Family Journal

Most of the day was sunny in patches but mid evening the rain came down.

Annemarie called and said she was sorry but she didn’t think she should be risking Covid in restaurants and we quite understand. More than most of us she is clear of Covid and must stay clear.

So I wondered who I could ask in Annemarie’s place and thought of Annette Offenberger – sister of Peter Offenberger who was Gill’s first husband. Annette has accepted, as has Tony Fletcher so we have a balanced table for next Saturday’s lunch.

I continued on my quest to fell two very tall dead lacebark trees in the triangle with the rainwater tanks. Yesterday I topped one of them and most of the second but today I cut off the remaining high leader of the second. I did all this cutting at the full extent of our extension ladder and with a Silky pruning saw – no chainsaws for me at that height.

Walking along the Ngaruroro stop bank downstream it feels like summer – today we went as far as the entrance to Pakowhai Country Park, about 4km round trip. It was quite warm and Bangle puffed a bit, enjoying some water when we got back to the Landrover.

Later Karola and I popped back down to the stop bank and I chainsawed up some branches that had fallen over the track – pure altruism, I don’t know what came over me.

Lumberjack? No, A Plump Woodsman

Felt Quite Precarious

Ngaruroro Stop Bank Downstream – Early Summer’s Lush Flood Plain

Ngaruroro Stop Bank Approaching Pakowhai Country Park

Willows Fallen Across Cycle Path

Willows Cleared Away

Oak Avenue Weather:12.6℃—25.4℃ 2.2mm rain [77.9] TdT eggs=0

Prudently we’ve decided not to cross the More threshold for a few weeks, until all signs of Covid have left the building. Gill & Ben have offered Karola and me a bed for the weekend and we’ll go to a local restaurant in Miramar for a lunch on the Saturday. It’ll be the four of us and we’ve invited Anthony and Annemarie.

Got an email from Harvey-Norman and I agree to their offer of $130 refund for the dent in the dishwasher drawer. Their alternative was to come and replace the front panel but my experience of such replacements is that somehow they don’t quite sit right – so I’ll take the $130 and be grateful.

Rain at night and early morning turned into a beautiful sunny day.

There are two tall dead Lacebark trees amongst a thicket of smaller dead ones in the triangle where the rain water tanks live. Rather than wait for nature to take its course I am going to cut them down so they don’t fall on a rain water tank nor on my precious Puriri tree. Karola thinks it’s a job for the professionals, and strictly speaking she’s right, but I see that as a challenge.

It is highly imprudent as well as illegal to use a chainsaw whilst perched precariously on a ladder several metres up in the air. So, using our long ladder, the aluminium extension ladder, I climbed up as high as I could and used a pruning saw to cut off the branches up there. I probably need to take off another couple of metres before chain-sawing through the base but that’s for another day.

Bangle And Me On The Ngaruroro Stop Bank

Amazing Double Rainbow Snapped By Geoff Robinson’s Grandson Alex

One Dead Lacebark Sliced Off At The Crown

Oak Avenue Weather:14.0℃—24.4℃ 3.2mm rain [77.8] TdT eggs=1

Sad news today that Bridget has tested positive for Covid – her RATS result posted below. Sounds as if her worst day was yesterday so we ernestly hope she recovers quickly. There is now the waiting to see whether or if others in the family get it too. The family gathering on 20th may be disrupted, we shall see.

The forecast is for rain beginning around 9:00am, not just 40% chance of rain but, by 11:00am, 100% chance of rain forecast until nightfall. Seems it got this day pretty much right.

We went out after lunch, another of Gill’s delicious pre-cooked meals, to pick up the laundry, deliver a small bunch of rhubarb stalks to Peter & Charlotte in Havelock North, and get a few bits and pieces from New World.

Otherwise a quiet day.

How Green It Is

Bridget Succumbs – The First In Our Extended family

Oak Avenue Weather:11.8℃—18.4℃ 2.4mm rain [77.8] TdO eggs=1 Mark=0

Two chooks still broody on their nests. Went down to stop bank but a sharp wind made it not so pleasant and Bangle rebelled after a short distance. Instead we did a circuit of the orchard later.

Mark going to stay home with his dogs, especially the new puppy, until next week.

Oak Avenue Weather:11.8℃—18.4℃ 2.4mm rain [77.9] TdO eggs=1 Mark=0

Morning taken up by the trip over to Ahuriri near the Napier port for our hair appointments. Not particularly cold but drizzle and cloud made it a sombre day.

