Since April 2011 there have been 299 posts to this blog so this one is officially number 300.
Over the last 2 and a bit years we’ve covered our trip to Europe – which was the reason for starting this blog in the first place – extensively. Our return home to New Zealand and settling back into our routine has been covered generally and any events that have impacted on the family have been covered in detail – probably a little too much detail when it comes to the dogs.
I apologise if posts are sporadic rather than regular, and if the content is occasionally a little light but my resolution for the next 100 posts is to do pretty much what I’ve been doing for the last 299 so don’t expect a dramatic improvement anytime soon.
I also just want to thank all our loyal readers including our friends and family, as well as that amazing mix of people from around the world who follow this blog – for taking the time to see what we’ve been up to in Italy and now in New Zealand. It’s immensely rewarding when people take the time to “like” something or comment on a post.
So what do you do for a 300th post?
Easy, include 300 (or maybe a few less) of our favourite photos from past posts.
Somewhere over Greenland
They’re here!
Spring in England
Bikes are the main mode of transport for students.
The secret to a great lawn.
Postcards for sale.
Punting on the Cam with champers – of course.
Daisy having a drink in a pub
Woburn Abbey.
Poppie making sure she isn’t left behind.
Onboard the Chunnel Train.
Looking like we own the place.
Fine dining is exhausting – the morning after.
Daisy, Poppie and Jean before going into dinner at the Orangery.
The girls are bored by fine dining
View looking north from the terrace with morning coffee in progress.
Our place – day 1.
The Campo from the eastern side.
The pool – it is huge.
The sun setting over Siena
Poppie relaxes and watches the Campo pass by on a Sunday morning.
The Milia arrives in Siena
The Milia arrives in Siena
The Milia arrives in Siena
By the pool in Tuscany
Jean’s Italian lesson homework.
Daisy sleeping
Can you spot the family member disgracing our good name?
Poppie meets the new fence.
The girls at Buonconvento
The Palio track running around the Campo.
Poppie ready for the trip to Positano.
Positano from Villa Greta
Late evening in Positano
From the top clockwise – Arctic P, Siran, Casino Royale and Mosaique
Jean and Poppie on the terrace
Jean and the girls at Positano – July 2011
Eden Roc pool Positano
Arienzo Beach – the private and public parts
Arienzo Beach
The Duomo in Firenze
Firenze taxi waiting for a fare
Artist at work in Firenze
Firenze carriage driver taking a break
Graeme and Daisy on church steps in Castellina in Chianti
Jordan in front of Florentine tapestries
Charmaine, Mike and James at that tower
Fontana di Tritone – working again after cleaning
A place to relax – Cafe Angelina, Rome
The Pantheon in Rome
Jean and Girls at the Pantheon
Villefranche sur Mer waterfront from our hotel balcony
Our spot in the Palio crowd – just next to the rail. Freak it was hot
After the Palio rehearsal waiting for our bar to set up tables so we can have a drink
The classic photo of Florence from Piazza Michaelangelo
Jean and Florence
Late summer from our cottage
Classic Tuscan photo near Pienza
Pienza festival
Pienza festival
View from Pienza
Watching the sun go down
Blogging with some help from Poppie
Looking forward to lunch in the Campo at L’Osteria del Bigelli
San Gimignano from a distance
Postcards in a sidestreet in San Gimignano
The girls sans shopping
Evening in Positano
Positano free-for-all signage
Positano peppers
House on Hill – Spring
House on Hill – Summer in Toscana
House on Hill – Autumn
Sick Daisy and friend
Pictures of Daisy’s big heart at work
Tuscan landscape mid summer 2011
View from Volterra towards the Tuscan coast
Gill, Jordan and Jean walking Poppie in Lubiana
A ceiling of cured meat in Greve
View of Tuscany from Monteriggioni
Looking up in Monteriggioni
Antica Macelleria Falorni in Greve – we know it well
The photo taken at the stop
Jean having dinner in L’Osteria del Bigelli in late October
Throw rugs ready to keep patrons warm
Al Mangia Bar in autumn
The family leaving Tuscany in October
Packed car en-route to Positano
You know Positano’s quiet when there are empty parks
Positano sunset – 3 November
Villa Greta in Positano
Girls on patrol at Villa Greta
The wharf takes a beating
Entrance to amphitheatre
Pompeii amphitheatre
Church of St Maria Assunta
Fishing boats pulled up the beach for winter
Church of St Maria Assunta behind beach
Fishing boats with Positano behind
The Mrs enjoying the view at Chez Black on the beach at Positano
Positano from Nocelle
Sorrento
Sorrento
Ravello window
Sunset over Capri
Li Galli as seen from Villa Greta
Jean and Poppie at Marina del Cantone
The beach deserted just after sunset
The local lads dragging a boat up the beach
Blood red sunset – Positano
Hangover morning in Positano
Jean still browsing at speed
Fauno Bar – part of Sorrento since 1950
Tree in main piazza in Sorrento
Poppie see a cat
Twilight in Positano in early December
Trevi Fountain in Rome – December 11
The terrace, Cenobio Dei Dogi, Portofino Coast
First glimpse of the mountains just north of Torino (Turin)
Girls relaxing in our room at La Ferme de Cortanges
Jean at 154 km/h on the way to Calais
Snowy berries
Frozen Megane
Clock in front of Minster
The Minster in York
Castle Howard across the South Lake
Milton Keynes at sunset
The York Minster on a chilly December night
The Anchor, Aspley Guise
What’s more English than Holly in winter?
