 Jess is Sixteen!!Hey it's Jess here! Mum decided to let me on the 'blog' for my birthday so I can give a first-hand account =) Well, the picture above is meee in front of mum's favourite toi-tois, in some summery clothes for my birthday at the beach. Unfortunatley the rest of the family didn't get much of a lie-in as I was up just after 7am feeling fully awake...which sent everyone into a half-asleep panic to get my gorgeous breakfast of pastries and scones ready =P  Birthday Girl! Lots of pressies!As you can see I was pretty spoilt for presents, and my breakfast on the cute pink tea-stand was scrummy. Mum & dad got me some lovely clothes, an underwater camera (generous since my disaster in Fiji...), a birthday mug & plate as well as a HUGE beach ball (which I blew up later on). Other presents included jewellery, hair accessories, clothes, a flying (screaming) monkey, books and money, so I think I did pretty well =)  Jess got Party Rings from England!The beach I had chosen to have lunch at, before meeting my friends for a day in the sun, was Mission Bay. Lunch was mainly prepared by Sophia under a very particular menu from me, including free-range egg sandwiches, grapes, cheds (cheesy NZ biscuits)and some British confectionery such as jelly babies (another present from mum & dad) and party rings (from our friends The Wilkos)  Jessie blowing up her gigantic beach ball Jess is having a ball!After lunch, dad, Sophia and I tested out the gigantic beach ball (which I'd spent pretty much forever blowing up) and we got quite a few stares as we tried to get our arms around it. One man stopped with his little girl in a pram and held her up to watch our game!  Jess by the toi toiMid-afternoon I met up with some friends and got some more wonderful presents. We spent the rest of the day chatting and walking along the beach, eating ice-creams and trying to solve a rubix cube I got from Sophia. At 6.30pm we got changed into some glittery evening wear and headed to an Italian restaurant on the beach called 'Mama Mia'. Anyone living in nz...go there...the cannelloni vegetriani is AMAZING. Overall I had one very, very happy birthday, and the cake (which we ate at the beach after dinner) was amazing. Actually I think I need to force mum to put a picture up, because she made it beautifully. Chocolate gateau with rasberry conserve, covered in chocolate ganache and decorated with both white & dark chocolate leaves. It tasted soooo good =P and Sophia and I were responsible for the leaves...and a depletion in our neighbour's rose bushes leaves...!!   I had a great day, and thank you to everyone for my presents =) 16 at last! 
 View from the balcony todayToday was lovely, slight breeze and sunshiny. So, I thought I'd send you some pictures of our balcony view... not bad.. We're revelling in being home after camping for a week, and having a Home Day!  Giant ferns in our valleyWe own a pie-shaped section of the valley, you can see it in this shot, and there's a creek at the bottom. Regular visitors include the resident kingfisher, two pairs of brightly coloured rosellas, seagulls and pigeons. The silvereyes visit in early spring and an occasional hawk. It's very peaceful and no danger of neighbours building because it's a Heritage site, no building allowed.  View from our back patioWe also have a back patio with the hammock and barbeque, I've tried to fill it with geraniums; there is a giant magnolia tree growing to the left, which gets HUGE white flowers on.  My bean bag and glass of wine!
 What did we do on New Year's Day? We drove to the beach under blue skies and sunshine... and Greg went kayak surfing, (and fell out spectacularly!)  Girls body boarding, that's Sophia in the frontThe girls went body boarding and were wave riders for hours, and then we picnicked and ate ice-cold fruit ice-creams and ate ripe cherries by the bucket load.  Ice-creamsWe walked around the volcano, Mount Manganui, watched the yachts and cruise ships coming in and rested in the shade on one side, before returning to chilled beers and a barbeque in the evening.  The boardwalk, with Mt Manganui in the backgroundThe girls played ball on the beach after dinner, and we finished the day playing games around the lantern and counting the stars. Resolutions included, eating more chocolate, going on more holidays and having more fun here! What did you do?  Here are our chairs on the beach!