Blue Band has ceased to be broody so I shoved her five eggs under the remaining two broody hens just in case they survive the neglect.

Caught up with Sunday’s neglected chores and also:

• Called FloorMart and asked for them to begin the laying of vinyl on the cottage kitchen and laundry floor
• TXTed Jimmy Rural (James Russell) and asked how his hunt for a new ram for us was getting on
• TXTed builder Paul and nudged to get the GIB-Stoppers back to do the living room

Ahuriri By The Napier Port – A Quiet Day

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [77.6] TdT eggs=2 Mark=0

Weeks shopping today of course.

I have been using the daily eggs to give each of three broody hens four eggs to sit on so there’s no eggs today for the food bank.

Mark TXTed to say he was getting a new puppy today from the pound and wouldn’t be round here this afternoon.

On our walk round the orchard with Bangle we bumped into a tractor with a half-rotary-hoe tilling the soil along each row on either side. I’ve seen this before, allegedly it’s to destroy the habitat of hatching larvae of some beetle which would otherwise crawl up into the tree and pierce the young apples rendering them unsellable.

After dinner I rejoined the aerating drip into the bath/pond because without some water flow it would stagnate and might kill my precious if illegal oxygen weed. I was planning on moving the bath/pond over to the Camelia with the other bath but it’s going to be a while I think.

Not sure it’s that exciting but Gill reminded me of tonights eclipse of the moon and the so-called “blood moon”. I’ll take one final look tonight in a moment.

Weird Ploughing Along Each Side Of The Apple Tree Row

“Air-gapped” Connection From Natural Head Bore To Bath/Pond Aeration Trickle

… “Air-gap” Sealed, Unwanted Upwards Tee Stoppered Unusually

… But The Aeration Trickle Works

Oak Avenue Weather:11.8℃—21.1℃ no rain [77.9] TdO eggs=0 Mark=0

Karola and I had a long conversation with Anna and Dave in Ealing over Facetime; it was very good to see and talk to them again. They still expect to come out here for a holiday next year. It was Monday morning here but of course Sunday evening in Ealing.

Karola had a phone call with Joan Phillips up in Hamilton. As per Karola’s conversation with Joan’s ister Ruth yesterday, they plan to come to Hastings for the Horse of the Year show next March and they’ll be welcome to stay here.

I used the new cottage dishwasher for the first time today having read the user guide. Turns out if you don’t want anythign fancy it is pretty simple to operate. I have not investigated the WiFi capability – I didn’t even know I had it until the manual pointed it out.

Mark came and I asked him to do a survey of the paddocks, their fences and gates, and the sheep troughs. Some battens need fixing on the Scott’s boundary – tractor damage Mark thinks. Mark also interrupted his survey/audit to mow the cottage lawn.

Oak Avenue Weather:__℃—__℃ no rain [77.8] TdOx2 eggs=3 Mark=4

For a change went over to Clive and walked along the wetlands. Ideal day for it, sunny, light breeze, and cool.

On returning home we met that white Muscovy duck sitting in front of the cattle stop. It flew clumsily away into the Long Acre as we bumped over the cattle stop.

After The Dull Browns Of Winter – Bright Green Reedbeds

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

Quick walk with Bangle then off we went to Fergus and Esther Veitch’s lifestyle block just outside Waipawa. They are hidden away up Racecourse Road.

My first attempt at locating them with Apple Maps was not perfect, there are a gazillion New Zealand towns with a Racecourse Road, these days usually leading to a disused or re-purposed racecourse. and initially I got directions to 108 Racecourse Road on the southern outskirts of Waipukurau but it was an hours drive so I looked again and found 108 Racecourse Road, Waipawa a more likely 34 minutes away. Their several acres are a couple of kilometres up Racecourse Road, just beyond the railway line, up hill along a thickly overgrown narrow driveway invoking feelings of privacy, mystery, and nature.

We were introduced to the Veitch three alpaca’s, wethers with names beginning with M. They were friendly enough but disdained human touch although wolfing down morsels of willow leaves, apparently a strong favourite of theirs. And to their chooks which I suspect are retired Shavers, being brown and otherwise like a small Leghorn.

For now the Veitch’s have felicitous views from their house, from its rather delightful northern facing deck, and their sleep-out. A view of tree thickets, large old, gnarled sentinels, and thick shrubby under-storey topped by glimpses of rolling pasture beyond. Sadly the town is encroaching but with luck the railway embankment, their still growing trees, and the hillside behind will shield them for a decade or so.

