i hit the jackpot!!!!

so i am living quite the luxorious lifestyle here in waiheke...or as stephen merriman calls it "the 'heke." i got in to meet the trick's and their son on may 12th ish and got an amazing tour of the island...Its a very arsty, laid back island...you'll see many cars with bumper stickers that read "far enough behind to still be ahead" and its quite suiting. mike and ilona are great to be around. i have felt at home in their house since i walked in the door. mike and ilona were living in Pittsburgh before coming here for a year. Micheal is doing work and research over at Auckland University and Ilona is trying to keep the waiheke heritage museum afloat... alexander is my new friend i hang out with ;) technically am a live in nanny, but i avoid the term nanny at all costs. We get along great. He is a bright kid and always has a bright smile on his face. alexander just turned 3 and is quite adorable. ah yes, so the pictures above... the top left is taken from the house i am in staying in. the house is gorgeous and as you can see has great views. we can walk to the beach in under 3 minutes and as in russell, i can hear the waves crashing (in my king sized bed!!!!) from my room.

this photo is a statue of a very enlarged set of lips....michealangelo's david to be exact...









the other pics are of the beach beneath the house, and the other day i was fortunate to see a group of horses galloping on the sand...








see why i labeled this entry "i hit the jackpot"