Monthly Archives: March 2016

Karola off to town for a haircut. Later in the morning I had a dental appointment – like my appointment yesterday I got a call asking for it to be earlier in the day. Crown fitted and all OK. After picking up some food from New World I stopped in at PGG-Wrightsons and ordered some grass seed for oversowing the worst areas of the paddocks – excluding the One Acre of course.

Ruth replied saying she’d make the change re the new shed wall but wouldn’t it look odd. Short discussion with Karola and we’ll leave all the external walls of the garage piece as old-fashioned weatherboard, just like the cottage.

Began making the gate for the path along the ha-ha leading into the Front paddock. Dug a hole deep enough for a 2.1 metre strainer – easy digging but I was glad I could still do it. Then some advice from Karola and we had another plan. I went to Gold Pine and got a new gate of the right length for the gap. We’d rejected using the old rather handsome gate I’d selected because it was just a bit too short and Karola wants to leave as much room as possible for getting a vehicle through between the ha-ha and the wooden wall. Now we probably don’t need the strainer but can fasten the lightweight metal gate directly to the post at the end of the wooden wall.

Stacked the first apple box of firewood along the fence between the Goose Enclosure and the cottage driveway. We have another five boxes of firewood sawn up by Peter Wiffen in return for him having the pieces too big to fit in our cottage wood burner and too thin to bother splitting.

For a couple of days now I’ve been surprised to hear Karola’s iPhone go off – the sound of a morepork – and yet there’s no phonecall. Today we found out what it was. When Alex and Grandma were baking some Brownies the other day Alex set Grandma’s alarm to go off when they were done. But a) Alex set it on daily repeat b) Alex chose the more pork ringtone. Mystery solved, and it’s not a broken iPhone.

Oak Avenue Weather:8℃—20℃ no rain [82.5]

SwimGym – a short one as I was putting together the new workflow. I finished early and waved to Karola, who was on her 24th lap, and she thought I wanted her to hurry so stopped early too.

Just after midnight last night I was about to go to bed when I saw a car, headlights on full beam, nosing its way along the drive. I popped out with a flashlight to see who it was and they drew smoothly up outside the cottage. I scanned the number plate and then swung the torch higher to unveil the word POLICE. Apparently they were just looking round the local neighbourhood because several alarms had been triggered further up the road – we guess they mean the new Delegates winery being constructed on the corner of Ormond Road and Evenden Road.

Funeral of Hilary Jefferys at 11:00am in Napier – Jenny was there as well as some of the Federation of Graduate Women, Hawkes Bay Branch, and of course Hilary’s immediate family who flew out from England.

Karola brought me back after the service and a cup of tea so that I could have lunch, let Bramble out for a while, and then go to my regular biennial eye check – no change there thank goodness. Meanwhile Karola went to the cemetery.

Had a telephone discussion with Paul the builder about the new shed and he reminded me that I’d forgotten to specify that the wall between the shed and the lean-to should be plywood on the outside (lean-to side), not weatherboard. I pinged Ruth to let her know.

Later I sprayed the orchard mower top casing with anti-rust, exchanged the mower for the mini-forks and then used the tractor to bring back one of the apple boxes of firewood sawn up for us by Peter Wiffin from down the road. Peter has been coming now and then to cut up the larger apple trunks for himself and smaller bits that will fit our wood burner for us. He did a bit more over the weekend.

My lenten TV abstinence being over we watched the first episode of the short TV series based on John LeCarre’s book “The Night Manager”. Gripping.

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—20℃ no rain [82.8]

I went to SwimGym this morning as it was shut on Friday and Monday. I tried out a new approach based on the book Bridget suggested – based on High Intensity Interval Training ideas (Michael Mosley).

Then we went to Meeanee and picked up Bramble who seemed none the worse for wear and happy to see us.

On into Hastings where Karola bought flowers and french bread for the dinner party tonight.

Picked lots of mushrooms in the Middle and One Acre paddocks – enough for lunch and to give lots to Henare and to Janet next door.

Exchanged emails with Ruth Vincent and next she will be submitting the shed design to the council for planning consent.

