23

Sheep: Front Paddock lane 2 day 1

Bleak day. Morning, haircut and got some extra milk because Gill & Ben are due later today.

An air lock in the water pipe stopped water being pumped up into the header tank in the homestead attic so I fiddled about with that, turning on water from the rainwater tanks to see if that would dislodge the lock and also undoing one of the connections on the input to the pump. Water was getting to the pump at this stage so I reconnected and restarted the pump and hey presto (fingers crossed) water is flowing into the header tank once again.

In preparation for the visitors I vacuumed up the latest batch of cluster flies from the main bedroom, bathroom, passage, and loo upstairs. I put a heater on in the main bedroom and turned on the electric blankets. Turned on the hot water, upstairs and down (risky) but nothing else seemed to be affected.

Early evening Gill & Ben took me over to Havelock North where we joined Peter and Charlotte for a meal at the Indian restaurant.

Later, when we got home, Karola and Barney Facetimed/Skyped (video chat) from Ealing.

Oak Avenue Weather:11℃—17℃ no rain [81.9]

24

Sheep: Front Paddock lane 1 day 3 – bales 1

SwimGym

Then, straight after the Gym, without going home, I wnet to A W Holder, Plumbers, in Warren Street in Hastings. They provided a snugger-fitting cap for the pipe I’m trying to mend – another $12 of course.

I then turned off the water again, recut the pipe and re-glued the new cap on. This time there was no tell-tale drip, not even after lunch, several hours later. So I think it’s fixed. Water is turned back on – still no drip – but I need to see if the homestead water supply is working again; there may be an air-lock.

Lots of work on both projects today and in the most wonderful winter weather – cool but brilliant sunshine – 20 degrees in Hastings today, allegedly.

Anna’s Photo Of Karola Walking On The Cliffs At La Crèche in July

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—20℃ no rain [82.1]

25

Sheep: Front Paddock lane 1 day 2

A busy and productive day although not without its upsets.

First I broke one of Karola’s wooden bowls, the smaller one. It fell off the fridge and the edge broke. My eyesight and unsteady hands are not able to mend it so I’m hoping maybe Gill or Ben can help when they come up in two days time.

Then special project number two sprang into action, the only problem being that in the course of the afternoon part of the system delivering well water to the homestead got broken. Quite a lot of gushing water until I turned it off at the well head, but this soon soaked away. I’v tried to mend the leak by going to AF Holder down on Omahu Road and getting a cap and some solvent. I glued the end on as suggested and the bond was strong but there’s a little leak – so I’ll have to try again.

Otherwise there was significant progress on both projects.

A Real Frost This Morning

Oak Avenue Weather:1℃—16℃ 0.1mm rain [82.0]

26

Sheep: Front Paddock lane 1 day 1

SwimGym – down to 4 degrees in Hastings outside the Gym.

Had a good “facetime” with Karola and Anna, Dave, Barney and Felix this morning after the gym. It was Barney’s birthday and he’s got his own proper PC laptop of which he’s very proud.

Beautiful day though pretty crisp and lots of progress on the project.

Sheep given new swathe, moving from the One Acre to the Front paddock.

Oak Avenue Weather:-2℃—13 no rain [81.2]

27

Sheep: One Acre lane 5 day 3 – 1 bale

Sunday chores all done before lunch – except that the lawn doesn’t need mowing and with Mischievous Maids coming fortnightly I have given up sweeping the floor upstairs in the cottage.

Henare came round as planned at lunchtime and we had a good session all afternoon, digging big holes and filling them in. No wind and sunny so a nice afternoon for woking outside.

Set a couple of elderly rat traps in the cottage sun porch. (No, no – the traps are old – the rats are new). Am a bit bored with being woken or startled by the loud wood-gnawing sounds behind the TV in the cottage.

Fed a bale of pea straw to the sheep. I noticed that 4-5 of them are limping but not badly and it doesn’t stop them galloping towards free food.

