Kombucha

 

Photo taken about 10 years ago in Mangawhai at one of their market days over Summer.

Has anyone ever tried Kombucha? I tried it once and it tasted like very sour vinegar but I love cheese (no idea who the man in the photo is though). Kombucha seems to be almost like a new age healthy thing that is supposedly good for the gut. 

Linking up with Mosaic Monday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

ANZAC Day 2024

 

Photo from 2014 of Mangawhai Cadets on Anzac Day

Today for us Kiwis is ANZAC Day which is incredibly important to those of us in the southern hemisphere. This day honours those in Australia and New Zealand as it marks the anniversary of the military action fought by both forces. ANZAC meaning Australia New Zealand Army Corps. Many people gather at local war memorials to remember loved ones who have fought in all wars especially their landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25th securing a beachhead at what became known as "ANZAC Cove". Lest we forget.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Smoked seafood

An old photo from about 2014/2015 back when we lived in Mangawhai. Every weekend markets are held down outside the local hall where people sell their products. Most weeks there is either someone selling fresh Pahi oysters or fresh smoked fish and mussells. I wish I'd tried them but I never did as I am a huge seafood fan.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Edited to add: RIP Queen Elizabeth II - born 21 April 1926, died September 9th 2022

Mangawhai fence mural

This mural sits on a long fence in the town I use to live in - Mangawhai. In Maori language it was named this as meaning "stream of the stingray" as the rays frequently swim in and out of the local estuary and harbour.  Pronounced as "manga" and "fie" with the "wh" being said as "f". I haven't been able to find out anymore about the artist of this mural except his name is "Marty" but having lived there for most of my life I can explain each portion. 

From the far left is a person with a paintbrush painting what looks like a Maori art design - the town has alot of artists and an art gallery.  The next one is a rock which to locals is named "head rock" and is joined to the beach by a line of smaller rocks - people frequently go fishing from there. The last one is surf boards - the beach is very very popular with people who surf. There is a local company who teach people how to surf named "Aotearoa surf school and hire".

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Back to Te Arai surf beach

Last weekend the other half and I drove out to our local Te Arai surf beach. We've been here many times over the years but this was for something to do - since I'm not working at the moment it's easy to get a bit of cabin fever sometimes.

The waves weren't really very surfy but it was good to see on most of the sand dunes near the carpark signs saying no dogs allowed (due to endangered bird nesting areas) and other signs warning people not to step on the vegetation which is currently being re-planted, unfortunately I did see people walking all over them which dismayed me somewhat.

For a long time local activists have been protesting the council developing the land which edges onto this coastline, somewhat for the endangered birds and for fear that public access to the beach will be closed off.

A billionaire from the USA was allowed to build a luxury golf course which covers 600 ha and also will eventually include 40 house sites and an airstrip. People such as Barack Obama and John Key have stayed here. The development has been a bone of contention in our town for the last few years. If you want to know more check out this link.

Some of the birds that nest along this shoreline include Oyster Catchers, Dotterils, Fairy Terns and Godwits.  Although in Summer this is a popular surfing spot most visitors here are pretty clued up about what not to do but when the area starts to quieten down it goes back to being a very restful spot.

Last of the Summer rays

Yesterday we had an agent showing people through our house so I took my daughter out for an appointment anyway, while we were out we stopped off at the local surf beach to catch the last of the Summer rays before we move, looks like other people had the same idea as us, was a perfect day for it.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Quandaries and dilemmas

Yesterday morning I walked from our house up to the surf beach, then back down through the campground then up home again - the whole thing took me about an hour and a half. Boiling hot day and so many more forecast until at least the end of February - not a drop of rain in sight. It's so hot that the tar on our road was melting. I did manage to climb up to the top of this hill though, only about 50 steps so it wasn't too hard on my knees but was good exercise. One of those places where I could see over the whole beach and coastline. I did stop to help a group of ducks cross the road, luckily no cars were coming so they waddled from one side to the other.

