Silly Me...

This Lamborghini was parked
next to me yesterday.
Silly me, I nearly got into it by mistake.
Easy to do really because it and The Flying Tortoise are the same colour...

Meet Lou Ratu...

She's a security guard at Auckland's Orakei Marina and an extraordinary person. If she was standing for Mayor of the city she'd probably win.
At Westhaven Marina for over ten years, Lou almost single handed, brought the theft from boats and cars to a virtual stop. Her memory is amazing. She knew the name and car rego number of nearly every one of the 1400 boat owners.
Her claim to fame started on day one of her employ when she fell off her bicycle a number of times and started a process of breaking her front teeth. Armed with a helmet, knee pads on her knees and knee pads on her elbows, she became an amazing and much loved personality. Auckland Rotary Club gave her an 'Outstanding Person Award' and then she left and came to Orakei.
Boat owners followed her to her new marina. Last year was her fiftieth and parties were put on all over for this wonderful lady with hundreds of people celebrating her birthday.
She still falls off her bike and has fallen out of the dinghy but hasn't as yet driven her golf cart into the water. Crime is such that boat owners can sleep soundly at night knowing Lou has it all under control.
Seeing she was missing her top front teeth encouraged a very generous local dental surgeon and yachtie to give her a brand spanking new set worth many thousands of dollars for free.
It's fantastic jokes Lou, but if I leave, he wants them back...

Hello. I'm Natalie...

And this is Lily. She's five and would you like to buy some fresh farm eggs or some lovely Manuka honey?
Well how could you not.
You couldn't. Neither could I.
A done deal and the honey is just magic...

Judith And Her Cute 4x4...

My friend Judith from Waiheke Island turned up at Kaiaua yesterday in her grunty, go anywhere and very cute 4x4. She's been traveling the country for about three years, often with her fourteen year old son Gus.
Together, they're either up the mountains skiing or having wonderful outback experiences.
She's not fulltime on the road but loves the lifestyle.
One day, she says, one day...

Jucy Rentals Leave A Bad Taste...

This French tourist, one of three in this little Jucy rental van urinates for the world to see and doesn't give a damn.
Sure, peeing in public is not a hanging offence but this 'el cheapo' Jucy van doesn't have a toilet so it begs the question, where do these people shit?
When I spoke to him, I got the 'Sorry I no speak English' response but he made it clear that if it was good enough for the cows in the paddock over the way to shit where they liked, it was ok for him too.
I made it very clear using language he and his friends were bound to understand to go away, go home and don't come back.
I then contacted Jucy Rentals who have recently won an award for innovation in the tourist industry!
I did more than suggest they innovate a portable toilet in all of their hire vehicles.
Being part of a Freedom Camping Forum isn't good enough. Paying lip service isn't good enough. Put your money where your mouth is Jucy!
Freedom Camping, my lifestyle, the health, well being and beauty of New Zealand is at risk by these hire companies who pretend to care about the environment but care more about the dollar...

On The Shore At Kaiaua...

One of my favourite places as you already know.
Kaiaua is on the Firth of Thames and I'm looking East over at the Coromandel Peninsula.
It's another beautifully fine day. And yes, I've just laid the flounder net and the tide is on it's way in. Listen, you can hear it shishing it's way ashore.
So all we have to do now is wait.
That shouldn't be too hard...

Just Hanging Out...

Just hanging out at one
of my favourite spots for a few days.
The sun is shining and a flounder was scheduled to swim into my net around dinner time.
If I'd bothered to put it out...