Grateful for Sundays 14

The start back at work has been brutal.

At least I have been making the most of my Sundays...

Long Bay Regional Park

The beautiful sunshine has made it too hard to resist the outdoors. Along with two other friends, Jason and I have been slowly exploring some of the regional parks around Auckland each fortnight. Long Bay Regional Park has bookable camp sites, walking sites and a beautiful beach for a quick dip after your walk. Word of warning - nudists frequent certain areas of the park, so don't wander too far from the main track if you're not into that...

Anawhata

One of our other trips brought us to Anawhata, a quiet beach on the West Coast of Auckland. The beach can only be reached by foot (about a 20 minute walk) and, as such, is relatively quiet. We only saw 3 other people.

Pizza Toppings

My in-laws have recently bought a pizza oven so our visits have mostly involved pizza nights. This has been a great activity and a good way of feeding a large number of people. The endless topping combinations means that this will never get old!

Our garden

Lastly, our garden has flourished since Christmas. What was once a big pile of weeds behind the garage has now become a constant source of zucchini, tomatoes and beans. The chilies and the eggplant are still growing, and we are very excited.

Tomatoes

We are still finding our feet when it comes to gardening, but being able to harvest vegetables everyday has been super rewarding.

Figs

As a bonus, our fig tree has also started fruiting. This is a tree my Grandparents planted when we first moved into this house as a family and now, 18 years later, we are still enjoying their efforts.

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 13

Jason and I have been back from our China trip for about a month and haven't really had a chance to catch our breath until today. The thing about being on holiday is that life back home doesn't really stop so we've had a lot of work to catch up on and friends to catch up with.

So now that I've caught my breath, here are some things I'm grateful for this Sunday...

City to Sea Bridge, Wellington

We traveled down to Wellington on our first weekend back for a conference and took the opportunity to explore the town. The city always puts on good weather when we visit and I managed to take this picture of the City to Sea Bridge on our way to dinner.

Demented Architecture, City Gallery Wellington

We also partook in the Demented Architecture exhibit at the City Gallery Wellington. Jason and I aren't the most knowledgeable about "art stuff" and often walk away confused, but Lego is something we know and love. The exhibit let visitors build their own version of a city skyline, filled with funky towers and even scary monsters! We easily spent an hour here.

Summit, Mt Maunganui

We were in Tauranga last weekend to celebrate my mother's 50th birthday. This was where my family visited on our first ever road trip so it was nice to come back again so many years later as a family. This photo was taken at the top of Mt Maunganui after being so ill-dressed for the occasion (see: jeans and jandals). 

Al's Deli, Upper Queen Street, Auckland

One good thing about being back at work is all the lovely Friday lunch venues in town. We chose to visit Al's Deli this week to sample their delicious donuts. Do I even need to say how great the food was?

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful For Sundays 12

Early Cheer gets me excited because it signals the beginning of spring. These flowers have a beautiful perfume and brings a freshness to the house. I'm already starting to forget what winter feels like...

The arrival of spring also means lighter evenings and, therefore, more time to spend outside. Below is a picture of some family friends we took to the epic local playground.

Lastly, I have finally started getting my things together for a big trip to China! I am particularly excited about this trip because it will be the first time I've visited in the summer. 

What are you grateful for this month?

Note: Quite a few websites are blocked in China so there probably won't be any blog updates while I'm gone. Follow my instagram to see the amazing places we will visit. See you all mid-October!

Grateful for Sundays 11

Due to the plethora of stand out eateries near the Britomart, I am always trying to schedule any meetings in that vicinity during meal times. 

This week, I was able to enjoy a delicious porridge at The Store before my 8:30am meeting at Auckland Transport. With rhubarb, stewed apple, puffed wheat and a generous piece of honeycomb, this was the perfect way to start off my Friday.

After stalking their Facebook page for over a year, I finally plucked up the courage to go to No Lights No Lycra. NLNL is a great way to shake off any stresses and worries by dancing in the dark - there is no need to be good at dancing because no one can see you! I've been twice so far and find myself looking forward to practicing my new dance moves.

One of my dearest friends got married this month, to the man of her dreams. I was absolutely honoured to be a part of their special day as a bridesmaid. Everything about the day, from their vows to the place settings, was perfect!

Lastly, a picture I took from Five Knots, where we had dinner. Auckland is quite beautiful when you take a moment to look.

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 10

Taking little pauses throughout my weeks for my Grateful for Sunday posts has brought me great joy and peace. However, I realised that I've made a terrible mistake. 

