Happy Easter

YUM!!!!!

Photo source: KB

Merry Christmas

Photo source: Pixabay

Early to bed
Anticipate the dawn
No thoughts of our Saviour
Or the day he was born

Tossing and turning
No sleep to be had
Excitement is growing
Driving me mad

Peer through the curtains
Searching the sky
Hoping perchance
To see him fly by

Squeals of delight
He surely has been
Little sis impatient
To share what she's seen

Skip through the kitchen
Crumbs left on his plate
Gifts galore surprise me
Santa was definitely worth the wait

I'm taking a blogging break while I celebrate the holidays. Have a wonderful time, stay safe and I will see you again in the New Year.

Love KB
x

Shared with Tuesday Platform and Poetry Pantry

Acrostic Poetry - Tradition

Going to the beach for the Christmas holidays is a popular tradition in New Zealand.

Photo source: Pixabay

Toes in the sand

Restless minds begin to calm

Another lazy day

Diving into the ocean

Imagination abounds

Toasted marshmallows

Intoxicating moonlight

Open fire to dance around

Nourishment for the soul

Shared with Poetry Pantry

Have a fantastic weekend my friends

Love KB

x

Holiday time

Looking forward to spending some time chillin' out at home with Coco and Whitesnake.

Happy days.

Love KB
xxx

Holiday Time

Whitesnake and I are enjoying ten days holiday together. Yesterday, Whitesnake went to visit his friend at the Northcote Tavern and today we've been to our favourite Japanese restaurant for lunch. We decided to spend our holiday at home so we can chill out. I'll let you know what else we get up to.

See you tomorrow for Friday Feel Good.

Love KB
xxx

Keeping Up With KB

Hi all,

I'm feeling soooooooooooo good today. I've made a great start on step 2 of my 30 days to a happier, healthier me challenge. I've had my two alcohol free days for the week (which I started on Thursday as I said I would). It was a lot easier than I thought. The first day, I kept telling myself during the day that maybe I should start after the holidays but once I'd decided to go ahead, I stuck to it. Yay, go me. The next day was easy and  I barely thought about it. It made me realise how much I have relied on alcohol in the past. Some days, the thought of having a glass of wine after work was the only thing that got me through the day. I know that sounds terrible but I need to be honest with myself about these things and as you know, I tell you lot everything. I'm not sure if that's a good thing at times but it's just me being me. Anyway, I feel really good about achieving part of my goal and I'm looking forward to continuing on with my 2 alcohol free days a week and reducing my alcohol intake overall. My next goal is exercise and I'm going to start working on that after our little holiday.

Speaking of holidays, Whitesnake and I are looking forward to some well deserved time off, starting tomorrow. Woohoo! We're not going away anywhere but we have made plans to catch up with friends for Whitesnake's birthday (it's on Wednesday - don't tell him I told you), we really want to watch the new Harry Potter movie and the rest of the time we're going to relax and enjoy the nice weather.  Can't wait!

I've posted a recipe on our joint blog - Simply Delish Cheesy Twist Muffins. The recipe is soooo easy and delish. Go have a look and leave a recipe of your own if you wish. We're hoping to cook up a few recipes while on hols, that our friends have shared with us.

On a sad note,  29 miners are trapped underground on the West Coast of New Zealand. My thoughts are with the miners and their families. I hope you will join me in wishing them a speedy rescue and recovery.

Love KB
xxx

P.S. I've been a bit slack with my visits to all my wonderful readers but I'm going to put some time aside to visit y'all during out little break. Thank you so much for all of you who read, comment and click on my goggle ads. At this rate, I should be able to afford to buy a postage stamp with my earnings in no time, LOL!  It's very much appreciated and you're all very important to me. 

           

COCO'S HOLIDAY PICS

I recently shared a wonderful holiday with Whitesnake and Coco. Here's Coco's version of events.

OH NO. WHEN MUM SEES THIS PIC, SHE'LL REALISE I'VE BEEN BURYING BONES IN THE GARDEN. STUPID DIRT.




I LOVE ROAD TRIPS. WOOHOO!