A dilemma exists for us at the moment...our plans to move to Whakatane? Well the other half has decided that he would prefer to move back up to Kerikeri so we are in a quandry - I don't mind either way but I just wish we had a decision. I sound impatient don't I? The other half has spoken to his area manager about it and is awaiting not just a phone call back but also contact from the area manager in Whakatane to tell us whether he has the job or not. Where I've been working on a casual basis just before Christmas, they've offered me permanent work but it's only 1 day per week which really isn't enough - I've tried looking around for other work but in a small town it's virtually non existent, the the best option is to move especially since none of us are very happy here.

Do you think we want things to happen in life in our time because we are impatient and don't want to wait for when it will finally get done? I think so...it just feels like it is dragging on. Will keep you posted.

Linking up with My Corner of the World.

Paddling at Snell's Beach

So nice to be out and about in the Spring sunshine. We stopped at Snells Beach, just out of Warkworth so it would be about maybe 50 minutes from where we live. After the drive I paddled in the low tide and walked barefoot on the sand.

We're not sure why we've been bought back here to Mangawhai, there's a reason for it we just aren't sure why yet but this beach was one of the places we drove through on this particular day.

After driving around we decided that due to the level of traffic coming in and out of this town that it wasn't for us, so we will see what eventuates.

We have the other half's 20 year old daughter staying with us for the next 2 weeks. Just over 2 years ago she moved to Perth in Australia and now she's back for a brief holiday. Us  kiwis don't really celebrate Halloween that much, it's not that popular here so I hope you have a safe one.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

A horse is a horse...

I quite often take my camera out with me when I drive around town and today I stopped at a farm I was visiting where the owner was telling me about her horse. Apparently the horse isn't far off giving birth to her first foal. I didn't know this before but apparently horses are pregnant for about 11-12 months, way longer than us humans and the owner said to me that once the waters break labour lasts for about another 30 minutes then it's all over.

I can't wait to see the new edition next time I'm there.

Linking up with My Corner of the World.

Top of the Goldschmidt Track

Near the carpark at our surf beach we have a walk called the Goldschmidt track named after a local family who have organized many walking weekends in our town. I've done this a couple of times now, it's pretty easy and only takes about 30 minutes up and down.

About halfway up the sandy steps this was the view out over the carpark and the estuary. Lucky it was pretty quiet but come Summer this place will be packed with visitors.

This one I believe is dog friendly but there are quite a few that aren't due to some areas being kiwi breeding colonies or fairy tern egg nesting spots.

The way down was a bit more rocky than the way up I think due to alot of rain that we had then. Sadly about a week after I took these photos a group of people were seen on CCTV lighting fireworks on the hill which caught alight and caused a ton of damage. We had the local volunteer fire service there plus 8 other brigades from as far as Ruawai and Whangarei helping out. I'm not sure if they caught the culprits yet.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

A taste of Summer

On Monday over the week of strangely warm Spring weather we've had, my sister and I drove out to a local surf beach about 10 minutes out of town. Te Arai is a long long beach and popular with surfers and swimmers alike. There are 3 entrances, first is through a forestry area, 2nd is at the end of a long gravel road and the 3rd is through another forestry road. This photo was taken after we arrived at the third spot, someone had put up a makeshift hut made of branches and Norfolk Pine leaves.

It was however near enough to a scorching hot day, I was regretting wearing a light jumper and black tights, think next time we go there on a warm day we'll be wearing lightweight Summer gear.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

St Michael and All Angels Hakaru

This wee church is somewhere I've been meaning to visit for a while. St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church is in Hakaru, about 10 minutes out of Mangawhai.

Built in 1887 it replaced an earlier church that was there in 1861 but as the community grew the original one became too small and was moved to Hukatere later on. This one is made of Kauri, cut and milled locally with an iron roof.

Graves in the cemetery include those one person from the South African War and 2 from World War One. The front memorial gates commemorate a local man named Frank Wintle who was killed in the North African desert in World War 2.

There are quite a few local names I recognized such as Tantrums, Stewarts, Blackwells and Wintles - descendants of those names still live around the area today. Unfortunately the doors were padlocked and we couldn't get inside to take interior photos.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Give us a break...

We've had so much rain here lately that I'm actually wishing for a warm sunny day. Since moving back here I've realized how quiet it is in this town.