So, what have we been doing these holidays?! After the Boxing Day extravaganza, we went camping for a week at Papamoa, near Mount Manganui. On the way we stopped off at Katikati (the mural town) and Paeroa (the L&P town) - see previous blogs on these two places! The antique shops were all open and we had a browze; the festive decorations were skeletons on Pennyfarthings - slightly bizarre, but that's New Zealand.  Paeroa festive decorations!On the way, after our picnic, we spied this waterfall through the bush, no signpost, so, of course, off we went through the undergrowth to explore!  Waterfall in the distance Made it to the waterfall!It was quite beautiful and peaceful when we got there, we have decided it would make the perfect swimming place next time and we shall have our swimsuits handy - swimming under a waterfall is appealing. It was hidden away and no-one else was there, we had the place all to ourselves.  Papamoa Campsite!We arrived at the campsite and it was full! Good job we had booked months ago.. it seems everyone comes here or Mount Manganui in the Christmas holidays. The place was bursting at the seams, and we had peeks into everyone's tents and campers.  Just setting up campOurs doesn't have a tv or double beds, like some of them, but we do have a trailer now and a fridge, so we're building up to 'glamping' at some point. Everyone sits out in the evening, around lanterns and play games and drink beer - it's sort of a communal gathering at which everyone is welcome. Our first day, we were up with the tuis and off to walk around the base of Mount Manganui, which is an extinct volcano.  The base walk view - our local beach seen through the treesAbout half-way round the base there is a popular fishing spot with a statue in the channel. we saw swimmers and kayaks, some cruise ships and some huge cargo ships, loaded up with trees and containers.  Statue in the channel Statue at the base of the MountAll along the beach at the base of Mount Manganui is a boardalk and throughout the Christmas holidays they have free ice-cream and drinks, and other goodies that girls in very small shorts hand out. We were invited to the free barbeque, with burgers, sausages, fruit and free suncream too. Yet, with all these 'freebies' no-one was greedy or pushy, it was all just lovely. The girls were particularly impressed with the free ice-creams!!  Kayak launching point, the other side of the volcanoOn another day Greg and Jess kayaked around the mountain and launched from the other side. Sophia and I had some serious birthday shopping to do, so we picked them up from the other side later!  Mount Manganui from the Boardwalk Santa at the shopsOur third day there it was time to climb to the summit - and believe me it's steep, the sheep look like they're going to fall off. Takes about an hour to do the ascent!  View half-way up the volcano Girls at the top of Manganui!Every night we would cook dinner and then head to the beach (a one minute stroll) and play ball games, or go shelling. We found that it wasn't the best beach for swimming - lots of jellyfish at this time of year - but the girls could body board at other beaches. Some spectacular sunsets too! Pink cotton candy effect.  View of Mount Manganui from the beachExploring beyond Manganui we discovered McClaren Falls. These are huge and you can't hear yourself speak when you go down. We'd had lots of rain the week before, so they were quite full!  McClaren Falls
 Aerial view of the volcanoWe're heading for Mount Maunganui, which is a small town in the Bay of Plenty, next to Tauranga. It is also the name of the extinct volcanic cone which rises above the town (which is now officially known by its Māori name Mauao),which means'caught by the dawn' and which we intend to climb. It is owned by a Maori tribe but open to the public.  Harbour and Mount ManganuiAccording to Maori legend, this hill was a pononga [slave] to a mountain called Otanewainuku. It is colloquially known in New Zealand simply as The Mount. And the local hotel next to it is called 'Twin Towers'!!  The town itself is located on top of a sand bar that connects the volcano to the mainland,( for those of you who are Geographers out there, this is a geographical formation known as a tombolo. ) More practically, it means that it has created a safe harbour for the girls to swim and some good surfing waves for Greg to practise his kayak surfing.  Mr G and his kayakIt's other claim to fame is that New Zealand's first artificial reef has been installed at the Mount. It cost $1.5M and recently the media reported that local surfers were disappointed with the waves produced by the reef. It's made from hollow tile blocks placed underwater at intervals, and built for the purpose of promoting marine life in an area of featureless sea-bottom, but it also produces good surfing waves, usually.  Well, the waves looked big to me!
