Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
Meta
Monthly Archives: June 2024
Strange Contraption On Ocean Beach
Bridget took me and the dogs to Ocean Beach which I haven’t visited before as far as I know. We had good walk on the sands and also saw a man attempting to get aloft in a paravane using a small propellor on a knapsack on his back. He spent at least half an hour setting it up, set out for about half a minute before something broke and he packed up his gear and went home.
Northern End Of Ocean Beach
Probably The South-Eastern End Of Ocean Beach
The Strange Contraption – Man Carries Propellor Powered By Small Petrol Engine and Pulls “Wing” Behind Him
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Strange Contraption On Ocean Beach
Lunch At Liz Remmerswaal’s In Haumoana
Liz, husband Tom and son Dom(inick) entertained me and Bridget for lunch at their delightful lagoon-side house in Haumoana. Liz had asked me if I would talk to Dom as he is interested in what the IT industry is like so I took Bridget with me who obviously has a much more up to date view of IT. Liz cornered me at Margery Cobbe’s lunch a couple of weeks ago.
Bridget took me and dogs for walk downstream on Ngaruroro stopbank, starting at the Carrick road access point.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Lunch At Liz Remmerswaal’s In Haumoana
Matariki & Fireworks
Restful day and Bridget invited me and Tux for a long walk along the Clive estuary and then the wetlands – up to the place where I spy the handful of Shaver brown chooks living amongst thickets of salt-tolerant shrubs and lanky grasses.
Interesting thing, that when I moved the main chook food trough inside their house, because of the rain dissolving the pellets, they have hardly touched it. So maybe they eat sufficient wheat from the outside chooketeria or maybe they have a taboo against eating food next to their night perches, or maybe it’s another sort of creature that eats a whole trough-full of maize and chook pellets when placed outside in the run.
Rained off and on so not a great day for the Matariki fires etc. We hardly noticed it was Matariki until some fireworks over at the sports ground reminded us – the dogs barking away at the loud bangs.
Looking Up And Down The Clive Estuary On A Calm Day
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Matariki & Fireworks
New Gate Arrived At Farmlands
Rosie drove me into town, with Bangle, to pick up the shortened bed sheets and pick up MYLK meals for the rest of the week. Flat (not fitted) bed sheets for my double bed come only as DB/Q, actually fit a queen, so are too long for my liking so I had them shortened by 200mm.
Raining on and off but eased up when Bangle and I and Rosie had our sandwich and coffee in Tainui Reserve.
We took landrover and big trailer to Farmlands and picked up the galvanised 2.44m farm gate replacing the one comprehensively mangled by cyclone Gabrielle.
A Dozen Stumps Gone
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on New Gate Arrived At Farmlands
More Rain Day & Night, Some Quite Heavy
Another physio appointment in the morning. The reason it’s so inexpensive is that most physio problems are considered caused by accidents so ACC is picking up most of the tab. Not sure how I feel about that as my back pain was likely caused by me lifting something too heavy like 25kg bags of chook food but also it’s just part of getting older.
Rosie picked me up at 1:00pm and we went over to Summerset Palms, picked up Karola, and went to Miss Brown’s Café in Ahuriri for lunch.
Bridget took dogs and me for walk in the Regional Dog Park; it poured with rain some of the time and, despite appropriate rainware, we got rather wet.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on More Rain Day & Night, Some Quite Heavy
Lots Of Rain
Bangle had an appointment today with her groomer, Emma so Rosie drove me over to drop her off at 9:30am, we then did the shopping and timed it well so picked up a shiny, clean Bangle at about 11:30am.
Marcus came round in the afternoon and we wandered round the homestead pointing out the furniture Bridget and I would be taking away.
Rain is persistent, all night and all day, which is good for replenishing the aquifer and for my sleeping. Chooks and dogs not so convinced and the sheep seem not to be bothered.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Lots Of Rain
Stump Grinding
Matt from over the road called to see if I wanted to take advantage of the big stump grinder he’d contracted to get rid of the stumps on his property after the cyclone Gabrielle clean-up. I said yes and there are about a dozen stumps that will be eaten up with the stump grinder meaning that we’ll be agle to graze and drive over the area later.
Walked dogs upstream from Carrick Road access to Ngaruroro stop bank.
Bridget and I moved her special height-adjustable desk from the room at thre top of the stairs into the corner of the main bedroom – warmer and sunnier.
Stump Grinder Working On Eucalypt Grove Stumps
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Stump Grinding
Bridget & Tux Come Up From Wellington
Bangle and I had a long walk around the Regional Dog Park while Bridget drove up from Wellington for the next few weeks.
