Old 'A-frame' baches and tua tuas

Happy New Year sketchers! I'm starting the year off with my last sketches of 2019. These were sketched at Papamoa Beach in the Bay of Plenty while gathering tua tuas. 

I love the old 'A-frame' baches from the 70's and there are still a few of them dotted around Papamoa. This one is embellished with a faux Italian balustrade and an enclosed sun room on the front – not  exactly 'rigidig' as they say but as it's for sale, it could all be yours for a rediculous fee!

The tua tuas were delicious by the way – olive oil, garlic, parsley and steamed for a few minutes in a small amount of sea water. 

Relaxing on Papamoa Beach

Papamoa has become increasingly urban in the last decade or so, but once you walk over the dunes to the beach, it's just a nice as ever. Looking forward to the end of the shellfish ban - the Tua Tua population has exploded! Always good to head 'home' and spend a few days at the beach.

The view to Mount Maunganui, Karewa and Mayor islands and the Coromandel Peninsular in the distance...

Last sketches of 2013

Mount Maunganui on an overcast and cool summers day, I think there were only a couple of people in the surf that day. The sketch was preceded by a brisk walk around the Mount with refreshing light showers. Fortunately the summer weather returned a day later.

Some of the kitchen action on Christmas morning below. The turkey stuffing is being prepared, as you can see by the expressions it's a serious business. It all paid off though with probably the most tender and delicious turkey I've eaten (naturally all this work was followed by some pretty serious consumption).