Oak Avenue Weather:1℃—13℃ no rain [81.7]

28

Sheep: One Acre lane 5 day 2

Bright sunny day mostly and Bramble and I spent most of it working on our project. Good progress today. Maybe Henare will come and help too tomorrow.

Warm & Snug On WInter’s Evening

Oak Avenue Weather:2℃—14℃ no rain [81.6]

29

Sheep: One Acre lane 5 day 1

SwimGym

The sheep exchanged their eaten-out swathe of the One Acre paddock for a fresh one – the last one in the One Acre. The first swathe which they stopped grazing about 10 days ago is recovering nicely.

Then shopping – just for me and Bramble and it still came to over $100.

A bit of outside work in the sunshine late afternoon but around 4:00pm there was a rain shower that made everything wet so we retired inside and I lit the fire.

Oak Avenue Weather:4℃—16℃ 0.3mm rain [81.2]

30

Sheep: One Acre lane 4 day 3 – 1 bale

A stunningly beautiful winters day – not a cloud in the sky and no wind.
Bramble and I worked all day of the project as I have completed my marathon TV viewing of 24 episodes of The Eagle in sevn days. A most enjoyable series although the sbject matter was often pretty horrifying – but not visually disturbing – I’d checked with Gill before beginning the series about that.

Sale of Mary’s flat – they paid today which is big burden off Gill.

Tonight I’m going to try one of the Kaweka meals Karola left for me. I’ve started the fire and watched some of the news.

It Must Have Been About 20 Degrees On Verandah At Lunchtime

Karola’s Sheep Moments After Karola Video-Conferenced With Us Mid Morning

Big Excavator Pushing In 3 Metre Posts In The Orchard

Oak Avenue Weather:3℃—15℃ no rain [82.1]

31

Sheep: One Acre lane 4 day 2 – ½ bale

SwimGym

Rain stopped late morning and by late afternoon it was dry enough to venture outside and do a little digging. Back not a problem, thank goodness.Late morning Bramble and I whisked down the road to Greta’s for milk, potatoes, and a cabbage.Had the last of the fish pie tonight. Fire still burning briskly and lots of TV being watched.

Oak Avenue Weather:2℃—10℃ 6.1mm rain [81.7]

32

Sheep: One Acre lane 4 day 1

Cold but mostly sunny day with gale force winds on and off all day. Sheep started a new lane today, much to their relief. Very pleased was able to “Facetime” with Karola in England last night.

Bramble and I:

• refilled the little trailer from our hay shelter with pea straw bales for the sheep – and re-parked the trailer under a tree at the top of the ha-ha.
• filled the other little trailer with wood for the cottage fire and re-parked it in the lea of the go-between the cottage and its garage.
• hovered up cluster flies upstair in the homestead – thinking ahead to Gill and Ben coming – as Karola suggested.
• worked on one of our secret projects despite the bitingly cold wind – Bramble sheltered in the Landrover most of the time.

I printed off some forms for Scott and Henare came round mid evening and picked them up.

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—10℃ 2.8mm rain [82.2]

33

Sheep: One Acre lane 3 day 3 and 1½ bales

SwimGym

Bramble and I gave the sheep a bale of pea straw in the morning and another half a bale in the afternoon, otherwise we were inside by the fire all morning. As it’s dryiing up a bit and there is still a little grass in the current lane ‘m not moving the sheep until tomorrow.

Meticulous Maids came and did their thing after lunch.

Bramble and I went out and dug a couple of modest post holes as it’s stopped raining for now and the ground is beginning to dry out.

Dinner was fish pie with peas and beans.

Bramble Keeping Half An Eye Open Nearby The Post Hole Digging

Fish Pie Made Last Night Now ready For Browning In The Oven

Oak Avenue Weather:1℃—11℃ no rain [82.3]

34

Sheep: One Acre lane 3 day 2

Well last night and today it rained. Thoroughly enjoyable long showers punctured by short breaks – and for a place where the average rainfall is only around 700mm and most days are dry if not sunny the rain makes a pleasant change.