In the evening we went to Noel and Jenny Hendery’s place in Napier for her 70th dinner – returning home around 11:00pm.

Eighteen Californian Quail Outside The Cottage Kitchen Early Morning

One Third Of The Mushrooms Harvested Today

Alas The Swarm Is No More

Oak Avenue Weather:8℃—23℃ no rain [82.9]

Karola spent the night in the tent on the lawn with Alex. And again Alex slept well but her hostage did not.

The Mores went off to Divine’s in Napier for lunch and then Pandora Pond for an afternoon’s kayaking.

Henare called round for a chat.

I mowed the cottage lawn etc. And, as it’s forecast to rain again briefly in the night, I oversowed the lawn with lawn seed designed for dry conditions.

When the Mores returned the girls and I played some table tennis on Anna’s table (she had us buy it some years ago and store it out here for when they visit).

The Mores packed up and after dinner left for Wellington.

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—27℃ no rain [82.7]

Late morning we all piled into the More’s car and trundled off to the same spot in Ahuriri we went yesterday. Not too crowded and we initially made sure we had plenty of bait fish before settling down to catch “the big one”. We saw one or two sizeable fish jumping close by, bigger than the one Chris caught shortly before we again went to Shed 2 for lunch – a little earlier this time.  Natalie caught some mullet, Alex caught mullet and a couple of potties.

Karola cooked us a nice roast lamb dinner with raspberries and cream to follow. Alex is sleeping in the tent on the lawn again – this time with Karola as her hostage.

Chris Caught Today’s Biggest Fish – A Kahwai

The Only Eatable Fish All Day

Oak Avenue Weather:10℃—23℃ 0.2mm rain [83.3]

Today we go fishing – Chris and Alex and I.

First thing Karola and I took Bramble to Pet2Us for the rest of the long weekend – we’ll fetch her home on Tuesday afternoon. On the way back we got some stuff for bait for the fishing trips – a couple of loaves of bread, some beef mince, and six mussels. The supermarket didn’t have any liver.

Alex got a little Trevelly (see photo below) and she and I also got a few small mullet. Both Chris and I used the mullet for bait and that’s where I got my big strike and he got several hits plus some sightings of a fish over 300mm long. Alex also caught a couple of spotties. I hooked a large fish but to my disappointment it got off after playing it for about 5 long minutes.

We had a post-fishing meal around 4:00pm in “Shed 2 on The Quay” near the Aharuri wharf before going home. Later we all went to the West Shore Fish Cafe for dinner and a hearty meal was had by all, except Alex who had too much at Shed 2.

The Days Catch

Oak Avenue Weather:14℃—19℃ 2.6mm rain [83.4]

Bob Masters came as arranged to talk about the Two-Acre Paddock Project. He is interested and has taken away our description to talk to his lucerne seed sowing specialist.

Karola and I spent several hours trying to mend the king-size bed head – Bay Beds having mucked up their mending of it by getting the holes in the wrong places. Mid afternoon I finally had it back in place albeit with a rather ugly bodged job.

Late afternoon Bridget and Chris and the two grand-daughters arrived for the long weekend – they plan to stay till Tuesday. Alex wants to sleep in a tent on the lawn and do some fishing.

Oak Avenue Weather:16℃—20℃ 1.3mm rain [83.2]

SwimGym – well half of it – because the place is closed on Friday and Monday.

Finally started to rain but still quite gentle – expected to rain hard for a while tomorrow.

Karola went into Hastings to pick up her latest set of transition glasses and some food for everyone at the weekend.

Lots of kerfuffle about Bramble and the long weekend. The usual Pet2Us kennels were full so I’d rung back and asked she be put on standby. Then Karola had got tough and decreed that Bramble must go to the Chesterhope kennels off Pakowhai road. Then we got a cancellation and Bramble was booked to go in this afternoon (Pet2Us is closed tomorrow). Then Bridget called to say Natalie was ill and they’d be coming up on Friday, not today. So, after consulting with Bridget, I changed Brambles admission to Saturday morning.