After Bridget and Tux arrived; they had a pit stop in Waipukurau to pour a little more energy into the MG’s battery; Bridget and I screwed the three shelves to the brackets thus finishing their installation.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Bridget & Tux Come Up From Wellington
Long Sleep, Long Walk
Long lie-in today, possibly reaction to yesterdays activities. Late afternoon Bangle and I went for an hour’s walk along the Clive wetlands. I spied the spoonbills all clustered together and around a dozen black swans, mostly in pairs, cruising around the main waterway.
Spoonbills Cluster In Wintry Conditions – Clive Wetlands
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Long Sleep, Long Walk
Haircuts for Karola & Ian
In the morning Mark and I moved the furniture back into the main homestead bedroom after laying the large carpet square. We then disassembled and moved the “king” bed out into the corridor then lugged the “queen” from downstairs up to the main bedroom which faces west. I think it is in optimal feng shui position.
As arranged earlier a mechanic came this morning and gave our three garage roller doors their annual checkup.
Rosie picked me up at 12:30pm and we went over to pick up Karola at Summerset Palms. I hadn’t seen Karola for several weeks at Jodi’s request. (Jodi is the lead memory care unit supervisor at Summerset Palms). The three of us then went to Copper & Hues in Ahuriri where Karola and I had our scheduled hair cuts and also a coffee from Milk & Honey next door. I think it was a successful trip; Karola and I looked a lot smarter after having our hair washed and cut and blow-dried.
I talked to Bridget and the Jodi and we agreed I would come and take Karola out for a coffee or light lunch every Wednesday. While Karola was with us today she was a bit frail but smiled a lot and went along with our trip to the hair dresser’s (Kim) contentedly. She certainly recognised me. It is hard to see her behaving so normally, bright and cheerful, yet knowing Karola has her down moods when we just couldn’t look after her safely here in the cottage.
Main Bedroom In Homestead – Needs Wall Hangings
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Haircuts for Karola & Ian
Polyurethane Takes A While To Stop Smelling
Rosie drove me into town this afternoon to pick up the MYLK meals for the weekend and take Bangle for a short walk in the Tainui Reserve and lunch with coffee at the bench under the walnut tree,
Main bedroom had another round of being heated up then windows open to try and get rid of the fumes. I finished screwing the shelving brackets to the wall in the homestead laundry; as soon as Mark finishes the third shelf then I’ll screw the planks to the brackets. Bridget says she can sleep in the Bee room if the fumes are still bad.
Arranged for the garage door people to come and do annual maintenance tomorrow morning. Also expect Bayscape guy to come and look at the job with the ha-ha wooden wall tomorrow morning too.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Polyurethane Takes A While To Stop Smelling
Tony Son Of Peter Snell (Physiotherapist)
Mark did the second and final coat of polyeurathene on the wood-stained perimeter border in the homestead main bedroom so it’s got a couple of days to get rid of the fumes before Bridget and Tux come up at the weekend.
I touched up the homestead laundry wall where I’d made marks laying out the new shelving brackets.
At Bridget’s insistence I have been to the physio for my mild back pain which is a real nuisance when I’m trying to rest or sleep. As with my last visit many years ago, he gave instant relief to my lower back pain plus some exercises. He intends to see me again next week to assess progress. Too much sitting down is the diagnosis and if I don’t assiduously take steps now then it’ll become not a treatable stiffness and pain but permanent, says Tony Snell.
The exercises are not too onerous; each stretch position being held for on;y five seconds or so.
Five Exercises For Lower Back Pain
Nose To Knee – If That Isn’t Obvious
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Tony Son Of Peter Snell (Physiotherapist)
June Visitors to Karamu
After discussion with Marcus and Bridget Marcus and family will begin organising themselves ready to take occupancy 1st August. Meanwhile Marcus and family and Bridget and I will work through what to leave in the homestead and what to sell/store/rid. The main bedroom (Rosie has bagzed it apparently) is almost finished ready to lay the carpet. There’s one last coat of polyurethane to paint over the wood stain.
I put up the brackets for the kauri plank shelving in the homestead laundry; Mark did the plank preparation and painting.
Today was shopping for the week so Rosie drove me into town as usual.
Iain Middleton plans to come up for 7th – 9th June to attend his annual forestry AGM.
I cleaned both drainage plugs in the upstairs homestead bathrooms; they were heavily blocked with human hair.
