It was just disgusting

So woke to another day in Tutukaka.  Had to take a photo of what I have to put up with day after day after day.  The staff at Oceans are just so committed to our guests that they turn up regardless of it,  having to put up with the view, the great customers and fantastic atmosphere, they just get on with things, a true inspiration.

So, yes we woke to this awful view but we all got on and made the most of it.  Monday night is Pub night where you get to relax with a meal and a glass of beer or wine for only $15.  YUMMY.  Favourite is really the bangers and Mash, well tonight it was, seems every monday I have a different favourite.  I suppose you could say that that is the joy of coming to Oceans, there is lots to choose from. 

And if you think that I am saying this because it is my blog and I happen to work in the most amazing place, you are right of course, orrrrrrr you can review what other people are saying, that don't work here and don't write this blog.  They are on the Oceans Website and they are on places like Trip Advisor.  So read them as well.

See you all tomorrow,  if you can handle having to look at pictures like these.  We apologize now.

Liquid Sunshine

WOW we had the best day ever for not knowing what was going to happen with the sun.  It was a constant game of Sun out, sun hide.  Everytime it hid there was a shower, sometimes heavy, which is fun to hear.  Other times it was like liquid sunshine.  Regardless of the sun shining or the rain falling it was still warmish, bit of a cold wind and nip in the air, but not like I use to experience in Christchurch at this time of year.

We opened our doors for trading at 11am and the coffee machine had no time to prepare.  But like the good machine it is she pushed through until everyone had had their caffine fix.

Being Friday, I really no longer need to tell you what that is like for the Oceans Bar.  It is a chance for everyone to come together, say good bye to the week and say hello to the weekend.  I love Friday nights, even better that we have the rugby on.  ITM Cup has started and we look forward to the games ahead.  No secret I will be supporting Canterbury:)

PLUS, Exciting time heading from Whangarei towards Tutukaka now, we have traffic lights:)  Sure they are there only short term but regardless they are still stopping traffic.  Not something you see often here on the coast that is for sure.

Tomorrow is Saturday and at the moment I am really interested to know what the sun will decide to do.  Regardless of that result, our fire will be on and we will be warm inside drinking a fine glass of red wine I am thinking.  Right I have tomorrow sorted for me.

Tasting the Med in Tutukaka

We love Wednesdays at Oceans in Tutukaka.  We get to travel the world in the food way.  Last week was Tex Mex, yeeeeee ha.  But tonight, oh yes tonight we got to light the candles, put on some sexy music and taste the Med.  YUM. We got to welcome our regulars and got to meet new people to the Oceans experience.

The Wednesday Night Buffet really has it's own following.  $19.50 for a long buffet full of food and not only the healthy stuff, (and not so healthy but tastes really good food) but also the wonderful array of desserts.  I am a person who believes that all meals are just the road to the dessert.  Infact there are many times that I will start the dinner process with dessert so I can be assured there is room for it.  I would recommend doing this on a Buffet too, especially the one like tonight.  Ask Sebba, he will tell you because he is awesome

So as always with every post I have promised to find my meaning of life with every day.  And my meaning of life is finding that moment that makes you go ahhhhhhh and smile.  It is finding the good in a day.  And that today was knowing the warmth was inside, the food was inside, that wonderful cooking smell was inside and I was inside enjoying it all:)

Cantab in Northland

Well I missed the blog for Friday.  With very good reason I will have you know.  Oceans was rocking, restaurant full, customers waiting for tables, bar humming with that good vibe that you get on Fridays at Oceans. 

Joeren from Dive! Tutukaka was celebrating his birthday at Schnappa Rock, just down the road so all up Tutukaka had that fabulous Friday night feeling.  Not so great for the Saturday Morning buzz.

Not only do I love Fridays but really it has become a bit well known with some of our locals.  It is a chance for us all to catch up after the week and prepare for the weekend ahead.  You will drive into Tutukaka and think "does anyone really live here?"  The answer is a BIG YES and they are awesome.  The fact is that Tutukaka is not just the Marina area, only so many people can live in the direct area.  But Tutukaka and Ngunguru (settlement that is 4k before you get to Tutukaka from Whangarei) are just two small populated areas of an amazing coast and we are going to be blogging about those too!