However, that mean’t Henare couldn’t come and dig holes for me – Sunday is the only day he’s not working in the orchards – so I’ll have to wait a week. Also the forecast for the coming week is more rain so both my current projects will be on hold until the place dries out.

Had a nice fire all day, watched too much TV – well DVDs actually – and made two meals. One was a repeat of last night’s beef schnitzel, the other is a fish pie made from offcuts of shark Karola froze for me before she left. The pie I will have tomorrow and maybe the day after as well.

Sheep trample their pasture in the wet so I think I’ll need to move them on tomorrow, a day early.

Bramble insisted she not be cooped up inside all day so I took her for a muddy walk round the orchard – cleaning ourelves on long wet grass on the homeward leg.

Chores done – well not the lawn mowing of course, and not cleaning upstairs now that Karola has arranged for Mischevious Maids to come once a fortnight and clean. That’s Meticulous Maids really.

Oak Avenue Weather:8℃—11℃ 8.7mm rain [82.4]

35

Sheep: One Acre lane 3 day 1

Bramble and I stayed inside if not actually in bed till mid morning hoping for the sun to come out, which it did, eventually and rather weakly. I had the fire going from lunchtime onwards.

We gave the sheep their next swathe of pasture. We fed the geese – who seem only mildly interested so there must be plenty of grass to their taste I guess. After that we just fossicked and mooched pleasantly through the day, continuing with the secret projects – two steps back and one step forward today, but a good step forward.

Henare dropped by just as I was about to have dinner – he, or that is Scott, wants some forms downloaded and sent by email. I gave him a cup of coffee (found some old sugar in a big plastic jar) and sent him on his way.

We’re Ready For The Next Strip

We’ve Finished This One

Ah, That Looks More Like It

Oak Avenue Weather:8℃—13℃ 17mm rain [82.9]

36

Sheep: One Acre lane 2 day 3 ½ bale

SwimGym as usual on a Friday, a little slower than usual because of my back but pretty much back to normal again.

Then, after a hearty protein fix for breakfast (see below) Bramble and I did the Friday food shopping.

A few hours in the cold breeze and occasional sunshine and we made progress on the secret project – Bramble and me that is.

I called Willie the builder re our Days Bay flat and he says he’s sent us emails including an invoice for stage 1 but as I haven’t received any of these – not even as spam – he’ll look into it when he’s next in the office on Monday. Meanwhile he says the draftsman has started on the plans.

Dinner was the Friday usual – I am feeding – some would say over-feeding myself (see below).

Karola told me that “JB” had put up a sign at the orchard entrance last week so today I photographed the signs at each of the three adjacent “JB” orchards.

Breakfast After The Gym – A Protein Fix

That’s What I Call A Hearty Dinner

Karola’s Orchard On A 17 Year lease to “JB Apples”

Bought From Max Douglas – Directly Behind Us to the West

Bought From The Cornes – Directly Across The Avenue to the East

Oak Avenue Weather:4℃—12℃ no rain [83.1]

37

Sheep: One Acre lane 2 day 2 ½ bale

The Genesis electricity bill arrived today – for the Days bay flat. Shock, horror, it was four times the usual amount for a month when we did not visit even for a day. I spoke to the help desk and then asked Gill & Ben if they would mind going out there and checking to see if there was someone living there unbeknownst to us, or if the meter looked like it had been tampered with.

Gang of eight workers came today, six on the tractor planting out, one on another tractor harrowing the rows to a fine tilthe before the planting, and one as liaison with HQ.

Later in the morning Peter Fitzpatrick joined the orchard gang and we chatted. He said that the actual tree rows would begin a bit back from the edge of the reserved house plot area so that even if at some time we put a fence round the house plot there’d still be a headland for the tractors to turn in.

Peter said that after the saplings go in – which will be finished today – then they’ll be putting in the irrigation. They’re going to take all their water from the well in Max’s orchard (which has a big pump) and pipe it across into Karola’s orchard. That way they will be able to control the water distribution from one spot and send in water use measurements from one place for the two orchards. Peter also said that they’d like to adopt our – that is Karola’s – water consent to be part of “JB”s global consent that he shares across all his orchards – leased or owned. Given that “JB” is not going to take any water from our well we could in fact lose the consent through inactivity anyway.

