Home Sweet Home...

Another finalist in the Top New Zealand Architectural Awards is this delightful little property just out of Waipu.
Every time I pass by, I have the fleeting urge to live there, to leave it exactly how it is but build another waterproof, warm dwelling inside the shell of this beautiful old dilapidated exterior.
There are so many of these gorgeous rustic reminders of our past that have withstood earthquakes, flooding, cyclones and too, many years of studied neglect...

Brightening The World...

It's so good to see.
Another beautiful Bedford Housetruck adding colour and personality to the landscape here at Uretiti...

Port Jackson Camping Hosts Dismissed...

Many thousands of campers who have visited the beautiful Port Jackson campground at Coromandel's Cape Colville will be upset to know that DoC have dismissed the very popular hosts Bill and Ann for a 'contractual' reason. Yeah right...
Over the last seven years they have hosted thousands of people from all over the world as well as Kiwi Campers who return annually.
They have been wonderful hosts, enhancing the experiences of all who visited while being marvellous tourism ambassadors for New Zealand.
It's a very bad and sad end to a wonderful era.
Thankyou Bill and Ann.
We will miss you...

Optional Extras...

Now here's a motorhomer that has all their options for transport covered.
A sea kayak for cruising and a smaller version, ideal for rivers or in the surf perhaps.
Or for a second person.
The owner has had designed and fitted, an ingenious lifting device, all electric, that, with the press of a button, brings both kayaks to the ground with ease.
And then on the front of this 7m bus, easily ramped up or down, there's a cute little motor scooter for getting around town or doing some touring while leaving the bus at the beach or wherever...

Feeding Body And Soul...

All things are possible.
Even a man doing two things at once.
There wasn't a fish feeding frenzy in the sparkling waters off Uretiti beach yesterday but Vitamin D was there in abundance...

Two Minutes Of Silence...

The World's Largest Family

Sixty seven year old Ziona lives with his family, all one hundred and eighty one of them, in a one hundred room house in the hills around Mizoram, North East India.
He has 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters in law and 33 grandchildren.
Zathiangi, his oldest wife is the organiser of the household.
A typical evening meal could see the family consume 30 chickens, 130lbs of potatoes and 220lbs of rice.
Imagine taking the family out to a restaurant.
Imagine the bill!
Ziona's younger wives sleep nearer to his bedroom, the older ones further away and they all take turns sleeping with him.
Each about nine times a year.
Sounds like fun...