In my haste to start a string of themed posts, I have forgotten what topic makes me the most excited to share with my readers -food. In order to make room for both, I have decided to make my Grateful for Sunday posts on the last Sunday of each month.

So, for the month of June, I am grateful for...

Sparrows on Powerlines

I made a conscious decision to get up early for a walk last weekend and happened to look up. This might sound weird but, because I am mostly driving or busing, I rarely look up and see cute sparrows sitting in a row.

Citrus Season

Right now my garden smells beautiful. Our lemon and orange trees are full of fruit which means our water is infused with deliciousness and our desserts are exceptionally zesty!

Quiet times in the CBD

I discovered this beautiful seated area during a site visit. I took a 5 minute mini break and enjoyed staying still while the city moved around me.

Sculpture Trail at Brick Bay Winery

The highlight of my month was the Sculpture Trail at Brick Bay Winery. We arrived at midday and spent an hour winding through beautiful scenery to look at 45 contemporary sculptures crafted by New Zealand artists. Above is one of my favourite sculptures, especially because of the way it reflects on the lake.

What are you grateful for this month?

Grateful for Sundays 09

This Sunday I am grateful for...

Grateful for.. Treating Yo' Self

Jason's birthday was last weekend which provided a great excuse to go somewhere extra special. For those who are unfamiliar with the concept of "Treat Yo' Self" please have a look at this short clip from Parks and Recreation. While our day wasn't nearly as extreme as Tom and Donna's, we did treat ourselves with 8 dishes at The Sugar Club (post coming soon!).

Grateful for... Community

Last Friday, my cycle way project team and I attended a dawn blessing to officially open the Hinaki Bridge in War Memorial Park. A large group of us gathered on one side of the park to cross over the bridge as the sun was rising while representatives of the local Iwis said prayers and blessed this new site. It was great to see such a big turn out from the community despite the cold weather!

Grateful for Sundays 08

This Sunday I am grateful for...

Grateful for... Teamwork

Last weekend, twelve dragon boating teams braved the wind and the rain to participate in the "Polar Bear" races. Dragon Boating is not usually a winter sport, but it was great to see so many dedicated people freezing their feet off for the love of the sport.

This photo was taken on a particularly good part of the day. It probably bucketed down right after this photo was taken.

Grateful for... Dusk

With the start of winter finally arriving, I'm grateful for the last glimpses of sunlight on the way home. I took this photo while my bus was driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It will be a long time until we can enjoy the sunshine outside of work hours again, but at least we can enjoy pretty sunsets earlier in the day!

What are you grateful for?

Grateful for Sundays 07

This Sunday I am grateful for...

Jason, Jess and James

James, Jason and I have been living in our current home for almost a year and we get along very well due to our similar personalities and temperaments. Jason's little sister, Jess, has recently moved in with us and fits perfectly into our unspoken routine. I often hear coworkers and friends complain about their flatmates and I have to say, I have been blessed on this front. I just sit quietly, listen and smile.

War Memorial Bridge

This bridge marks the end to a cycle route project I have been working on for almost two years. As well as being a bridge to shorten the distance between two parks, it also doubles as a spectacular piece of art. A very clever structural engineer from my office designed this, along with a lot of input from the local Iwi (Maori tribe). The red hoops and spirals are shaped to depict a traditional eel trap with metal eels being lured inside. It is certainly a lot nicer to look at than a normal raised bridge!

Whenever I am in the Mt Albert area, I cannot help but swing by La Voie Francaise for a little treat. This french bakery specializes in all things dainty and chic. The only place I have ever tasted better macarons is in Paris itself!

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 06

This Sunday, the things I am grateful for were unplanned.. 

The first came in the form of crunchy autumn leaves that had fallen onto the path I take to the bus stop. They looked so inviting that I couldn't resist stomping through them. I didn't look up to see if anyone was watching.

The second came in the form of pop up ping pong tables at Aotea Square. Obviously somebody planned this but, to me, it was magic. It was great to see that such a simple thing could encourage people to use public space.

If you are interested, Pop Ping Pong will be up in Aotea square from 10am to 6pm until 24th May. 

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 05

This Sunday I am grateful for...

Even though it happens at the end of every summer, I don't think I will ever get used to shorter, darker days. Seeing the moon in the mornings is pretty cool though. 