Fergus is a man of many sheds and a large vegetable garden, eschewing British garden fanaticism for simple growing of useful produce. Esther is a long time teacher of ballet and seller of ballet perquisites; she is Swiss and charming. Fergus looks Scottish but is irrevocably Kiwi and has a bent for electronics. Both are so far Covid free.

All in all a very enjoyable visit and we hope to invite them back here before too long.

Oak Avenue Weather:10.0℃—22.3℃ no rain [77.6] TdT eggs=3

Off to the regular quarterly visit to the GP, Dr Richard Jamieson in the morning. Karola comes for company and to have another pair of eyes while I’m driving. As hoped, but by no means predicted, my health indicators are stable as they have been for many months: heart rate, blood sugar, cholesterol level, weight.

Mark came at noon and continued on his list of tasks from yesterday including tidying up various depressions in the ground, trenches that were filled and have since subsided a little.

Karola and I got ourselves presentable and went off very early for the 3:00pm funeral over at St Lukes in Havelock North. It was a good service as funerals go; Brian and Margaret Cobbe, their five children, sixteen grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, were/are a model of extended family warmth, support, and happiness, and underpinning that was Brian, the father. There was one other person I knew who joined our pew, Peter Offenberger.

Karola & Ian – Off To Brian Cobbe’s Funeral

Oak Avenue Weather:11.2℃—25.9℃ no rain [77.3] TdT eggs=4 Mark=4

Highlight of the day was our annual skin tests searching for melanomas caused by New Zealand’s virulent ultra-violet rays. No issues, no changes.Dr Patterson again remarked on my “alabaster skin”; I think thats the masculine equivalent of having the complexion of an English Rose – very pale.

Mark mended the gashed irrigation and water trough pipe damaged by someone in the orchard whose tractor or implement pushed into the boundary fence stretching the alkathene main that runs the length of the boundary between Karola’s orchard and our houses and paddocks. By pulling the alkathene pipe from the north it forced the pipe through one of the galvanised U-clips holding it firmly against each fence post. the edge of the clip acted as a knife, slicing into the pipe.

He then continued with a long list of little things until we got back after the Health Centre appointment. He and I then spent an hour mulching up branches (Mark) and chainsawing into firewood (me).

The Slice Out Of The Alkathene Pipe

Broken Post Where A Tractor Pushed Against The Fence

One Of Several Broken Fence Battens

Oak Avenue Weather:14.7℃—29.0℃ no rain [77.2] TdT eggs=3 Mark=4

Plumber Dean didn’t come till mid afternoon which gave us the opportunity to pop into town and see if Cory’s, a big electrical wholesaler, had the bolts I wanted for light switches and power points etc. Mitre-10 were selling them at $1.40 each; Fast Trade had similar bolts for $2.00 each. Cory’s give them away for free. That compensated for my injudicious purchase of two punnets of raspberries and more delicious asparagus – well we happened to be passing.

Mark came over at noon and spent the afternoon on my plan for completing the dovecote portion of the new cottage pump shed. I was busy with Dean anyway so couldn’t have helped with the mulching and with the Fergie driving the Italian mulcher one feels having someone else in attendance is the prudent thing to do.

Meanwhile Dean installs the new Fisher & Paykel single-drawer dish washer and points out that the door has a noticeable long dent at the edge of the door. Annoying but not worth uninstalling and demanding a replacement. It was Dean who spotted the dent in the Miele fridge too. He has an eye for such things.

Brand New And Dented – Sigh

Oak Avenue Weather:11.4℃—29.7℃ no rain [77.1] TdT eggs=2 Mark=4

OK, yes another shopping expedition. And no, the plumber didn’t come but maybe tomorrow.

Took eggs to new location, Nourish For Nil’s building at 1004 Karamu Road North, so not very different from before Hastings Food Bank amalgamated with Nourish For Nil last week. They are open for deliveries from 7:00am – 2:00pm.

Tried to get some of the screws/bolts that one uses to attach the face plates to recessed electrical wall switches and the like. I tried the electrical department but they only sold these screws individually at $1.40 each. So I went to the nuts and bolts and nails and screws but they, despite their hundreds of different threads and lengths and diameters did not have them – you have to get them from the electrical department. Somewhat disgusted at what seemed a simple trap to make us pay more I walked out and instead visited Fast Trade in Wilson road. After much searching they came up with a bolt with the right length, pitch and so on but the head was a bulky square one like a coach bolt and these were $2 each. I’ve resolved to go to an electrical wholesaler as they surely must have these scfrews in quantity at a reasonable price. The item I’m after is a 6/32 UNC x 1¼ inches.

