I promise not to write about surfing every time we go....

but this was an important day! I got a photo of Lloyd standing.
He's got the knack now and manages pretty much everytime, which is more than can be said for me! I did, however, catch a wave perfectly today...on my tummy!

Surftastic!

I got into the water today on my surfboard!
Jeez I am so tired now!

Sorry no pics of Lloyd as I was in the water all afternoon but I hope someone emails me some cos....Lloyd stood up! He totally looked like a surfer dude - it was so cool. He had a huge grin on his face, it was fantastic.

A big thank you to Max who spent ages teaching us and generally egging us on. Max you are a star. xx


oh yes! it takes much effort to look this good! argh!

Some Surfing.
Lloyd has really been getting into the surfing. He bought a board - turns out that it's actually quite a difficult one and he's going to get one that's more suited, but it doesn't matter really as it was incredibly cheap! I've got my eye on one just now as I really want to get in the water too but we need another board.


This lot of pics were from a few days ago at Matauri Bay, supposedly the surf was excellent for a beginner - but what would I know!
We went with Bill and Anna who are both very good!
Bill was surfing around on his paddle board and it looked amazing.







These 2 photos were taken at Taupo Bay and it was very messsy!

Lake Manuwai Surf Club
First ever meeting!

We've just spent the weekend up at Ahipara camping with a crowd of folk who make up the surf club - it's a complete piss take as Lake Manuwai is always completely flat.
There's a bunch of people who have just started, beginners ish or goood at surfing. Richard has organised it all beautifully, so a big thank you!
And it's all really good fun.
There are almost as many dogs as people. ( Lulah and Brodie were a complete shambles!!)

The holiday park at Ahipara is really lovely, we all rented cabins and on Saturday just pretty much spent the day at the beach, then had a huge barbeque then sleep so everyone was raring to go bright and early.
Bright and early varied depending on the amount of alcohol that was consumed the night before.
Highlight of the evening was being told off, like teenagers, for making too much noise! Terrible state of affairs. ( some of us had gone to bed already so are completely blameless, of course :) )

Base camp on SaturdayLloyd and Kate


Richard - organiser extraordinaire!



Lulah looking like a right freak!

Forest, most handsome of Labradors

Ghandi



On Sunday, earlyish, we all headed down to 90 mile beach. Weather was absolutely amazing. We've always said this time of year is spectacular up here, while the rest of New Zealand is getting cooler and autumn is well started, we're still basking in the sun.
waves weren't huge, but they were really good for everyone.
Kate, Lee, Forest and Bob

Mike, Bart, Lloyd, Lulah, Bob and Brodie


Sharon and Lloyd


Lulah and a tired Brodie


Bob and some random fish head!


Kate, Mel and Forest


Lloyd looking like a surfer!

from left to right
Mike, Justin, Lloyd, Bart, Richard, Jo, Danny, Sharon and Rick.

We've been home a week now and have barely sat down! We've had a few nights out and a few in. We went to see the new Indiana Jones film and we all liked it. It is what it is!

I've been painting The Acorn to give it a freshen up for any new bookings, it was so well used last year it just needed it. I have a few already for over late winter so it's all good.

We got new gates made for our deck before we went on holiday to keep Brodie in, unfortunately he squeezed himself out the gaps, so we had to add some bars to them, now they are perfect for the job, so I painted them all too, then I decided the front door needed doing...then the french doors....anyway I am now painted out.

At the weekend the forecast was for big, huge waves on the west coast so we went up to Shipwreck Bay with Sara and Chris and all the dogs. We didn't get there till high tide so the waves had shrunk somewhat, but Chris still went out for a couple of hours while the rest of us lazed around on the beach. It was lovely. Then, as usual, we went to Manganoui for fish and chips.
Not bad for a winter's day.

where have the waves gone??

We're heading down to Auckland this weekend for the All Blacks v England in the rugby. Now, who do I want to win???


Bob in the back garden this morning