamboo beech Koh Lanta, on the southern end of the island was so quiet, there were only a few people there

Andrea found an animal sanctuary so we walked some dogs for a couple of days, Simon got one who was scared of the beech and just sat down and refused to move!!

Andrea was meant to be making a u shape but never mind!!  Had to be quick, Simons feet were burning - Bamboo Beach

Poker night, playing for matches, big spenders hey!!