Henare and Ricky came and Henare borrowed the Landrover to cart his new washing machine home to Denise. Unfortunately it was a bit too big to fit in the back so Henare returned and borrowed the big trailer. This time he successfully got the machine home and later in the evening he TXTed to say that the new machine was working and Denise was very pleased.

Bare Rooted Apple Saplings From Nelson

Both Tractors Working

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—10℃ 0.1mm rain [83.1]

38

Sheep: One Acre lane 2 day 1

No SwimGym today as the back was playing up just a bit too much. Walking is fine but the gym antics not on. Got better through walking around and doing stuff – but sitting still exacerbates things.

Last night I heard a loud gnawing sound from between the floors in the cottage, above the TV. Seemed a bit aggressive for a wee mouse. I banged on the wall and it stopped for a while.

Cold day today with occasional outbreaks of sunshine.

Slept for a couple of extra hours and then went out with Bramble and gave the sheep their next swathe of pasture.

Be that as it may, Bramble took me for a short walk in the orchard this afternoon. She spent most of the day sleeping n the drivers seat of the Landrover while I measured and pondered etc.

Still eating the stir-fry I made on Monday.

The Swathe Just Finished

The New Swathe

Much Munching Begins

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—10℃ 0.8mm rain [83.3]

39

Sheep: One Acre lane 1 day 3 bales 1

Cold day and I imagine a lot of snow in the nearby mountains.

Bramble and I went out for bits and pieces for our latest secret project and I sorted out some of the pieces we could reuse from our dump of fencing and other stuff.

Heaving some big posts about I strained my back slightly – so far just aches a bit but would be a tad annoying if, having got my materials ready for a project I was unable to actually do it.

Apart from that it was a day to stay in doors and keep warm.

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [82.7]

40

Sheep: One Acre lane 1 day 2

SwimGym. The World Cup soccer final began at 7:00am so I was able to watch the first half during time at the gym. I then went home for breakfast and then t watch the rest which I’d recorded.

Texts from Karola and email from Sheila and Karola in Maine – Karola is alright, somewhat rested, and very glad to be in Maine again.

Fossicked around all day – don’t know where the time went. Some trips out in the Landrover with Bramble – she is pining for Karola I’m convinced.

I’m Eating Well As You Can See

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [82.7]

41

Sheep: One Acre lane 1 day 1

As usual:
– refill the pills containers
– pay the bills and do other regular computer stuff like email
– mow cottage lawn when it needs it (not this weekend)
– put out rubbish for early Monday pickup

I let the sheep into lane 1 of the One Acre paddock.

I also constructed the five lanes of pasture in the Front paddock ready for when the One Acre is finished.

I found Karola’s treasured navy blue beret – scraped the earthworms off it and hung it back on the fence from whence I suspect it was blown, to dry.

Image my chagrin at breakfast when I spied a mouse hole gnawed in the skirting board and floor. Did it magically appear over night – knowing Karola wasn’t here to wage war – or am I just unobservant. Hmmm.

Room For A Mouse – Just A Small One

Pasture New – One Acre Lane 1

Electric Fencing Of Lanes in the Front Paddock

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [83.1]

42

Sheep: One Acre alley day 3

I went and got 20 bales more pea straw for Karola’s sheep

Karola finished packing and checking; I completed her photo album – and then it was time to leave. Well we did leave an hour or so before it was strictly necessary but that way it was calmer – less stress.

Karola’s plane was only half an hour late which considering the storms they’ve been having in AUckland is pretty good. Karola sent an email from Auckland airport saying she was ready to board for San Francisco.
I scuttled back home of course to cook myself dinner – except that as I was passing right by Snapper Jacks fish emporium I settled for their grilled Terakihi instead.

