Friday night in Tutukaka at Oceans Resort Hotel

Well, having come from the big cities and having lived in a few countries now, there is always that outward sigh of relief at the end of the "working" week (Not so much now a-days as the traditional "weekend" seems to have had dissappeared for many families).

There is still an audiable sigh of relief in Tutukaka, for many it means that we are not commuting into Whangarei for our jobs, it means that boats are filled, the sails are lifted and the Marina becomes a buzz of activity again.  Excitedly the boat engines start and are tested ready for a weekend of fishing and/or cruising.  Then as we all start to head back in the general trend is to be at Oceans Bar by 5pm.  The reason for this is the now famous 2 4 1 on beverage and food, going on till 8pm, then the bar singing starts and tourists, visitors and locals all seem to become friends.  There is a general buzz in the bar and there is usually rugby on the TV.  The staff too are excited that it is Friday as it is also our time to catch up with our Friends and Family and hear of the week and weekend to come.  With the fire on, and people creating teams around the pool table, the juke box being loaded with the tunes that we all know and love you know that tonight is a great night to farewell the week of work.

But as always the night has to eventually end and as people dissappear into the dark and the bar is wiped down and the kitchen is cleaned down from a bulging night of guests, the staff too start to head home.  The weekend for the staff is in the middle of our working week, but how could you not want to be working in such a wonderful place, meeting such wonderful people.

So my paradise today was; watching our customers laugh and joke around the pool table, singing Bye Bye Ms American Pie and at the same time the Hurricanes won with a last minute try and conversion.  I am a crusader through and through and you will never get the red and black from this girl, but still it is always nice to see NZ win over Australia.

Tutukaka and Oceans Resort Hotel

So this is the first time, of few that I will admit that this morning was a morning that didn't highlight all the beauty of our coast.  I don't think it really helped with the 5.15am alarm and then driving to town for the BNI Breakfast meeting.

However being a member of the Thursday Chapter in Whangarei definatly has it's bonus's, surrounded by great people and people who support you in your business and you support them. The Networking though valuable can not compare to the friendships and relationships that are made, and it is the later that keeps you going every Thursday.

Coming back to Tutukaka, it was still raining and there was flooding in the farm lands.  You can't help but drive past the cows and horses and feel a little sorry for them in the rain, (think that is the 'city' girl mentality coming through).  With all the rain you would be surprised to read that driving into Ngunguru there is still a lifting of spirits.  I don't know if it is all those NZ baches lined along the water, or the fact that you can see across to that elusive Sandspit, it could be the boats that are moored, straining against their ropes, eager to get back out to the open sea for sailing and fishing.  As Ngunguru is left behind and you start that climb to Tutukaka you know you are coming home.  2 minutes later you start that down hill drive (watch the locals on this hill, we nail it!!!)  And there it is....HOME. 

I must be one of the luckiest people you are going to read about on any blog.  I have two amazing children, soon to celebrate their 8th and 9th birthdays, I get to work with my wonderful husband, Steve and we live here.  Our work is our home, our home is our work. The team we have around us are fantastic, our locals are amazing and supportive and the guests that we welcome are eager to share this wonderful experience.

So what was my paradise found today?  Coming home and getting to work and be apart of something so special.

Oceans Resort, Tutukaka

So again we woke to another beautiful day.  (For those who are worried or suspicious I promise to write if we ever do have a bad morning!)  With regret there was no outstanding sunrise to boast about, however, we were greeted with warm wind.
There is no lying about it but Tutukaka is quieter now that the cooler months have arrived.  Not great for business but GREAT news if you are visiting this way.  Not only are there no waits for coffee's as people are desperate for that caffine hit, breeze in and get you hit with ease.  It also means that no waits for tables and the bar staff can pour that beer before you even knew you wanted it:)

The quieter days also mean that you can lounge around the fire with that red wine as you decide what exactly it is that you feel like for lunch or dinner.  Read a magazine, play pool or catch up on the news. 

Paradise isn't always about the long beaches and hot long days, paradise is being where you want to be, doing what you want to do.  And for me, paradise is sitting infront of that big fire at Oceans Resort Hotel, drinking a glass of Church Road and eating those yummy steamed dumplings.  My children playing in the games room (almost forgot they were here) and looking out at the boats in the Marina.  That is my paradise at this moment and without doubt it will change tomorrow and I will find it.  Infact I will be so bold as to say that is my "meaning of life", that everyday I find that days paradise......

Welcoming you to my blog

So we have started a blog on living here in paradise.  The jewel of Northland, New Zealand, the Tutukaka Coast.
The reason for starting this blog is because our family and friends are always wanting to know what is going on and what we have done.  (It is hard to not want to have at least a little taste of what it is like to live here).  Our guests at Oceans Resort Hotel are also people who want to know what has been happening during the time between their visits, so Welcome and Ki Ora (Hello).

So we shall start our blog as every blog should start, at the beginning.  And to start with a nice clean slate we will start with the blog from today.

Even though we are now approaching the Winter months here in New Zealand, we the lucky people of Northland have found ourselves living in the "winterless north".  It, of course, gets cooler but all that means for us is that the sun rise over the Tutukaka Marina is that more impressive and the days are clear with a crisp welcome in the morning.  We can still watch the many boats coming and going for days of fishing and sight seeing around the Poor Knights (a must to visit if you are coming this way).  The other advantage, of many, is the warmth of being indoors.  The Restaurant and Bar at Oceans Resort Hotel has it's fire lit and music playing, the meals are full of warmth and are generous in their sizing and in their value.  On Friday nights they have their bar specials, the juke box blaring, the pool table humming the restaurant bulging with both locals and visitors alike.  It is the place to come and talk about the one that got away and to let the week of work fade away to memory.
For the guests who are staying at Oceans, their home is upstairs and when finally sleep creeps in they can dissappear to their rooms and rest until that magnificent sunrise beckons.

And today was just like that, a wonderful sunrise with a crisp welcome, the green outside Oceans became just that little more greener and the blue of the sky promised a wonderful day ahead.  The day slipped lazily by and as the fire was lit at Oceans and Kitchen started created those wonderful cooking smells the rain came in.  But it was of no concern as we were playing pool.  So as sleep creeps in we are going to our beds and waiting for that glorious sunrise over the Tutukaka Marina.