Monthly Archives: July 2010

Late morning we went into Napier to pick up a large frozen leg of wild pork from Karola’s friend Rowena and then on to the foreshore for half an hour’s walk with Bicka.

Jenny Hendery called and invited us to a fund-raising debate (entertainment) – Hastings Anglican clergy versus Napier Anglican clergy. Mildly amusing.

Weather:2°C—13°C; no rain [82.0] 06:30

Karola and I went to the Swim Gym in Stortford Lodge, she for another 30 mins or so of swimming in their heated pool, me to have my first gym session with a programme organised by one of the instructors. Many different machines including bicycling, rowing, weights, cross-trainer.

When we got back, after brunch at Bay Expresso, Karola put her ewes on the lawn again. Later in the afternoon Karola did more weeding of the mountain flax after attending the Federation of Graduate Women’s AGM in Taradale.

Weather:-1°C—13°C; 0.1 mm rain [81.4] 06:30

Morning walk. Karola put ewes on the lawn for a few hours and continued her weeding of the mountain flax under the Casurina windbreak along the Scott’s boundary. An overcast cold winter’s day with occasional bouts of weak winter sun. In the evening Karola went out to a Zonta dinner while Bicka and I had ours at home.

Weather:5°C—14°C; no rain [81.2] 06:30

Hour walk in the morning. Mid afternoon Karola and I went to the SwimGym in Stortford Lodge – me to see one of the personal trainers and Karola to swim. We are embarking on a three-days-a-week programme of one-hour session beginning on Friday.

Karola put the sheep on the lawn for the day and they munched away very happily.

In the early evening we went to Havelock North and saw the film “Boy”. Quite a delight, especially the young quiet girl, very well acted, and the setting reminded me of the seaside and surrounding country outside Nelson.

Weather:2°C—13°C; no rain [82.2] 06:30

Hour walk with Bicka in the morning, between bouts of computer work. After lunch we all went into Hastings – the Subaru has begun making scraping sound at the rear which turns out to be a wheel bearing problem to be fixed next week. Also we went to the SwimGym (Bicka stayed in the car, not liking either part of Swim or Gym) and signed up for a month’s membership just to see what it’s like – Karola opted for the swim side, and I the dreadful machines.

It’s Barney’s birthday in England today so we had a Skype session to say happy birthday.

Weather:2°C—17°C; 1.3 mm rain [81.2] 06:30

We all went to Bay City Gym in Latham St, Napier where I had a discussion with one of the organisers of the NZ “Green Prescription” – a programme to get unfit (eg Diabetic) people to exercise in company. Unlike Kaz but like Gill I think I prefer not emphasizing medical conditions or talking about them in groups.

Refreshing walk along the Napier foreshore together. Later, I took Bicka “round the block” and listened to the next part of my Ngaio Marsh murder mystery.

For now, in a probably vain attempt to get something useful done each day, I have given myself three new rules: up at 6:30am, no TV after 8:00pm Mon – Thu, and at least an hour’s exercise a day. However, as Karola remarked, getting up at 6:30am and then going back to bed for couple of hours after making a cup of tea probably isn’t the way it should work.

Weather:3°C—12°C; no rain [81.9] 06:30

Computer work and then off to Napier for brunch at Cafe Divine followed by walk with Bicka along the Napier foreshore – sunny and waves breaking – exhilarating. On the large paddocks either side of the expressway to Napier there were dozens of lambs – how they survived amongst the shallow lakes left all over the paddocks by recent rains is anyone’s guess.

Ewes had another day scavenging for grass and weeds on the new drive and lawns behind the garage.

Took Bicka on the same circuit we went on yesterday but in the reverse direction – it takes about 45 minutes. Listened to the beginning of a Ngaio Marsh murder mystery as we walked.

Weather:0°C—13°C; no rain [81.9] 06:30

A bit cold and damp. Karola went out to a Federation of Graduate Women’s lunch and when she finally returned all three of us went for an hour’s walk round the block – up McNabb Road, along Raupare, down Evenden, and back along Ormond Road; it was dark by the time we got back.

Weather:1°C—12°C; 1.2 mm rain [81.8] 06:30

A beautiful winter’s day; warm out of the gentle but cool breeze. Morning spent in answering e-mails and chasing up Telstra-Clear to reinstate Mary’s dial-up line. They disconnected Mary again and again apologised and said it was their fault; I just would like them to fix it.

Karola put up a bit of electric fence along the new drive and let the ewes in to enjoy any old acorns and weeds and some pieces of lawn near the chook house.

I went on a walk round the orchard with Bicka while listening to the first of 20 or so Maigret stories stored on my iPhone; counting the ewe lambs to ensure they were all there; they were.

The iPad went on sale in New Zealand today; prices are almost identical to those in Sydney when I purchased mine last week – identical after currency conversion I mean.