Polyurethane First Coat Applied
Shelving In The Laundry Almost Done
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on June Visitors to Karamu
Jenny & Noel For Lunch
Jenny & Noel came for lunch today and we had a very pleasant catch-up until late afternoon. Then I took Bangle round the orchard and, after supper, settled into another evening of TV.
Spoke to Jodi at Summerset Palms today and she was enthusiastic that I do try to take Karola with me for our hair appointments this Friday. I haven’t seen Karola for several weeks and apparently she told Jenny, who visited her last Tuesday, that she’s a widow now which I suppose means she’s reconciled somewhat to me not being around. Bridget thinks that from Karola’s point of view that’s probably a good coping strategy.
Talked to Harry last night and he’s sent me various videos about Altzeimers, the causes and ways of slowing its onset. No real comfort to me because I think Karola has for mny months gone past the point where slowing the onset would make much difference. But Harry points out that we should all be paying attention to the causes and steps to reduce the risk of dementia because it’s now apparent that dementia is quickly becoming the dominant cause of death in the western world, beyond cancers and heart disease.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Jenny & Noel For Lunch
Margery Cobbe’s Lunch
Highlight of the day was a lunch for eight of us with Margery Cobbe at her house at 1 Ranmore Lane off Duart Road in Havelock North. John Timpson was there along with Julie O’Regan and husband from the Friendship Club.
Unfortunately Peter Offenberger couldn’t attend.
Those at the lunch were, clockwise round the table from where I sat:
- Ian Brackenbury
- Liz Remmerswaal
- Paul O’Regan
- Gail Martin
- John Timpson
- Julie O’Regan
- Ton Remmerswaal
- Margery Cobbe
Bangle and I trotted round the orchard and then I had a second big meal of the day.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Margery Cobbe’s Lunch
Winter So Warm, Bulbs & Grass Tempted To Grow
A bright crisp clear day after much rain in the night and strong winds. Winds were good at blowing leaves off the grass and I noticed most leaves had now fallen off the big deciduous trees so maybe the grass will decide to start growing again. Temperatures are not impossibly low for some growth.
Bangle and I did the long upstream walk on the stop bank from the Carrick Road access point mid afternoon.
Watched an excellent film on NetFlix, Operation Mincemeat, recommended by Gill.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Winter So Warm, Bulbs & Grass Tempted To Grow
Proper Drop Of Rain
Mark came and spent his time picking up the fallen branches all over the place, mostly quite small.
It was so cold in the homestead that I put off Mark starting on the polyurethane painting of the perimeter in the homestead main bedroom until next week. Need to get two coats done before Bridget comes up in a week’s time.
No walk today for Bangle – she’d just get wet and muddy.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Proper Drop Of Rain
Real Winter Forecast For The Weekend
In the afternoon Rosie came and drove me into Hastings for the usual Thursday pick up of my MYLK meals for the weekend and to take Bangle for a short walk in Tainui Reserve plus lunch under a walnut tree by the stream.
Later on I checked out the GoodNature automatic rat traps. I have a couple in the chook run and another outside the cottage. Replaced one empty gas cylinder and one empty lure packet. There has for two nights been a very clear scurrying of a rat inside the cottage downstairs wall next to my Stressless chair. But there’s no evidence of rats inside the cottage although there are mice droppings and torn and shredded evidence of mice in my two top dressing table drawers. I’ll have to set a mouse trap again – I caught two last month in the cottage living room.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Real Winter Forecast For The Weekend
At Last The New Bed Arrives
Mid morning my new double-sized bed arrived. The delivery persons were late and in a big hurry they said so I didn’t get any help with replacing the old queen-sized bed with the double. After his mid-day break Mark did help unpack and assemble the bed and we then took the old bed over to the homestead in case it’s useful there. Bridget has convinced me to try putting the bed alongside the doorway, so facing south.
I made two overdue appointments, for my eyes and for my back – I’ve been having mild but sleep-interrupting lower back pain for weeks and Bridget said I should go and see Tony Snell who did a great job a few years ago with a similar problem. I also contacted the guy who’s offered to do the repair work on the ha-ha wall, where it was crushed by cyclone Gabrielle’s downing of the big Himalayan Spruce.Bayscape quote is under half what Goodwill C&C Fencing quoted.
Bangle had a walk round the orchard as dusk fell.
Double Bed And Mattress Arrive
Mark And I Assemble The Bed
Ready For Bed Positioned As Suggested By Bridget
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on At Last The New Bed Arrives
Shopping
Mark came at 10:00am for his four-hours of odd-jobbing. Rosie came as planned for 11:30am and she drove me for shopping and lunch and Bangle walk finishing around 3:00pm. I got two fitted sheets and a mild mattress protector from bedbath&beyond, near KMart. The new bed is to be delivered tomorrow morning.
