Fun on the Beach

We enjoyed driving on Muriway Beach and exploring a bit.

In NZ you can still drive on the beaches, not like SA where it is not allowed.

My dad took this photo.  Jason peeping out.

Graham enjoying his car.

Dyl, Jas and Ethie in the back looking a bit tired and very hungry.

Time for a picnic braai.

Lekker by die see, met 'n tjoppie in die hand. 

Dylan enjoying his food.

We had a great day out in the fresh air, always makes me happy to see my family having fun.

Thank you Nigella!!

Thanks to Nigella, one of my fav foodies, I baked some banana bread this afternoon.  And it took a few minutes to get everything mixed up... literally a busy womans banana cake just like the recipe claims.

Getting it all mixed up.

My fav bit mashing up the very ripe bananas.

Getting the loaf tins ready, also lined.

Ready to go into the oven.

The finished result... perfect and the house smells like heaven!!!!!

Perfect with a hot cuppa on a rainy afernoon.

Our Cat

Brule is just the sweetest cat you'll ever find...

anything for a cuddle and a nap...

and then he's off again... time to play...

He just makes our home feel more like home.  

Especially when he comes to greet us all purring and happy!!!!

Dinner with friends...

My very special friend Adele and her partner Jan came to visit us a few weeks ago.  It was a very special time to catch up where we left off about 5 years ago.  On their last night, they took us out to dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse, Daikoku.  It was amazing, the food was great and we had such a good time.  Miss her now...

On our way to meet them we saw this gorgeous rainbow... 



Thought of Cands when we saw this, Graham reminded me to take a photo...

thanks babes...

Just because you always knows just what I need... 

I love you heaps X

Okoromai Bay

We decided on Saturday morning to go and make some french toast at the beach.

It was this real lazy day with the warm sun baking on us.

Purple bath water...

Bought Ethan this amazing bath salt from the pharmacy today...

although the salt was blue the water turned out this beautiful purple.

He didn't want to get out!!

My birthday picnic

I decided to have a family picnic for my birthday at Shakespeare Park near our home.  This park is about 4kms from our house and right next to the beach.  It was a bit windy but everyone had a lot of fun.  Mom, Dad, Granny & Sam was visiting from Hamilton.  Aunty Cynthia was in NZ visiting Granny.  Uncle Terry, Aunty Heidi & boys just arrived a few weeks ago from South Africa.  And my mom and dad spent the day with us too.  So this was a lovely family get together just like the old days...

What a picnic feast:  cold meats, cheese and the rest!!!!

A variety of breads: pumpkin & fennel, rye, cheese & herb, baguettes & farmstyle.

Yummo!!!!

Digging in Allison & Smal style!!

Graham and my dad joking around...

Granny, Sam & Aunty Cynthia.

The crowd... the beach just behind the little dune...

The spectaters...

Ethan ready and waiting.

And game on!!!

Yip, this whole park just to ourselves and look at all the sheep on the hill at the back!!!

This was such a lovely birthday and I felt truly blessed spending it with all our family.

Looking forward to lots more times like this...

My new wheels!!!!!!!!!

I go my new car, Toyota Yaris/Vitz this week!!!

It's so AWESOME!!!!



Just love the way this car is purely designed for woman...

Everything is just perfect and I love, love, love it!!!

Photo's are curtesy of Jason, our inhouse photographer. 

Thanks Jas, mom loves the photo's!!!

and you ....
And my car...

Up for scrabble anyone...

We found these amazing magnets.  Just can't decide if I want it on my fridge or somewhere on a wall.

They are just so cool!!!  Want to get some more soon...

Lots of love and life happening around here...

whoopee...

I've been having one of the best days ever...  got amazing news this morning and had a generally good day at work.

Just feeling good and sooooo excited.  Last week Graham surprised me with my own kitten.  He took me out to lunch and let me choose any cat I want. 

We found this adorable ginger kitten.  His name is Brule (like creme brule, the pudding), he is four months old and the cutest little thing.  He's settled right in with our family and it feels like we've had him forever!!!  I've been waiting for so long to get a cat, somehow it just makes our home feel complete.  I will put some photies of him on soon!!!

I have some more news to share... but that will have to wait until tomorrow!!!!

Just need to finish cleaning my house now and get into a warm bath...

Tish & Yan

My beautiful sis and husband came for a three and a half week visit!!!

It was so absolutely amazing, just so hard to believe they are gone.  They are now living in France and it's terribly to think they are so far away.  I am missing them heaps and heaps.

We have a goal to now save to go and visit them!!!!!

Lots of photo's to follow of our wonderful holiday with them.



Something red for my kitchen..

Well, I love red and that's why I decided to add some splashes of it to my kitchen...

 and with me loving anything retro and old fashioned, and that's the theme I want to carry

through. 

With having a totally white kitchen it gave me the perfect canvas to add a lot of red!!!

This was a pressie from my mom & dad.

My mom and sis are some of the few people that love coffee as much as I do!!!  

But I must be honest Tish just adores it!!!

And the perfect spot for it...

We just fell in love with these retro bar stools.  One for the boys each!!!

This makes weekday breakfasts just so much easier and more sociable...

now I have extra time to chat to my boys while we get ready in the morning!!!

I just L O V E my kitchen.