To insanity and beyond ...: We don't need MAGIC to transform our world ...

Huge WICKED waves at Onemana Beach in the Coromandel last weekend!

“We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.” JK Rowling

.... and the waves are still trying to catch her!

Onemana Beach early on Sunday morning

Happiness eludes no-one ... it’s there for the taking .... every day ... every moment .... every minute. No-one but you is responsible for your happiness. I’m always re-iterating this to friends and family so why, oh why do I allow my sunshine to occasionally be over-shadowed by circumstances I HAVE control over ..... hmmmmm .... not easy to answer that one.

There were only early morning fishermen to share the beach with.

JK Rowling’s quote is a timely reminder that I have it within me to conquer and overcome any and all adversity, despite the terrific challenges life is throwing our way.

Wicked waves for the hound to surf.

The arrival of something in the post today made me see once again that there’s something extra-ordinary in even the simplest of things. The canvas print of Sebastian that I ordered for Carol L arrived today and it’s beautiful. It was taken the day before Sebastian died and the light in his eyes is how I will always remember him. I knew it would reduce Carol to tears .... and I wasn’t wrong .... but they’re good tears for a much-loved hound who will be forever remembered.

Watching Venus’s transit of the sun yesterday at the Auckland Observatory with Callum was special. It’s the last time in my lifetime, and probably Callum’s, that Venus will be in a position for us to see it like that. It’s next expected transit of the sun is in 2117 ... somehow I don’t think I’ll still be around then. Typical of Auckland weather, the skies clouded over and we weren’t able to see it whilst we were at the Observatory but we could see it on the live footage from Nasa. As luck would have it, the clouds cleared late in the afternoon when we got home and we caught a glimpse of it through our protective glasses as it finished it’s transit .... 6 hours and 40 minutes after it started.

My boys!

Oh yeah .... talk to the hand!

It’s a good job I have young adults in the house .... they are an endless source of enlightenment where new electronic devices are concerned. I just last week upgraded my phone and haven’t really had much time to discover it’s myriad uses .... I know, I know ... it’s a phone ... what more does it need to do than make calls.

One the edge of the wetlands and mudflats in Thames

This phone’s different though, as my darling daughter showed me. It has a personal assistant and knowledge navigator on it. Siri allows you to use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls and more. You just ask Siri to do things by talking the way you normally talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean and even talks back! It uses different applications to find the information you ask for ..... how cool is that!

Birds, birds, birds everywhere!

These electronic devices are getting smarter ... the colour laser printer I’ve had for a while has a “personality”, and not always a nice one, and now my phone has a personal assistant ... what next?

Another White faced Heron

Scenic coastal roads.

We spent some time in the Coromandel last weekend and the hound got to wallow in some hectic waves! Wallowing wasn’t quite what she was doing though, surfing would more describe it. She had it down pat ... she’d crash through the first wave, grab the ball and surf back with the next wave! She got caught in the rip a few times and was stuck in one place, paddling away, but not making any progress. Suddenly the next big wave would sweep her up and she’d surf back to the shore .... proud as punch .... ball securely grasped in her mouth!

.... and gorgeous views!

I love, love, LOVE the coastal roads there .... awesome scenery through the mountains AND on the coastline .... another little piece of heaven in my world.

I hate, hate, HATE the traffic on the way back though .... bumper to bumper till we hit the double lane section. Even the overtaking bays were bumper to bumper. Note to self: When week-ending in the Coromandel, drive home in the early hours of the next morning ... way safer and way less frustrating.