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 !





Manning Manor reno's continue.

Who the hell thought that doing renovations in the absolute middle of winter was a good idea?
But as it has well and truly started and there is no stopping it now.
Just have to keep throwing money at it....buckets of it!

But it has completely transformed the look, and most importantly the feel of our country manor.

The title of our home has been "named" by a very special girl in our life, thank you!

Furniture removed & ready for start of demolition.

Pretty much the same shot as above, from the bedroom passage "wing"
Raked ceiling with new laminated timber beams and timber lined ceiling.

New 10 lite timber joinery doors, facing north to catch the warming winter sun.
Two highlight  louvre windows to create natural drawing draught during summer.

Looking through the aluminium glass sliding door - soon to be banished !

Now looking through the over sized cedar sliding timber door.

Thank goodness for a warm combustion fire as the walls truly are paper thin !
See next pic....

Nothing but blue paper between us and the critters.

New 10 lite doors and start of new weather boards. Colour yet to be chosen, but undercoat blue does look smashing !

Manning Manor progress.

Its cold, but progress continues. We have weatherboards !! Glass is in the new windows. Old front door gone. Stained glass windows in.



Mr. Fix-it

Site Dog.

Stained Glass windows.

Winter PJ's

Showing off his new PJ's, Shadow modelling this seasons new winter puppy range...

Note the frisbies and tennis ball detail, with the "Lets Go, lets Go !" in racy red.

Tundra wearing Samoyed White this winter.

Grandpa & Grandma's Favorite Little Germ Comes To Visit

We had a visit from a special little someone and her staff...

Here is Miss JKB in her new Gumboots from Grandma (which she never wanted to take off !) and her Banana muffin made by Grandma upon arrival. JKB is testing out Grandpa's new deck.

 JKB with her much loved and devoted staff.

JKB doing the inspections of the new extensions of Grandpa's.

Grandpa says that Son in Law, Pete, must earn his keep!

The Girls supervising the Job.

Grandpa hard at work making a new timber & stone home for Grandma.

 Princess JKB with her new polar bear sleep sack...

(nicknamed Shadow after her new best friend)

and JKB's Tinker Bell pillow.

JKB modelling this seasons Grandma Fashions, made especially for JKB.

Haute Couture only for this little lady !

Visiting the Beach - This is the most Northerly beach on our Island.

 Everyday is a sunny, blue sky day here..

Shadow & JKB are now new, best friends forever.

<3

A Morning on the East Wing deck

Tunda and myself just hanging out....



Goodbye to our Rikki

Rikki has left us to find a better, carefree place where he can be free,

play, eat and run forever more.

Rest in peace Rikki.

Run free...

31/08/2001 - 19/02/2012.

We love you & will miss you !

xxx