Where are all the sheep??

As we sat on the beach trying to eat our fish and chips while a giant sand storm swirled around us and the sea gulls edged ever closer I couldn’t stop smiling. Mackenzie teased the gulls, throwing imaginary chips for them while Skye sobbed about the sand in her chicken nuggets. The adults tried hastily to eat their food before it to became sand. Suddenly came a cry ‘I’VE GOT A PRICKLE’ and Skye cried even harder. As Nigel tried to comfort her we couldn’t help but giggle at her dramatic calls for help. The family picnic on the beach was fast descending into chaos and yet I was having a great time. This was a family holiday, the kind of holiday neither Ollie or I had been on for at least sixteen years and it was wonderful! After half an hour it was time to head back to the batch otherwise it would only a matter of time before Skye and Mac broke free and went for a swim, despite our attempts to explain that it was seven in the evening and the water would be freezing. They managed a paddle which was more than Ollie or I could! I’ve got to admit I was impressed at their ability to not feel the cold, if only I was four again!

The following day we took a walk around Whitanga (pronounce the Wh as a Ph). The wind had picked up again and was literally blowing us around the place. We watched as Skye and Mac finally got their swim. It was so lovely to see them splashing about and playing together. Oh and fighting ‘Uncle Ollie’, tripping him up and bundling on top of him! Charlotte and I sat and chatted, it was great to be finally really getting to know each other and I loved having another girl to talk to. After six weeks of mainly boys it was a great change! Later in the afternoon the kids, Ollie, Nigel and I went and picked ‘Pippies’ (I think they’re like mussels but I’m still not sure!) in the shallows as the tide went out. We managed to gather a bucket full, well they all did, I was more of the bucket holder! All around us tons of other children and parents were doing the same thing, it was great to be involved in an apparent New Zealand hobbie! 

Ollie had promised he would take Mac and Skye fishing while we were away, so after buying some frozen squid (eww) he found two rods in the garage and we headed down to the small pier. As the bait was torn and placed onto hooks Ollie got very serious and into explaining how we were going to fish. I’m not sure at that point if it was Ollie or the kids who were more excited about the prospect of catching something! Skye and Mac were fishing with a rod that had six hooks on the line while Nigel had a rod with only one hook. Within minutes Mackenzie was reeling in his first fish as Skye skipped beside him all smiles. It was her turn next and she managed to get a big fat one that flapped about on the pier as Ollie tried to grab it to throw it back. Skye was so funny fishing. She would stand with the rod patiently, but as soon as she got a bite she would start hopping up and down exclaiming ‘IT’S WIGGILING!’ until Ollie came and reeled the line in. As the kids caught fish after fish, Nige still hadn’t caught anything apart from an old rag and was fast becoming the subject of everyones jokes! He did get a go on the better rod though and redeemed himself by getting a catch too. After a successful fishing expedition we returned home for a BBQ and a game of cricket. Everyone was playing very nicely and keeping the ball in the garden. That was until I got up to bat. My first smack of the ball sent it across the fence and to the other side of the road. With my second I lost a ball. Despite my efforts it seems Dad and Jack are still right. I shouldn’t be allowed to have a turn at batting, I’m just to much of a risk!

On Sunday morning we packed up the car and decided to spend a few hours on a beach before driving home. We drove into the car park and searched for a space. There was one camper van that immediately caught our eye. On the roof lay an old torn up sofa and a large wooden ladder. We were all laughing about it when Nigel leaned out his window and shouted to the guy and girl standing in front of the van. ‘What you got a ladder on your roof for?!’ The couple stared blankly back as we all laughed louder. They must have been German judging by their accents but they replied that the ladder wasn’t theirs. That just made us laugh even more! We drove around trying to find a space but having no luck we found ourselves back where we’d started. Just as we were giving up the German couple came over and knocked on the window. ‘There’s a space down there which we’re moving to, so you can have ours if you like?’ Of course we agreed. Watching to see them back their sofa/ladder monstrosity out of its space we were aghast to see them get into a completely different mini van and move away. It hadn’t been their capper at all! They had only been standing by the ladder van! As we looked closer we saw the real owners of the old van still sitting in it. Needless to say we all fell about in hysterics while Nigel tried not to feel too silly!

Cathedral Cove is a magnificent sandy beach hidden away in the rocks. However to get it is an interesting walk! On the way down the sign said it would take forty five minutes to walk but Nige assured us it would only take twenty. He was right but it was twenty minutes of intense exercise! We didn’t just walk down a path to the beach. No. We were down steep steps, up steep steps, down hills, up hills, round bends, through bushes, across fields, past cows, past birds that sounded like mobile phones, in the baking sun, in the shade until finally the last decent of a million steps brought us to the cove. But it was totally worth it. After crossing a barrier and running through an arch in the rock that said beware of falling rocks we reached our destination. Stripping off Ollie, the kids, Nigel and I ran towards the water. Now, seeing as the sun was so hot I expected the water to be a decent temperature. This was not the case. It was absolutely bloody freezing! Even after five minutes in the water I was still cold, so much so that instead of acclimatizing to the water I just went numb! Even the guys couldn’t pretend they weren’t cold. Every time Ollie pushed Mac in, the poor boy would shoot back out shivering like he’d just fallen in ice! Perhaps refreshing isn’t quite the word to use but it was certainly a surprise! We have been promised the water will be warmer in the summer...I hope so!

Back on the sand the sun continued to beat down on us making it almost to hot to sun bathe. I made sure I had lots of sun cream on as I am determined not to burn out here. I am leaving my disastrous red days behind me in England! After a couple of hours it was time to head home. The walk back up to the top was far more grueling than on the way down and Ollie, Char and I were already dying by the time we’d made it up the first lot of steps! Usually walks back are supposed to feel quicker but I can’t say this was one of those. 

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We have only been here a week but we both already agree, New Zealand is a very beautiful country. Of course we have only seen a small part of it so far but that only makes me excited to experience more. The countryside, and there is a lot of it (!), is much like England. Rolling fields, hay bails, cattle and yes some sheep! Surprisingly not as many sheep as I had anticipated but apparently there is more on the south island! The woodland and forests are dense and thick with huge ferns and trees that I’ve never seen before. The sea is a wonderful clear blue that has many little islands dotted through it. The coast that I’ve visited so far is a little like Cornwall but a hundred times more beautiful (if that’s possible!), and even more green! It’s easy to feel immediately at home here. Ollie has already used every adjective going while describing how magnificent the views have been. You can’t help but mutter ‘wow’ every time you take another corner and an even more wonderful sight than the last comes into view! I was expecting beauty but nothing on this scale. 

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To be with family is the greatest treat we’ve had on our travels yet. We may be on the other side of the world (I keep having to remind myself that!) but it really doesn’t feel that way. In fact I couldn’t feel more at home. Being with Charlotte, Nigel, Mackenzie and Skye is just lovely. From the moment we all saw each other it has felt so natural and it’s already hard to believe Ollie and I only met Skye for the first time a week ago! Mackenzie and Skye are great kids and I am having so much fun with them. To be around children again is awesome, however my stamina on the trampoline is a little out of touch! It’s quite surreal to suddenly be ‘Auntie Amy’ and ‘Uncle Ollie’ but I love it. Char and Nige have been so welcoming and it’s awesome to see Ollie and Char together. This is the start of a fantastic new part of our trip and we couldn’t be more excited. There maybe some challenges but I’m definitely ready for them...I think!

‘Auntie Amy?’ Yes Skye. ‘Where do babies come from?’

26/11/11