Gosh it is mid November already

mid November

Going backwards over the last few months a few trips and events stand out
-Brian G came over and concreted the pad for me to park the Campervan on

- I drove Rose - a friend from Byron Bay - down to Palmerston North in the campervan via the Wanganui River Road - cloudy and wet but still a lovely drive

Rose grew up here in Taumaranui

Half an old Maori canoe  at Pipiriki

My lovely misty Wanganui River

The weather has suddenly gone cold and wet - and just when i was getting inspired to do a bit more gardening!  I have lovely purple sweet peas out and my roses are madly blooming. I have also put netting over my strawberry, blackberry and blueberry plants/bushes. It was a bit of an effort for the blueberries but already I am getting more blackberries and strawberries than I got last year, so keeping my fingers crossed for a bumper blueberry harvest.

Peter is ticking along OK - although we have the odd minor dramas eg he is not drinking enough and he is currently on a saline drip - but I doesnt like it as he says it inflates his belly, so I am calling in every day to ensure he takes his medication and drinks more. I think I might have to resort to chocolate milkshakes - he usually likes them! It is a bit hard to know whether to laugh or cry sometimes - this morning he said the reason his kidneys are failing is that he only has one - he gave the other one to "that silly bugger", and when I enquired who he said Jonah ( Jonah Lomu!) but then he laughed and said, didnt do him much good, my kidney must have poisoned him because he died.  Didnt know what to say to that one, no use contradicting him.. but it was rather funny.

Catherine was over for four days in mid november - and we took Peter out a couple of times and called in on him the others - he enjoyed going tot he dog show with us to see his daughter with her dogs, and Catherine enjoyed catching up with her half sister and then later with her friend Jane. It was nice having her over - we sorted out a few things around the house and as usual she enjoyed her shopping at the big Dressmart outlet.

I am having very busy weeks at the moment, but my best piece of news is that my flatmate from Sydney, Joan, has suggested we do a two week trip to Sicily and Italy in the April school holidays - and we are going to tack on three days in Rome at the end of it, as I have never been there. I will need to ensure I get as fit as possible and stay well! The tour is organised by the NSW Art Gallery and they send a well informed Australian guide with us - maxm 24 people, so I have paid my deposit and looking forward to that!

I will post this one now as I need to update this blog a bit more regularly - but not right now - got a huge to do list.