...And When We Don't Travel...

A friend prompted me recently for another post. "But we haven't been travelling for a few weeks now!" I was in panic. And then I realized that our everyday Kiwi life might be a bit different from what it looked liked back home.

For example, on Saturday mornings, we often go to the beach in Long Bay. The first stop, once we get to the beach, is at one of the two foot bridges from which E feeds ducks and seagulls.

















We like to get to Long Bay early (before 10am) and play with the dogs. For a few hours in the morning (especially on the weekends), the beach turns into a "doggie playground."













Being there always reminds me of Crissy Field in San Francisco and the many times we took Psyche there. Seeing the owners strolling and playing with their pets makes me miss Psyche very much. Watching E's enthusiasm when he interacts with dogs, how gentle and cautious he is in his approach and confident after the initial introductions makes me really sad that Psyche is no longer with us.

And although I swore a year ago that I would never take in another dog... my heart melts whenever I see those "young-boy-meets-a-canine" encounters. There seems to be so much more to those experiences than a simple excitement with a novel "toy." It is as if they completed each other. As if those early pre-verbal, crawling experiences when E sought out Psyche and made her his "safe base" were somehow deeply imprinted in his little mind and soul.







Our family has almost as much fun as the four-legged visitors to the beach.



















Sometimes dry, and sometimes wet, we make a stop on the way back home to grab a "fluffy," a cup of coffee and a great Breakfast Muffin!

Goat Island - February 2009

Two weeks ago, taking advantage of a great weather during the weekend, we ventured out of Auckland suburbia again. Being a bit tired of travelling long distances, we chose a place only 45 minutes away from home, the Goat Island (also known as the Cape-Rodney-to-Okakari-Point Marine Reserve or Leigh Marine Reserve). Since its official opening in 1977, the Reserve has been used extensively for scientific research, as a training ground for diving, and inspiration for many people who come to visit the place to enjoy the sea life and the beautiful beach.







I rented snorkelling gear and swam to the actual Goat Island. I saw some snapper fish and a few other kinds of fish but after snorkelling in Fiji, I was not impressed. Sadly, also, without my glasses and shoes (the rock that constitutes the island is very rough and it was difficult to walk around) I was unable to explore the island properly.

Meantime the boys enjoyed some snacks on the beach.





After a swim (Eric refused to get in the water complaining about its low temperature), I set off to explore the less busy parts of the beach.

























On my way back, I stopped to watch a few kids collecting all sorts of sea creatures from the rock pools.



Inspired by those youngsters, I took E on a rock-pool-fishing expedition. He loved watching me fish out crabs and snails and putting them in our bucket.



Thankfully, Eric showed up to help me out when we found a starfish (Yuck!).







It was an ejoyable morning and it was great to be able to drive back home and take a nap afterwards.