What a year so far

This is our first posting for the year.  In fact I see that we have not managed to make any report since the one about our Brisbane visit.
A lot has happened since then .
Our new grand-daughter Ella arrived and although we have not met yet we look forward to that time. In the meantime her Mum keeps us up to date with her  progress.

We did not go away at Christmas time but it was quite pleasant staying in the marina and we met a lot of people stopping over here for a night or two.  Our marina is a popular half way place for those on their way to the lovely Bay of Islands and Whangaroa Harbour to spend their holiday. 

It was actually quite busy over that time and we and other people living in the marina were useful for finding berths for those that arrived after the the office was closed.                                                                       



However, we have not been idle. We have been out on fishing trips mainly on Ken's boat which has the capacity to take up to 6 people away comfortably for a few days. The fishing has not been great but we always get enough and a bit to give away. Some things that come on the bait have us in despair though.

We cut this shark free  -  don't want him on board !


 

At one time the water seemed to be infested with these things  -  Moray Eels.  They twist up like this and are really hard to get off the hook  -  especially when you don't want to get near their teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Familly Tree research has been put on the backburner but I hope to get back to it soon.  I am  trying to trace what happened to the 16 children of pioneer Great-grandfather Clements and so far it has been rewarding.  I have met a number of very nice and very helpful second cousins along the way.

         John had to stand down as Chairman of the Tutukaka Marina Trust because he had completed his term but was promptly voted back in so he continues as before. The Trust has been busy arranging the upgrade for the marina.   

 

        The summer has not been entirely idyllic.  There has been problem flooding and Tutukaka was cut off at one stage because of cliff faces giving way and covering the road with soil and trees.  There was a leap tide at that time as well.  Here is a pic showing the muddy water from the wash off the land and the really high tide that made us actually have to walk downhill off the jetty to go ashore

 

        A number of funerals all seemed to happen withing a very short space of each other. A member of our pier ( E Street) died from cancer.  Another was for a local woman who drove into the creek on the way to Whangarei - a result of the flooding and dangerous road.

        We have our sail boat on the  market. We are now satisfied that the sailing box has been properly "ticked"  so when it sells we would like to buy a roomier launch with better creature comfort seeing we seem to have become permanent "live-aboards."