Henare dropped in to get more persimmons and have a cup of coffee.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Shopping
Quiet Monday
Bangle and I did the long walk round the regional dog park after I had a snack and coffee from BP on the commemorative concrete table near the parking area. As usual several favourable commenyts from other walkers about Bangle. I have drastically reduced my caffeine (ie coffee) intake which may be making me feel lethargic, but that should pass in a few days.
My new double bed is to be delivered on Wednesday morning.
Mark worked on the second coat of dark rimu wood stain around the edges of the homestead main bedroom.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Quiet Monday
Clive Wetlands – Quite Interesting
Highlight of the day was a long walk with Bangle along the Clive estuary stop bank and then along the wetlands. I’ve seen one or two spoonbills before but today there were 14. Also a group of 4 black swans and seagulls and ducks.
Marcus and Chrissie dropped in while I was out, they TXTed first, and drenched all the sheep. They’ve drafted them into three lots in different paddocks according to how fat they are, how close to being saleable.
Three Spoonbills & A Seagull
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Clive Wetlands – Quite Interesting
Floor Stained Dark Rimu
Bought a pair of egg cups today as, although we used to have about a dozen of them. I can’t find a one now and for the last few days I’ve been eating a couple of boiled eggs for breakfast which is tricky without an egg cup.
Also bought a little tub of white filler so I can patch the little holes left in the GIB by mistakes Rosie and I have made.
Bangle and I went for a short walk downstream along the Ngaruroro stop bank from the Carrick Road access point.
I finished applying the first coat of dark rimu wood stain around the perimeter of the homestead main bedroom. Mark did the first half on Thursday.
To brighten up the journal I include photos of birds seen and photographed recently by Ben at the Waikanae estuary.
Dark Rimu Stain – First Coat
Ben & Gill’s New Volvo EV – Very Stylish
Surprised Shoveller Duck
Sleeping Scaup
Stern Stare Of A Red Billed Gull
NZ Dabchick
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Floor Stained Dark Rimu
Little Bits Of Progress
Off for lunch driven by Rosie. Picked up mended red and black dressing gown bought in 1973 at one of the big London shops now disappeared. A little light web searching and I’ve got it. Barkers of Kensington is where I got bought the dressing gown. I also dropped off a pair of trousers bought from Alexanders in Hastings two years ago. The left pocket has got a hole in it – presumably from my phone rubbing. I’ve asked them to stitch it up so that my phone cannot slip sideways at the bottom of the pocket where it bumps into my leg uncomfortably.
We swung by Cory’s Electrical so that I could check whether the item sold to me as a dimmer switch was actually the right one. And I was right, no, they’d given me a fan speed modulator so they swapped it for the correct item which later in the day I used to replace the broken one in the min upstairs bathroom in the homestead.
Rosie and I attempted to put up more of the eight pictures of The Quorn Hunt but we got them all wrong so took them down again and Rosie suggests enlisting Marcus next week to get them properly spaced and lined up.
I’d hoped Mark would continue with staining the floor in the master bedroom, I’d put the heater on so that it wasn’t too cold to paint, but he did other things including mending the last piece of fence damaged by the cyclone, the short section down near the cattle stop.
Phone call that the trailer lights had been fixed so I went to Newport Autoelectrical and picked up the trailer, immediately taking it to the VTNZ station a couple of blocks down from the expressway and they gave me a new WOF, no problems.
Welcome Swallows On Balcony Rail
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Little Bits Of Progress
Semi-Hibernation
Mark came today and after lunch break he began staining the band round the perimeter of the homestead main bedroom. Going to be realy cold tonight. Bangle and I went round Karola’s orchard late afternoon.
I feel quite grotty in the mornings and wonder whether it’s my supplements that are to blame. I have to give them a few weeks to see if I feel more energised eventually.
I think supplements must have come in the last two or three days, by post.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Semi-Hibernation
Bangle Long Walk Round The Regional Dog Park
Middle of the week and usually a bit of a lull after the frenetic excitement of shopping on Tuesdays. Althouh I asked them not to come before 10:00am a van and three old codgers came and took away the spare mattresses and old couch at 9:30am. As already discussed they would not take the wire-wove sprung beds. Bridget suggests taking yhem to recycling so I may enquire if they’d take them.
Daniel from HomePlus came at lunchtime and looked at the upstairs shower drainage plugs. He couldn’t budge them until I gave him a small flat-bladed screwdriver and then they both came up. Very stiff and very clogged. So that mystery solved.
