Visitors and pre-Christmas parties

Morning tea at Botanic Gardens with Rose and Tui

It has been a busy few days with end of year parties for two quilting groups, and visits by two lovely people. Rose, the mother of one of Jonathan's friends had an overnight stopover on her way to Palmerston north and it was a delight to make a new friend. Rose lives in the rain forest above Byron Bay and she is a water colour artist, but our conversations ranged wide and deep. Brief visit but we walked our foreshore here at Wattle downs, I had an impromptu lesson on painting, and we had a weather
interrupted walk and cuppa at the botanic Gardens. I hope we can catch up in Palmerston north - maybe take a girls day out painting??

 Then Joan, a good friend Sydney,  called in for the beginning of a week's R&R - another welcome visit. The Botanic Gardens got another visit in the early evening, and we took Peter

The pohutukawa avenue in December - glorious

Joan with one of the sculptures - each disc had a picture and the name of a Vietnam vet

with us, and after my sewing group lunch we went to Waiheke for the afternoon. Beautiful weather, beautiful island and good company! And fabulous sunset coming home on ferry. Walked, talked, and meditated - wish it could have been longer but knowing you look forward to further visits is what makes these visits even more special.

Oneroa beach Waiheke

Coming back on the ferry - the city aflame in the sunset

Peter and Tui helping with the shopping

I have been out in the garden planting, after an expensive visit to Bunnings, and with the weather continuing to be so hot and dry watering is a necessity. When they put the houses in here I think they scraped the soil down to clay, so need to build up the beds - going to be spending lots on compost! Blackberries ripening and hoping the blueberries will be ready soon.

Baby quilt for Wynn - better late than never!

Not enough sewing this week, although I posted off the baby quilt to Kelly and made a little dress for Annabelle which only needs hemming - need to check her length - but I spent up large at the Farmers half price children's clothing sale. I followed that by a basket full of stuff at  Toyworld - bits and pieces - now all I need is some more stocking fillers. Had a brilliant idea for a present for Jonathan, photo later! and the online shopping I did arrived - great photobook for the kids but it was printed in India! It truly is a global marketplace!

Glorious weather, especially now I have mastered getting the heating system fan blowing cool air. So quiet and peaceful here I hate leaving to go out.

A magical weekend

A quietly busy week with my usual commitments, but adding in lovely hot weather which required garden maintenance. Took Peter for an energetic walk around the foreshore ( me being energetic) and a couple of other shortish walks with Tui plus some digging in the garden had me feeling quite physically well, although no lighter on the scales!

I had fun experimenting with painting on fabric on Thursday thinking about how I could do a quilted block with an illuminated letter L and maybe with a lily behind it? Not sure if I can do this the way I want to but will hopefully find another day to play in this busy month.

Saturday was a busy day - there was the Auckland Quilting Guild Christmas party which wasnt quite as festive as I would have liked - maybe just too many people and not enough mixing and mingling.. and then went on to Digby Crompton's funeral at St Marys  at the cathedral in Parnell. A very beautiful service with a huge crowd, only the family spoke which prevented it turning into a long drawn out affair. He was a giant of a man physically, spiritually and in so many ways. Much loved. So glad I went. Then on home and quickly packed the campervan.

I set off about 5:30pm and found Peter and Su at Waiomu on the Thames coast - there is a spot there

 that self contained campervans are able to park so that was great - close to the water and a beautiful sunset which I cant seem to photograph well!  The next morning dawned still and big blue sky, and Peter Pat and I went for a paddle - gorgeous - over two hours and although the arms protested a bit there was no problem, I still now how to do it and I was in heaven. Thank you Peter for bringing the double! The pohutukawas are starting to bloom so there was red colours all along the foreshore, just love the Thames coast road - predicting a long hot summer, so they say!

