omaha

I spent last weekend beside the sea up at Omaha staying with friends. Not the best weekend weather-wise but great in every other way. We managed a couple of walks along the beach in between the showers. That top photo looking over the dunes at that line of Norfolk pines is one of my favourite views of Omaha.

Nothing completed this week but I can report that the quilt is quilted and that the pattern for this striped sweater - one of my favourite baby knits - is now available here for free.

And you might like this short (2 minute) video starring the tiny and amazing insect, the springtail.

I hope your week is going well.

golden bay

I'm just back from holiday - two wonderful weeks at the top of the South Island - swimming, kayaking, walking, reading, eating fresh local produce - sharing with friends. 

If you're ever visiting Golden Bay/Tasman Bay, I'd recommend

• Abel Tasman National Park especially Separation Point and Cleopatra's Pool. We did three separate day trips using water taxi/car/bus combinations.
• Farewell Spit - nothing but birds, seals, birds, dunes, birds, a lighthouse. And some trees.
• Wharariki Beach - stunningly beautiful and more seals 
• Breaker Bay
• Neudorf vineyard
• Te Waikoropupū Springs
• Toto's Café for pizza 
• The Fat Tui for the best burgers

Reading: Stuart: a life backwards by Alexander Masters. The story of Stuart Shorter and how he came to be homeless. Engrossing, sad, tragic.

In gratitude by (one of my favourite authors) Jenny Diski who died in April last year. She writes about being "rescued" from her complicated childhood by Doris Lessing and shares her thoughts about life and death and living with cancer.

waihi

Some photos from last weeks holiday at Waihi Beach. It's rejuvenating to get out of the city occasionally. We had such a nice time - hubby and me - that we're thinking of making the pre-Christmas holiday a regular thing.

If you're visiting Waihi over the summer, I'd recommend

• the walk over the hill to Orokawa Bay

• Flat White Cafe - good food, good coffee and right on the beach

• a visit to Bowentown for views of Matakana Island and a picnic at Cave Bay

• a soak in the hot pools at Athenree especially if it's raining

• a cycle on (all or part of) the Hauraki rail trail

• lunch at The Bistro at Falls Retreat, Karangahake

Reading: Mansfield and me by Sarah Laing - a graphic memoir described as "a very New Zealand coming-of-age story". The author parallels events in her life with those of Katherine Mansfield.

north

I've had a few days away "up north". We intended to camp - which we did for the first night - but ended up staying at friends' beach houses as the weather forecast was rain every day. As it turned out the weather wasn't so bad - cloudy, windy, chilly but with only a few showers. So we still got to do lots of walking. And we got to catch up with friends. Always good.

• Mangawhai Heads. One of my favourite beaches. If I could buy my own beach house it would be here.
• Point Wells. I love this mishmash of letterboxes. Don't know how number nine got to be there though.
• Tawharanui. Lots of pukeko chicks around. And some great walking trails.
• Walking back to Omaha after visiting the Matakana farmers' market. 

  
Reading: The book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton. This is so good. Please let it end well.

birds

Welcome to hello tangelo! Thanks for finding me here. This blog is a continuation of my previous blog, never odd, and it's about living in New Zealand - going places, making things, a little bit of gardening, reading, food.

These photos are from a recent overnight stay at Martins Bay - a pretty little bay on the Mahurangi Peninsula (about an hour's drive from Auckland) and a nice place for a quiet holiday. Or a day trip. Or picnic. And a popular spot for birds. We saw plenty of fat tui on our walks and these birds - red-billed gull, New Zealand dotterel and Oystercatchers - down on the beach. If you're interested in NZ wildlife you might like to vote for Bird of the Year. But hurry - voting closes this Sunday, October 25th.

Watching: Everest
Reading:  Tripwire by Lee Child - Entertaining page-turner for those times when you want to read without thinking too much. Contains a few (not overly described) nasty bits that you can skip over.
The weight of silence by Catherine Therese - A funny, sad, honest memoir of growing up in Australia in the 60s and 70s.
Fine little day: ideas, collections and interiors by Elisabeth Dunker - the subtitle says it all. Loads of photos and inspiration.
Viewing: HaaPoom by Seung Yul Oh at Te Uru until November 8 - Includes this hilarious video. Turn the volume way down before watching.