Mark came and did “pick up sticks” with tractor and trailer for an hour while I had lunch and prepared to dock the last three lambs. Together we docked them without incident, one ram lamb and two ewe lambs. The hogget mothers, these were accidental births because one of my 2021 wethers wasn’t. In addition the ear tags on the these hoggets have lost their numbers or fallen out so it’s hard to know who is who let along who belongs to who. We’ve decided that the three late lambs are: #220R from $107E who has no button tag at all; #221E from #111E who has a button tag which has lost its writing; and #222E from #113E whith button tag showing “13”.

After the break we attached the mulcher to the Fergie tractor and Mark began mulching up branches in piles under the eucalypts while I started chainsawing up the larger logs.

Today I decided to let the eggs laid today under one of the broody hens stay. The plan is to let them accumulate a few eggs and I hope hatch them out. Esther Veitch said that if we had any chickens going spare they’d like some replacements for their four hens which are getting on a bit. I got no replies to my online request for fertile Australorp eggs that I sent to three different farms advertising them over a week ago.

Oak Avenue Weather:11.8℃—22.1℃ no rain [77.4] TdO eggs=3 Mark=4

Classic Kitchen’s Shannon (?) came at 7:45am and worked on the problem of the drawer dishwasher width. In fact the cabinetry enclosure is 600mm wide and the walls making it fit the Bosch dishwasher were a stand-alone frame fitting within a standard width gap. So not a big deal at all, it was fixed and ready for the plumber mid morning. Plumber Dean says he’ll come tomorrow to fit the dishwasher.

As requested by Lachie the shearer, in the morning we put the flock in the yards without grass or water. Thsi took me and Karola quite a long time as the sheep were spread across all the paddocks. Once they were in the yards I ran a few at a time into the crush and turfed out the lambs back into the Middle paddock. Some of them were at least 20kg and the 18 large lambs were quite a battle. After a bit more manouvering we got 28 sheep in one pen and the three hogget mothers with their lambs in another. These lambs are so much smaller than the others I was concerned that they might get bruised in the melee of large lambs and their mothers.

Finally we had to get the 18 big lambs back into the yards fready for their vaccination. That took ages as splinter groups would take it into their minds to race off down the paddock 100 metres or so away and muggins would trudge after them and coax them back. We did eventually get them into the yards and penned up.

Lachie TXTed to say he’d be arriving between 3:00pm and 4:00pm so after lunch we three drove into town and purchased maize, wheat, and chook pellets from Farmlands. We also picked up my new TV from Noel Leeming along with a robust TV wall mount. Rubber Monkey’s response to my broken TV was to say “nothing we can do, Sony blames you”. I suggested that they find another one and sell it to me at near cost. Their response was to offer it at a “special price” of $1015 plus shipping. I checked and found both Sony online and Noel Leeming online were selling it for $988. I cursed Rubber Monkey and bought from Noel Leeming last night.

Shorn Ewe #004 With Wether Lamb – A Weight Off Her Shoulders, Much Cooler

Took Over An Hour For Lambs To Figure Out Who Their Mothers Were – Free Of Fleece

Oak Avenue Weather:13.3℃—24.4℃ 0.4mm rain [77.5] TdO eggs=1 Mark=0

After a quick walk round the orchard we abandoned Bangle to a day by herself and went off to pick up Max Rashbrooke for lunch at ClearView along the coast towards Cape Kidnappers.we had an address for Max’s lodgings, Te Mata Lodge, so punched it in and let Google guide us.

After about 20 minutes along the back roads of Havelock North, Google led us up high into the hills behind the township, along a No Exit road which led to another No Exit road and to a Private Road, Gummer Road which appeared to be a new subdivision with a scattering of finished houses all with wonderful expansive views across the Hawkes Bay plains. We came to a locked farm gate, the end of Gummer Road. Google advised us most charmingly that we had arrived. There was only one finished dwelling down a steep drive on our left with a clutch of cars parked out the front.

We drove down to the other cars and a man emerged from the house. No, this is not Te Mata Lodge and no he had not heard of it. We were at number 71 Gummer Road; Te Mata Lodge was at number 64, back down the hill and on the other side of the road. We retraced our steps and drove down to where number 64 might be – but it was some bare earth and building materials.

