Well What Do Ya Know...

 

 

Well things are evolving here.

 Some more of the renovations are completed, a year after they began.

The new combustion fire is in with timber wall, mantle and stone tile floor.

After many frustrating phone calls to tilers, pinning one down and then being stood up, Hubby has done the tiling himself. I must say its a superb job, better than any tiler.

 

The garden is showing winter flowers and the winter vegie patch is up and seedlings are in.

 

All in all, looking fabulous.

 

So cosy now, just in time for the winter.

 

Before...

 

 

 

This is Fern. She has decided to live with us on the Island.

She seems shy...at first.

 

 

The Bird of Paradise has flowered for the first time.

 

The bromiliads are in flower.

 

 



 

Vege patch full of winter seedlings.

 

 

 

Tundra turned 11 this month - Happy Birthday my girl !

 

 

 

 

Shadow enjoys teasing Tundra behind the (safe) glass.

 

Simple things amuse..

 

 



Updates on The Renovations.

Time for a catch up on the renovations progress. Here's a little more of whats been done !

Start of new cypress pine timber floors.

New cooker still in plastic next to the dinosaur cooker.

and here's what was in the box. Showing bamboo bench tops. Cupboard drawer fronts still to come.

Lounge room.

View out front entrance and french doors.

 

Now the polished cypress pine floors are completed, we are yet to have the sandstone feature wall to be completed.

Progress has slowed due to the record breaking hot summer (worst day at 43 degrees) so airconditioning to be installed tomorrow. We had taken the previous A/C out for reno's and were going to wait to install a new one, but no way are we going to wait any longer !

Watch this space!

Summer is...

I know it's been a while, but it has been a busy time with Christmas and holidays ! But we thought we'd catch up a bit here today. Here's some things that have taken up our time...

The Xmas chef ..quiet please, concentrating !

He means business.

At the new cooker, making the pud !

Can we have this as main, honey? Pavlova !

The boss says only after I eat my greens can we have the Pavlova...

Jeff reading his new book. Renovations yet to be completed, including the sandstone wall here.

Christmas day pressies unwrapped !

Christmas Day 2012.

And as for the rest of our holiday...

Shadow supervising the gardener.

"Haven't you finished yet?"

"Is this thing on Mum?"

Shadow.

A trip to Avalon NSW.

Avalon headland.

Rock pool Avalon.

Rock pool & headland.

Back home and the frangipani is blooming.

Home.

The valley view and the end of the holiday :(

Manor Movements.

 

Its progressing ! The lounge and kitchen are really starting to show what it will soon be.

Gone are all the retro materials and now larger, more contemporary styling.

 

From this...

 

 

...to this (with two sinks)...
*not yet removed centre old sink

 

 

...and almost there.



 

 

The lounge...or was that the shed??

 

well insulated for the mid north coast heat.
Celing has a lime wash finish.

 

Painting begins.

 

Exterior renovations. Carefully guarded by our dogs !

 

I told Shadow to get along with the painting, but he never listens when the TV is on !



So....what's in the box?

The biggest boxed parcel ever has arrived !

So, the question is, whats in it?

South Pacific Holiday

Hell of a way to spend my 55th birthday, but my girl spoils  me !!!

Well after some 10 days away, we are finally, and sadly... home.

We had the pure pleasure of visiting possibly one of the best kept secrets in the South Pacific.

A very small island called Raratonga, it is one of the islands that form the Cook Islands group.

Only natural that we would be attracted to another island !

 

Where do we start to get across to people how truly stunning this place is, the locals are just so friendly, the whole island takes about 35 minutes to circumnavigate. All the locals ride scooters as the speed limit is 40 or 50 kph.

 

The beaches are as good as the pics, the colours are exact, blue as blue, just brethtaking. The sunrise and sunset should be experienced by everyone!

If we could (read allowed) we would move there tomorrow.

 

We were super lucky (after extensive research) to stay at the Crown Beach Resort.

Let me tell you , there is nothing on the island that compares to this resort. And we ran into a couple that have been to the island 15, yes fifteen times. The rooms, the food... oh my, the staff just the tops in all aspects.

Enough of the gobbledy goop here are some pics :)

 

 

Rarotonga Airport.

Crown Beach Resort - Our Villa.

Crown Beach Resort - "Oceans " Restaurant.
This was the view for breakfast each morning.

The "foot" of the bed view onto our private courtyard.

The local weather forecaster - see the ROCK.

 

Taj's Weather Rock.

If rock is dry - Fine.

If rock is wet - raining.

If rock is swinging - Windy.

If rock is white - Snowing.

If Rock is spinning - Tornado.

Cant see rock - Fog.

Rock is gone - Hurricane.

 

 

Muri Beach.

The local beach Bums.
(camera sitting on a coconut).

The turquoise colours of the beach

Crown Beach Resort.

Dinner at Oceans restaurant.

Our new Kiwi friends from the resort, Peter & Cathryn.
 

Those chickens have a good life !