Weather:4°C—16°C; 13.6 mm rain [81.5] 06:30

In the morning we went shopping; I had some blood tests (nothing new) and we had lunch at the cafe at Hastings new World grocery – I enjoyed gluten-free salmon potato cakes.

I spent several hours, until dark, moving electric fence so that now the ewe lambs – all 20 – have access to the back half of the orchard and the two blocks of apples near the front. It took 7 reels of 300-metre long electric fence.

Weather:5°C—12°C; 7.5 mm rain [81.4] 06:30

The morning highlight was the ring-crutching of the 12 male lambs intended for the works at the beginning of August and the crutch and belly shear of the ewes and 4 potentially in-lamb ewe lambs. All 27 ewes and the ewe lambs #904, #906, #919, and #935 were vaccinated with 5-in-1.

Harry and Chloe dropped by just as the shearing was finishing; they were on their way home to Bulls.

Weather:6°C—14°C; 1.1 mm rain [81.7]

I set up some electric fence so that the ewes could have a fresh strip of grass between the peach trees and the boundary fence.

Harry and Chloe came late afternoon and stayed for dinner as expected. Karola gave us a dinner of lamb shanks and multiple vegetables having simmered the shanks for about 4 hours over 2 days.

Weather:3°C—17°C; no rain [82.2]

We finished packing and went to see Mary in Karori late morning. Light fixed; computer fixed (for now). Mary’s heat pump workign well and her garden in good winter fettle.

Dropped in briefly on Bridget and then off along back road to Tawa and More Wilson. More gluten-free comestibles and then up highway 1 to the Red Cafe at Te Horo for coffee. Next stop Woodville for grilled blue cod and chips, then non-stop, via route 50, for home. Arrived shortly after dark and turned on lights and heating.

Weather:3°C—13°C; 0.1 mm rain [?]

Weather:2°C—13°C; no rain [?]

Weather:10°C—16°C; 8.1 mm rain [?]

Up in good time and off to see Bridget and grand daughters – but no, the car battery was flat as can be. Karola rang AA while I took Bicka for a walk. New battery needed it seems; AA man said original batteries usually only last 5 years or so and ours was 5 years old. $250.00 later we’re off.

Weather:8°C—14°C; 9.7 mm rain [?]

Up at 5:00am – really 7:00am New Zealand time, and off on the train back to the airport. Check in and then the lounge for breakfast. The plane was delayed for couple of hours which made access to the lounge even more worthwhile. Uneventful flight, again, and then the airport bus and local train up to Khandallah to rejoin Bicka. Bicka had been fussed over and wasn’t too upset but had been very cold in the car in Bridget’s garage (with the tailgate open) but at least she was in familiar surroundings. She was extremely pleased to see us (of course).

Bridget and I decided not to do anything with the iPad until the next day, despite the temptation.

Of course, leaving the tailgate open for a couple of days has consequences but with aid of Bridget’s car and jump leads we were able to depart for Pitoitoi.

Weather:5°C—12°C; 1.7 mm rain [?]

First we did the business that made the trip necessary, appearing in person to our financial advisor so that he could open an investment for me in Australia – one that’d I’d be able to manage from now on via the Internet. John Nisbett of Commonwealth Bank of Australia was our host, affable and seemingly on the ball and by lunchtime we’d done what we needed to and got the information we wanted.

Then we met Karola’s friend Vicky Hart (was Esmarian) outside the Apple store. Apple was clean out of iPads to sell but one of the throng of people trying out i-this and i-that told us there might just be one or two left at one of the other two places in Sydney selling the iPad. Most of the people crowding the three floors of the Apple shop were 15 – 30 year old asian boys and girls; most of the rest were well over 40. So Karola, Vicky, and I had lunch and then set off for the department stores. The forts one was also sold out but the second, David Jones, up on the seventh floor, had 3 left and I bought one. However they didn’t have any accessories so I went back to the Apple shop and bought a case and keyboard and some cables. A successful day both for the business and the buying of the iPad. (iPad’s are not available in New Zealand until the end of the month or later).

We left Vicky late afternoon and after a quick tidy-up at the hotel went off to the museum where Karola went round an historical exhibition of abstract art and I had a quiet coffee. From there we walked across a park to Fiona Von Stom’s art gallery – Fiona is a friend of Karola’s from when we stayed in the USA in 1983. We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening meal in a little Italian restaurant nearby with Fiona and Andre, her husband.

Weather:4°C—13°C; 1.8 mm rain [?]

Relaxed day where we just finished packing and drove in to drop off Bicka and the car at Bridget’s place in Khandallah, taking the train into town and then an airport bus out to the airport. Sad that Bicka was so upset by our leaving – she can tell when something’s up and barked for quite a while – we could hear her from the Khandallah station platform until the train came and whisked us away.

Strangely, I hadn’t thought of it before but just as we entered the airport check-in I remembered that I was a life member of the One World alliance and hence our baggage would get priority treatment and we could sit in the Qantas lounge until time to leave. Even luckier, I actually had my identity card with me.

