The Innocence of Youth

Worked early this morning and was back in time for lunch (which was a bonus) then Keiko and I set about cleaning the house (inside and out) I told Mana that Santa likes a clean and tidy house.
It was pleasant enough evening so we sat outside on the deck and had dinner.

Then settled down to watch "The Polar Express" Id never seen it before so I didn't know the story line,assuming it would be the same ole "Bad kid does something good yad,yada but I have to say I was most impressed.....may of had something to do with the kind,comforting (and wise) voice of Tom Hanks as the Train conductor.

It was awesome just the 3 of us watching the movie.

Mana was so excited (about the movie and Christmas) she was all "Ohhh and Ahh" and its a moment Keiko and I will always treasure.
I even said "I wish Mana NEVER grows up.....just let her be this age forever....."

I guess that has got to be the hardest part of being a parent,having to accept the fact that one day she's not going to be that innocent little girl,wide eyed and full of questions......she is going to grow up!.

Ive pretty much given up on Santa........but ahhh thru her...."The innocence of youth"
Merry Christmas everyone.

Summer or Winter??

Read Maya's blog as she was leaving a chilly 2c from Narita Airport homeward bound back to Singapore and today I went to Ken's blog site from Alaska and read there was 40cm of snow the other day.

This whole Winter/Summer thing just does my head in sometimes and I honestly know how it all equates to the rest of the world Northern vs Southern hemisphere etc.....but isn't it just alittle strange sometimes....especially round Christmas time?

While the Northern part of the world is snuggling up with fluffy warm clothing and a bit of mulled wine down here were stripping off and having barbque's.....and a cold beer.

Woke early yesterday and was in the water by 0700 for a morning surf at Maori Bay.

I surfed for 2.5 hours in what can only be described as pretty bloody perfect with only 5 others, so great crew,warmish water awesome fun waves all while watching the morning sunrise.....came home had lunch and then back out just to hang out with "My Girls" at the beach.
Kitted out with our sun shelter tent from Katmandu (Just quietly a bargin and a great investment at $29.95)

The required snacks of popcorn (yes popcorn) Water and fresh Apricots and Peaches I picked up from "Veggeco"on the way out.

We were set for a afternoon of......well anything really.

Its full moon at the moment so there is a nice big low tide....enough to allow us access to the Maori Bay cave,which doesn't happen very often.

Mana was alittle unsure at first but then it was all on with yelling shouting and hooting.

When we came out Keiko asked "Was that you?" meaning the Monkey noises....Mana and I laughed and laughed in case you don't know there are only a extra couple of chromosome's that separate us from Orangutans!! That's probably why Mana and I do a great monkey impression.

Mana asked Mummy to go down to the water where she then proceeded to splash her.

Mum fought back but she was the one who came back to the safety of the tent looking a whole lot wetter than her daughter.

Oh and Merry Christmas

Christmas comes early

Well for me anyway.

Today I finally picked up my new board.

What a "HELL" couple of months and I spent more time travelling to and fro from the repair shop than actually being in the water.

It all started when I smashed the tail (twice)then followed up with the leg rope plug being ripped out (resulting in board going one way me the other = a very LONG swim) then not to be out done I snapped a fin off and broke the fin box....enough is enough I said (well not those exact words but you get the drift)

Glen Carkeek from Primal Surfboards http://www.primalsurf.com/ came to my rescue and produced this little beauty. (Measurements 6.8 X 20 1/4 X 20 5/8)

Glen maybe short in stature but he is definitely larger than life.....and knows his sh#t,wandering around his factory/store barefoot with a light dusting of "surfboard snow" on his clothes he has the "stoke" of a young grommie.

Always keen to talk (and listen) so he can advise you on any new developments and what's what in the surfing world.

Primal started out as a hardcore surfboard label in a back factory in Barrys Point Road here in Auckland about 1991.

Since then I have to say its grown to be one of the best known surfboard labels/brands about with at least every 3 board I see out West being a Primal.

Cheers bro

Whites Beach DATE

Decided to head out to an little unknown place called Whites Beach for a "look see".

Drove out heading towards Piha then we turned off onto the winding unsealed gravel road for about 20 minutes.

Then caught our first glimpse of Piha and onto White Beach.
We parked the car and made our way down the track/drive way.......sounds simple enough.........and down.........and down.......and holly heck,DOWN some more and then (this was beyond a joke now) down some more to FINALLY end up at a small clearing and a AWESOME view.....only trouble was to get to Whites beach we had to go down SOME MORE!!!! (Psst this is now official a HIKE)

But don't get us wrong it was totally worth it.

As we made our way thru the last of the twisted pohutkawa over the Ice plant and grasses to the wind swept,untrodden sand we both had to agree that this was a pretty amazing out there place.

The rock pools were the "Noah's Ark" version of coastal marine life the who's who in the sea world.

100s of crabs scurrying into cracks for protection.

Shellfish Limpets,Mussels,Kutai,Cats eye......well pretty much Kaeo for Africa.

Jellyfish (and other single cell creatures)

Shags,gull,Swallows,Torea,Takapu (Gannet)

Fish like yellow tail and small Kahawai were "zipping" about between the rocks.

The whole place just had this vibe about it........beautifully dangerous you could feel the raw power of the ocean and isolation of the area.....with a good dose of humbling insignificance.......There is more to this world than just me!!

I'm not even going to go into details of the climb back up,but lets just say it was ......interesting.

K's Bday

Yesterday was Keiko's Birthday and we started the morning off with Mana whispering (well not quite whispering) in my ear "Can I say Happy Birthday to Mummy?"
(Geezzz this was 0640 you can say whatever you want just let me go back to sleep.)


I knew that was not going to happen (once she's awake and has her mind set....that's it)
So the Birthday wish was given.......and received with as much enthusiasm as K could muster (at 0640)

I dropped Mana off at school (yahooooo date time!!) and K and I headed out towards Bethells beach after a short drive we arrived at the car park and were greeted by warm sunshine,a very mild temperature a light sea breeze and the welcoming choirs of Tui's,Kingfishers and Kihikihi (Cicada)

The start of the walk kicks off with a easy meander following the stream to one of the biggest "HUNKS" of natural sand dunes Ive ever seen...that and the fact that your surrounded by the lush greenery of the Waitakeres and here is this huge "HUNK" of black sand smack dab in the middle of nowhere makes it all that more impressive.

As we made our way to the top of the dune,we definetly started to feel the heat and even thought the wind had turned into a fresh sea breeze the by now sun heated black sand was doing just that and getting hotter.

Finally at the top with views of Lake Wainamu (mosquito water) and a welcome change of angle down to the lakes edge and to abit of shade under the Manuka trees.

On the way home we picked up a 3 individual cakes from "Eve's Pantry".

I had the Rich blueberry cheese cake,K had the Tiramisu (Chocolate/Coffee and Masculpone cheese) and Mana a kinda of cup cake (pink of course) each with a candle we sang "Happy Birthday" and then gave K her present a Ponamu Koru necklace

Actually Ive had her present for months and Ive been wearing it prior to gifting it to her custom/tradition is that Ponamu should never be brought for ones self and by me wearing it some of my wairua or soul/sprit goes into the stone so I'm always with her.

(Same with Mana's present we have got her (a Ponamu shaped (Heart") both Mum and I have taken turns about wearing it all without Mana knowing so that Mum and Dad will always be with her too.