 The girls were adamant that they wanted the series of "vampire" books written by Stephanie Meyer, for Christmas. When I went to buy them, they were sold out!! PANIC!! I eventually tracked them down, but it took several hours to gather all four together.. Then, as the perfect Boxing Day present, they went to see the film, which came out that day!! We got them seats in the Circle Cinema, complete with leather arm chairs, food, drinks and popcorn served during the film, little tables with lamps on and a very grownup waiting bar area..  For those of you without teenage girls, 'Twilight' is a young-adult vampire-romance novel written by author Stephenie Meyer. It is the first book of the Twilight series, and introduces seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan who finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire. I know, I know... what's a mum to do? You have to move with the times.. They are still having a re-readfest of all four books.  I have been instructed to read them in order (I read the last one first) and so I start tomorrow - good job I have a month's holiday left!! Then I shall have to find a tolerant friend to go and see the film with. Highly popular amongst all my students, so it can't be all bad!
 Merry Christmas!MERRY CHRISTMAS !! This blog is for my technologically stunted brothers (self-admitted!) Here are some pictures of our Christmas Day... Thank you SO much for your pressies - all fabulous, we feel thoroughly spoiled!! Hope the gathering in the ol' cold, foggy, flu-infested Homeland is fun. Hope you have a fabulous day! We're looking forward to photos of huge nephews, gorgeous niece, and new house! Love to you all XXXXXXXXXXX  Girls with their pink champagne Sophia inside her Christmas bag! Jess in her Christmas bag! Girls on Christmas morning Sophia likes her presents!
 Well, here we are, our 3rd Christmas in NZ and it finally feels right.. we found all the decorations this year, the lights all worked, we even have icicle lights on the patio... we found a turkey and a glazed ham, have alcoholized some homemade mincemeat for pies, received gorgeous chocolates from England, got the coffee espresso machine bubbling away and poured the champagne. The sun is shining, my hammock beckons!  Three festive girlsThe house was filled with teenagers yesterday, feasting on gingerbread and generally giggling and singing. What they find to talk about for six hours confounds me! Anyway, late to bed last night(midnight) and tinsel and party poppers to clear up this morning! Santa arrived at the last minute to grant their bizzare Christmas wishes and distribute goodies!!  The Christmas tree Gingerbread cookiesThe girls have been baking and preparing all morning for Christmas eve lunch and now I intend to collapse in front of the TV for a film, before we start cooking tonight's menu. For lunch we had herb & pork sausage rolls, cheese and rosemary twists, filoettes filled with cream cheese and smoked salmon, roasted asparagus rolls, egg & olive open sandwiches, fresh home grown salad, Christmas shaped pretzels, and to finish rasperry and strawberry Eton Mess! YUM!!  Jessica baking cheese twists Sophia decorating the fruit cake Xmas Eve luncheonGreg brought home flowers and more champagne, so we're all set to go! Thinking of all of you at Home and wishing you a Merry Christmas, even though you're a day behind us..  Gingerbread cookies for the neighboursHere's 'The Night Before Christmas' Kiwi Style It was the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one we could catch.
We left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.
We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And mum in her nightie, and dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.
When outside the bach such a ho-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout.
The fairy lights dad had strung up around the door
Let me see everything down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep.
With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted his dog, and in a voice not unkind,
Cried "Good on ya, boy! Now, get in behind!
"Now, Flossy! now Fluffy! now Shaun and Shane!
On, Bossy! on, Buffy on, Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."
So up on the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turn around,
In through the window he came with a bound.
He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots of course;
A sack full of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.
His eyes right as paua shell - oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.
He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for sis, one for dad, one for mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb.
He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate."
