Hide and Seek

Outside the bach in which we stayed in Houhora was a small Phoenix Palm.  Each evening (quite late, hence the poor quality of the photos) one man and his dog played hide and seek around it.

A Wine Tour

I've been on a number of tours of the wineries of Hawkes Bay of which I understand that there are about 172 in Hawkes Bay and I've visited less than 10 of them (some more than once).  On Friday Gaz, Carol and I went on a tour run by a company, Vince's World of Wine, which I've not been with before and it's a company I will certainly recommend to visitors in future.  The wineries were very well chosen and the wines of a very high standard.   Vince drove one mini-bus but our driver/knowledgeable guide/good-fun-person was Lynn, Vince's wife.  We visited 4 wineries and ended up at Moana Park, a winery just by the Pukatapu School where all Wendy and Martin's children have gone and the younger children still go.  Despite its closeness I had never been into the winery.  I am ashamed because as a package the wines were far and away the best we tasted.

I think Gaz and Carol were enjoying themselves

Lynn looked on with a typical Kiwi smile

Pedro, Moana Park Winery's chief rabbit hunter

Moana Park's Cellar Door

Beaches, Beautiful Beaches.

I seem to have spent a great deal of time on beaches over the last few weeks.  I love beaches.  I love beach walks with friends even more.  There have been a lot of those. I've already posted some of the experiences on the Mahia Peninsula and the surrounding area and last weekend I was in Northland near Whangarei and explored some other beaches.

But first a revisit:

Blacks Beach,  Hawkes Bay on way to Mahia Peninsula

Looking South from the same spot.  It looks rough but this was quite a calm day.

I was puzzl;ed by this Black-backed Gull on Mahanga Beach.  He always seemed to be there at the same spot every time I went there.

Wheel Shell / Kota with Hermit Crab from Mahanga Beach

Wheel Shell / Kota with Hermit Crab on Mahanga Beach

We shared Ruakaka Beach with lots of birds and shells and a few humans:

Two very friendly ladies out riding

Pat, can you show this to Briagha - those breakers were almost as tall as I am.

"Me.  In there?  You must be joking!"

And at Langs Beach at Waipu there was a lovely spot with the tide coming through:

Langs Beach, Waipu

Langs Beach, Waipu

 And that's all for now!

One For Adrian

I sighted this cutie at The Mount, Tauranga, and I immediately thought of you, Adrian.  Then I thought of Molly and Alfie. 

A Curious Pooch

When we were in Norsewood there was a small dog wantering around with her (equally curious) owner.  Both appeared to be very interesting characters indeed.  The dog was insepeable from her master and when tied up for a few minutes to the Hot Dog stall she created a whining that would have called out the fire brigade (who, in much of New Zealand are still called out by siren)  in many places. 

 

 

Pooper Scooper Disposal

On the way back from Marton we were passing through somewhere or other when someone or other decided that there was a need for the local facilities. One of the things, in addition to public toilets, that New Zealand excells at is places to dispose of dog poo. So next to the public toilets in this anonymous town was a rather splendid example of a dog poo disposal unit.

Bertie is Misty

On Christmas Day I blogged on the A New Arrival; the arival of Misty who was really Bertie. Well Today Misty who was really Bertie went to the Vet for innoculation. Bertie is really Misty. Just don't ask for the details. Needless to say we laymen are puzzled. The details are not for the faint hearted nor readers of this blog. But Bertie is now definitely MISTY.

A New Arrival

Tuesday saw the arrival in the household of Misty a very tiny Bichon Frise/ Shi Tzu/ Poodle cross.  Needless to say she has been the centre of attraction.  This morning, however, we discovered that she has a tiny appendage that shes don't have.  I think she is now Bertie and he. It's a bit unfortunate to have a sexual identity crisis at 6 weeks old and not even to know about it.