Called up Max and asked where he was. Turns out he was in the centre of Havelock North, about ten minutes back into town. We trekked down the hillside and back along into Havelock North and there, behold, was the sign Te Mata Lodge.

Called the restaurant and asked them to waylay our guests, Fergus and Esther Veitch, and let them know we would be a little late. We were 20 minutes later than planned and 10 minutes later than the reservation so no harm done. Delicious meal in very pleasant surroundings; I think everyone got on well together although for Karola and Max it was the first time they’d met the Veitch’s, I’d met them at Karl Matthys’ “free thinkers” meetings. I dropped Max off at the airport and then rejoined the others at our place for Rush Munro ice-cream dessert. Esther invited us for lunch at their place next Saturday, they live on the outskirts of Waipawa on a 1½ hectare lifestyles bock with three alpacas, four hens, a cat, and, a lot of Fergus’s vegetables.

Gill’s Red Manuka In Wellington – A-Buzzing With Bees – Delightful

Oak Avenue Weather:16.3℃—23.3℃ 3.8mm rain [77.6] TdO eggs=3

Another lovely day in Hawkes Bay. We strolled round the orchard mid morning and again in the late afternoon. Bangle was thrilled.

Otherwise just pottering around. Monique came and put first coat on the walls of the big bedroom.

Someone dumped two “dibbers” in the skip which I rescued. Spade handle cut to about 400mm with a rounded end. No idea who put them there.

Mark has weeded round the red beech and added mulch for summer drought resistance and to deter more weeds. About seven of the smaller trees have died leaving 13 with green leaves. A couple of the bigger ones have died out of 26.

As I Intended – Manuka Red And White

Clematis Vitalba (Traveller’s Joy) On Back Fence Line In Karola’s Orchard

Clematis Vitalba (Old Man’s Beard) After Vigorous Onslaught By Felicity & Geoff At Weekend

Clematis Vitalba – Killed Seven Trees Last Year

Oak Avenue Weather:17.0℃—28.3℃ no rain [77.6] TdOx2 eggs=2

A white van pulled up at the homestead this morning around 8:30a. Karola saw someone walk round to the front then back and then drove away. I assume they were looking for Paul who finished the GIBbing yesterday and won’t be back for a while.

Did most of Karola’s two-monthly GST return last night and finished it off this morning.

I talked to Stewart at Classic Kitchens and one of their folk are coming round early on Monday to see what can be done about the space for the single-drawer F&P dishwasher.

Mark weeded and added mulch to the 26 bigger red beech trees on the north side of the 133 entrance. He cleaned the Kioti and the Grillo and checked oil, water, etc.

Pleasant walk down on the stop bank. First time this season that I’ve heard frogs in the reed pond just past the horse arena on the land side of the upstream stop bank.

After Mark left we popped down to Diamond Dry Cleaners and picked up the laundry. This was an experiment to see whether the 10kg single load wash might suit us.

Rush Munro is moving next week so we bought two huge cartons of ice-cream in case we’re not passing Rush Munro for a while. These are five litre packs of “double chocolate” and “maple & walnut” – should last for a couple of months. I don’t think I’ve bought $100 of ice-cream in cold blood before.

We both spent time sitting out on the cottage kitchen verandah just relaxing in the sunlight and gentle breeze – very restful.

Ben’s Chilli Con-Carne Makes A Delicious And Easy Meal For Friday Night

Oak Avenue Weather:9.0℃—24.1℃ no rain [?] TdT eggs=3 Mark=4

Paul came and continued with putting GIB on the living room walls, finishing soon after lunch. Architect Ruth came and took some more photos for her report to the council re heritage monitoring of the changes; she was in a great hurry so escaped before i could speak to her. A bit plater plumber Dean came, as planned and cajoled by Paul. He “fixed” the bubble-up concrete lid which was an inch or so proud of the lawn surface. He took a look at the cloakroom where I found a puddle round the loo; he suggests was someone spilling water, not a leak so we’ve left it to see if it re-occurs.

Bin people came and swapped our full skip for an empty one.

Dean then came to cottage to swap the old Bosch single-drawer dish-washer for the new Fisher & Paykel one. He took out the old one ut, too our dismay, found the F&P was abut 25mm wider than the Bosch one. As Bridget and I had expected, the F&P dis-washer drawer is 600mm wide; unfortunately the Bosch is narrower and the cabinetry had been custom built to its size. Classic Kitchens will call in the morning to discuss how to fix it. I am disappointed that professional kitchen cabinetry makers would make an opening for a dish-washer or any other appliance at other than the industry standard of 600mm wide.