 Mr Claus and the girls
 Bauble outside the MuseumHow is Christmas different for us over here, with the New Zealanders? Well, because we're on the other side of the world the weather is in reverse. It's warm and sunny (23F today) blue skies and the ocean warm enough to swim in.. Also, instead of the days getting shorter and darker, as they do in England, they get longer and lighter (dark at 9pm today)  Santa icon, outside the bookshop WhitcoullsIt means the foods we eat are more barbeques and salads, ice-creams and pavlovas, chilled Chardonnay and beer. at home you need those winter warmers, flaming Christmas puddings and hot mince pies. Brrrrr....we don't!  Santa at the Garden CentreWe also get our suntans at this time of year, out come the sunnies and the straw hats, bikinis are flaunted everywhere and more tattoos are revealed than at any other time of year. It's a good time to visit! Another difference is that we have nine weeks Christmas holiday, whereas in the UK you have two weeks to celebrate the Christmas hols. It means the end of year exams are in November and the students can recover and get ready for the start of the new school year in February.  Santa at the Department storeNot many people put lights outside their houses - with it being light until 9pm, there's not much point! The traditional Christmas tree is in evidence, but often homes are decorated without it, lots of flowers and baubles, but no tree. It is a Victorian tradition after all.  Santa in MatakanaWe also noticed that kiwis don't tend to send each other Christmas cards - they consider them a bit pointless and make a point of visiting everyone, with a beer,or holding a get-together, taking 'a plate' of goodies to one another's houses, to tell them 'Merry Christmas' in person, instead!  Kiwi Christmas!There's no holly, no robins, no Harrods lights, no Westminster choirs, no plum puddings, no Birds Eye custard, no drunken brawls, no traffic jams, no struggling to park outside John Lewis, no pantomimes, we are even struggling to get some turkey!! Best to give up and join the kiwi celebrations - they're fun, they're laid back, and Christmas promises to be stress free (with plenty of parking and free wrapping of any gifts you buy!)  Kiwi humour !
 Girls on the balconyOur ice-creams start melting the moment they are out of the packet! And it's December!! Just so all you shivering Brits know, you don't need to send us scarves or wooly jumpers!
This entry is for Emma-Kate - we found GIANT chocolate fish!!  They are more yummy than the ordinary ones, because there's more of them! the centre is pink, strawberry flavoured marshmallow, smothered in chocolate!  Yum! Yum!Chocolate fish are a kiwi icon, spreading swiftly across the world, much like the pineapple lump!!
 Jess by the Kauri treeKauri are among the world's mightiest trees, growing to more than 50 metres tall, with trunk girths of up to 16 metres. They covered much of the top half of the North Island when the first people arrived around 1000 years ago.  It's a BIG tree!We decided to visit the Warkworth Museum, and then, on arrival, discovered that its claim to fame was that it had "the largest collection of old clothes in New Zealand" (it meant Victorian costume - it's the way you say it though, isn't it!) So, instead we went on the Kauri Walk..  McKinney KauriThe one pictured here, the McKinney tree cost 3000 GBP, along with the land. Probably would have been chopped down if it hadn't been. The trunk has no branches off it until it reaches a certain height, and the bark is a silver grey, then it branches out above everything in the forest. It produces dammar gum - if you burn incense then that's got this tree's gum in it..  Girls at Totara Lookout I know this tree is impressive, but we've visited the largest living kauri, farther up North, called Tāne Mahuta, and it's GIANT! The tree's Māori name means "Lord of the Forest", and is the name of a god in Māori legend. It was only found in 1920, by a logging team.  Tane Mahuta, the largest Kauri TreeTāne Mahuta is 51 metres (169 feet) in height, and has a circumference of 13.8 metres (45 feet). There is no proof of the tree's age, but it is estimated to be between 1250 and 2500 years old. Compare that to this little youngster!  Both girls under the tree - can you see them? In the old days totara was heavily logged
 Scott Point - obviously!Today we decided to walk to Casnell Island (Maunganui in Maori)- there is a peninsula with a farm homestead on it, called Scott Point, and when the tide is low you can walk along the causeway to the island in the distance. Of course, you have to time the tides and be quick!  Map of Scott PointThere is even another island further on called 'Pudding Island' and it looks just like a Christmas pudding sitting in the ocean! The Homestead is actually for rent and this is the view from the front gate..  The view from the HomesteadWhen we got to the island it was very sheltered and covered in bright red pohutukawa trees!  On Casnell Island - covered with pohutukawaThis is the island as seen from a distance, when we started our walk..  Casnell Island that we walked to!The history was interesting - 1849 is REALLY old here!  The history of the placeIt is similar to the old American Colonial buildings that we saw.  Scott Point HomesteadWhen we got back to the mainland, we found these signs that reminded us just how far from home we were!!  How far away from home are we??
