Omaha Beach

 

While B and I were on holiday in Auckland we visited my sister at Omaha which is a coastal settlement about 45 minutes from the city. She sometimes housesits for a family who owns property there. This Maori Pou is dedicated to the sea God Tangaroa and was gifted by the local sub-tribe of Ngati Manuhiri and acts as a guardian to mark historic settlement sites and to welcome people to the area.

These 2 photos above show only a small section of houses which fill the whole area along the beach, they are very modernistic and are huge in size, some are holiday homes and some are lived in.

Looking right ways along the beach after walking the pathway from the house to the sand.

Looking left along the beach, there is lots of golden sand here unlike most of the South Island where I live where beaches are lined with pebbles and rocks. This was a Winter day but it was still a bit warm.

Lots of dog paw prints and peoples footprints but this beach is lovely and clean with no rubbish anywhere.

Looking out to sea, I can see a rip in the water on the left.

My sister to the right with the dog she looks after and another dog with its owner that we met. The forecast actually was for rain but thankfully we were able to enjoy the fresh ocean air and sunshine.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures, Happy Tuesdays. and Thankful Thursdays. 

Family Reunion

 

After being a year in the planning, I met up with some immediately and extended family members for a reunion. This is only a small portion of people, there were many that couldn't come. There are some people that look like the Chinese side of the family and others that look like the Scottish side of the family. I'm standing up on the left and B is in front of me in the red sweatshirt. I'm thankful we all got to catch up after so many years.

But it's been a funny week so far. While we have been in Auckland I've heard one person while we were out and about saying how cold it is there. For us the warm sun and temperatures have been very warm compared to where we are in the South Island. Auckland at night has been 14 degrees celsius, in Greymouth it usually gets up to 13-14 degrees celsius during the day in Winter. The warmer go you up New Zealand, the warmer the temperatures are.

I have learned 3 things this week while on holiday:

• Auckland drivers are nowhere near as crazy as Greymouth drivers.
• Clothes that have been washed and put on hangers inside dry alot quicker than they do at home.
• I don't know how I managed raising 3 little ones under 5 years old when my children were growing up - my son and daughter in law are doing a fabulous job with my grand daughter, she wore me out after spending 1 day with her.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures, Happy Tuesdays. and Thankful Thursdays. 

Caffe L'affare

When my sister was visiting us from the North Island a couple of weeks ago, we drove down to Hokitika to do some op shopping and have lunch. We use to visit the Stone Oven Cafe, which is in this photo but at the time it was too busy and full of people so we decided to eat across the road at Stumpers Cafe.

I usually like to eat healthy as much as I can so I had ordered a warm Chicken salad which was very tasty. My sister went home again a few days later but I'm extremely thankful we were able to see her - she has a van that she has converted to a type of camper so she sometimes travels around the country.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Courier

 

I quite often see this particular driver around town, he comes into my work and I know that those in this industry work long hours. I wouldn't want to do it myself.

We are starting to see early Autumn here, the mornings are becoming darker now that daylight savings is here and the air is getting chilly. We still don't have the mink blanket or the electric blanket on the bed but no doubt those won't be far off.

Much of the country has been covered in storms in flooding but strangely enough, the West Coast where we are is fine (as usual but it has a reputation for getting too much rain when it doesn't). I'm thankful we are ok here and have no flooding.

This was our morning sky yesterday morning. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning...

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Open

 

On a lovely late Summer morning for the first time since we've lived here I finally popped into this local cafe in one of the vintage 1930's buildings next to the Grey River on the way to work to try their coffee. So so, nothing major, probably wouldn't go back there. But I'm thankful that we have so many cafes in town to choose from, there are at least 5 that I know of.

New Zealand's general elections are due to happen in October. A large majority of people can't wait to get the current government out as they are backtracking on many of their promises (as they do) and seem to think voters have short memories. Makes me wonder why people elect certain parties when they keep repeating the same behaviour.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Give way

 

We have had some very early Winter temperatures this week. Usually the weather starts to cool down at this time of year but the cold seems to coming earlier and earlier. So do we put the mink blanket on the bed and bring out the sweaters and socks? At temperatures of down to 5 degrees at night....I think so. I'm thankful we aren't homeless as those who are outdoors right now will be feeling it.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Rug doctor

 

Spotted this crew outside the local Mitre 10 store tidying up some of the greenery near the carpark. See the sign to the left saying "rug doctor"? That's a product that some stores have where they hire out carpet cleaning machines. I've used it before and it's very good but now I'm thankful have my own machine at home, with 4 adults, 1 dog and 3 cats we need it.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Blue skies

 

There have been plenty of tourists and families out and about enjoying the blue skies on the West Coast. B and I decided that apart from spending a week in Auckland in June visiting my grand daughter and other family, we also booked a week in Picton in October as we only drove through there when we moved to Greymouth 4 years ago. So fingers crossed we will have good weather.

Lastly this week I'm thankful for our stinking hot Summer days which seem to have hit us late in the season.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Silver

 

Photo taken outside Greymouth's local hardware store.

New Year's eve came and went here, I was working but when I got home it was time for a cup and tea and bed. I'm very thankful to not have heard any fireworks around from the neighbours so I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2026.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.

Play dates

 

Last week while my daughter R and I were out and about we dropped off a load of unwanted items to our local Salvation Army op shop and spotted these Christmas trees in the foyer. Looks like people donated trees for others to buy who can't afford much.

A rare photo of my outdoor furniture on the deck and washing on the line in the backyard while we had blue skies. So far for the last few weeks we have had rain, hopefully next week will be better. 

And our dog Bug had a much needed play date with her best friend Max. It's a good opportunity to tire them both out.

And I finished a crochet blanket for one of my daughter's friends who has been going through a hard time this year. 

Lastly I would like to wish all you a Merry Christmas! Hope you have a great day.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, Thankful Thursday and Tom's Signs.