What were you doing Sept 2001?

Well the start of the month we were in Japan doing the rounds on what some would call a "Rock Star" itinery and during those 13 days we managed to see all of Keiko's friends and family in Nagoya drink WAYYY too much,fly down to Kyushu see my friend (and again drunk and sang WAYYYY too much) and then fly to Osaka to see some more friends and what with me being the "start as you intend to finish" I continued on with the drinking.....
Flew out of Osaka to arrive in Auckland just before lunch.....dashed home changed our suitcase (well kinda DUMPED everything out and re packed it with beach clothes to be back for a 1800 flight to Fiji.

We stayed at the Sonaisali Island Resort http://www.sonaisali.com/ a BIG thanks goes to Aaron and all the crew there for hooking us up with the coolest Beach front Bure , we were sooooo set up.
Special thanks have to go to Raj........Super efficient and a real character we still laugh when after all the details were sorted out for the wedding Keiko asked "Do you think it will be good weather in 4 days time?" "Ill see what I can do....Ill make a note" was his reply as he wrote "Client request for fine weather on wedding day......(By the way the weather was perfect....who does he know?)

The wedding day morning consisted of relaxing in the Hammock,sailing the H"Hobbie Cat" and pretty much chilling out until 1600-1630 (Fiji time)
Dont know what it is about that place but I have this theory "If the Fijian's were any more "laid" back they'd be falling over backwards,sooooo relaxing and easy going....Love it!
By 1700 that afternoon we were MR and MRS,awesome ceremony and we managed to have our wedding on a Monday which coincides with the Managers "SHOUT" so we kinda had a reception as well thrown in (Didn't know anyone ,but hey)
In a nut shell that was our September and I guess because its that time of the year I cant help but remember bits and pieces of our day (that would explain the dopey smile recently)
K and I have been thru ALOT since then and the biggest event since has to be that we have been "BLESSED" with a beautiful daughter who we both love to pieces.

To you K........Happy 5th Wedding anniversary,I love you as much if not more than when we first said "I do"

They say a picture's worth a thousand words

Totally agree...........

Sure beats working

Another BEAUTIFUL spring morning here in Aotearoa and with help of "The GEORGE FM Surf report" and the Surf2surf report reading....
"A increase in swell a northeast / east angle and showing 2 to 2.5 ft peaky A frame lines.
Maybe a 3 ft set from time to time so its a good looking surf day.
Winds are light offshore southwest with variable winds today.
Stoke meter : 5.5 /10"

Yippe.....I was off for another surf up North......

But my hopes were "DASHED" when I called Kosuke and he said....."Nar I'm abit tied up with work today....so cant really get out...............have fun though"

Down but not out I threw everything into my car and I was off........The trip up was actually quite quick and taking the back road (which was suprisingly empty) I was there in next to no time and just like the reports said the swell had picked up abit more from yesterday,it wasn't epic but it was alot of FUN....and when the sun came out later that afternoon it just made it all that better.

With just a hand full of surfers out there was a really good buzz about and with lots of waves on offer it would have to rate as one of my most enjoyable surfs for awhile....... (Definitely going to bring you here Ken if you ever make it down this way)

Spring is here

Ok so Spring is in the air.......how do I know?
Well for one we have a new neighbour that's just set up house outside our kitchen window and this morning we had another LARGE whanau round for a visit!!!
Also the morning sun is coming up earlier and staying around longer........and to top it all off the last two days I went out for a surf and it was a typical spring-y sort of day (Is "Spring-y" a word?)

Got a phone call from Kosuke (as usual) and once again he "dragged" me up to a not so secret location North of Auckland for a surf with (So you know for next time Peter thats 104kms or 1.30mins) it wasn't that great abit soft about 2-2.5ft but super clean and we both agreed that it really needed to be at least another foot bigger but still it was good to get out in the water and enjoy the uncrowded waves..... just a note Kosuke-One should always make sure that one has enough petrol to complete one's trip.

Didn't run out of fuel but there was a tense time specially when the light was a solid orange and after $50 went in the fuel gauge didn't move that far so it was pretty obvious that we were running on fumes for awhile......potential to be a BIG problem,but with that sorted out we resumed or conversation on how to sort out ALL of the world's problems.

Great day out and I got home just in time for Mana as she just finished kindy so it all worked out quite nicely.

Daddy's little helper 2

Not to be put off by the other day's unfortunate little incident Mana decided to help me out again and who could say no when she says "Daddy,Mana help youuuuu?" ........"OK Mana but I want you to be careful today and listen to Daddy OK?" she answered with a "Haiiiiiiiiiii" which lasted all the way to the shoe rack as she "plonked" herself down to put on her pink gumboots and bubble pattern gloves again.

With the frame all measured up and a few bits to cut,we tacked the sawing and as soon as she found a rhythm she was off.
When the off-cut fell to the ground she put both arms in the air shouting "YATTA"

Next job was to screw in the latch which was also done with great enthusiasm and the whole concept of going slowly at the start was taken on board (although she just couldn't resist giving it a "Flat out" run) and as for the nailing,well I had done it all before hand but she really wanted to do it so I just let her go,took at least 10 minutes.....didn't matter she LOVED it and there you have it one finished gate that Father and Daughter built


........Mum was pretty happy too (I think it was because Mana didn't hurt herself and cry today)

Daddy's little helper

First off I want to say "Happy Father's Day" to my Dad........hope you had a good day.

Well the Bob the Builder bug has really bitten me and I decided to tackle another project of putting a gate beside the house.
Ok so first of all I have to lay the bricks,this involved Mana being carried in the wheel barrow (which she loved) and then to load up the spare bricks (left over from building our house).

After the OSH approved safety brief on how to lay bricks and with Mana all kitted out in pink gumboots and bubble pattern gloves (that we had just brought) I think we were ready........it wasn't too long before Mana chan got bored of just watching and the constant cry's of "Mana can doooo it,I can dooo......... away she went and what a good job she did too.

First one......then two,then a whole row..........Good girl,carry it from there........put it here.......you such a good girl helping Daddy,be careful,that's right,watch your hands,Mana chan ki wo tsukete........Mana be careful...Mana!!.....MANA............

OPPS....... I ll go and get Mummy.........