Karola and I trundled off to Napier to pick up the mended bed end – the head of the big bed in the homestead had torn where it attached to the bed frame. Karola had to cajole Bay Beds to fix it, but finally they have, and it only cost $20. Tiny problem in that the slots for the bolts to hold the bed end on are about 5mm too close together and the slots are also about 30mm too high off the floor – so it in no way can fit unless I do some surgery on it.

Oak Avenue Weather:17℃—24℃ 25.3mm rain [83.0]

SwimGym.

Then a quiet morning followed by more work on the Photos digital libraries. I mowed the small strip between the cottage and the driveway, and a strip for the electric fence round the outside of the greenery under the big oak.

Macaroni Cheese this evening, followed by panna-cotta with raspberries (Karola’s) and cream.

Oak Avenue Weather:20℃—25℃ no rain [82.9]

Ruth Vincent sent over the building drawings for the new shed along with a consent form for us to sign so she can deal with the council in getting planning permission.

Karola is back into gear – spraying the weeds on the hardstand behind the homestead and weeding the homestead garage box hedge.

Karola explained how she’d like the fences and place-of-three-gates reorganised – to enlarge the One Acre paddock by almost half an acre.

Gwen Cope and her husband John (they live at 45 Ormond Road – down the other end – neighbour Brian Cope’s parents) dropped by with buckets full of peaches for stewing. Karola and Gwen chatted for ages. Henare turned up, as expected, so that again I could pay his electricity bill online – he gives me the money, it just saves him having to post it or go in to the shop. We discussed the way Karola would like the One Acre paddock fences moved as we gear ourselves up to have a lucerne-and-plantain paddock.

I did eventually, when it got cooler, mow the cottage lawn again, hoping for rain on Thursday and a reason to oversaw the cottage lawn with grass seed – the “for dry conditions, hard wearing” sort.

Oak Avenue Weather:15℃—25℃ no rain [82.9]

SwimGym

Karola had an eye check mid morning but first she had coffee in a nearby cafe with Cynthia Chalmers and Barbara O’Sullivan – which made her 10 minutes late for the check.

I spent quite a bit of the day on attempting to merge and slim down our photo libraries. I have removed duplicates from all five old libraries lying around on our computers and have begun to merge these prior to combining the result with the current library.

Had a chat to Harry about lucerne and other pasture matters.

Also went into town to exchange a bag of Nutrience cat food Karola accidentally bought this morning. The bags are about the same size and both the same shade of blue. While there I picked up my new spectacles and had a discussion with a man in Farmlands about a seed mix for oversewing on our more battered areas of pasture. And I got a small bag of seed for the cottage lawn too as it’s expected to rain on Thursday. Topped the excursion off by buying a pair of small tubs of Rush Munro ice-cream – it’s the weather for it.

Meticulous Maids came and did a quick clean of the homestead.

Screwed two short lengths of treated railing to the old 121 letterbox upright – it’s a bit of elm post with reflective numbers on either side. Dug a hole for it and re-seated it so that, even though there’s no longer a letter box atop it showing our names etc., it does let people know coming from either direction, that we’re number 121.

Farmlands Advice For Pasture Renewal Mix
The generic seed selections are as recommended by Harry and will cost about $100 per hectare. Assumption is that there’s a reasonable existing strike of clover.

• Italian Ryegrass (tetraploid) – 15kg @ $2.71/kg
• Subterranean Clover (with fertiliser coating to increase the seed size) – 3kg @ $9.30/kg
• Prostrate Clover (“Lightening” Persian Clover) – 2kg @ $12.80/kg

Oak Avenue Weather:11℃—25℃ no rain [83.7]

Weather cleared and heating up again.

Henare came mid morning and finished off his mowing by lunchtime. Karola offered him plums off the old plum tree – they’re all high up and very ripe now. He took some home.

Began fixing the 121 entrance sign, the USA-style letter box having been bashed up and the upright having rotted through. I smothered the remains of the upright in Metalex.

Karola wrote many emails and is slowly getting her life back in order after the holiday and stream of guests.