Afternoon was mostly resting, soaking up the sun, did some hand sewing, Jim and Pat Mercer live across the road at Waiomu so they came across and chatted for an hour or so, and much later around 5:30 Jane came up from Thames to join us and we had a good chinwag. Lovely to see her..  Love these long summer evenings. The first time I have put the awning up ( so easy!) and sat around for such an extended period of time. This is what campervans are for!!  Another gorgeous sunset!

Monday morning we went for another paddle - another awesome, still, warm morning - only an hour or so as the arm muscles were protesting a bit - we are all over 70 so I thought we did well. After a late morning tea we loaded up and drove tot he end of the Waiomu Valley Rd to do the Coast to Kauri walk. An hour each way and the last bit was very steep stairs but alongside a clear stream, a ell maintained track and gorgeous NZ bush all the way. My legs made it back to the van, just!

Bridge number 2

Ponga fronds unfurling

A few of the 100 steep stairs near the top

Filmy ferns 

We made it! A pretty big kauri tree ! not as big as Tane Mahuta at Waipoua but a great specimen!

A leisurely afternoon tea/ early dinner  and I set off back about 5:30pm  Real easy drive back.

I have been in at the University this morning selecting two women who will receive full fees scholarship for their degree at University of Auckland. These are slightly older women who are having a second chance at education. Great people - very deserving and so very committed.

Magical Mangawhai.

The week ended with a trip to magical Mangawhai, after a few days of glorious weather last week.

The rose bushes - sort of hedge roses in the back yard are all in flower and looking a picture - together with my new Sexy Rexy rose in the large pot. The bush roses are even more prolific now, covered in pionk blossom. I put netting over the blueberries and blackberries - hope the birds dont get the blueberries - the bushes are laden. Felt quite virtuous in the garden last week.


Charmian and Jane came to lunch on Monday and I "played ladies" with a nice quiche , salad and danish pastries ( all made by me in under an hour ). Tuesday Peter came  home for a while while i did some gardening.

Wednesday i went in to the Golden Graduates lunch at the Pullman hotel  ( I got given a rose as a

Prof Manying Ip taking a selfie with me

Golden Graduate - 50 years ago i got my MSc) I sat with one of my Chemistry Professors and some people from Continuing Education and Psychology. I hadnt seen any of the Science people although I later realised Val and Vic were there and irene who had been in my class way back at intermediate school. Lots of grey haired people there - quite a few 60 years ago graduates and even two who graduated 70 years ago! The photo is one taken by Prof Manying Ip who was on a writing retreat with me many years ago. She is a very prominent activist  in the Chinese Community and highly regarded scholar. Good speakers this year including Prof Jane Harding and emeritus professor Michael Corballis and the lunch was adequate. Had to pay $50 for lunch and $25 for parking so it was an expensive lunch!  By the time I got home I was pooped  with a headache and didnt go in to Philosophy but spent the evening putting the last of the Vision magazine online so it is ready to  go "live" That took several hours to check and double check and resize pictures etc.

Thursday sewing and I played around with my letter L block - trying out several ideas - need to get some enlarged and start sewing. Drove Gloria to the airport.

Tui on the beach - Alfie is off in the distance

Friday morning I packed up and set off to Mangawhai - took my time with stops at the RV centre at Albany ( bought a new chair and replacement sachets for the toilet, then to Silverdale - to the Bendon shop, then lunch stop beside the beach at Orewa - lovely weather for it - people in swimming and then finally got to Mangawhai about 2:15pm. Dorothy there a bit before me.
we walked and walked - Alfie got on well with Tui - and I let Tui run free on the beach - she got really scruffy but enjoyed it, and then we talked and talked, had a lovely healthy dinner and a restful
evening.

Both dogs decided they liked our laps!

I love it up there - the little stream trickling and very peaceful. I got up early on Saturday and find it ideal for doing some reading - a lovely atmosphere - full of sattva. We walked  along the beach again, went to the market in at the Mangawhai village ( and yes I spent money on things I didnt know I needed! like the lovely cheeses from the Kaiwaka based Dutch cheese shop) - we came back and ate some of our purchases  and went for more walks...

