Jule's Hikoi: 2025

And it's 2025 already. Well halfway through 2025 to be honest. And here I am again with lots of stories and pics. Let's hope this time I can keep the stories rolling, keep motivated to add here as events happen. Here's a potted look at our Australian and New Zealand journey.

December was chilly and Christmassy, January was the big trip south and, along with February, a big catch up with friends and family. As well as laying my mums ashes to rest in a place special to her. Jules had his first trip down under and I really didn't know what he'd think of it all. Can say now he's a fan. A fan of the prawns, koura (lobster), fresh food, weather, scenery, and people.

Landing in pouring rain in Sydney was not the most auspicious start. Enjoying a wander in Kings Cross and surrounds searching for dinner found us in a hotel that used to be my local enjoying a feed of large prawns with cider served by a young bloke from over this way on his big OE in Australia. The next day we wandered around Woolloomooloo, through the botanic gardens into the city. Dodging showers and buying an umbrella. The naval base was of particular interest as Jules' dad visited there on his ship. He would have wandered the same streets and enjoyed the hospitality of sailor shore time.

On our return visit to Sydney on the homeward leg we visited the Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour and explored the submarine and naval ships there to be explored. I'd never been so it was about time really! It was a treat, a place we got kicked out of at closing time and left reluctantly. From Sydney we headed up to Newcastle for grandbaby time. Only one is still at that squidgy cuddles stage, the other two rather more grown up than I'd last seen them a year ago. We had a lovely time together swimming and exploring. Newcastle is a lovely spot, the ocean baths, seascapes and beaches were just lovely in the warm January weather. Apart from the massive storm that is. We got back to our Airbnb just before the heavens opened up and the lightening and thunder started.

Next stop was Brisbane and time for the three girls living there. So enjoyed time with them. The eldest expressed a wish for a specific Jellycat for Christmas. Because we were there just after Christmas my bag was full of goodies for the kids so I was happy to oblige. The Jellycat was part of a promotion. Fish'n'chips in Selfridges in London and patisserie goodies in Paris. Just to be clear, these were soft toys. Expensive soft toys, and I had to participate in the 'experience' to get said Jellycat and the goodies that came with it. Experience a lovely young man pretend cooking Lily fish and telling me her story. It was fun, Christmas fun in an amazingly Christmassy Selfridges.

What a treat it was giving this gift to Eve, she was delighted especially when Jules shared the video of my experience with her. The other girls liked their gifts too, carefully chosen. The biggest treat was taking the girls to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo for the day. A very hot day where we enjoyed wandering around the extensive, well kept grounds patting kangaroos, shivering at the size of the crocs and seeing a green grass snake on the side of the track. In the wild probably enjoying the captive animals' food. The girls are so grown up now, enjoying their schools, sports and friends.

Then it was off to New Zealand. Christchurch to see Tim, Sarah and Noah, and Jane. A road trip was in order so we headed up to Nelson via Kaikoura where Nin's Bins got our lunch time custom. A large koura with fresh fish'n'chips. Real ones this time. Sue and Neil are old friends who retired to Nelson so it was lovely to spend time with them. I love this part of New Zealand. Close to the sea, lovely growing climate and the best food and wine.

We drove down the centre and along the coast via Punakaiki where we wandered amongst the pancake rocks formed 30 million years ago. The limestone rocks are now eroded to look like stacks of pancakes and I was disappointed to see one of the most reliable blowholes had collapsed. This was a favorite stop for my kids on journeys north, as I remember it being one of mine when I was a kid. A wilder stop in those days with few barriers and more wave action to see.

We overnighted in Hokitika then out to my brothers place on our family land. A home off grid with solar power and a fire to heat the house and water. We really enjoyed our few days up in the bush with the sky so clear, star gazing with shooting stars and other unidentified celestial happenings. The family gathered to lay mum to rest with dad. Tim and Noah had made a lovely memorial stone to mark the spot, a perfect marker made from local river stone. Terri my niece brought some huge lobster tails to add to the food already planned so we enjoyed food, family, friends, stories and old photos. A lovely moment in time to remember.

Back to Christchurch then off on another flight to Sydney for further exploration before heading back home. Home to winter. It was lovely to sleep in my own bed, and luckily we had some nice days to catch up on washing and get settled. If one every really gets too settled when family is on the other side of the world.