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—24℃ n0.1mm rain [84.2]

Henare came this morning and started to mow the lawns and environs. The lawns are stalky but not thick and so most of the mowing is easy but there is a lot of it. Also it began to warm up and as Henare continued after lunch he got hot too. He plans to return tomorrow to finish. I did take down a bit of electric fence on the 121 driveway to get it out of Henare’s way.

Otherwise we didn’t go out and had a very quiet day.

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—24℃ no rain [83.5]

SwimGym

Karola made us a big cooked breakfast and we continued chatting – well I had a bit of a snooze too. For lunch we went into Hastings and sampled the fare at Taste before doing a little food shopping.

Tony left for Wellington mid afternoon. I got on with my Tasmanian Road Trip expenses – we’ve finally got the story straight I think.

Brian Cope walked over from his place next door with his two eldest children. They were doing a school project involving selling raffle tickets for a basket of Easter goodies.

Oak Avenue Weather:16℃—22℃ no rain [83.4]

Raining through the night and getting slightly stronger during the day. Good thing I got the lawn done yesterday.

First of two dentist visits today, to get a crown to replace a late, old, failing filling and crack in the underlying tooth.

Chatted with Tony much of the rest of the day. Went to Clifton Cafe for lunch where we were the only diners at 1:30pm and we left as they closed early at 2:30pm. I had GF battered fish and chips, the other to had ordinary battered fish and chips.

Afterwards, it was still raining gently so we skipped the anticipated after-lunch walk and went to the Wool Shop in Pandora (suburb of Napier). Karola bought a feather duster and a lamb – the lamb is a present for Tony’s grandson, Mahe.

A few minutes late we went to inspect the day kennels to see if suitable for Bramble, Chesterhope Kennels, off Pakowhai road. They were a bit ramshackle, no grass areas, and seemed to be a bit severe on the dogs so we’ll pass on that. Still have to work out what we do for Bridget’s visit at Easter.

Oak Avenue Weather:13℃—16℃ 9.6mm rain [83.4]

SwimGym – partial as we’re still a bit exhausted by the recent frolics.

Karola did some shopping. The key for the homestead back door is still not ready. Goddard are being a bit slack on this.

Tony arrived late morning.

Mid afternoon I mowed he cottage lawn – but not the other bits such as under the washing line.

We had a meal at home and chatted into the evening.

Oak Avenue Weather:13℃—20℃ 1.9mm rain [83.0]

Warm overcast day. Spent several hours trying to figure out the expenses we incurred on the Tasmanian Road Trip – and finally sent off the worksheet and a simplified version to Geoff in the UK – simplified at Karola’s request.

Janet Scott came and chatted with Karola this afternoon. No sign of Cynthia Chalmers with the stuff Karola left behind in Otaki.

Oak Avenue Weather:16℃—29℃ 4.9mm rain [82.9]

SwimGym

Slept till lunchtime.

We all went out to Pernels for lunch before going to Omahu Rd to pick up the lawn mower – fixed free of charge as they realised they’d not actually fixed it when they were asked to many weeks ago.

eMail to Peta Whisker re paying for drinks on Saturday night, and a letter to Mary Herrick re the prize I usurped by claiming, allegedly, to be younger than someone born on 29th November 1946. Ah well.

More work on the expenses for the Tasmanian Road Trip 2016.

Oak Avenue Weather:15℃—22℃ 0.9mm rain [83.3]

Set off in good time and had a very good breakfast on an outside table in the Riverstone Cafe in Otaki. Karola drove the rest of the way. We stopped for petrol and coffee/icecream in Dannevirke and were home by 2:30pm.

Late we walked around the orchard and checked the homestead – all seems well. Karola fed her sheep a little pea straw. Henare had brought us yet more apples – they were sitting by the back door.

George I 

George I – In Good Nick

George I’s Flock

Oak Avenue Weather:10℃—25℃ no rain [?]

Lie-in and a late breakfast at Kirsty & Bruce’s place, Kaitawa Road in Otaki Gorge. Another egg but I cooked it myself, timed using my iPhone, and it was not cooked to my satisfaction. Best left to the professionals.