There is no supermarket, no mall - just a group of shops that includes a corner shop, a couple of restaurants, a local tavern, a museum, 2 takeaways, a sushi bar and a couple of clothing shops. It's a very seasonal town, over Winter it's dead but come labour weekend in October it will be mad with people wanting to escape the big cities, I'm almost dreading it. You can't drive to the local shops as there is no parking so best to walk.

My three children have all managed to find jobs, I'm still waiting for hear about mine. I originally went for an interview 2 weeks ago for a care-giving position which is when someone injures themselves they get accident compensation home help. So someone like me would come into their home for 2 hours a week and do some housework for them, it's good money. Apparently a police check is suppose to take a week or so, now I've heard it can take up a month. I have bills to pay so I can't wait to long, however I did put in an application to work at one of the local shops and because I have experience in that field I'm hoping they have something. Fingers crossed...

Until I hear anything further here's my photo for today's Skywatch Friday.

Just for the Tuis

On each of my morning walks around town this week I've seen something interesting. This particular day I was walking past one of the many tiny holiday homes down one of the side streets and spotted this water tank cheerfully decorated in shades of blue. This one has been painted with illustrations of a Tui sitting on what looks to be the flowers of a native flax bush.

Here in Mangawhai and in other small towns sometimes the houses can either be connected to town supply water or they will have 10,000 ltr water tanks so when it rains the water goes directly inside off the roof - usually there is a filter between the tank and the house so that it's safe to drink.

Linking up with Mural Monday and Our World Tuesday.

Good winter's morning Mangawhai!

My weekend was full of visiting with my 3 teenagers and family members up in Mangawhai Heads, my home town. While my daughter and I were driving to the local shops I deviated down to the boat ramp and snapped this photo of the sun rising over the sand dunes at the estuary. Today I'm heading home back to Tauranga.

Hope your weekend has been good too :-)

Autumn Hibiscus Flowers after the rain.

I just love these flowers. We see them all over Mangawhai and usually they flower on and off throughout the year, whether it's Summer or Winter. It's not easy to find plants that do well in this sandy soil but these seem to do quite well. We get them in colours of mostly pink or yellow...so pretty and vibrant though.

Anzac Day sunset and flaming skies

Good morning! I hope this Friday is treating you well so far. Last Saturday for us Kiwis and those in Australia was Anzac Day. After an emotional day here in Mangawhai this is what I saw from my backyard. At the moment in our street we have lots of new houses being built as there are quite a few empty sections and the skies looked very vibrant almost on fire so thought taking a photo of it was quite appropriate.

Hope your week has gone well - for more Skywatch Fridays click here :-)

Anzac day 2015 in Mangawhai

This morning I spent a couple of hours with many other people at our local RSA (returned services association) in Hakaru, about 10 minutes out of Mangawhai for Anzac Day. We have a local Cadets unit - these young people did an awesome job this morning

 
One of our locals Logan Brown is a master bag piper - love the sound of those Scottish bag pipes.

Nice to see so many military personnel - local and non local such as army/air force/police/fire brigade/st john ambulance representatives.

Mangawhai Beach school students had also made wooden crosses painted with names of their fallen heroes which were pushed into the ground lining the path to the Cenotaph.

So many wreaths laid on the Cenotaph - and such an important day in the history of New Zealand and Australia. How did you celebrate Anzac Day?

Two Pukekos sitting on the fence...

We live in an area where there's alot of creeks/streams and ditches along the roads, these guys the NZ Pukeko bird also known as Takahe is flightless so I when I saw then wandering through my backyard I quickly grabbed my camera. I turned my back and when I looked back they were on the fence from the ground. They are quite unintelligent creatures so I've got no idea how they managed to get up high but they seemed to be very happy getting a good view of my garden.

For more our world Tuesdays click here :-)

Welcome Autumn's misty foggy morning skies

This is what we've been seeing out our lounge window this week, along with it cooler temperatures, colder nights and dark mornings but you know what - I love it. This is my time of year and very soon you're going to be see leaves changing colours and some really nice skies.

It also means rugby season, time to hibernate on the couch with some warm blankets and good movies - have a great week. For more skywatch Fridays click here :-)