Three chooks still playing broody and the other four are only managing an egg or two a day.

Mark buried the green waste in his compost pit before continuing and completing his mowing down in the stump dump and the eastern end of the Long Ace. He then mowed the cottage lawn and mowed twice round the fence-line of the One Acre to provide a walkig path and so I can see whether there’s any lucerne still under the grass sward.

Captain Salty’s for take-away fish and chips tonight. The usual two Terakihi crumbed fillets plus a meagre half-scoop of chips.

White Duck (Muscovy?) Is Still Hanging Around

Paul Completed Living Room GIB

Bosch Drawer Dishwasher Is Narrower Than Replacement F&P – Bother

Oak Avenue Weather:7.7℃—24.4℃ no rain [77.5] TdT eggs=2 Mark=4

Up very early for me so by the time Paul came at around 8:00am I was wide awake. Our morning task was to move the 17 large sheets of GIB from their storage place, flat on the floor of the homestead garage, round to the front verandah next to the French doors into the living room. I used the old Fergie tractor with its mini-forks and one of the big pallets that carried earlier GIB loads here. Paul and I man-handled half the boards onto the pallet and I drove it round to the front where we off-loaded it. Another pass saw all the GIB relocated.

Paul asked if I wanted these large pallets and said that they were costing me $75 each. I had no idea, thinking they were just more rubbish I needed to clear away, so Paul and I retrieved the old pallets and now have four stacked near the house ready to be picked up.

Paul finished putting up the skirting extensions and by the end of the afternoon had put up half the GIB.

Mark continued weeding and mulching the youngest red beech trees near the 133 entrance. He then used the Kioti tractor and mower to attack the iris and long grass in the stump dump and the east end of the Long Acre paddock.

After our stop bank walk with Bangle and a bite to eat, Karola and I took the Landrover down to the VTNZ vehicle testing station and passed the rest of its warrant (WOF). Not crowded at 3:00pm so it went quite quickly.

Living Room, Walls Stripped Of Scrim & Wallpaper

Rapid Progress In Putting Up The GIB

Oak Avenue Weather:9.1℃—24.2℃ 0.4mm rain [77.5] TdT eggs=2 Mark=4

Paul was here early and began by stripping the living room walls. Spent the rest of the day adding the special strip to the top of the skirting that compensates for the GIB overlaying the match lining.

Electrician Ivan was here with Paul working on the power points and switches that needed access from the living room wall cavities. As the four lights in the cottage bedroom have suddenly stopped working I asked Ivan to take a look. To our horror the wall switch, incorporating a dimmer, was a charred mess of melted plastic and wiring insulation. We were lucky not to have burned the place down – and when I say “we” I of course mean “I” – Ian, master electrician NOT. That switch unit was where the ring main split to provide lights in the bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe and my suspicion is that in forcing multiple stiff wires into the little sockets of the light switch I did a poor job and a wire eventually broke loose and shorted out on another wire.

Then we were off to take Bangle to her six-weekly grooming then to do the week’s shopping before picking Bangle up again, temporarily all fluffy and smelling slightly of pleasant perfume. Teeth cleaned and nails clipped. Took 1½ doz. eggs to the Food Bank and learned that today is the last day of the Hastings Food Bank which is amalgamating with Nourish For Nil which has different premises scattered round Napier and Hastings.

Today’s experiment is with Diamond Drycleaners where I’m using their “$22.10 for up to 10kg” of general wash-dry-fold as well as getting sheets and best shirts and trousers done separately. The bulk wash just puts all in one wash so colours better not run and no woollens or shrinking violets.

Mark came at noon, arriving just as we got home. I’d noticed the Leylandii we planted last year to complement the seven dead Casuarina windbreak trees strangled stone dead by Clematis Vertalba. He then finished mowing the homestead lawn before taking me and Karola to Tamatea Automotive to pick up the Landrover.

Later I checked the sheep – ewes and lambs all present and correct. And took Bangle round the orchard. On my way back I noticed a goose mating with another goose – or so I thought. Something we’ve never observed here before, ever. But, wait a minute, there are too many geese because nearby were another pair of geese. A second look and it’s obvious that the female while aquatic bird is quite a bit smaller than the male goose – so perhaps it’s a Muscovy duck.

Mark “Released” The Leylandii – They’re Doing Well

Now Here’s Two Of The Three Geese . . .