Karola and Kirsty went off for a 10:00am start at a cooking demonstration and lunch at Ruth Pretty’s place just down the road – Ruth Pretty is a famous New Zealand celebrity cook, allegedly.

I tested out my system for watching videos stored on my iPad on a TV screen linked via wireless and an AppleTV box. It worked very well in Bruce’s office but elsewhere in the house the wifi signal was very weak and intermittent.

I then set out in ernest to list our expenses on the Tasmanian Road Trip 2016.

We all set off early evening for Soprano’s restaurant in Paraparaumu where the reunion group had a set meal in their spacious function room. Jon & Jane Johnson were there and I talked to John for a while before getting into an evening long verbal skirmish with Reg Hart – who hates computers, thinks the flag should be changed, loves sport, and so on. Not sure what he really thinks but I can believe he was putting forward views shared with many of the old codgers in the room – but at least he was prepared to spar so that made the evening much less tedious. He was manager of NZI and then a vineyard owner, and kept a few hives of bees before he retired.

Oak Avenue Weather:5℃—21℃ no rain [?]

The night was unexpectedly cool but the bed was warm and very comfortable. Boiled egg from Bruce’s hens for breakfast.

The reunion began with a buffet lunch at 88 Marine Parade, Raumati – Peta Whisker’s opulent sea-side house. Lots of food and drink and I guess about 40 people. Bramble stayed in the car parked in the shade under the house.

In the afternoon Karola & Kirsty stayed with the reunion revellers and went on to Ann Rainbow’s place a little further along the beach. Meanwhile Bruce and I had the afternoon off. We fiddled with his computer (very old, running Windows XP) to try and make it run faster and avoid some boring error messages. Then Bruce had a light supper and I had my usual breakfast fare – GF toast with tuna/mayonnaise spread – plus sliced tomato.

Whisker’s Domain – With Splendid View of Kapiti Island

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—19℃ no rain [?]

SwimGym – just me and “out of synch” (it’s a Thursday) to make up for the partial session I did yesterday. I paid my and Karola’s subscriptions for the next seven months – an extra month because we plan to be away for August in UK/Poland.

Karola started sorting out her temporary electric fencing gear – battery-operated energisers and the like. I backed up my computer.

Then a leisurely pack ready for the trip. We stopped in Waipukurau at Latitude 40 South for an excellent dinner, carrying on to Otaki and arriving before 9:00pm.

Oak Avenue Weather:16℃—33℃ no rain [?]

SwimGym for me – and I only did half the regime today. Slept all morning.

After lunch emptied Karola’s trailer so we could use it to take in the new mower to get its gears fixed. That meant unloading some pieces of railing and getting the nails out, and stacking a half-trailer load of firewood.

Then we loaded the mower and trundled into town, dropping it off at the Honda shop before going to the key-cutting shop. There I asked for the new homestead backdoor key copy they made two weeks ago to be filed down so that it fitted. I brought in two keys that do work as templates – obviously the lock has become worn over the years and so standard cuts for that type of key don’t work in our lock.

Karola has been preparing for the Woodford Reunion weekend, baking GF brownies and so on. Joan Philips called on that account, and I had a call with Kirsty also on that topic.

I began in ernest the draft trip report recording our Tasmanian road trip with the Robinsons

Oak Avenue Weather:10℃—23℃ no rain [83.7]

Breakfast at Bay Expresso with Harry & Chloe. As it turned out they came here first and were later than they intended so the morning was basically taken up with a brunch. To my surprise they thought the bulk scanner I bought some time ago and hadn’t even opened might be useful to them so they took it away. Also gave them a few fresh runner beans.

Insurance broker called me to say she’d made a mistake and our house contents excess was more than the cost of the glasses so there was no point in making a claim.

Otherwise another quiet but hot day – 33 degrees in Napier according to the TV forecast. I’ve read a book and a half of Eric Ambler today as part of that quiet resting.

At Karola’s behest I paid for the IDS trip in April and the Woodford Reunion that we’re going to down in Paraparaumu on Thursday. Also exchanged emails with Tony Fletcher, confirming that he’s coming up next Wednesday, 18th, for three days.

