ST HELIER to MISSION BAY

This is probably one of my favourite walks which I've discovered this year. I drive to St Helier,which you can see is a little, palm tree lined, seaside town..





I park next to the tiny Library and walk to Mission Bay (a busy, cafe crowded, vibrant little town) which is a total contrast to St Helier..
Once there, I buy a coffee in one of the many cafes and then walk back to St Helier.







There is a boardwalk all the way along the coast and it goes much further than I've ever managed. My usual walk takes me past three coves and Kohimarama Beach (which means gathering-in-of-light) is the central one and a very quiet, sedate spot, which has the imposing yacht club.







Folk jog, cycle, walk their dogs (and cats) all the way along, and for the whole walk there is an open view of the ocean and all the activities that NZers get up to - the windsurfers, banana boats, skiers, jet boats, even The Spirit of NZ can be seen from the shore sometimes.







It's a beautiful walk and St Helier has been put on my list of quiet, scenic places I would like to live - but within a 15 minute walk of ice-cream parlours, cinema and shops, restaurants and cafes. So, civilization is just around the corner (literally)
It's interesting that St Heliers used to be a horse stud park and was called Glen Orchard - the idea was to provide a horse tram service, but that failed and it became a quiet residential area. No sign of any horses these days!
All along the path there is the ever-present view of Rangitoto, against green manicured lawns or soft white beaches.







Here are some of the photos along the way - an eclectic mixture of housing runs parallel to the coast road, some of them are like dolls' houses and others must cost millions. When I win the lottery I'll be spoiled for choice!











So...when you come to visit I'll take you on the walk!

BIRTHDAY AGAIN !

It's that time of year again! Another year older and wiser, isn't that what they say? Sadly, I was at work on my birthday this year - but my students knew (somehow) and the day was quite pleasant, with a few hugs thrown in!



The day began with a special breakfast (the girls were up at 6.30 to make it!) and present opening.. thank you everyone who remembered!



The weather was beautiful - it's the start of summer here - and the after school meeting was cancelled, so we hurried home for the birthday feast! Instead of going out for dinner the girls cooked.. creamy mushrooms in brandy, on toasted bagel with bacon and roasted vine-tomatoes.. chicken and chorizo spicy risotto .. one of my favourites.. and the piece de resistance.. homemade marbled chocolate cheesecake with coffee cream.. then a stagger to the sofa, to watch a DVD Ju sent!



Beautiful bouquets of flowers, sweet peas,roses and lilies, chocolate from England (Yay!) and so many other lovely things - I feel thoroughly spoiled! Another year to wait now..THANK YOU girls! XXXXXXXXXXX

HALLOWEEN !

This Halloween Sophia was back late, from completing her Duke of Edinburgh tramp in the Hunua Ranges.
So, the event was hosted by a friend who hadn't gone tramping and we made the Spider cake!
Sophia went as a pumpkin (no photos allowed) and managed to score lots of goodies from her Trick'n Treat walk..

GREG'S BIRTHDAY !

Well, for two weeks Greg is as old as me! What it is to be a toy boy! He asked to girls to make him a Black Forest Gateau and here is the result - it tasted divine!



Dinner was at a Thai restaurant and he got a Track Day, a cooler full of beer, a Birthday poem and a handmade photo album.. as well as lots of other little goodies!



So ... my birthday soon! I've asked for a chocolate cheesecake..we'll see!

MY TURN !

Since the girls had such fun on their cupcake course I decided to go to a 'grown-up' session! It even comes with a certificate if you pass. First up was learning how to make sugar roses and other flowers - this was my completed effort, in a heart shape.. then we had a different challenge..



Then a fondant creation - since it's spring here the girls voted for a veggie garden and this is what I ended up with - it won Prize 1 !!! (The roses have changed into purple cabbages!)



All in all a fun session and all my friends will be getting rose cakes for their birthdays this year. Add this to our mega muffin and cupcake repertoire and we're set! Hmmmm what shall I do next?



Happy baking and decorating everyone...

FAIRY CAKES !

The girls love baking and cooking, cupcakes are the latest craze over here, so we booked onto a 'decorating' course for a day in Parnell. It's based at 'Millie's Cookshop' and was quite a surprise..



The shop has a section to it which is a cooking school, complete with demonstration kitchen, tables and all the equipment an aspiring chef could ever dream of! There were 'cups' to make cupcakes in (when we all know the name originally came from the amounts in the cake 'a cup of flour, a cup of sugar' not what it was baked in!)



We had to take our own aprons, but everything else was provided and the fun began! It was very hands on, the girls were fully occupied and I was distracted by all the goodies in the shop section and spent a small fortune...





They made Cookie Monster cupcakes, flowers, clowns, meadows, bee hives and more, and of course, my girls were the best..



It was difficult to resist until we got home and had a cupcake fest - of course, the next day, when I arrived home they'd made a whole batch more - so we're cupcaked out!





here's an 1833 recipe for you to try..
"Cup cake. Cup cake is about as good as pound cake, and is cheaper. One cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, and four eggs, well beat together, and baked in pans or cups. Bake twenty minutes, and no more."---American Frugal Housewife, Mrs. Child

AUCKLAND CATHEDRAL !

After years of walking or driving past the Cathedral in Parnell, we decided to venture in and have an 'explore Parnell Day'.



We began, where you always begin with children, in a playground!



Parnell is a wealthy residential suburb of Auckland, with some interesting historic buidings and a collection of churches.



It was in this cathedral that the funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary was held last year...





The Nave of the Cathedral was designed by N.Z. Architect Professor Richard Toy. It was begun in 1991 and was completed in 1995, and is stunningly beautiful.





The glass doors the length of two sides light this vast space, and accentuate the roof, which looks like it's hanging, unsupported.



The Cathedral is most famous for its modern stained glass windows, which you can see here!





There is a unique window featuring a Polynesian Christ with vividly coloured Pacific motifs.



The set of eighteen windows along the sides of the Nave, and tell the Christian story using a combination of traditional and Polynesian designs. It's an eclectic mix of beliefs and designs that takes some getting used to!




The overall design of the cathedral has been described as the world's only example of the "Pacific Gothic" style. It's always 'one of a kind and nowhere else in the world' over here!



And we ended our day with a three course lunch at an Italian restaurant, with a different view of Sky Tower. Parnell still has lots for us to explore on another day!