July at A Deer Cottage – The People, Places, and Kindness That Carries Us

adeercottage
2 days ago
6 min read

Winter has certainly settled over A Deer Cottage Bed and Breakfast in Kaukapakapa, Auckland.

The hills overlooking the beautiful Kaipara Harbour have taken on their winter colours, the mornings have been crisp, and the rain has certainly made its presence known. Yet even on the greyest days, there is something incredibly peaceful about watching the ever-changing skies, listening to the birds, and appreciating the beauty of our little corner of the countryside. If you wish to find out more about A Deer Cottage, you can find out here

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Loving these Winter evenings at A Deer Cottage

July has been a month of many emotions — challenges, celebrations, remembering, friendship, family, and unexpected moments of kindness.

More than anything, this month has reminded me how important the people around us are, and how much the little moments in life truly matter.

Taking One Day at a Time

For those who have followed our blogs over recent months, you will know that I have been navigating some ongoing health investigations.

This month included an angiography, another important step towards understanding what has been happening with my heart. While there are still further appointments and investigations ahead, including discussions around a heart MRI and recent findings, I am grateful to have wonderful specialists supporting me and helping find answers.

My lung specialist was also reassuring, and it appears my lungs are not the cause of the concerns we have been investigating, allowing the focus to remain on my heart.

There are certainly days where I feel tired, short of breath, and anxious about the unknown. Health journeys can be challenging, especially when you are waiting for answers.

But I am learning to take things one day at a time.

Sometimes hope doesn't arrive all at once. Sometimes it arrives quietly — through a kind word, a beautiful sunset, a cup of tea with a friend, time with family, or simply enjoying the peaceful surroundings of A Deer Cottage.

Celebrating Life, Remembering Life

Life has a beautiful way of reminding us just how precious it is.

This month we gathered with family and friends to farewell a loved one, while also celebrating an extraordinary milestone — a 100th birthday.

This celebration was particularly special for Te Kani, who helped organise the occasion as the President of the Senior Rates Navy Mess.

Jim, whose 100th birthday we celebrated, is not only a dear personal friend but also a Life Member of the Senior Rates Navy Mess and proudly affiliated with HMNZS Otago.

The celebrations began on Thursday with Jim and his family visiting the Devonport Naval Base, where they enjoyed photographs in front of HMNZS Otago, followed by finger food and time together at the Senior Rates Navy Mess.

Then on Saturday, family and friends gathered for a beautiful smorgasbord dinner, heartfelt speeches, photographs, and wonderful memories shared across generations. It was so special seeing Jim surrounded by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and family members who travelled from both New Zealand and Australia to celebrate such an incredible milestone.

One of the highlights of the evening was Jim’s beautiful birthday cake, decorated with a photograph of Jim and his beloved late wife Joan, along with a Navy cap — such a fitting tribute to a lifetime of love, memories, and service.

The dinner included many of Jim’s favourite foods, including mussels served in their shells, which were a particular favourite of his.

Perhaps the most special part of the evening was simply seeing Jim enjoying every moment. Arriving at 4pm and leaving at 9pm, he embraced the celebration, surrounded by the people who love him. What an incredible memory his family will treasure.

The very next day, we celebrated my sister Rachie’s 60th birthday.

I made her a lemon cake using our late Mum’s treasured recipe. It felt like a lovely way to bring a little piece of Mum into our celebration.

In true sisterly fashion, we had a wonderful laugh when we discovered that Rachie had also made the exact same lemon cake!

I think Mum would have loved that. Her recipes, her traditions, and her love continue to live on through our family.

Celebrating Friendship, Family and New Memories

July also gave us the opportunity to celebrate dear friends and the importance of making time for the people who matter.

Last weekend, we travelled seven hours to celebrate our friends BC and Colin’s 70th birthday.

This friendship circle holds special meaning, as our dear mutual friend Shawn, who sadly passed away, remains lovingly remembered. Gatherings like these remind us that friendships are precious, and that sharing stories, laughter, memories, and new experiences together is something to treasure.

For this journey, we were lucky enough to have Wiremu’s fiancée, Jessica, join us for the trip. It was wonderful having her with us and welcoming her further into our family adventures.

Wiremu had taken leave from the Army and was able to drive us home, giving us beautiful time together.

On the journey home, we stopped at the Army Museum in Waiouru to share a little piece of New Zealand’s military history with Jessica. It was a wonderful experience and another memory added to our family story.

These moments of connection — celebrating friendships, welcoming new family members, remembering those we have lost, and sharing experiences across generations — are what make life so special.

A Little Piece of Childhood Memories

Something very special also happened this month that reminded me how powerful memories and places can be.

Over many months, I had been communicating with a gentleman from Christchurch who was visiting Auckland. He had beautiful memories of the Under the Mountain series by Maurice Gee, which was filmed in 1981.

The Wilberforce house featured in the series was set on our Lake Pupuke frontage where I grew up.

During his visit, he hoped to meet with my sisters and me, as we still have memorabilia from that time that we were able to share with him.

It was such a lovely experience to see how a place from someone’s childhood could still hold such meaning many years later.

It reminded me that places are never just places.

They hold stories.

They hold memories.

They hold pieces of our lives.

The Kindness of Guests

One of the most touching moments of this month came from some very special returning guests.

After enjoying another peaceful stay at A Deer Cottage, they were preparing to leave when they shared something that completely made my day.

They had helped themselves to our linen cupboard, found fresh ironed linen, and made the bed before checking out.

It was such a simple act, but it meant so much.

They didn’t have to do it.

They chose to.

That beautiful gesture reminded me that hospitality is truly a two-way gift.

We love welcoming our guests, creating a peaceful place for them to relax, and sharing our little piece of paradise — but sometimes our guests give back in the most unexpected and heartwarming ways.

Finding Peace in the Simple Things

Although winter has been a quieter season at A Deer Cottage, it continues to bring me so much joy.

Peace can be found in so many simple things.

Watching the sunsets over the Kaipara Harbour.

Listening to the birds.

Spending time in our garden.

Sitting beside my marine aquarium, watching the beautiful corals, our playful clownfish, and the colourful tangs moving peacefully through the water.

There is something incredibly calming about watching that underwater world.

Looking Forward

As August approaches, my thoughts are turning towards family.

If all continues to go well after my upcoming cardiology appointment, Te Kani and I are looking forward to travelling to Australia to spend precious time with our daughters and beautiful grandsons.

That thought brings so much excitement and hope.

Here at A Deer Cottage, we continue to welcome guests who are looking for somewhere peaceful to rest, reconnect, and enjoy the slower pace of country life.

Whether you are visiting family, attending a nearby wedding, exploring the beautiful Kaipara region, or simply needing a peaceful escape from everyday life, we would love to welcome you.

Sometimes all we need is a place to pause.

A place to breathe.

A place to watch the sunset.

A place that feels like home.