WHY IS MUM CHECKING OUT THAT KIWI'S BUTT?



BETTER TIDY MY NAILS BEFORE THE GUESTS ARRIVE




POOR GRANDAD, HE HASN'T HAD ENOUGH TO EAT AT THE HOUSEWARMING. LUCKY FOR HIM, I DON'T MIND SHARING.











I LOVE MY DAD.

GOLDEN OLDIES

When one travels by cruise ship, one comes to accept the fact that a large percentage of passengers will be senior citizens. This comes with certain advantages. It feels good to walk into a room and be one of the youngest (for a change). To sit down at the bar and be asked, "How are you young lady?"

However, the bad outweighs the good by far. Now don't get me wrong, many of the seniors are great fun but the majority think they own the place.

The lunch hooter sounds and they're off. These docile men and ladies become monsters. They charge off down the corridors, brandishing their walking sticks and woe be tide anyone who gets in their way.

And have you seen them eat? They consume plate after plate of meals and they sure can pack away those deserts.

An hour after lunch, the ship is deserted while they nap. Ah, heaven - no shouting, no complaining about EVERYTHING, just peace and quiet.

Afternoon tea comes along and they are lined up outside the dining hall waiting for their next feed. It's been all of an hour since they last ate. Where the hell do they put it all?

The meal is often followed by bingo. I've been too scared to venture into this sacred place, otherwise know as The Bingo Hall. I've seen them in there with their huge marker pens, banging away at their numbered pads. I have a feeling if someone my age shouted out, "Bingo!", they'd attacked me with thier walking sticks.

It's not all bad though. The early evening comes around, their bellies full, they head to the dance floor. Arms entwined, they glide around the floor, (walkers and sticks forgotten), looking into each others eyes and remembering why they fell in love all those years ago.

Aww, a wonderful sight to behold. It's hard to imagine these graceful gentlemen and ladies are the same people who will be fighting over the last sausage come breakfast time.

HOLIDAY TIME - THREE DAYS AT SEA

Hubby and I left Auckland for warmer shores on the Pacific Sun.










Our first night was fantastic. We found our bearings on the ship (in other words-the bar).




Dinner seating was assigned for the whole trip. We spent the first evening meal with two couples from Sydney. By the second night, another couple (also from Sydney) decided to move from their assigned table to join us. By this stage, I realised that by adding but to the end of every sentence, I'd be fluent in Australian in no time. I must say, I couldn't have asked for a more fun group of people to dine with.






The second night wasn't as much fun. Me thinks the 'SEVERE WEATHER' warning had something to do with this. However, I am thankful for this as I learned the following:

THINGS NOT TO ATTEMPT IN A FIVE METRE SWELL!






Shave legs in cramped shower cubicle - ouch

Apply mascara - mascara deposits in freshly washed hair - very unattractive

Dance - tis hard to dance with partner when you sway to opposite ends of the dance floor

Drink copious amounts of red wine after taking sea sickness tablet - falling asleep at inappropriate times expected




By the third day, I decided to accept the fact the sea was too rough for me. I made the best of it, tucked myself up in bed with a pizza, half a bottle of red and a couple of movies.




KB'S EMPTIES?




More to come tomorrow

Night all
xxxxxx

HOLIDAY TIME, ROTORUA

Hubby, Coco and I were lucky enough to spend a week in Rotorua recently. It's one of my favourite places in New Zealand, (in fact, in the whole world).

Rotorua, is an active volcanic zone where one can experience geothermal earth forces, spa rejuvenation, thrill and adventure, or any of the other natural assets such as 16 lakes, some of the worlds best mountain bike trails, fantastic trout fishing and a myriad of forest walking tracks. Well, that's what the brochure says anyway.

I like to visit because of the walking tracks, (hubby drags me up large mountains, under duress, but I actually kinda of enjoy it...sshhh, don't tell him), the hot spas and the smell of the place. Most people say Rotorua smells of rotten eggs but for some reason, I love it.