Karola put the ram in the holding paddock and the rest of the sheep in the Long Acre so that they can clean up the acorns falling freely there from a couple of oak trees.

Oak Avenue Weather:16℃—34℃ 1.0mm rain [83.2]

SwimGym today. At the usual time.

Meticulous Maids came just before lunch.

Mid afternoon we went to our insurance broker and I filled out a claim form for the lost spectacles, then on to optometrists Shattky to choose frames etc. So that is set in motion. It was now after 3:15pm and Bramble was booked in at the Vet’s for 3:45pm so we made a brief detour to Rush Munros for ice creams. I learned today that a “Rush Affogato al caffè” is NOT a coffee with a scoop of ice-cream in it but a vanilla ice-cream dessert with a coffee sauce. It was listed on the board of coffees that they offered, hence my mistake. We then took Bramble to the Vets to have stitches removed. Vet Stuart says she’s recovering well. Another check in a week or two.

Back home and shortly afterwards we set off for the cinema, ready for the film “The Lady In The Van” at Cinema Gold in Havelock North. In the rush, always a rush, Karola forgot her hearing aids and her glasses = but apparently was able to see and hear most of the film. We arrived exactly one hour too early, having both thought we needed to be there for 4:50pm whereas, as the staff were amused to tell us, it actually started at 5:50pm. Peter and Charlotte joined us around 5:30pm and we all enjoyed the film very much.

Oak Avenue Weather:13℃—31℃ no rain [83.1]

Late start – but good intentions to get back into routine tomorrow.

Went to Elephant Hill for lunch with Chloe and Harry. No earthquake this time (last time we did this was the day of the Christchurch earthquake).

Walked round the orchard with Karola and Bramble.

Ploughed through the bills and emails since we left for our Tasmanian holiday. All done.

I’ve Just Finished A Plate Of Oysters, Au Naturelle

Harry, Chloe, Karola & Ian Lunch In Splendour At Elephant Hill

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—29℃ no rain [83.2]

Still a bit dazed from the full-on activity of the Tasmanian Holiday. Lovely cool nights but very hot days. I slept most of the day.

The troupe came over in Peter’s car at 12:30pm and Karola served up a good lunch – vegetarian for the Vegan’s Peter & Charlotte, bread & cheese for the rest, except me. Karola cooked a small omelette with bacon for me. Peter et al bought fresh french bread from the bakery in Havelock North along with tomato and cucumber.

Bramble delighted at the extra people to make a fuss of her.

Henare dropped by with some – in fact a lot – of fresh apples. He’s been in the wars at work with other pickers taking his apples – they are supposed to stick to their side of the trees in each row

Harry & Chloe have come over to Hawkes bay for the weekend and we’ve arranged to have lunch with them tomorrow.

Oak Avenue Weather:12℃—27℃ no rain [83.4]

Skipped SwimGym today.

First full day back home so quite a slow day, lots of sleeping.

Went to meaner and pick up Bramble from Pet2Us – she was pleased to see us but I thought a bit subdued.

Still trying to figure out what the triggered alarm was all about but the picture is confused except to say it was definitely a false alarm.

Sheep all present and correct, and, due to a decent dollop of rain at some point, the grass isn’t too bad either. Ewe #227 is hiding off in a corner so we’ll need to keep an eye on her but otherwise everyone seems bonny.

Gill called to say she and ben were staying with Peter & Charlotte in Havelock North for a couple of days as a break in their trip back from the Coromandel peninsula where Ben had been continuing a spot of frog research.

Later we went out with them all to a new restaurant in Havelock North. Food was good, (except for the bit of steel wool lot in my gratin potato), but the day was still pretty hot and the sun shining through the high windows made rather a glare. We returned after one course back to Peter & Charlotte’s place for coffee/tea and a slice of cake. They are renovating their sitting room; Peter has spent many hours preparing the walls for the plasterer – removing wallpaper and old plaster – nasty work. The plasterer has almost finished and then it’ll be ready to paint.

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