Happy Birthday

It was Tammy's first birthday last week and, like doting grandparents, we took loads of photos. Here's a selection.

 

We bought her a new toy!

 

 

What am I supposed to do with this?

 

 Ah! Put the paw in!

 

 This bit seems good to eat.

If it would just keep still!

 

 Now for a well-earned rest.

 

 

Now I'll just hang about in one of my favourite places

for the rest of my special day.

 

She is growing into a very beautiful and special cat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



How does your garden grow?

Allan and I decided to cultivate a beautiful garden together this year and we love it!  Here it is in it's infancy......just getting planted out.

 

 

 and a couple of weeks later.......this...

 

 

and now it's just a riot of colour!!

 

 

You can't keep a good stump down.

This photo was on my blog early 2011.
It's an ugly tree stump left from a beautiful willow tree,
which appeared to have no reason to be chopped down

 

Well, take a look at it now.

 

 

Yes....it's almost grown into a new tree!

How wonderful is that?

 

 

 

 

 



Catch up again!

Various photos since I last felt like posting anything here.

Tammy has finally out grown her fruit bowl. One last sleep and it was disposed of the following day!

 

She thinks it's fun to pretend to be a tiger in the jungle.

 

 

 

Look what we got from Sainsbury's!

 

 

 

Birds beware!!

These are three of the cats from next door on our wall waiting for a meal!

(Not very clear but they will not stay still for long)

They rarely catch anything, I hasten to add.

 

 

Tammy the Teenager

Tammy is now 10 months old and full of mischief.
As ever, I always miss the good shots with my camera, but here is an update of her progress.

The higher, the better.

 

She is not allowed out to climb trees so this is about as high as she can get!

 

 

A night on the tiles?

 

After all the activity....curtain-climbing and curtain-lurking, whizzing through the whole house like a whirlwind, and repeatedly getting banned from Allan's den for knocking everything off and going in spaces she shouldn't.... then it's time for sleep yet again!

 

Everywhere except her cosy bed

 

Yes, she still loves the fruit bowl although it's a real squeeze.

 

Surely you can work around me?

Every time I got this jigsaw out, there she was!

 

This is literally sleeping on air.

She loves this bubble wrap for play and sleep.

 

Finally, there's always the table to stretch out on.

Sometimes she stretches too far and tips off the edge!

 

 

 

 

 



A Fond Farewell

Final photos at the airport.

 

Baggage checked in, last coffee and muffins finished, last-minute shopping completed....now comes the hard bit, saying good-bye.

 

 So we each had a photo taken with a big handsome bloke from Lord of the Rings, then I wandered off into the sunset and Sue wandered off to the car.

 

I flew home with many happy thoughts of a very special fantastic fortnight absolutely packed with many wonderful moments.

Thanks to Sue and Greg!

 

 

Ferries across the water.

Auckland Harbour is a busy, bustling place. Small boats, water taxis, ferries, magnificent yachts, and cruise ships, all add to the atmosphere of the place. Sue and I took a couple of enjoyable ferry rides when poor Greg had returned to work.

 

Two cruise ships were berthed in the harbour as we took our ferry to Devonport. They are so huge and grand!

 

Our ferry was not quite so sumptuous, but we didn't mind at all!

We had a delightful day in Devonport....risotto for lunch at the Esplanade Hotel....a mooch around the shops....a walk along the waterfront.

Then back to sit in the garden with a good book,

A perfect day.

 

 

Another day--another ferry. This time early morning to Waiheke Island, where we had a delicious breakfast, then discovered this beautiful beach at Onetangi.

 

We had it almost to ourselves, and spent a couple of hours soaking up the sun, reading, paddling and shell-seeking.

 

 

On the return journey, I couldn't resist this photo of the Ferry Building (the small brick building in the centre) which was the venue for Sue and Greg's wedding. When it was built, it was the tallest building in Auckland!

 

 

 



A Day at the Zoo

Allan and I watch a programme on British television called 'The Zoo', about Auckland zoo, so it's good to catch up in real life!

 

I'm glad we were up on the bridge. These are not stone statues!

 

 

In 2003, Iwani, a siamang gibbon, was rejected by his mum.

We watched on t.v. in England for many months as the keeper, Christine, raised him herself and finally introduced him back into the family.

Lots of Aaaaah moments especially while he was tiny!

It was an unexpected joy to see and hear him in the flesh ten years later. 

 

The highlight of the day.....the feeding of the spider monkeys.

One big happy family!

 

This fella just couldn't resist posing!

 

Wharever you think about zoos, Auckland zoo does a lot for conservation,

And it's a great place to be on a warm Summer's day.

 

 

 

   

 



In and around Auckland.

Here are a few photos of people, places, and animals encountered during my enjoyable stay with my family.

 

Pointing skyward behind me is the new bridge, raised to let a tall-masted ship enter the harbour, which leads to a new development of the Harbourfront. Here we sampled the delights of the fish restaurant, attached to the fish market. You can't eat fish much fresher than this!

I had brill on the bone, a kind of flatfish, and delicious!!

 

Auckland Harbour Bridge in the distance.

 

Whatever is Susan sitting in?

 

One of these.

 

A different district in Auckland.

The James Weller art centre displays some stunning art, but we actually went for the food in the restaurant,

There were some unusual sculptures in the gardens.

 

I don't know what has caught the attention of this metal family.

It looks riveting!

 

Posing with a couple of birds....and a giant salt-pot?

 

Another day, another venue.

The Thai restaurant, Mission Bay.

The meal was wonderful......

.....and so was the company.

 Friends who also hail from Britain, but now live in New Zealand.

This was followed by a visit to 'Kiwiyo', a frozen yoghurt self-serve,

an experience I would recommend to everyone, especially on a sweltering hot day!