As it threatened rain and was getting dark I loaded the older pea straw into a small trailer and put it, covered with tarpaulins, under the Cyprus on the edge of the ha-ha – for convenience of feeding out over the next few days. I then stacked the 20 new bales in the hay shed. Just as well – it pelted down for half an hour later in the evening.

After my fish-and-chip dinner I gave Bramble a short lesson then a groom – and she loved the grooming. Then her dinner.

Four Bales Ready To Be Fed Out

The Ladies Wait In Vain This Evening

The 20 Extra Bales Bought Today ($276)

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [83.1]

SwimGym

Sheep: One Acre alley day 2

I zipped into town and got the weekend supplies.

In the afternoon I thoroughly hosed down the big trailer to remove the dust and splinters of the bamboo mulch on the theory that adding bamboo mulch to pea straw would not benefit the sheep. While I was at it I cleaned the outside of the Landrover – also covered in dust, and hosed down the front of the homestead garage. The automatic doors are best if washed free of dust every six months or so – the door technician averred.

Most of the day inside with Karola checking off last minute things relating to her trip and me trying to put together a photo album of some of Karola’s highlights of last decade as a farmer.

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [83.3]

Sheep: One Acre alley day 1

Today I put up electric fence and Karola took fence down. Following Karola’s lead my plan begins with an L-shape in the Front paddock, providing constant access to shelter amongst the eucalypts along the road boundary and an alley along the sloping face of the ha-ha up to the One Acre. The One Acre also has an alley along the eastern fence line and five tranches or swathes at right angles. The finishing touch was for Karola to let her ewes in to the One Acre alley which has not been grazed for months. I’m expecting the One Acre with its five tranches and alley to last between one and two weeks – preferably closer to two.

Our digital photos are somewhat of a mess. We’re not consistent in taking photos of all interesting or important occasions, the majority of the photos have exposure or shake issues, and the dates are often wrong. Oh and there are duplicates – more than I expected – and it’s as if iPhoto had made thumbnails of lots of photos and then upgraded the thumbnail to be a photo in its own right. And the last release of iPhoto decided to turn maybe a quarter of the photos upside down – maybe they were taken upside down and this is just correcting a mistake – but I preferred it when all the photos were right-side-up when first I viewed them. I spent a bit of time today looking back at photos over the last ten years – quite frustrating.

Bridget, bless her soul, organised the moving of a few bits of furniture from Mary’s flat to our garage in the Days Bay flat. Even if I’d flown down to do it I’d have spent half a day getting there and another half day getting back.

The One Acre Paddock Wired Up

Alert Anticipation

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [83.7]

SwimGym

We’ve not experienced the stormy weather battering much of New Zealand – it’s been a very quiet day for us. Karola has made much progress on writing letters and emailing; I have made some long overdue progress on my programming. Bramble is just happy to keep both of us within cooee.

No visitors, expected or otherwise. An old Maori man drove round and round the orchard so Bramble and I investigated – he was picking up roots and branches from the ground prepared for new trees – pulling up the old trees always leaves a lot of obstacles in the soil.

I have found a source for the broken part for karola’s 1998 Honda self-propelled mower – at least I thought I had. Just to double check I went to the Honda agents – the people who sold us the new Honda mower – and they had a look and thought I’d asked the UK people for the wrong cable. So I’ve emailed asking whether they also have the second type of cable for our old mower and await a reply.

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [83.5]

Fire going all day – the old apple wood is pretty good firewood – so inside was cozy.

Karola says that Greg Cornes’ guy came yesterday and took a bit of bamboo for the poles for their pheromone traps in their orchard – as Karola had suggested they do.

Karola put up her last bit of electric fence for now – behind the garage and under the plum tree and around the back door of the homestead. The ewes were very happy.

Karola did a bit of shopping. I had a long snooze by the fire before taking up the programming cudgels again.

The quantity of leaves dropped from the big trees isn’t apparent until the sheep have eaten the grass down a bit – as shown below.

