Last weeks trip to see family was a complete success. We ate tonnes of delicious food, enjoyed amazing weather, and got to see my Grandad while he’s still in relatively good health.

After going to see my tattoo sketch (which hadn’t been done) and on the way to drop a library book off I saw the reopened City Gallery covered in spots for Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition. We flew to Tauranga later in the day.

That night we were treated to dinner at the amazing Tay Street Cafe. After a quick walk on the beach across the road of course. The area’s called Bay of Plenty for a reason, the first metre or two of shallow water was covered in baby pipis (or tuatua, how do you tell the difference?).

I got my chef on while we were in Te Puke, helping to make these old school prawn cocktails for starters. I also helped make aioli, a couple of dinners and made a couple of cakes too.

How great would it be to not only have this view, but to have the view from your own little bar with both ping pong and pool tables!

You can get a much better lay of the land up on the platform in the tree.
It’s strange to see my hair like this, until a couple of weeks ago it was down to my waist and my fringe was so long I had to kept it swept to the side in order to see.

Found on my Mum’s dresser: a picture of me looking cute as in my snoopy outfit. I think I was about four. Twenty years later I have the same haircut again.

Eek Get this whitey out of the sun!

I tried on an awesome dress the day before I bought this skirt. It was on sale at Max and would have been perfect except my upper and lower halfs are different sizes, my boobs and shoulders couldn’t fill the dress properly. This skirt was a great alternative, almost the same material. I have a few skirts in this shape now, I really need to make a big petticoat for underneath.

My big, younger, league playing, brother is the master of getting the most out of a Chinese takeaway buffet. Just when I thought he’d filled the container so much he’d have trouble getting the lid on he sticks a couple of slabs of egg foo yung on top and closes the lid tightly! Side effects of this include a meal shaped like a brick, big enough to feed a family.

Everything is green in the BOP this time of year. It’s a nice drive back over the Kaimais.

Down the road from Te Puke at Maketu we enjoyed a lovely meal with stunning views. I ordered a huge pile of mussels which came with a huge bowl of chips and a salad. I couldn’t even get close to finishing everything.

Have you had any adventures lately?

I returned to work today after our weekend dash to Taupo which was full of cafe dining and sun. The trip was marred only by the fact I realised an hour and a half down the road the boy had not put my chargers, the laptop, or the toiletries bag in the car.

Before you get all “why didn’t you put it in yourself”, it’s because he was picking me up straight from work. The plan was to leave everything I wanted to take on the couch and he would put it all in the car when he came home to pick it up…but he didn’t. I made him buy me some tinted moisturiser, face wipes, deodorant, a new toothbrush and toothpaste and razors so I could cope.

While in Taupo I was given a manicure for a birthday present. It was my first ever manicure from a professional! Just a simple shape and polish but it was great. I chose the brightest pink nail polish in a shade by China Glaze called “Make An Entrance”. It’s super fast drying which is perfect for me.
I took some pictures but they all make the colour look red. The bottle gives you a pretty good idea of the true colour though :]

The rest of the time was spent shopping and eating. There are some fantastic cafes in Taupo, we went to Fine Fettle a couple of times and Replete and I’d recommend both to anyone in the area. Fine Fettle is especially good for anyone who doesn’t eat gluten.
We had a nice long soak in the Taupo DeBretts natural mineral water hot pools. The boy got to go sailing (I hate boats!) and then we drove home again.

And although Lotto jack potted again and I didn’t become a millionaire at least the weather was beautiful the whole time!