Whangarei Jan 2012

"What the time, Mr Wolf". Emily & Nathan use the sundial as an elevated safety spot, away from ranging pukeko.

Maunu Primary School.  So close, and with such excellent playgrounds.  Holiday time means free access to the big kids' climbing frame.

Nathan in touch with his feminine side - not!
You'll never see that look on the face of a ballerina.

A day at the beach. A perfect lagoon for small children and their surfboards.  Called "Emily and Nathan's Bay" by the locals - Whangaumu by the National Geographic people.

Nathan puts the finishing touch to a really spiky sandcastle.

Major decisions about what to have for afternoon tea. "That looks a bit healthy Dad. I think I'll stay with the chips."

On the ferry to Russell. The Sewell men do a bit of whale spotting.

Oh good, outside seats on the slow ferry. So much more time to spot fish and birds and boats and cloud animals.

There are just too many pebbles on this beach. Some need to go back into the water.

Ferry building Russell. Excellent toilets, especially with no laundry or dishes to be washed in the sink - as per the sign.

"I'll pose, and you take the photos, Poppa"

Kite "flying" at Maunu School.  I did get the kite to a reasonable height, with grandson attached, but then he said "Now do loop-de-loop, Grandmarg". Loop-de-loop!! I ask you!

It's a hot day, and all the water toys are out. Poppa is lounging, and doesn't want to be squirted with the water pistol.  Diversionary tactics are required.

The stand off.













Full battle. Aside: no grandson was damaged or dampened in the exercise.

One very wet grandmother. "Let's go and get Poppa"

At the Farm Park.  Emily bravely submits to a rat on her hat. Grandmarg sits closest to the escape hatch - sorry, doorway.

Nathan bravely submits to a rat on HIS hat.

"Of course I can feed the animals myself"


















"And if Emily can do it, so can I"

Save me from the llamas, Poppa.

Have you ever seen so many marshmallows on a fluffy?  And a very tired little boy didn't want an iceblock, didn't want a fluffy, he had spotted the little truck stuffed with lollies. Even the lollies were incidental. The truck was the thing. It's a Happy Van.

I could have sworn that triceratops was somewhere!
26 degrees, and the hoses are out.

A snack is prepared, after a hard few hours digging up the compacted gravel, in preparation for lawn and a vegetable garden.

A

and of course there was a competition - his and her camera (or hers and his)

B