Anna is 5 years old

My beautiful God-daughter Anna, back in Wales on her 5th Birthday!..
wearing the lovely red top I sent over, of course from Pumpkin Patch (she's very fashion forward that top is not available in the northern hemisphere yet!)

the'magic cottage'

Holidays this week took us to the 'Magic Cottage' on the Takou River in Northland, close to the Bay of Islands. It was truly magic set just over the waters edge and surrounded by beautiful gardens, farmland and a private beach just an half hour kayak downstream... all very tranquil!

view from the deck of our cottage

we enjoyed bubbles while in the outdoor claw foot bath on the deck right by the river...Michael found a big leaf to cover any wobbly bits for the sake of paparazzi!

a couple of young cheeky farm animals on the all organic agricultural land surrounding the gardens

after our kayak down river to the private and secluded Takou Bay (only accessible by boat) Michael braved the mid winter and took a dip in the ocean...I just paddled

the magic cottage gardens were full of beautiful plants and flowers and is the first place I have seen snow drops in New Zealand

riverside birdlife was abundant...lots of the beautiful Pied Shags and Kingfishers...

there was a kingfisher about every 5m along the river...

inventive beach front property, just park you caravan and build next to it...us at Matauri Bay

England v The All Blacks

Saturday night we went to watch England v All Blacks...starting off down the pub...as you do being English, catching up with Nick and numerous other blighty ex pats...

First experience seeing the Haka performed by the All Blacks live...

Tanya was not impressed having the St George cross laid over her, being she was the only kiwi in the party...

Jon proud to be English to the end...even in defeat!

Lake Tarawera

Short break this weekend with some friends at Lake Tarawera, this is the view from the deck of the bach we rented Our own private jetty...

Jon getting to grips with the axe so we could keep warm by the indoor fire...

flighty fantail bird, they come very close to people and are very cute and curious

late autumn bumble bee on the manuka flower

Iconic Tui bird, they have the most amazing song/warble

Viva May Day!

Here's Michael carrying his union banner up Queen St in the centre of Tāmaki-makau-rau/ Auckland for May Day.

... And catching up with fellow union organisers Maurice and Todd manning the saussage sizzle at the rally.

Feeding time at the Zoo

We were lucky enough today to get a very close encounter with some animals at Auckland Zoo...

we bumped into Nicky who works at the zoo and is one of Mikes Union members, she took us behind the scenes to meet the lions and give them ox heart brunch!!!

an incredible encounter to say the least...

its not what you know its who you know...

old man of the forest

cheeky cheetah

kookaburra lives in an old gum tree...

tired nelly...

ginormous giraffe..

Anawhata

Today we paid our first visit to Anawhata beach on the west coast...famed for being Sir Ed's favourite, I think that's because it involves a very steep hike down and back up the cliff to get in and out...

as usual Michael had a splash in the waves...

there are only two homes on this beach and I would like to live in one, someday!

creepy purple crab in the rocks