Dorothy went home in the afternoon and  did some drawing, some sewing and some reading and did a couple more walks - Tui was looking a bit tired but i was determined to get my steps up to 10,000. My legs were quite sore but if i am to enjoy travelling next year I must get these legs going better - not my knees - just general stiffness and feet possibly arthritis?

Overcast but still beautiful

 Sunday another early, peaceful start - good place to meditate - then a quick tidy up as Dorothy has some golfers using the place next week, and I spent another hour or two parked up by the beach. Did some more drawing, reading and walking - Tui really dragging her feet now!

Cute little cove at Te Arai - crystal clear water

Te Arai beach - the specks are surfers

Drove to Te Arai Point - very pretty even on the overcast day - the surfers  and fishermen were out - only downside was the metal road which sure needed regrading - a real boneshaking ride! But very pretty spot. Dog not allowed on the beach, they are working hard to try and protect the nesting sites of some endangered sea birds but she had a walk up on the grass.
Then a lazy drive back via  Helensville with quick call in at Kaukapakapa to see progress on R and D's new house.

All well at home, more roses looking lovely and another lovely week finished.

Quick trip to Palmerston North

Well the week just gone was another busy one.
Went to the movies last Wednesday morning and saw Murder onthe Orient Express - the 2017 version. It was pure Agatha Christie with every character having hidden depths - sometimes it is fun tot ry and work out the relationships of each character before it is revealed - no character in an Agatha Christie novel is exactly what they seem. Quite fun seeing the well known actors in these roles - Judi Dench is always fantastic - and after a little while one warmed to Kenneth Branagh's version of Poirot. The moustache was a work of art although we probably had got used to seeing the TV version of Poirot - who is much chubbier, and walks a bit more duck footed.

Another busy day sewing and then off on Friday to Palmerston north - we flew right over my house. Quite fun seeing it from the air and then couldnt see Ruapehu as I think the plane was actually overhead. The pink rooftops are Acacia Cove and the green strip is th golf course, so I think my house is right at the bottom of the window in the centre.

After Jonathan took Callum off to Wellington by bus for their boys' trip, I took the girls out to dinner at Chinatown, and then bought a couple  more dresses and shorts for them. Annabelle is growing fast! and Cordelia is fitting in to Annabelle's last summer clothes.

Friday night dinner at Chinatown - one of Daddy's rituals ( but without Daddy this time)

Saturday was a mixture of action packed and Nana trying to have a rest after being woken at 5am.
We  did a little grocery shopping, and then went to the Lido swimming pool. They love it although Nana's knees get a work out when she is being used as a diving platform!
Compulsory rest after lunch and later in the afternoon I enrolled as a member for Geocaching which is an international "game" of finding items which have been hidden and can only be located by their GPS co-ordinates. The kids had been introduced to it at Keas ( baby version of Cub scouts) and their are several "hidden" in  Palmerston North . One was close to the Palmertston North square which was only meant to be 350m from Jonathan's house so the girls and I set off to find it - very successful!  So we wrote int he logbook and looked at the items left in the box, resolving next time to place our own item in the box. This could be a fun activity for the kids - the GPS on the phone app sort of guides you to the right place - but I am sure most of them are better hidden!

Our first geocache.

Writing in the log book.

  The boyse returned well after tea and Callum was pooped - his visit to the zoo handling the lemurs was successful  and they did other stuff, but apparently a lot of walking and one 7 year old looked a bit tired.

Sunday
        The girls and I made banana choc chop muffins - very successfully while Daddy watered gardens and then we went out to buy some plastic tablecloths for the BBQ Daddy was having for his Stats department. My friend Christine drove me to the airport and a lovely flight home.  My little Tui was excited to see me again although quite obviously she had fun with "Auntie Margaret and Uncle John" and her playmate Bella. Peter was also pleased to see us.

Then a big sleep for Nana - I feel very old sometimes when trying to keep up with 4 and 5 year olds!