Karola Trying To Collect Leaves With The New Mower

Oak Avenue Weather:7℃—12℃ 5.7mm rain [83.1]

SwimGym

Rewa and son Rangitira came mid morning and Karola helped tem gather a carload and small trailer load of firewood. Karola towed the trailer to Rewa’s place and helped unload too. Rewa is expected back tomorrow for another load which should finish up what’s available right now.

Three Mischevious Maids came and frolicked – I mean cleaned – the cottage this afternoon.

We went to a book signing and short lecture by Peter Wells, a local, popular historian – celebrating his latest offering “Journey To A Hanging”. It was held in the Old Church Restaurant – in Meeanee.

The Book Signing

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—17℃ no rain [83.1]

Busy day what with Karola doing a major rewiring of the sheep area so that they have all round the big oak and I meanwhile mulched another half trailer load and completed mulching the bamboo from the first thee piles along the wind break on the Scott’s boundary.

Rewa’s boys did not turn up today; Rewa sent a TXT apology late afternoon.

Chores all done and more sport watched on TV.

Happy Sheep – From The Cottage Kitchen Window

Oak Avenue Weather:3℃—13℃ no rain [83.3]

Recorded the France-Germany World Cup match last night and watched it straight after breakfast at 7:00am.

Yvonne Wier came for lunch as planned and stayed talking to Karola all afternoon.

More tennis on the TV in the evening, recorded overnight.

Some success with the programming too.

“JB”s People Make Furrows For New Trees

Marker Post Is The Corner Of The Building Plot

… And The Other Corner

Oak Avenue Weather:6℃—18℃ 0.8mm rain [84.0]

Bramble woke us an hour early by bustling about restlessly. I let her out but that didn’t totally satisfy.

Karola did a heap of tidying – in the cottage garage and the cottage – in preparation for her impending overseas trip.

We were mostly indoors today except for a brief outing at lunchtime, it was chilly and only occasionally sunny.

Jenny Price called in just before dinner – to chat and to see why her computer email wasn’t working. It worked just fie here so she did some emails, ate a pie she’d thoughtfully brought with her, and toddled off home.

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—15℃ no rain [83.2]

SwimGym

Karola moved electric fence and mowed nettles and gave her sheep more fresh grass.

I kept on at the programming. One step forward, 2 steps backwards some days.

As a pleasant surprise Peter Offenberger called and suggested he and Charlotte take us to a film at the Napier Globe Theatrette called “Ida”. Polish, black and while, lots of moody silence,a and strangely appealing. Afterwards we went to Kilim in Napier for a Turkish meal and then home to us for coffee by the fire.

Oak Avenue Weather:2℃—12℃ no rain [83.0]

Another tree guard – is there no end to these I wonder. And for me another hour or so mulching bamboo – I’ve decided to mulch just a small section of the long heap of bamboo, the bit that’s basically fallen down. I filled the trailer again and at the end jammed the mulcher – but that was surprisingly easy to fix – just unbolted the face plate and eased out the several pieces jamming the flywheel.

Sheep contented and doing a good job of eating up weeds along the top of the ha-ha. Bramble cavorting about as usual.

.. and a bit of Wimbledon on the TV for Karola.

Oak Avenue Weather:1℃—14℃ no rain [83.5]

SwimGym

Karola kindly did the Friday shopping. I kindly did the dinner. Only 8 days till Karola takes off on her trip.

Between me, Karola, Bridget, and Gill I think we now have a plan for moving several pieces of furniture from 306 Karori Road to the garage of the Days Bay flat next week.

Karola moved some electric fencing and the sheep continue their enjoyment of the lawn, a piece at a time.

I tackled some blackberry entwined in a clump of Hydrangea on the edge of the drive from the cottage across to the homestead. I am lucky in that the latest work gloves I bought actually protect me from the thorns so I can grip and rip in comfort.

Late afternoon a man in a ute called Ron came up the drive looking for 136 Ormond Road.

My programming picked up a notch today – something actually worked.

Oak Avenue Weather:7℃—19℃ 0.1mm rain [84]