The summer holidays are here, and although it's not quite going to be a December 26, 2021 | Boxing Day and a gorgeous Central Otago day! Game of the day was tennis today - in 26 degrees before lunch! A bit rusty to start with, but were getting there by the end! Too hard to get an action shot, so a nets photo instead!
December 25, 2021 | Merry Christmas! There were presents this morning, with a very respectable 8am start! The boys were very spoilt with a theme of clothes and sports gear (mainly cricket) this year!
Then between bowling practice (the kids not me), back-yard cricket, and a few hours (yes hours!) playing Trivial Pursuit, and of course lots of yummy food, that was pretty much the day!
The holidays have begun!
December 24, 2021 | I feel like it is a very late start to the Blog this year. Hayden is at high school now, so finished school earlier than Austin. Then on Austin's last day, it was absolutely pouring down with rain. Neither boys had prize-givings with parents in attendance, so it all turned into what felt like non-event, and almost like the start of a mid-year holiday instead of the end of the school year.
So we've reached Christmas Eve, work has finished, and we have just arrived in Clyde this afternoon. I can't guarantee we'll make a photo every day these holidays but I'll do my best to take lots of photos - I need to make up for my lack of photos during the year! Plus, I still love looking back through all the photos from previous years!
For today, the cake and milk for Santa tradition continues!
January 9, 2021 | The final day of our Clyde holiday, so it was time for our annual photo on the seat under the tree! Alfie joined the boys for this one! Then it was off for a game of mini-golf and a swim at the Cromwell pool. We are now all packed up (well kind of) and ready to hit the road tomorrow!
January 8, 2021 | This afternoon the 'big' boys played a round of 'big' golf, so Austin and I headed off for a game of mini-golf! It was a tie, so Austin was pretty happy with that ;)
January 7, 2021 | We woke to rain this morning. It's starting to feel like a bit of a summer of rain! It was a wet, quiet morning around home, but then the sun finally came out this afternoon, along with a trip to the swimming pool. A quick photos of the boys before we headed off.
January 6, 2020 | It's not too hard to guess where we were today! We left Te Anau this morning after a last walk around town, and then made the drive back to Central Otago. We called into Queenstown on the way back for lunch and a walk around town. Then it was back to Clyde.
January 5, 2021 | Wet Fiordland! A magical, but very wet experience! I have been lucky enough to visit Milford Sound three times previously, but today was definitely the wettest!! Crazy wet! Of course, that was Austin's favourite part!
We left Te Anau at 7.00am this morning to make our way over to Milford Sound in time for our cruise. The rain started as we left, and only got heavier as we headed West. The Mirror Lakes wasn't quite a mirror today, but the Sounds definitely lived up to their reputation of incredible waterfalls everywhere in the rain.
Our cruise was on the Milford Mariner, as the rain poured down as we headed out the Fiord, getting heavier along the way. It didn't take long to get soaked through (jackets included), especially as we headed right in under the waterfalls, Austin in his element! He had so much fun out on the deck.
We made it out to the Tasman Ocean in very low seas, and then the decks cleared as we turned head-on into rain and wind or the way back in - except for Austin, lol! It was a struggle to keep him inside! Lots of fun though!
It was a pretty direct run back to Te Anau with a carload of very wet and cold occupants. The boys ended up sleeping on and off on the way back (a by-product of an unusually early holiday wake-up call and a big day out.) Steve and I stopped once at Falls Creek for a very quick photo stop - figuring we were that wet anyway! The boys chose to stay in the car!
Back at our apartment, it was hot showers for everyone and a bit of chill-out time. Then we wandered down into town for a yummy dinner. By the time we walked home the rain had completely stopped for the first time all day, and there is definitely a glimpse of a gorgeous day ahead tomorrow.
The boys have had a great time so far, and loved our trip!
A little collation of a few photos today!
January 3, 2020 | Welcome to the summer of cricket in Clyde! The boys have played a lot of 'backyard' cricket this holiday, and I finally managed to catch some photos today. Hayden was bowling, and Austin batting. Austin chose the photo - well photos - today as he wanted to tell a story.
January 2, 2020 | It has definitely been a wet start to the New Year. In fact, so wet that today we haven't really done anything other than hanging out at home. And so why not make yourself comfy on the bed and have a snooze - it's a dog's life today!
January 1, 2021 | HAPPY NEW YEAR! It has been a very quiet, wet start to the New Year! We managed to squeeze in a walk in between showers this morning, and the boys have been outside and gotten soaked a couple of times. Other than that, it's been an inside day!
A photo of the mischief maker today - not many other opportunities for photos!
December 31, 2020 | Our day started with another walk, this time up to the Dam Lookout. A hot start to the day again too. After the walk this morning was time to test out the tennis rackets. Austin got a tennis racket for his birthday this year and has been having lessons at school. It's been a very long time though since Steve or I have played! But with tennis courts only a 5 minute walk away, it's now another thing on our 'to do' list for Clyde holidays.
I got a few action shots, but love this one of the two boys!
December 30, 2020 | It's been a busy day! Steve and I started out with a walk up to the Clyde Dam this morning. Then when we got home, we all went for a bike ride along our favourite River Track into Alexandra.
We met Granma and Dea in Alexandra for a picnic lunch in the park, then headed to the swimming pools to cool off! Following that Steve, Hayden and I biked back to Clyde along the Rail Trail. Austin got a lift home with Granma and Dea. In total we biked just under 30km, so not a bad day in total!
Tonight, Steve and I headed out for dinner in Cromwell for our 16th Wedding Anniversary, which was a lovely way to end a great day!
A photo today from our bike into Alexandra. Self-timers come in handy sometimes!
December 29, 2020 | The temperatures have hit the high 20s, and it finally feels like a real Central Otago summer's day today. Steve and I started out with a walk up to the town lookout this morning, and then we all went for a bike ride around town (a quick photo of the boys when we got back.)
This afternoon, Steve and I went for another walk back down into town (slow pace this time as it was hot!) and now the boys have headed off to the cricket match in Alexandra for the afternoon. I've stayed at home to try and get some study done!
December 28, 2020 | The boys have actually had a pretty busy day outside playing cricket and biking, and I got some great photos of Austin playing cricket this afternoon. Unfortunately, the photos were corrupt on transferring to the computer, so it was a last minute photo of "rest session" instead! Can you tell they're brothers though from the way they're sitting? LOL!
December 27, 2020 | Since arriving in Clyde the boys have been out hunting Pokemon. They've already been off and around town this morning. A photo just before they headed off.
December 25, 2020 | Merry Christmas! We arrived in Clyde last night to excited boys in anticipation for Christmas Day! We have a very reasonable 7am start with Austin jumping into our bed to tell us that Santa had been! Two very spoilt boys, whose Christmas Dreams came true this year!
We hope you all had an amazing day with friends and family X
December 13, 2020 | Cousins! We've had an amazing weekend up in Auckland, and now it's time to head back home. But we got to see Imogen's surf life-saving club this morning, then a quick stop for ice cream on the way home before heading to the airport.
The boys are staying up in Auckland for a week, while we go back to work. Seems very quiet without them, but they will have an amazing time with their cousins! Wish we were staying too!
December 11, 2020 | Today was a short trip to Auckland for Steve's Mum's 70th Birthday. A quick photo at the airport before donning masks and boarding a plane for the first time this year! Was nice to "travel" again!
