Henry is home!

Henry has just written his first post about his trip to New Zealand.  You can find it by clicking here:  My Tour of the Majestic Princess

A Wet Week in Devon.

Are you sure you can see over the steering wheel Madeline?

Day One - a lovely sunny afternoon...

Madeline enjoys stacking rocks at Westward Ho!

Appledore on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

Anchors Aweigh.

Day Two:  Grey, Wet and Foggy...

although it cleared up for about an hour...

Hippo came as well.

Fortunately Madeline was prepared for the rain!

Day Three:  Wet again

Indoor adventures at Watermouth Castle.

This chap didn't mind being wet!

Henry blogged about his day at Watermouth Castle here.

Day Four:  Wet!

Day Five - Overcast with some sun - seems Madeline didn't venture out on this day instead it was a day for the dogs to enjoy some time on the beach at Woolacombe.

Day Six - Sunny!    Yippee!  Of course it was typical for our last day to be sunny!  A visit to Lynton & Lynmouth.

Madeline wasn't sure she was going to trust the weather though and as it was a little chilly she kept her coat on for the first part of the day.

Wonderful views from Lyton down to Lynmouth

Finally it was warm by late afternoon.

Madeline enjoyed a walk to Watersmeet.

It Rained AND It Rained!

It rained...

and it rained...

and it rained...

The worst weather we have had since we have been going back regularly to New Zealand.

The most rain for a very long time fell in a very short period of time...

Peggy Sue and Henry investigated how much water was left after it had eased up and they were allowed outside for a while.

Peggy Sue was rather shocked...

I thought you said it was always sunny?  She said to Henry.

Henry just shrugged... Well it usually is when we come over here to visit.  

Well it has certainly rained the last couple of days!  She retorts.

Thee are puddles everywhere!

Shall we go and see how the rest of the garden has fared?  

Off they go to investigate.

We had several extreme downpours while in New Zealand this year.  Roads were flooded - on the Sunday I just got home in time before the road flooded over.  But we fared luckier than some who lost stock, businesses and had their houses flooded.

New Zealand: Peach Cove, Bream Head - Te Whara Scenic Reserve.

Henry's second post of our hike to Peach Cove can be found here:  Peach Cove, Bream Head - Te Whara Scenic Reserve.

Madeline also enjoyed the hike and admired the gorgeous views.

Sat on a rock on the beach

Went for a swim!

She'd forgotten to take her swimming costume on the walk, so did what any other young child would do, improvised!

A fabulous way to spend the day.

New Zealand: Mt Manaia Walkway, Whangarei.

Henry's Holiday in New Zealand first blog post can be found here:  Mt Manaia Walk

We managed to have a few days in Whangarei with my good friend and she took us on two hikes. Reminder to self:  Make sure I am a lot fitter next year as I couldn't walk properly for rather a few days afterwards!

Little Madeline joined us on our walks.  We did two the first of which was Mt Manaia. 

We had perfect weather - which was fortunate as the previous week we had had an incredible amount of rain with severe flooding to parts of the country.  Perhaps that is why Madeline thought Whangarei was so lovely!  She assumed it just had perfect weather all the time, and indeed they have had  pretty dry and hot summer up until that time.

She took plenty of rest stops along the way.

The first glimpse of the fabulous views.

On top of the world, or at least that is what it felt like to Madeline.

Hitty Madge also enjoyed the scenery. 

She is wearing what she has declared her 'most favourite cardigan ever' which was a very special gift from Angelo's Papa.  

One of Hitty Madge's favourite poses...sitting admiring the view.

Makes one feel so little compared to the vast views when up so high.

We've Packed!

We've packed!

What do you mean, we have packed too much?

Do you think we have packed too much Madeline?

But we NEED everything we have packed!

Think again!  I can't take THREE cases inside mine.