Surfing: we each have a boogie board or a Styrofoam board and we have one real surfboard which David uses. We always go to a black sand beach which is half an hour away on the west coast. It doesn't produce big waves which is ideal for us lesser surfies, but not enough power for David to stand. Still it is easy to reach, not crowded and we have fun. Generally stay in the water for about an hour. We stop by the Whites and pick up whoever wants to join us - sometimes the whole family comes along and after surfing we get up a game of beach cricket. After a hard day at the beach we stop in at Whites (they live in the town just five minutes from the beach) jump in their pool to get the salt removed, have coffee, sometimes a meal, play bridge or dominoes or hang out until we force ourselves to come back home to muggy Papakura. I always feel better when I am at the coast - my sinuses clear up. In previous years we would alternate between the surf beach and the swimming beach (east coast), but we all seem to enjoy the surfing so much that this year we only went swimming/boating five times.

Another positive side to being "retired" is that I now have time for a walk with Gail. We generally head out after supper for about half-an-hour and are now increasing the time and adding the odd hill into the course. Don't like to take the dogs with, as it is suppose to be a quiet relaxing time. And every dog (and there are so many that the council just passed a law making two the maximum per property) has to tell our two stay away from their yard, so it is terror stricken time to get past a couple places. Especially since our toy poodle thinks she is a Rottweiler or Rambo and tries to attack dogs 20 times her size. Cabbie on the other hand, is extremely friendly and wants to visit the dogs, so he whines in anticipation.

Ian White's 80 year old mother was here this summer from Scotland. She is a real firecracker and so full of energy. They came camping with us, but only stayed the day. Ian thought staying out in a tent would be too much for his mom. So he organized a weekend at an educational camp on the Awhitu peninsula. Most high schools own camps hidden away in regional parks. Our kids have been to three camps (form l/2, form 4 and form 6/7) in what is known as outdoor education. They spend a week in the bush. As an example, Renee this year abseiled, kayaked and one-man sail boated for the first time at the camp. There is also a five hour hike with an overnight tenting session. She went in March with beautiful warm weather. David went in winter and froze the entire week.

Anyway, Ian teaches at Waiuku College and was able to secure a weekend for us. We joined his family and another on a Friday afternoon. Beautiful setting on a hill overlooking Manukau Harbour - basically one hill away from where we go camping once in awhile. But pure luxury because there is a well appointed mess and kitchen, three bunk houses (sleeping 16 each) and an ablution block with hot showers! All this for $5/person/night. We hiked over the hills and down the cliff to the spectacular beaches and at low tide walked to an island where Su White and the girls tried fishing several hours while the little ones played about on the shore and we oldies just sat in the shade. Back for a nap, cricket, softball and a fun game called "murder played in the dark. All in all it was a great weekend, basically in our backyard. No need to travel hours to tourist places. Unfortunately, the Awhitu peninsula has just been "discovered", and is being subdivided and many well-to-dos will own a summer home there - even our surfing beach will get crowds.