January – our place in the UK on a sunny winters day
Park Cottage, Aspley Guise
Narrowboats moored along the Grand Union canal
Winter moon
Flying the flag in Woburn
The Grand Union
Grand Union locks No 26, 25 and 24
Skating at Woburn Sands
Our new place in Bromham
Our Fiat on Sunday morning
Poppie still in the snow
Daisy minding the car while I’m taking photos
After the snow had fallen
A great way to keep the beer cold
Daisy before her groom
Daisy asleep in Jordan’s room
Poppie contemplates freedom
Out of quarantine, Poppie poses for a shot
Waitarere Beach looking south
Shell on the beach
Birds and beach looking north
Those Cloudy Bay Hills
The distant hills of Marlborough on the drive south
Shags on a rock with Kaikoura in the background
Classic beauty – Marlborough pasture and hills in the background
The Porsche 356 coupe and replica 550 Spyder
The quintessential New Zealand scene – sheep and mountains
An unusual rocky outcrop
Quite a contrast to our first view of the mountains the day before
A location used in the Lord of the Rings – according to the locals
Playing with Poppie
Wellington on a good day
Same good day but looking north
Hataitai Beach and boathouses
Not our usual spring weather
An afternoon on the deck with friends and family
Morning Mist over Waimea Inlet
Solace from the right – Wellington
The lagoon at the end of Frank Kitts Park
A leap off the wharf into the unknown
Our Tui
More from the Writers Walk
Sad August days – Daisy aged 15 years and 7 months passes away
Toi Toi, blue sky and sun – summer at the beach
Rain across the bay
The coast looking towards Abel Tasman National Park
Porsche 550 replica at sunset
A gratuitous shot of the 911 used as transport for the shoot
Bella – day one
Bella can’t get up onto the bed – yet
Snow across the harbour
A Tern enjoys a bath
More birds waiting for take off
The famous Maranui Surf Club and Cafe
Waiting for a wave, waiting, waiting …
Gull on a pole
The Interislander ferry heading south
Looking south
Waves pummel Owhiro Bay
… somebody to lean on.
Lean on me …
toscanakiwi 
Hi they are fantastic photos, what a wonderful time has been had by all, still my all time favourite is Daisy sitting on the clean laundry, have always loved that, mind you they are all so good really hard to pick a favourite. Hope your house is all ok and that Wellington is back to normal really soon. Take care Sue
Hey Sue, it’s all good at Kainui Road apart from two confused dogs and a couple of shaken owners.
The shots of York reminded me of the weekend away. A great few days but jeez it was cold.
Cheers
G
Has always been interesting to follow your adventures and activities. Your picture taking skills make it even better and has resulted in a great many additions to my bucket list. (As if it didnt have enough already)
Thanks mate. Really appreciate the support. G
Fantastic pics Graeme well done. But where’s the shot of an English Electric? How about the 7.21am Peace Train from Johnsonville hurtling down the Ngaio gorge in a southerly with white knuckled commuters – wild eyed and grimly clutching the seat in front?
Sadly no train shots. And also sadly no EE’s anymore, they’ve all been put out to pasture (or scrapped). It just won’t be the same. Keep the comments coming old thing.
Cheers
G
I stumbled across your blog on wordpress reader and I have enjoyed reading it. Your photography is awesome. Congrats on so many posts. Looking forward to following your blog.