So we say farewell to Friday and say happy birthday to Jeoren.  Sleep and wake to SATURDAY.  Ohhhhhh how I waited for this Saturday.  It was like the Christmas countdown from childhood.  Crusaders in the final.  The bar staff in red and black, Crusaders Music (Conquest of Paradise).  If you don't know the music we have added on the link below. 

	Vangelis - Conquest of paradise .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

primed to activate from EVERY speaker we could find, TV's operating and the rush of dinner service to get through as everyone tried to gulp down their food before kick off.  And as is typical with the Christmas countdown of childhood, you find you are ready and waiting way before you are able to rip off any paper.  So you wait,............

Finally I got to turn down the CD music (felt like a DJ with our sound system) and pushed the crusaders theme to full. 

For those of you who haven't guessed or don't know, I am 100% true blooded, forever loyal to the Crusaders!  Steve and I may find ourselves anywhere in NZ or the world doing what we do, but our drawers are FULL of red and black gear, we will always cheer for the red and blacks, we will respect the team where we reside but always Crusader fans.  And that is what was great about this final, NZ united!  We were all for those 80 minutes Crusaders fans. 

I won't lie the result was gutting but there was soooo much pride in what the boys achieved. over 300,000 kms traveled, no home ground and the stress of having a homeland that was hurting from the recent earthquakes.  Respect is also given to the Reds with the flooding and the attack of Mother Nature on their homeland.  So if I was being honest it really was a final of two deserving teams.  Both played well and both played a hard game.

As the bar emptied after the game and we started to lock up and prepare for Sunday it was still a good day.

Sunday is Sunday, a day to rest and relax, we have to say good bye to some of our guests but we get to welcome new guests.  Bitter sweet.  And paradise for me was found this weekend in being a part of something wonderful.  I am not trying to shake my promise of finding my meaning of life in every day, but I am being honest.  this weekend it was in so many moments that there are none that have ownership over another.  And I am looking forward to welcoming the new week ahead and our new guests and those returning to visit and stay with us again

Thursday and tsunamis

Can you believe it is Thursday again!!!!!  Is it an age thing or a reality thing when all of a sudden days and weeks are seemingly stolen from right under your nose?  You barely have mourned the loss of yesterday before you are farewelling today, surely that isn’t right.

Another beautiful day tin Tutukaka

So we woke again to a beautiful Tutukaka day, they have to be coming from somewhere right?  So where ever it is that is cold, raining and grey, we pass on our apologies we also pass on our sincerest thanks.

At 7.03am there was the earthquake located at the Kermadic Islands and 20k deep, registering at 7.6.  I have to say that the response of Civil Defence, the locals and visitors was fabulous.  Cell phones not only chimed with the warning, they rang with people ensuring the message was getting out, then the chimes and rings where joined with the sound of the civil defence alarms.  One located outside Schnapper Rock and the other located on the corner of Oceans Resort Hotel.

View from Ngunguru School

Ngunguru School was fantastic!!!  Having two young children attending and the knowledge that the school sits practically on the beach it was a wonderful relief having the knowledge that the school is well and truly ready.  Children were photo registered, lined up and marched promptly up the hill to a safe place, a place where all parents knew.  When my two got home that afternoon and were grilled “in a nonchalant way” not only were they aware of what was going on and aware of the serious nature of the situation, they were also relaxed and feeling safe.  AWESOME.  Of course there was concern if “Mum and Dad were going to be all right” and that is normal, and they have been reassured that we too have a safe place and a list of rules that we follow when the alarm sounds.

However it didn’t eventuate to much marine wise but it did allow the people of Tutukaka the ability to realise that the situation, should it occur again, has its process, has its communication and has very skilled people ready to jump into action.  Coastguard NZ and the other volunteer services all ready to go should they have been required.  It also gives everyone the chance to review any processes.  If it should ever happen as an extreme event I can put my hand over my heart and say I feel safe living here.

Oksana, Lukasz and Carlie

I am an incredibly proud Cantab, I will be wearing my red and blacks on Saturday.   Today I was proud to be a Tutukakian (not sure if that is a word), what a wonderful, wonderful bunch of people live on this coast.  You really do need to meet them

Click here to see a video that features two of our locals about the tsunami today being interviewed, one of which is the wonderful Kate Malcom from Dive! Tutukaka.  Kate and the team at Dive! Tutukaka have a great product and are very proud of the coast and the beauty of our Marine world.  So if you are coming this way and want to see why we were voted the second best coastal area by National Geographic head out on Perfect Day, you will never question again:)

Kind of obvious where my paradise was today, my meaning of life.  It was the pride to be a part of this community and a part of our team.  You will see it and feel it when you arrive here too.