So Who Is This (I Suspect It’s A Female Muscovy Duck)

Oak Avenue Weather:10.1℃—13.5℃ no rain [77.8] TdO eggs=3 Mark=4

Felicity & Geoff head off soon after 8:00am for home. We laze about, it’s a public holiday, Labour Day, so no Mark nor Paul today.

Bangle, Karola, and I popped into Hastings because we’d been told we could cash in on the Briscoes Labour Day sales by just taking our receipt from Thursday into the shop. Turns out that was right and we got $80 back. On a roll I bought several ScanPan pots and pans for the homestead as they were discounted 60%.

Spurred on by these purchases I had a bit of a clean out of the cottage kitchen pots and pans taking the excess to the homestead kitchen and homestead garage. I then remembered to turn off the hot water in the kitchen and upstairs.

The three large cardboard archive boxes of clothes we’ve assembled during and since Bridget was here have now been taken up to the homestead garage where their eventual resting place will be in the storeroom up there once I’ve made some room.

It was a really decent day and Bangle, Karola, and I had a most pleasant stroll downstream along the Ngaruroro stop bank. It being a public holiday there were several families down there too; it’s a favourite spot for cross-country biers to zoom around on the river bank.

Under The Ngaruroro Expressway Bridge – Start Of Our Downstream Stop Bank Walk

Never Seen So Many Cars – Families Not Drug Dealers Which Makes A Change

Typical Kid’s Dirt Bike

Oak Avenue Weather:4.7℃—26.5℃ no rain [77.8] TdT eggs=2 Mark=0

We rose quite late and after their breakfast Geoff and felicity came over from the homestead and we chatted for a while over morning coffee.

Late morning we all wandered along the stop bank. It was a delightful day, not the heat of summer but sunshine and everything looking very green.

Lunch was the local mushroom soup and toast, and more discussions. Then after a siesta we, at Felicity’s suggestion, went over to the back fence of the orchard and tackled some patches of Clematis vitalba. This is the same noxious creeper which has killed seven of the southern boundary She-Oak (Casaurina) trees in the shelter belt.

Then more talk as we prepared a rather delicious beef fillet steak dinner. And more talk over Rush Munro ice-cream.

A most pleasant day.

Photo Of The Homestead courtesy Geoff Rashbrooke

Oak Avenue Weather:2.6℃—19.3℃ no rain [77.5] TdT eggs=2

Geoff went on a several kilometre run round the block while Felicity, Karola, Bangle, and I walked round the orchard.

Peter & Charlotte joined Geoff & Felicity and Karola & me at Bay Espresso in Karamu Road for lunch. After a relaxed and long lunch out the back in the court-yard we returned to Karamu where we continued chatting until late afternoon.

G & F, P & C walked round the homestead to see first hand what alterations and additions we’d made.

Karola, Bangle, and I popped in to Rush Munros to ensure we had enough ice-cream for tonight and tomorrow. We also picked up a small bag of spuds for tomorrow’s steak dinner.

For dinner we had a lamb casserole brought up from Wellington by Felicity. I added potatoes, kumera, carrots, asparagus, and green beans. Delicious. Followed by Rush Munro ice-cream and stewed fruit – apple, rhubarb, and boysenberries. We chatted far into the evening, mostly about the current chaotic state of UK politics.

Oak Avenue Weather:1.7℃—16.7℃ no rain [?] TdO eggs=3

Rather a sullen day no sunshine and a keen wind.

In the morning Karola and I sorted through a few more old clothes and a lot of old shoes, packaging up the clothes for storage in the homestead store room.

We went to Clive to the wetlands for a change and were surrised how many cyclists were braving the wind and zooming along the cycle path.

In the afternoon I rummaged around trying to match the sheets and pillow cases that Bridget had kindly washed and dried whilst here with their respective beds. In the end it was my carting bedding around that had temporarily mixed things up. Karola also mentioned she’d quite liked the old coverlet we had on the cottage bed so I swapped the one Bridget bought us with the old one – as I said to Bridget, it’ll do just as well on one of the beds in the homestead once we’ve got the bedrooms finished.

Everything ship-shape for the Rashbrookes, hot water, heaters in bedroom and kitchen, and they arrived late afternoon. I trundled off and got fish and chips as planned. Karola and I had each made lettuce salads earlier so, with the Rush Munro ice-cream bought earlier in the week, we had a delightful dinner. Good to chat with old friends again.