Flight uneventful and we took train into Sydney and walked the 150 metres or so to the hotel. Comfortable and pricey but quite old – the Sofitel Wentworth. Went to a small local restaurant for dinner, expensive but not fancy and excellent food.

Weather:2°C—13°C; 0.7 mm rain [?]

Weather:0°C—10°C; no rain [?]

Weather:3°C—11°C; no rain [?]

Weather:0°C—11°C; no rain [?]

Weather:5°C—11°C; 0.3 mm rain [?]

We travelled via the Manawatu gorge and the west coast, had dinner with Bridget and her girls, and got to Pitoitoi in good time. Weather stormy and so relaxed by the log fire.

Weather:8°C—12°C; no rain [?]

Wintry weather, constant showers but not too cold; not much wind as yet.

Sheep moved into their right paddocks for our trip to Wellington and Sydney. Karola moved piglet and friend into the orchard paddock yesterday. The ewes are now in the Goose Enclosure, Middle Paddock and Island Paddock after a couple of days on the lawn. The ,ale lambs are in a block of apple trees in the orchard; the ewe lambs are in another block.

We’ve got 12 bales of hay from the big shed down to the green shed so that Laurie can feed out if he feels the ewes are hungry.

Jenny Hendery came for soup at lunchtime and to discuss her kitchen refit she had done a couple of years ago. All information pertinent to our cottage refurbishment.

Brien Mahoney visit to see Karola about the Wier Potaka Trust – I think he likes to get out of the office occasionally.

Rest of time spent getting ready for the trip.

Weather:9°C—12°C; 4.8 mm rain [81.8]

First thing Karola and I went into Hastings for haircuts. Meanwhile Ben and Gill packed up and left for Foxton on their slow way home. We then booked flights for a couple of days in Sydney next week and a hotel in the central business district.

Karola spent much of the day in the pouring rain moving electric fence and letting her ewes into the lawn area for the next couple of days.

Late afternoon Karola took me in to Stortford Lodge for another eye test – no problems.

Gill texted from Foxton to say they were safe and warm.

Weather:11°C—13°C; 24.9 mm rain [81.6]

Eye Check appointment in the morning followed by us all, including Bicka, going over to Napier for lunch at Divine Cafe.

After lunch Bicka and I went for a walk on the foreshore while Ben and Gill went shopping.

Late afternoon Karola moved her ewe lambs – well, let them into a bit of the front of the orchard as well as the back; Bicka, Ben and I acted as sheepdogs. Ben, Bicka and I walked most of the boundary as well.

It started to rain.

Another fine mess (meal) in the evening.

Weather:11°C—13°C; 15.0 mm rain [?]

Bicka and I did most of our boundary walk, stopping only to lower the bottom wire for 20 metres or so of the boundary with the Scotts in case the lamb that got into their orchard yesterday really did squeeze under the bottom wire. Then we helped Karola move the ewe lambs’ water trough to their new patch. They’re to move to the place just vacated by the male lambs as it still has much more grass than the whole back half of the orchard. Karola meanwhile had enticed the male lambs to move to their new bit of pasture – they refused to go last night.

Ben and Gill arrived mid afternoon and we had another scrumptious feast of duck and later baked apple.

Weather:3°C—14°C; 2.6 mm rain [81.1]

Karola and I had more cottage discussions this morning; it’s not easy to be sure we’re doing the right thing and it is a huge amount of money, probably.

Electric fence moving today so that the male lambs can begin another fresh acre or two under apple trees. That took all afternoon.

Weather:0°C—15°C; no rain [81.5]

In the morning discussed the cottage heating options with Grayson Allen (027-248-4185) of Peak Plumbing. He confirmed that what we’d settled on made sense – a single liquid-air heat exchanger outside the cottage heating a hot water cylinder with capacity for 2 adults and 2 children and 8 water radiators spread around the cottage.

Bicka and I went for our daily constitutional.

Jenny and Noel Hendery came round for dinner. Karola had prepared a feast starting with wild smoked trout then roast duck and a host of vegetables followed by baked Granny Smith apples stuffed with raisins and dates – delicious! The duck was from Rowena who’s family shot it up at the Mahia. The smoked trout was from a neighbour in return for some apple wood.

Later, Karola and I sat down to watch a recorded Wimbledon match – by recording the live tennis each night we can watch without staying up all night and only a day behind.

Weather:0°C—15°C; 0.1 mm rain [81.9]

Bicka and I walked the boundary as usual. All lambs present and correct.

Karola and Jenny Hendery went to a woman’s gathering, The National COuncil of Women – Hawkes Bay annual fund raiser, to hear a talk by Kate Degoldi; meanwhile Bicka and I had dinner with Noel Hendery and Roger Scott although I was somewhat under the weather and thus not good company. Bicka and I went for a 45 minute walk around some of the Napier bluff near where Jenny and Noel live to try and clear my head.

Weather:0°C—14°C; no rain [82.0]