Monday
Visitors for lunch today - old friends Charmian and Jane with whom I have worked on the Kate Edger Educational Trust - made lovely quiche and salad. Glorious day to show off my little house.

New rateable valuations came out today - the CV for my house is now $850,000.   Wow! Those around me have a bigger floor area so are a bit more, so although they say the property bubble is not continuing to grow, some values do appear still to be holding!  Interestingly you can now see everyone else's CV as well - makes interesting reading.

Off to doctor - I have best Blood pressure in a while so just need to lose a few kgs and I will feel like a million dollars.

mid November

Gosh - we are now reminded it is only 6 weeks to Christmas! ye gods - I still have the Christmas lists from last year. Seems like yesterday.

Been a busy week as I tried to get the material for the eVision magazine all finished to go off for approval before publishing. Awaited a last article which ended up being four pages instead of 2 and needed quite a bit more editing, so I ended up needing to write another two pages which I did  and then an editorial - so many hours later by Sunday 11.30pm I had it done.

My version of the Rainbow Connection block

Saturday I went to the quilting Guild and needed to prepare the bits to do a demonstration of Quilt as you go techniques - and finished the block for the Rainbow Connection group - will be able to post that off now. And I finally did the facings for the Auspicious Symbol wall hanging and it looks good on the wall - just need to get the hanging system better organised.

My Auspicious Symbol wall hanging - finished!

I am enjoying the hand quilting on the "White on White" wall hanging - not finished yet but not far off and then I can do the Faded Roses wall hanging and my Challenge "L" wall hanging - the lsit goes on - I dont think I will ever run out of projects! 

I went to dinner  with the people from the P level Philosophy groups - good company.

I took Peter out on Sunday to meet Robyn at Dog show but had the wrong day so we went and had a drink at the Ardmore Airport cafe where the Warbirds Open Day was on and there were Harvards, Mustangs and Tiger Moths doing fly pasts. I didnt take him down for them to make a fuss of him, his "cognitive impairment" makes that inappropriate. He keeps telling people he is the "22 man" because he shot down 22!  Beautiful weather for flying! 

Peter with the Harvards doing a flypast and the Mustang had just landed - 

Then Monday morning got a phone call 6am - Peter had another little heart attack and was in Middlemore - no real drama but I stayed most of the day so that I could make sure they got the right end of the stick and that he got fed, got his insulin etc.  He does need someone with him. He was transferred to a ward and after observation got sent home today - basically the geriatrician said that there is nothing they can do for him - he has had the bypass and he just should use the nitro spray but they did prescribe some medication which might help stave off the angina . Brought him home to give him lunch and see Tui and he is now having a sleep in my bed. He made some quite lovely comment about "Was I sure I was well - he had a thought I  might not be and that would be really bad. He wouldnt like that." Rather sweet. He very affectionate at the moment - brings back nice memories.

Big thunder lightning and hailstorm passed over - 10 min before and 10 minutes after we have blue skies but it looked like snow on the ground.

A fresh start

Time I got going again with this blog - it forms a useful record and was fun to look back on.

It has been over a year now and Peter is well settled in and although i get attacks of the guilts I am sure the current arrangement is better for my mental health at least.

So I am in my new house, the sun is finally shining after a very long drawn out wet and windy winter. Just ordered a  new garden bag so that I can do wonders in the garden and then hopefully give this place a personal touch.
A highlight of the last few months was our little party to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. Held at Bupa and Peter was quite the host, he enjoyed it and it was great that friends did come and join us. Pity i couldnt bring jonathan and family up but with the impending house shift it was all too much. Catherine was over and she and Jane were very helpful. Lovely to see Bill Garlicka nd his family, and Rosalind and Colin, and Sue and Peter and Val and Vic. Great also that Jason and jonita and their family were able to be there. Lovely cake made by my friend Gloria - and Bupa staff were very helpful.

I will have to load up photos into more accessible position so as to include them in this blog - but will do that gradually!