Mid Week Wednesday, yeeeee ha



Conference Group at lunch



Today was a day of YAYs.  First we got to welcome our new conference group to Oceans, always a good day when you get to meet new people and share the magic of Tutukaka.  To make it even better they are a great bunch of people so looking forward to seeing them all again tomorrow.

Next, the sun was shining and we had that playful wind again.  So once again you find yourself feeling happier with the sun out, the water sparkles and it seems that you feel just a tad lighter (probably because the extra jacket has been dropped)

Tex Mex Buffet - yeeeee ha!

Next was the fabulous Wednesday night Buffet.  Tex Mex was the taste of the week for our International Buffet night And I mean really the words "Buffet" and "Tex Mex"?  You know that you have to wear stretchy pants to something like that!

By the time the Buffet had started it was cold outside again.  Don't mind it being cold outside when it is night time, I have an electric blanket (which is on and waiting) and it is warm inside and their is a BUFFET!!!!!



Tutukaka Marina

 To finish off the Wednesday of the week I now get to relive the whole thing writing in the blog, so really I got to live today twice:)  A very lucky girl indeed.

Steve and Matt

Today's paradise was found in........walking down to our Marina and taking a photo.  Just the few minutes of quiet time and enjoying the beauty that is Tutukaka. ahhhhh, it really, really is a magical life.

and it's Tuesday!!!!!

What a fantastic way to wake up this morning!!!!  First slept in so woke with that kind of panic feeling that you get, one way to get the blood pumping, better than a coffee hit really.  Secondly when throwing back the curtains saw that Tutukaka had put on a fabulous blue sky for the day, I say Thank you:)



Oksana, always smiling!!!

 Then it was down to the office for the typical office day, I am not much of an office person I much prefer to be out and about talking with guests and working out the front, but alas there is always office work no matter where you work.

Tuesday is two courses for $40 at Oceans Resort Hotel, so I was back down to the restuarant with the children this evening.  How fabulous is having a Rib Eye, MR cooked to perfection followed by Cream Brulee finished with a hot chocolate?  I mean really people that is a fabulous Tuesday!!!  I work here but even if I didn't I would come here for dinner, the menu is fantastic and the new Winter weekly specials are fabulous.

We are also preparing to welcome tomorrows conference group with us.  Love getting to meet new people and sharing the magic that is Tutukaka.

So today I found my paradise in sitting in our restaurant, colouring in pictures with my children and chatting with the locals who filed in for dinner, two of which were celebrating some sigficiant birthdays:)  No names and  no ages will be given out:)  Also hearing a larger table of 16 in our A la Carte restaurant laughing and giggling.  (That is one of the nicest sounds in the world you know, the sound of genuine laughter and I would be surprised if it didn't make you smile when you heard it either)

Bring on tomorrow, I am looking forward to meeting it head on!

Monday Pub Night at Oceans Tutukaka

So again we find ourselves at the start of the week.  Not a bad thing when you get to live and work in Tutukaka, you hear the usual groan of Monday-itis from others, the weekly plod that starts most working weeks.  But not here.  No sir.

Monday night is Pub night at Oceans.  $15 for a meal including a glass of wine or beer, now that alone is a great reason to welcome Monday.   hmmmmm I hear you say, still that doesn't make for a great Monday, and I reply with the ever famous buy TV quip, "but wait there's more!".  Free pool as well!  Want me to seal the deal for you also?....... Winter outside, cold wind and boats straining against their moorings, but inside?......... the fire is on, the lights are dimmed and when you walk in you can feel your body sigh with relief.  That does make for the perfect start to the week indeed.

Carlie and Lukasz doing the popular Oceans
Coffee thing!

As for what our team is doing, they are doing what they do best, smiling!  And what was I up to today, was writing my emails and doing up the plans for the exciting changes that the new Oceans is about to undertake.  Infact I will be so bold as to say that my Monday flew by, with a flurry.  How many others get to say that!

