A Busy Spring Weekend
maths, bike, kayak, tennis, workshop – this was a packed weekend, and we didn’t even go to Woodhill, let alone take out the boat! Saturday 6.15am (!) Thomas gets up … Continue reading →
Eilas’ 16th Birthday – or this is how we Winter
Just 2 days on from mum’s birthday it’s another day to celebrate: Elias’ 16th birthday! On a day as good as it gets (mind you we are still pretty much … Continue reading →
Mum’s Birthday
Imagine two teenage boys making mum’s birthday a real treat, straight from the heart ! No running to the shops in the last minute and grabbing just any odd thing … Continue reading →
There’s a new driver on Auckland’s Northshore
Today, Monday 8.55am at VTNZ Testing Station, Rosedale, Thomas passed his Driving Test and is now proud and happy owner of a restricted licence. Congratulations Thomas, a step further into … Continue reading →
Skiing in Queenstown and Hiking at Aoraki Mt Cook
Saturday, July 7 Auckland: partly cloudy, 16°C It’s school holidays – and it’s winter, pretty cold winter. Our dream pacific island destination in Tonga is fully booked because I didn’t … Continue reading →
Action Weekend In RotoVegas
It’s Queen’s Birthday and what else would you do than head south to Rotorua for an extended weekend! Especially where there is the 3D Multisport Festival going on giving Thomas … Continue reading →
Early Birds On And Off The Water
Anyone having an opinion about lazy teenage boys sleeping ion on a weekend? How about this: My brave boys and two of their class mates get up at 5.45am – … Continue reading →
“Maiden Voyage” For Thomas’ RC Defender
Finally the 1:10 Defender had its first outing in Centennial Park. Back in 2013 Elias had built the outer shell with much attention to detail from scratch as a christmas … Continue reading →
Release: Boating At Rangiputa
Come on up north with us to Rangiputa Beach on Karikari Peninsula. What an awesome summer holiday with Nonna and the “Rubber Goose” … Continue reading →
A Match With Consequences
On Wednesday, September 27 last year I went down to Browns Bay Tennis Club to have a hit with the ladies, more of a social than a competitive event, but … Continue reading →
Thomas @Project Aware – Dive Against Debris
For the second time Thomas took part in an environmental dive at Murrays Bay Beach at our doorstep. Project Aware, an environmental group that takes action both locally and globally … Continue reading →
Thomas Paddling King Of The Harbour
tbvaikobi18 from maria on Vimeo. King and Queen of the Harbour, the biggest paddling event in Auckland – and Thomas was not only part of it, but even came 3rd … Continue reading →
Release: Happy Birthday Nonna
All the best wishes for Nonna and lots of awesome memories. Big hug and kisses from us 3kiwis! This is what Elias made for you: Happy Birthday from maria on … Continue reading →
Release: Tonga Underwater Wonder World
Endless snorkelling in the middle of shoals of colourful fish feeding on coral and anemonies, meeting people from all trades and areas of the world, sharing the same large table … Continue reading →
Nonna’s First Weeks In Auckland
It’s been a busy time since Nonna has arrived for the sixth time to spend the summer with us. There was Thomas 16th birthday, the lead up to Christmas, a tree … Continue reading →
Elias Selected For National Teams Event
Congratulations, Elias! Great achievement after all the years of training, practicing and collecting top dog points in tournaments. at this stage Elias is sitting on rank 10 in his agegroup … Continue reading →
Thomas Doing The Ocean Swim
tb ocean swim 1.m4v from maria on Vimeo. Thomas has signed up at The Takapuna Beach Series for 12 out of 18 ocean swims! Good on you, I am very … Continue reading →
Spring Has Sprung – Planting Frenzy & A Kayak Primer
sun is out, clear blue skies, temperature in the mid twenties – what would you do on such a day? head down to plant barn, get totally spoilt for choice … Continue reading →
Permanent Residence – One Step Up
it is still a wonder to us, a dream we are slowly realizing from day to day! although the step from residence to permanent residence is a simple formality – … Continue reading →
Finally Fibre To The Home
On Oct 13 the guys from Chorus turn up and roll out fibreoptics to our home! Finally we get fast internet like most of Auckland already has, but things take a … Continue reading →
Back To Our Dream Home
It started with just a txt when I was scrolling through my contacts and came across our former landlord Ricky. I thought I might just flick him a message to … Continue reading →
Time Flies By
and again it’s already been a couple of months since our last post! erika / mum is here again, for an incredible fifth time, fit as! having escaped the cold european winter … Continue reading →
Two And A Half Years In Time Lapse
i know i have been lazy, even though there was enough to be proud of in the meantime, tennis-wise! so i will give you a quick catch-up with what has happened … Continue reading →
Release: Pauanui Summer Holidays
Our favourite summer get away for four years. Pauanui is a small holiday settlement on beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, only 2.5 hours drive southeast from Auckland. Ideal for kids as you … Continue reading →
Release: Biking At Castor Bay
This video is the first experiment with our then new camera. Due to Elias’ specific interest in Photo and Video and to build great memories from our travels we purchased … Continue reading →
One Year Later …
one year and 3 birthdays later, we finally come back to you with a new post on our family & friends website. a bit has changed – have a read … Continue reading →
Unbelievable: RESIDENCE APPROVED !!!