COCO'S FAVOURITE PLACE TO RUN AROUND



Coco loves to swim. She jumped in this rather sulphurous lake, jumped out, shook herself off and proceeded to bark at the water. Maybe she didn't like the smell but all was forgotten the next day when she jumped into it AGAIN! She spent the whole trip smelling like Rotorua.




My brother-in-law organised a surprise party for his wife and you know KB hates to miss a party. So, back to the car we go and head home for a couple of days.

KB'S FRUIT AND VEG? I had no idea.



Do ya think we like hugging?





THE BROS



NOT A PARTY WITHOUT SINGING.

Brother-in-law and I are very competitive when it comes to singing. We were up until 4am trying to out do each other, hehe!



Bed time for me. I will update more tomorrow.

Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite.

Love KB
XXXx

I'M LOSING TRACK OF HOW MANY NIECES AND NEPHEWS I HAVE!

I've been uploading some vids today of all the little darlings I visited while in Australia. I have put these on the blog more for the benefit of myself and family. I know other people's home vids can be boring but please feel free to have a look.

Everyone say AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Love KB
x

ATTACHED AT THE HIP

This little darling followed me around the whole time. We spent several hours playing Connect 4 (I never want to see that game again) and other board games.

She's a real chatter box. I was thrilled to see her performing in the show with her brother and sister.


Here she is performing (as usual), while she was b-b-qing during a thunder
storm...hmm!





Love KB
x

THE YOUNGSTER

He's always trying to shoot me with his toy gun. Should I be afraid?

Love KB

HE LIKES CHEESE

Isn't he a cutie!

He's a talented boy. I was very excited to see him perform ballet for the first time in front of an audience. Jacob and half a dozen young ladies - sounds like a perfect way to pick up girls to me, hehe.

Love KB
x

I SEE A CHEESE THEME

Jana performed in the same show as her brother and sister. She was fantastic! I still can't believe how grown up she is now.

Love KB
x

IS IT A DOG OR A RAT?

I'd like to introduce you to my niece's wee dog, she calls him Rambo and I call him Rambo Rat. She's going to kill me for saying that. He has to wear a little doll's coat when he gets cold (much to my amusement). Me thinks RAMBO isn't a name I would have chosen for him. What do you think?

Dickiebo is going to have a field day with this one! *giggles*

Love KB
x

INTRODUCING...ILLIA

Here's one of the reasons for our recent visit to Australia. She's finally been named, yay, I won't have to call her THE BABY any more.

Isn't she a cutie!

I'm always a little wary of babies. My youngest step-daughter was at the crawling stage when I met her and never having given birth myself, I'm not used to being around newborns. I couldn't believe how much time Illia spent on the breast! Yikes, it was like Meg had another appendage. Illia's a very good baby and I'm so happy I was able to spend some time with her.

More pics tomorrow.

Love KB
x

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

When was the last time you heard of a blonde woman from New Zealand, blowing up a plane with a tube of toothpaste??? Ridiculous, isn't it!

Before entering airport security, every liquid or smearable product in a passenger's hand luggage has to be placed in a see-through bag and shown to a security officer. It's a waste of time if you ask me - most of the time they don't even look at the items.

Once, I forgot to empty my water bottle, was taken aside and given the third degree. I felt like a criminal.

Recently at Heathrow airport, getting through security involved: queuing for 90 mins with hundreds of people, almost passing out from the heat, and showing my little baggy and passport to half the airport staff. Followed by, a further 20 mins of queuing to enter the gate lounge. I was exhausted before I even boarded the plane. What a nightmare.

Why aren't security personnel profiling travelers instead of making people like me display our deodorants, lip balms, toothpaste etc, in a little plastic bag? Come on people, what kind of terrorist attack can I possibly perform with the use of my LIP BALM!

Love KB
x

We're Going To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

Recently while in London, we took a trip to the zoo. I'm always excited by the prospect of seeing animals but have mixed feelings about zoos. I realise some of the species which are near extinction are in there to help continue the species but look at this beautiful girl. I shed a few tears when I saw her; locked up and bored out of her mind. Wonder what she's thinking.





I the rest of the day was good; the butterfly house and the aquarium being the areas I enjoyed the most.




Love KB
x