My work week started off with an early morning fire alarm. Once everyone figured out that it was not a drill, we gradually drifted off to the many coffee places in the surrounding area. Although I didn't get to have a head start on my work, I did get to catch up on everyone's weekends over a great chai latte!

The week ended with scones with cream and jam. Need I say more?

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 04

This Sunday I am grateful for having some time out...

A group of us had decided, months ago, that a weekend away at Great Barrier Island was an order. I jumped at the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

For the most part, we were the only group on the beach. 

I loved the feeling of having the whole island to ourselves.

There was no one around to kick over our sandcastles.

I felt like I could see forever.

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 03

This Sunday I am grateful for the ANZACs...

Between 2014 and 2018, New Zealand and Australia commemorate 100 years since our involvement with World War I. Jason's poppa is among the many who show up every year to remember those who have fought for their country.

Orewa ANZAC Service

Up until a couple of years ago, Anzac day didn't really mean much to me. Having no family members connected to the event, it was really just a long weekend for me.

White Crosses at Orewa RSA

Now it means attending the service along with Jason's grandparents and listening to some great stories afterwards.

What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Grateful for Sundays 02

This Sunday, I am grateful for...

Bicycle tours at Aotea Square

A lot of my recent roading projects have been to improve the Auckland CBD for cyclists. It is very satisfying to see large groups of cyclists getting together to explore the city they would otherwise miss if they were in their vehicles. 

Fluffy, Oscar and Toby

My mother tells me that the reason I never had a pet as a child is because they are dirty. When I moved out, Jason told me that pets need responsible owners. I'm not sure if that meant he approved of me as a responsible owner or if it was just an excuse to have a human only house -so I got two guinea pigs named Toby and Oscar.

We got them from my friend Asia who, at one point, had about 15 pigs and was desperately trying to give them away. They each have their own individual personalities and it's funny to watch their chubby bodies waddle around the place.

Here they are, having a play date with Fluffy.

My grandma turned 75 last yesterday. We celebrated with a dinner at my uncle's house. Tomorrow, she will turn 75.005479 and we will celebrate with a dinner out.

Grandma has 2 birthdays every year (one for the lunar calendar and one for the normal calendar). It's a long story, but I certainly don't complain because it means 2 nights of celebrations!

This cost me less than $6

Lastly, I am grateful for supermarket specials. It probably doesn't make me the most exciting person, but I am certainly grateful that I can buy this much healthy food for less than the price of a return bus trip into the CBD.

What are you grateful for this week?

A New Year and Some Goals

There are many ways to bring in the new year. In the past, we have done the house party, crazy music festival, night out on the town, quiet night in and even watching the lights in Paris. This year, we celebrated by going on a big camping trip to one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

New Chums Beach, Coromandel

Just down the road, across an estuary, over some rocks and through the bush was New Chums Beach. By just I mean approximately 30 minutes. With its clear blue waters and the spectacular scenery, it is no wonder that it is voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. 

Opera Point, Whangapoua

When the weather wasn't at its best, we went for a bush walk through Opera Point which ultimately led us back to more stunning beach views.

Opera Point, Whangapoua

There was also down time (a lot of it actually) where many a crossword was completed and, of course, discussion about everyone's resolutions for 2015 took place. There was the obligatory "I will quit smoking" and " I will be more fit" which no doubt pops up every year. 

Whangapoua Beach, Coromandel

Coming up with resolutions is hard and sticking to them is even harder, especially when they are vague. A good trick is to have specific goals in mind so you have a better idea of what success looks like. Instead of saying "I will go to the gym", how about "I will work out for 30 minutes, 3 times a week"? This provides a target and makes it easier to see whether your are meeting your goal.

Another is to break each goal into smaller, more manageable chunks so it is easy to track your progress -something I have been doing for my engineering projects to make them less daunting. 

In total, I have 5 major categories (Financial, Lifestyle, Fitness and Well-being, Projects and Career), each broken down into sub-tasks. With that in mind, I thought I would share some of mine with you:

1. The only debt I will have by the end of 2015 shall be the mortgage
2. I will aim to bring my own lunch to work at least four times a week
3. Instead of going to expensive restaurants, I will entertain at home more often
4. I will listen to more new music
5. I will aim to cycle a track at least once every two weeks
6. I will take more care into what I wear to work - that is, no jeans unless it is casual Friday or I am going to site for a whole day

Looking out from Opera Point

So that's a little insight into my goals for the new year. Hopefully points 2 and 3 mean that you will see many more recipes for 2015.

What are your goals for this year?