we still can’t believe it, we still think we are are dreaming, so unreal! in less then three months since we submitted our “expression of interest” our APPLICATION FOR RESIDENCE … Continue reading →
Happy Birthday To Elias!
12 years ago in the early morning hours i was ringing our neighbours doorbell in villiprott. she had promised to take me to the hospital if needed! 19 hours later … Continue reading →
Belated Happy Birthday To Mum!
what an amazing day! i think the boys have been working day and night for my birthday, absolutely unbelievable! photos will follow to showcase what they have been up to. … Continue reading →
Our New Corporate Car!
paul at designation (signmaking company) did a great job printing my awesome design-work to make our oldie a shiny eye-catcher! doesn’t that look really cool? it’s nice to see the … Continue reading →
!!! Mum’s Got A Job !!!
first i did not really trust it, that’s why you hear about it only now, i did not want to post any “unlaid eggs” or stuff that might not work … Continue reading →
South Pacific Paradise
just back after 7 days on amazing island of tonga! feeling completely “displaced” after such a short time only. stayed at vakaloa beach resort because time was too short to … Continue reading →
Day Five Of The Storm
feels like it’s never going to end, five days of raging storm, 2 power outages, floodlike rain, many houses in the far north are still left without power. for us … Continue reading →
You Can Post Now!
hi everyone! we have added a neat new feature to our website, especially for you! if you are tired of just commenting to our boring posts and actually want to … Continue reading →
Release: LEGO Farm Stop Motion
The boys have published their first lego stop motion movie – created in all day long shootings of real life scenes in the world of minifigs! hours and hours of … Continue reading →
Nonna In Berlin Again
our VIP erika has just landed coming back from the second commemoration for her uncle erich klausener who was shot in his office by the nazi regime for standing up against … Continue reading →
Happy Birthday Bunno! <-- click on headline
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother karl-bruno, aka bunno! don’t really want to mention any numbers here…, but wish him all the best! hope he had a big cake, heaps of … Continue reading →
Sunshine After The Rain …
after a terrifying storm hit auckland last week, we were left without power for day. no light on a winter’s early morning, no internet, no computer once it ran out … Continue reading →
Release: Deathly Arrows
What a story! No idea what inspired the boys and their friend Zander – who very sadly moved back to the UK shortly after this movie had been finished – … Continue reading →
Release: Out Of This World – Aitutaki 2010
When we were in New Zealand for the first time and for a long holdiday only to carefully “test the waters” we got a feeling that this might not work … Continue reading →
Another Gorgeous Day
so this is nz autumn. after a night of heavy rain, skies are blue again, another gorgeous autumn day. a quiet ocean, lots of sunshine and a high of certainly … Continue reading →
Anzac Day
25 of april is anzac day, the highest public holiday in new zealand. this day is also known as poppy day, in remembrance of the poppy fields on the gallipoli peninsula, … Continue reading →
Share Your Photos!
we have added a new feature for you: you can now upload photos you would like to share with us. click here or go to “your photos” page, press “choose”, … Continue reading →
Another Night Shift …
matti, thomas first friend ever, and his mum wrote our second comment, thanks and lots of greetings go to villiprott! i have started another page called “upside down” with some funny … Continue reading →
Our First Comment From The UK !!!
hooray! we received our first comment from the UK! zander who now lives in old windsor, berkshire, thomas’ best friend who sadly left far too early and only just after they had … Continue reading →
One More Page
greetings to you all, we hope you had a lovely easter break with lots of eggs sweet ‘n savoury! here the sun is back after the flood, and during … Continue reading →
Happy Easter !!!
happy easter to all ! thursday was last day of school, with shared lunch, movies and – no more homework at last for the coming 2 weeks! what a great … Continue reading →
New Clubchamp
on friday april 11 browns bay racquets club had a new under 12 clubchamp! it was an exciting match, excellent tennis on both sides of the net. a superior elias dominated the game … Continue reading →