Mandy Kimber

bayview to clearview

Mandy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:12:40 +0000

Over Easter, we had 8 family and friends to stay, from Wellington, New Plymouth and Gisborne. Every day we did an activity to justify the great food and wine we enjoyed each night. The highlight for me was the 35 km cycle ride from the Napier suburb of Bayview (on the north side of Hawke Bay) to the wonderful winery restaurant of Clearview, close to Cape Kidnappers. (On the south side of Hawke Bay) We began in rain but ended with fine weather and great food and wine. I personally think the reserve chardonnay of Clearview’s is the best in the world!

Death of a wonderful All Black

Mandy — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:21:19 +0000

I was saddened to hear yesterday about the death of Jock Hobbs, one of NZ’s best past All Blacks. He lead NZ rugby for 25 years, and saved NZ rugby from being bought by a rebel league in the mid 1990s. He lost his battle with non-hogkins lymphoma (same illness that look my late husband Wayne nearly 8 years ago at a similar age) on Tuesday. His greatest, later achievement was winning the hosting rights to our successful world cup challenge last October. We will miss you Jock.

a new year

Mandy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:30:19 +0000

It is now the end of the first month of 2012. I have been out of internet circulation at Waipatiki, a beautiful beach north of Napier. We have a place there with no phone, so internet waits until we are in town. We spent all summer there but are now back at home, as I am back at school. It is my new favourite place, as we listen to birds sing tui, bellbirds, kereru (woodpigeon) and kingfisher (Kotare) plus other like quails and pheasants and the sea. Wonderful. It was hard to come back here!

The Shark

Mandy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:04:41 +0000

The winner, so far!

sandcastle competition

Mandy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:50:40 +0000

Over Xmas my family gathered to spend their first summer at the new family bach at a small beach in Hawkes Bay. One of the things we did, in teams, was to build sandcastle sculptures of a creature found in the sea. My daughter Kate and I did Tangaroa, god of the sea. However we are depending on Facebook votes to determine the winner. So far the shark has a vote!