 Sophia with a lambWe've driven past this so many times, that when the wind picked up on our last day, we decided to give it a go.  Girls with Bambi Oh dear!It has a Black Sheep Cafe, lamb feeding, sheep shearing (with a difference), deer stroking, llamas, strange coloured ducks, rabbits who follow the lambs around, silkie chickens, live possums and we ended the visit with eel feeding - they don't half have a bite to them!!  Sheep being herdedThe sheep shearing was filled with humour and he literally "pulled the wool over her eyes" and after she was shorn she just lay there and had a snooze!  John explaining about his sheepdogs Dolly the Sheep getting ready to be shorn Dolly half-shornThe girls were mobbed by lambs at one point, desperate for their mid-morning feed. The Japanese tourists were utterly delighted but terrified! All the more for us then! Not the best country to visit if you're frightened of sheep!  Feeding the lambs
 Elvis cow, in the building!Matakana is wine country and meandering river valleys with stunning coastline. Each time we come here, we explore a different part.  Girls in the gardensThe Matakana Market is filled with little stalls selling whitebait fritters, giant organic olives stuffed with garlic or cheeses, chunky fruit chutneys, jams spilling out of their jars, lemon and lime curds, edible flower salads and frosted cupcake stalls.  At the waterfallWe wandered around listening to the jazz singer, clambered down to the waterfall for a photo and browsed the arts and crafts in the town, being very tempted by the jewellery there.  Matakana River viewsWe stopped off at a Farmers Market on the way to the beach and discovered some strange cows - Milton Keynes Cows cannot compare! We posed with the Buzzy Bee and Elvis ones!!  Buzzy Bee cow?Then we headed for Goat Island in the afternoon to do some snorkelling. It was a little bit wavy, the glass bottom boat did a steady trade (I was asked for tickets more than once, could have made some money!)  Goat IslandGreg says he saw an eagle ray (yeah right) and plenty of snapper. Shame we couldn't catch any for our evening barbeque, it's a marine reserve, no fishing allowed!
 Girls at the signNew Zealand has lots of regional parks, all different, all well worth a visit. This one is quite remote, down a 'gravel' track (really medium sized boulders).  Tawharanui beach and islandIt has white sand beaches, caves, good surfing in Anchor Bay and oyster catchers nesting at this time of year. It's where the rolling green hills, all dotted with the lambs at this time of year, come right down to the white dunes.  Tawharaui cove viewThere's a stunning contrast of colours, combined with the blue skies. We strolled from cove to cove as the tide allowed, picnicked and then did the dune walk.  The dune walkSimilar to a meadow walk, only with the red flowering flax and hundreds of small yellow flowers growing from the dunes.  Flowering flax - the tuis love the nectar!Views at the top of the dunes were worth the climb.  Made it to the top! View from the top of the dunes!Then back to the campsite for some more kayaking!!
 Our Campsite!Went on our first camping expedition of the holidays, with the largest trailer in New Zealand, and both kayaks, to Warkworth.  Girls kayaking in the bay The weather was gorgeous, with one rainy night, and we were five feet from the beach with drop dead gorgeous views. It's what's called "absolute beachfront".  View from the tentIt is, as the name suggests, a 'spit' of land jutting out into a little blue bay, with sailing boats wafting about. Pohutukawa trees are in full bloom and we set up tent and barbeque...  New Zealand Christmas flower!
 There are a lot of trees in New Zealand and when Christmas comes around there is a competition for the biggest Xmas Tree. In Hamilton the night sky is sparkling as its giant Christmas tree is switched on nightly.The tree took over 10 days to be assembled.It's believed to be the largest artificial tree in the country, standing at 25 metres and boasting 130,000 lights and 4000 baubles. Here is one we found - seems pretty big to me, growing by the sides of the lake and decorated with giant baubles.  The 'upside-down Christmas tree' was invented here, as you can see. There is a tree farm in Onehunga that sells these particular trees. You have to ask yourself why - because we're upside-down of course!! 
 Carol our Christmas, an upside down Christmas;
The snow is not falling and trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and welcome the Christ Child,
Warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air.
Sing of the gold and the green and the sparkle,
Water and river and lure of the beach.
Sing in the happiness of open spaces,
Sing a nativity summer can reach!
Shepherds and musterers move over hillsides.
