Tag: Papamoa

Fee Writes

Back At Papamoa

Same suburb, different street.

Straight off the plane from Sydney and onto the next house-sit. This time I’m back in Papamoa, but now I have the added delight of only an 8-minute walk to the beach.

Have been for a few walks around the blocks, as I do because I’m nosey, and the development is still in full swing here – sections sold, buildings being built and I’m only at the beginning of this area. I have a notion that Papamoa is one of the fastest-growing areas in N.Z. (could be wrong).

Ahhhhh, it’s good to be back on this side of the bridge. It’s good to walk the beach and see the Mount and it just confirms my desire of making Mount Maunganui where I finally will settle … well for now – you know me, can change my mind – might end up living in Timbuktu – who knows what the West Wind will bring.

Now let me introduce you to a really corker cat. This is Quinn.

She’s absolutely adorable. One of those cats who rub against your legs and wants to be around (when it’s convenient for her), and generally a pretty smoochie kitty. However, she does have one slightly off-putting habit. When she’s over your patting or cuddling she’ll tell you by giving you a nip. And you can’t really tell what her mood is because her tail is constantly in motion. Even when she’s lying in the sun, her tail is twitching.

She’s taken to sleeping with me from about 5 a.m. onwards. I know the image depicting this is dark and grainy, but, hey, what do you expect when it’s the wee hours of the morning and the sun isn’t up yet!!!

I’m in such a loving home filled with a warm feeling. It’s a home that’s easy to keep tidy, perfect position to expressway and beach. Quinn’s mum and dad are beautiful people and her dad has a wonderful hobby – growing bonsai trees.

Apparently, he hasn’t been doing it for long, but wow, take a look at these – (and the photo doesn’t do them justice).

I’m here till early November, then have a big gap till the next one in late December – Know anyone going away???? I come with references.

Fee Writes

The Kiwi Icon The Batch

I’m sure that most of the kiwis reading this fondly remember the batch

And for my other readers who are not kiwis, the definition of The Batch is really a knocked up shed on steroids. The batch was a summer holiday home and basically made from recycled whatever the dad and his mates could get their hands on.

Our batch had been an army hut before it was hauled off to a piece of sand at the beautiful beach, Whangamata. The wooden, recycled, french doors opened up to a sea view and us running off over the sand dunes to the sea.

Now, that batch has gone – there are two holidays homes on that one piece of land, the outside dunny (toilet) has been replaced with sewage and there is now a road with houses on either side where we would run to get to the sea.

Last weekend Jess (my fellow SAFE cor-ordinator) and I had a meeting at a cafe in Papamoa – a beachy part of Tauranga that is becoming the “place to be”. After our coffee and cake (lovely vegan cake mmmmmmm), we went for a drive to have a look at the new developments that have sprung up.

Some of the old places are still there and, obviously, being used in a variety of ways as you can see by the close up below.

But what made us the happiest was seeing some of the original batches are still there. I only managed to grab a couple of photos – Nostalgia reigns!

This one is three stories and is very typical of the “let’s go up one more” mentality of the time …. no building consent needed!

There were quite a few of this style at many beaches, although how it gets on when it rains with the flat roof and no eves ???? just lots of buckets I guess.

And just in case you can’t remember what the Kiwi Icon is called …

Although this next one isn’t a “batch”, both Jess and I wondered what on earth the bits of timber were for ….. Please comment if you’ve got any idea.

What we found intriguing about the old batches (and there were lots more), they are all in prime position – a spit of a walk to the beach. And all the flash homes – well, they’re in the “suburbia” area and have to drive. It’s wonderful to see, although how long it will last is anyone’s guess!

Fee Writes

Quick Post | Random

On The Move

Today is “Exit Day”. I’m off from the Papamoa Burbs and heading back to my digs for a week.

It’s been nice here … handy to Fashion Island, which I did visit a couple of times – handy to the motorway which meant easy access to work, the city, the Mount and anywhere else I fancied going.

What have I done here? Written a bit more of my book and done some sketches. Met the cool guys next door and spent a lovely evening on the wine with them.

And, apart from that and the odd outing, it’s been a fairly quiet 5 weeks, but then I didn’t expect much else.

I’ll leave you with the sketches:

GirlInCafe — Girl in Cafe – done in 40 minutes

BackStage — Back Stage – An old quick sketch I’d done when I was in the theatre that needed a bit of work

Thanks for dropping by, my name is Fee O’Shea. I’m a mother and grandma, an author and an Improver. I’ve got a resource website to help peeps go plant-based, I’ve scribbled six books centred around veganism, and have helped others write and publish their own stories.
But this blog is for my thoughts, my rants, raves, reviews and things that have grabbed my attention. From politics to social media to beauty, health and the environment. Fee’s Ramblings Over Coffee is written to bring you a smile or get you thinking. Enjoy.

Tag: Papamoa

Back At Papamoa

Same suburb, different street.

The Kiwi Icon The Batch

I’m sure that most of the kiwis reading this fondly remember the batch

On The Move

Today is “Exit Day”. I’m off from the Papamoa Burbs and heading back to my digs for a week.

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