And then the sun came out … #winter #sun #beach #batch #family #kāpiti #coast #cards #deck #80th #80thbirthday

Collage of sunlit views on a coastal deck, including a group of people playing cards

Family winter swimming madness! #beach #swim #winter #family #freezing #kāpiti #80th #80thbirthday

Group of mad people preparing to swim in the cold seaGroup of mad people swimming in the cold sea

Aunty Jo and Fred comedy duo #bakers #barrs #luffs #twins #80th #80thbirthday

laughing Jo and Fred

Family craziness has begun! #bakers #barrs #luffs #twins #80th #80thbirthday

family antics ft. 80 year old twin sisters

Kāpiti coast, Raumati #beach #coast #kāpiti #raumati #family

view of the south Kāpiti coast looking south. mixed blue sky and white clouds

Fabulous Day Party at the White Barn with Hamish and Alastair, a quick visit to see Mum and Dad at Eketāhuna, and dinner on the deck with Bill and Simon at Hōkio. ❤️💙💚 #DayParty #WhiteBarn #Carterton #Wairarapa #Eketāhuna #EkeCountryCottage #Tararua #Hōkio #HōkioBeach #Horowhenua

collage showing garden party, white barn with green plantings, country cottage and dinner on a beach house deck

Northwestern Festival for Meg's 40th

At the Northwestern FestivalJan and Jenni at the Northwestern Festival

Bougiest chickens - got their own holiday home… #chickens #hokio #wellington #holiday #HolidayHome #VisitingForTheWeekend

Two chickens outside their 'holiday coup' underneath olive trees

Delicious tomato salad, crispy potato and beans. #summer #dinner #family #beach #hokio

Last night in Carbrook, Queensland. A most delightful and relaxing week. #Family #Holiday #Relax #Recharge #Brisbane #QLD

Bright orange sunset over an aqua-marine swimming pool

Delightful dinner with Louise, Dave and Aiden at Victoria Point, Queensland. #Family #Dinner #Brisbane #QLD

family dinner at a restaurant

AIR exhibit at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. 🖼️ #Family #Art #Exhibit #Brisbane #QLD

Two people standing in a room of thousands of black paper butterfliesThree people looking at an installation of thousands of feathers, shells and other natural objects that form an ellipsis reminiscent of a murmuration of birds

Family walks ! #Bakers #Barrs #Australia #QLD #walk

Five people waling up a road, turning and waving. With a dog on a leash.

My new home for the next week 📷 #Brisbane #Australia #Pool #Relaxing #Family

An outdoor dining and relaxation area; lit with festoon lighting.A glass fenced swimming pool, early evening

Fresh produce from the Eketāhuna country garden 📷 #Eketāhuna #CountryCottage #family #garden

Leeks, multi-coloured potatoes spilling out of a hessian bag, and a cabbage on a rustic table.

Good morning from Eketāhuna cottage 📷 #eketāhuna #cottage #morning #light

Morning light streams through an open French door and window in a wooden country cottage onto chairs and a table. A garden is visible outside.

Quick visit to Eketāhuna Cottage. 📷 #Eketāhuna #cottage #garden #family

Small country cottage with white walls and grey roof. Surrounded by a profusion of flowers. White clouds and evening blue sky above.

Meri Kirihimete à tous le monde!

Sending good wishes to you all; may you have a wonderful day :) #MeriKirihimete #AtaMārie #JoyeuxNoël

Gingerbread Xmas Tree

The grandkids brought their chickens with them on holiday. We even set them up with their own ‘batch’ under the olive trees for shade. They enjoy their supervised outings around the garden as well! 📷 🐓🪴 #garden #chickens #holiday #batch #Hōkio #HōkioBeach

Chicken coop under shady olive trees.Olive trees in a garden with a chicken coop beneath.Chicken coop with two people waving. Two chickens in the foreground.Two chickens enjoying foraging under lush vegetation.

Apartment renovations story

Today’s Pōneke / Wellington newspaper has a story about the recent renovations to the apartment that my partner and I have lived in for 22 years:

Guests love trying to find the way in to the secret room of this New York loft-style apartment in central Wellington

Many thanks to Kylie Klein-Nixon for the story, and to Andrew & Lynnette Scott (designers & project managers, Design in Residence), Liz Mark (design consultant), Phil Maxey (builder), and Reilly Joinery for making it a reality!

Also thanks to Oliver Cain for the wonderful piece, "Jeremy + Bill", which features in the story.

Wide angle shot of a loft-style apartment with wooden floors and steel beams. A richly patterned rug in the foreground. Two men on a couch, one higher than the other. Art, dining furniture and many designer lights fill the background.

Photo: Monique Ford / Stuff.