Finding not angels but sheep to be shorn;
Wise ones make journeys whatever the season.
Searching for signs of the truth to be born.
Right side up Christmas belongs to the universe,
Made in the moment a woman gives birth;
Hope is the Jesus gift, love is the offering,
Everywhere, anywhere, here on the earth.
Carol our Christmas, an upside down Christmas;
Snow is not falling and trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and welcome the Christ Child,
Warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air.
 Santa - who is he? He's different all around the world of course!We did some research to find out, since letters arrived from him today! In... Austria: Christkind ("Christ child") Armenia: Ձմեռ Պապիկ ("Grandfather Winter") Bulgaria: Дядо Коледа ("Grandfather Christmas") Canada: Père Noël ("Father Christmas") Czech Republic: Svatý Mikuláš ("Saint Nicholas Denmark: Julemanden Estonia: Jõuluvana Faroe Islands: Jólamaðurin Finland: Joulupukki France: Père Noël ("Father Christmas,") Germany: Weihnachtsmann ("Christmas Man) Greece: Άγιος Βασίλης ("Saint Basil") Hungary: Mikulás ("Nicholas") Ireland: Santy Italy: Babbo Natale ("Father Christmas Latvia: Ziemassvētku vecītis ("Christmas pop") Liechtenstein: Christkind Lithuania: Senis Šaltis ("Old Man Frost") Netherlands & Flanders: Kerstman Norway: Julenissen Poland: Święty Mikołaj ("Saint Nicholas") Portugal: Pai Natal ("Father Christmas") Romania: Moş Crăciun ("Father Christmas") Russia: Дед Мороз ("Grandfather Frost") Serbia: Дедa Мрaз("Grandfather Frost") Spain: Reyes Magos (Biblical Magi) Sweden: Jultomten Switzerland: Christkind Turkey: Noel Baba ("Father Christmas") Ukraine: Svyatyy Mykolay United Kingdom: Santa Claus United States: Saint Nick Wales: Siôn Corn Brazil: Papai Noel ("Father Noah") Chile: Viejito Pascuero (Christmas old man) Mexico: Santo Clós (Santa Claus) Colombia: Papá Noel ("Father Noah") Asia: Santa Claus Japan: サンタクロース (santakurosu) Hong Kong: Santa Claus South Africa: Sinterklaas Egypt: Papa Noel What do you call him? 
 The girls spent the day at the beach making sandcastles and playing scatterball, continuous cricket, T ball, beach flags, vortex (dangerous) and having a picnic.  It was a school day and this was one of their activities! How lovely to take 200 students to the beach for the day! There was even a wedding on the beach. Bet the bride didn't expect that many onlookers.. they all stood up and clapped for her!  We all caught the sun and ate far too much chocolate and collected loads of lollies.
 Jessica made a double chocolate and strawberry Celebration Cake for Sophia - you'll just have to imagine the chocolaty smell and soft, creamy taste!! CONGRATULATIONS to our Honours Girl!!
 Prizegiving was today, the last day of term and winners had a ceremony in the Hall, parents were invited, bagpipes and orchestra played. Teachers were in their gowns and students received certificates or book prizes for their achievements over the year.  Of course we were invited as parents because our youngest had won THREE prizes!!  Sophia walked away with the English Prize, The Memorial Literature Prize and Honours Prize ( for being in the top twenty students,out of two hundred!!) Very proud parents in the audience!!  Here she is, getting her handshake from the Headmaster, for the third time..
 My form have just returned from Field Centre at Mount Ruapehu and they were exhausted. There was still a good amount of snow, so I thought I'd share some of the more wintry pictures with you!  Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano in Tongariro National Park. The last eruption was in October 2006.. It is one of the world's most active volcanoes, along with White Island, where we're going on Boxing Day! It is also the largest active volcano in New Zealand. I decided not to accompany my form and climb the mountain.. I felt I was needed here!  It's a magnificent view though, as you approach it - you'll recognise it as Mount Doom in the 'Lord of the Rings' film - out of the family, only Jess has climbed it; Sophia's turn is next year!   I really don't know what to say.. there he was, in the field, chewing the cud, with a Santa hat on.. we really are on the other side of the world! It's the Santa Parade this weekend - watch this space! |
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