My meaning of life today, my paradise found was the feeling of accomplishment that today has given me.  Cleared my desk, emptied my inbox and cleaned the office, chatted with our guests, caught up with friends and watched that nasty winter day being denied entry into our warm restaurant and bar.  That has indeed made Monday a good day

Sunday in Tutukaka at Oceans Resort

What a CRACKER of a Sunday.  Really busy in the morning with our coffee machine really having to work hard to keep up, let alone the staff having to tell it what to do!





Then for Lunch was our Sunday Roast Buffet.  With Roast Beef and Chicken, yorkshire puddings, roasted vegetables and all the extra trimmings you would expect.  To top off all that was the most YUMMY Apple crumble.



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The Girls having a well earned coffee break



Thing about working here at Oceans is that after all the guests have had their fill we get to have some afterwards.  I LOVE buffet days.  This Wednesday is our next buffet where I will be wearing my stretchy pants and that is the Tex Mex Americana Buffet.  Yeeee haaaaaa.

Oceans has the bar and bistro area, an a la carte restaurant and a HUGE function room which we call the Tui room on the ground floor.  Then upstairs is the Marina Room,  The best view in Tutukaka, straight up the Marina out to the heads.  From here you can see all the boats coming and going.

Even though we had our Sunday buffet going their was no way we were not going to please the many other guests that came who wanted something a little lighter, so our Lunch menu continued full steam ahead.

 

Upstairs in the Marina Rooms was the first of the movie shows, A bee Movie.  What a fantastic turn out with over 100 people.  Congratulations guys!!!!!!!!!





Then to finish off what has already been a great night, our staff moved the pool table and set up a stage and mic system and prepared for an evening of open Mic.  WOW Tutukaka has some AMAZING talent.  We are doing it again as ALL of the acts I am wanting to hear again and again and again.  So lucky to live here and share what we do with so many wonderful people.





 So as promised I will continue to find my meaning of life everyday.  And my meaning of life is finding today's paradise.  And today's paradise was having such a busy, happy day and watching our customers, our staff and our friends enjoying themselves.



 And with that we are able to say that today is and was indeed a good day.







Saturday night in Tutukaka at Oceans

WOW what a night!!!!  Now great is it when the wind is howling, and our heavy doors are protesting at the extra work they have to do to keep that wind out and our Bar and Restuarant are full.  The fire was going the music was playing and the kitchen was humming. Our great staff were buzzing around and smiling from ear to ear.

The hotel is full of happy customers and as the night is drawing to an end we are all warm inside.  The Sky TV has the Blues vs. Reds playing, (come on Blues!!!!! I want a Crusaders/Blues Final)  As a team we had a bit of a gamble, coordinated by our Executive Chef Craig, and I am in for the win with a 24- 18 win to the Blues.

I know that I am lucky to be apart of everything that Oceans has.  Our wonderful location, the fantastic team energy, our customers and our friends.  It has been like winning Lotto working in Tutukaka.

So Saturday night at Oceans saw the Saturday special of a free dessert with every main sold.  (I have always been a believer that there is seperate stomach for dessert, so there is always room no matter how yummy your main was).  To finish off this fabulous meal deal we also have $10 Cocktails!  Double Yummy, what does it mean!  So really there shouldn't be any surprise that tonight we had people waiting in the bar until a table became avaliable in our restaurant, there should be no surprise that at the moment the juke box is off as we prepare for the win in rugby, and no surprise that there is still that buzz in the restaurant.

So what was my paradise found today?  That one is easy today.  On the way back from the bar, on my way home, I was stopped in the hallway by two of our guests, who with great excitment informed me how wonderful their meal had been, how great our staff were and how much they were enjoying their stay.  I was so very proud to be standing with them there hearing those words and the genuine way in which they were given.  The icing on the cake was when they informed me they were already planning on coming back in February for a week.  There is no better feeling in the world than hearing that from someone, knowing how hard your team work, knowing how much your team really do care and knowing that it was being appreciated.

So this blog is for my team at the new Oceans Resort Hotel, thank you!  You know that we appreciate you and you know that we love working with you.  I am thrilled that our guests are seeing how special you all are too.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I dare say that Mother Nature will still be flexing her muscles in the morning and we will wake up again to the fresh crisp snap in the air.  But is it SUNDAY and that brings us the $28 Carvery Buffet Lunch,  YUMMY.  See you tomorrow!!!!