This evening sanded off as much of the white paint and plaster marks round the perimeter of the homestead main bedroom floor and gave it another wash. Mark didn’t come today but I’m hoping tomorrow he’ll come and maybe start the staining of the 700mm wide edge of the wooden floor in the homestead main bedroom. I have to get two coats of stain and two of polyurathane on before Bridget comes up. I turn on one of the oil-filled electric heaters to make sure the stain/paint will cure properly.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Bangle Long Walk Round The Regional Dog Park
Cold With Even Colder Breeze – So It’s Winter Then
Pavla TXTed to ask if she could start earlier today so we agreed 10:30am. Mark said he’d located the water troughs leek – it was the trough near the stump dump where the float was oscillating and not turning off. Today Mark mended the break in the boundary alkathene round past Henare’s bee hives. The big excavator broke it when tidying up after helping fell the last five eucalypts and just bent over the end of the pipe to stop it leaking.
Rosie came around 1:30pm and we set off to do the shopping. Just the usual plus I got new oven mittens to replace the ragged ones in the cottage; you can get burned through where it’s worn out. I also bought a replacement dimmer switch for the homestead main bathroom. It cost almost $100 from Cory’s and that’s with a trade discount. And as usual we took Bangle and had lunch on a bench under a walnut tree alongside the stream some ways along the edge of Tainui Reserve.
Nightfall And Solar Lights Show Way To Homestead
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Cold With Even Colder Breeze – So It’s Winter Then
Marcus Et Al Call Round
Mark came this morning which surprised me as it’s a public holiday in New Zealand today, “King’s Birthday”. We mucked about with the trailer A613F’s wiring to try and get all the lights working but no joy. We did get the lhs indicator working but only briefly and the night lights aren’t working either. I tried the trailer with the Subaru but this time different lights failed. I need to try the Landrover with one of the other trailers to make sure it’s the trailer that’s at fault and then take it to Newport Auto-electrician.
Mark inspected the fence repairs that Henare had done and thought they were pretty good.
Marcus, Chrissie, and Minty came round in the afternoon; Marcus to check the sheep and the others to go round the homestead, their future home. I didn’t know but Chrissie said that some years ago they stayed for a week in the homestead so they knew what it was like then and the improvements we’ve made.
Bangle and I went to the Clive wetlands for our walk today.
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Marcus Et Al Call Round
Henare Repairs Both Inner and Boundary Fence In Front Paddock.
Henare had only a couple of hours work on ence today to finish repairs to both the inner and outer fence along the avenue. He also picked the over-ripening persimmons that are so ripe that birds are pecking them to bits.
Wintery day; Bangle and I had a walk in the Regional Dog Park.
Sent into town twice; first to get some cash for Henare and coffee & sandwich for lunch; then to get some cleaning perquisites to wash the floor in the main homestead bedroom.
Tried to get off the white chalky marks on the stained wood perimeter of the main homestead bedroom. Quite a lot just wiped off but will have to try something different on the stubborn spots tomorrow.
Henare Finished Repairing Fence Today
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Henare Repairs Both Inner and Boundary Fence In Front Paddock.
Gale Force Winds – First Day Of Winter
Henare came and did a bit more on the fences. Bangle somehow found some discarded raw meat last week – it looked like some lamb ribs but unclear whether it was cooked or not. Today Bangle came back from a wander round the garden, down near the cattle-stop I think, and came back witha piece of smelly skin and bone which looked like a small fish head. At first I thought it was dead rabbit but then the skin and smell was more like fish. I threw it in the bin. Bangle has had poor digestion off and on recently so I wonder if it’s these bits of putrid flesh that are upsetting her stomach. Where did she get these smelly chunks of stuff I wonder; perhaps someone threw their kitchen rubbish over into our property.
Plenty of email to get through, I am way behind. Bangle and I had quite a long walk up the stop bank starting at Carrick Road. When I (thought I) locked the car and set off the car tooted its horn.ANother warning or alarm I don’t yet understand. On returning down the stop bank half an hour later I saw that the driver’s side door was wide open. Fearing the worst, a break-in with shattered window and missing tools, I advanced in trepidation. But no, it was just the wind so I didn’t close the door properly and, as Bridget later confirmed, our cars do toot the horn if you try to lock it and there’s a door not properly closed.
As forecast, it’s very windy tonight but no rain and the wind is actually warmer than the still air.
A Score Or More Of Doves Waiting To Be Fed
Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [?]
Posted in General
Comments Off on Gale Force Winds – First Day Of Winter