Three Full Boxes Of Clothes Going Into Storage

Clive Riverbank – Walkers Guide

Its All About Dotterels

See The Pair Of Grey Herons Foraging

… And The Usual Chooks Down Behind The Stop Bank

Bangle At The Kilometre Return Point

Oak Avenue Weather:6.0℃—14.8℃ no rain [?] TdC eggs=3 Mark=0

Todays adventure was getting the Landrover in for some maintenance on its shock absorbers and one of the wheel bearings. As arranged, Karola and I took the Landrover down to Tamatea Automotive just before noon and, on his way to work here, Mark picked us up from the workshop.

Mark weed-sprayed the usual places such as in front of each garage, the hard stand south of the homestead, round the base boards of the cottage. He then went on to tackle mowing of the homestead lawn.

Karola and I did some more sorting of old clothes, clothes I brought over to the cottage from the wardrobes in the bedrooms at the homestead. We have sorted about ⅔ of them and only saved one dark blue Laura Ashley dress and one suit for me. I’ll be wearing that suit to Brian Cobbe’s funeral on Friday 4th November at 3:00pm at St Lukes in Havelock North.

Heath Goldfinch, proproietor of Tamatea Automotive, called to say that due to another urgent job he wouldn’t get the Disco finished today so we agreed we’d leave it with him for the long weekend and pick it up next Tuesday.

The Rashbrookes are still coming for the weekend, setting off tomorrow, so we toddled into town and got a few more groceries. After dinner, lamb chops which we have infrequently, we went down to the stop bank in the Subaru as the sun set and Bangle and I scampered along our two kilometre walk while Karola watched the sun go down from the warmth of the car.

Oak Avenue Weather:7.7℃—20.1℃ no rain [?] TdT eggs=3 Mark=4

Mark came and mowed the cottage lawn and most of under the big oak. He reported another little lamb born to a hogget ewe making our total 21 lambs for 2022. Mark has also finished armour-plating the Kioto mower plastic grass guide. He suggested, and I readily agreed, that when mowing thick iris patches or areas with a lot of sticks we’d best just remove the guide.

Hastings in Zoe with Bangle and I bought a new electric razor – a Braun 7-Series as recommended by a couple of online web sites with tag lines such as “the best electric razors for men in 2022”. Noel Leeming show this model on their website but the local store has run out so it’ll be sent to me next week by mail from Hamilton.

We also popped into Briscoes and I bought a couple of washing baskets – the old ones have broken handles, perished in the stron UV light here in summer. Also a laundry basket and some more tea towels chosen by Karola. Karola just can’t find tea towels made of linen as she had in the old days.

Sent an email to Graham Boaler, joiner, commissioning a couple of panels to cover the fireplaces in the homestead living and dining rooms.

Oak Avenue Weather:7.1℃—19.9℃ no rain [?] TdT eggs=3 Mark=4

What a surprise, it’s weekly shopping day again. Started out quite late so it was rather busy and took longer than usual. Rush Munro was closed on Tuesdays for a while but open again this Tuesday so we got some Double Chocolate and Maple walnut for the freezer and a “kiddy cone” each for morning tea. We took in a dozen eggs for the Food Bank but all staff were off-site at an all-day meeting so I left the eggs on their doorstep and rang them later to let them know.

Mark worked on the new lining for the replacement Kioti mower grass guard until the break then he and I carried on moving stuff out of the living room ready for GIBbing etc. I finished around midnight with space round all the walls and pictures taken down.

Ben suggested I add a round and a flat perch to the bird table to see if one style were preferred over the other. So far the flat one has been used more – the round one is an old axe handle, the flat one a strip of plywood about 30mm wide. The question is whether, like chooks, doves prefer roosting on a flat surface or gripping a round one. Their preferences during the day may not accurately reflect their roosting preference but as the Internet has conflicting opinions it’s the best we can do.

Trial Dove Perches – One Flat, One Round

Living Room – Space For GIB & Painting

Some Went Into The “Library” (Old Front Hall)

And Some Into The Dining Room

Oak Avenue Weather:10.9℃—22.3℃ 0.2mm rain [?] TdO eggs=2 Mark=4

Karola and I had medical appointments this morning, she for a scan and I for my quarterly diabetes blood test. I dropped Karola off and then got coffee, dropped in on Farmlands to dispute a charge, finally going to the blood test clinic. Mildly interesting that next door in the car park there was an altercation between some men and women in cars and one, then two, then four police cars came to enjoy the spectacle. Certain amount of shouting but no obvious violence and no armed defenders squad.

Mark began by checking the sheep – all OK there – then burying the green waste for Karola and starting on adding a metal shield to the new Kioti mower grass spreader. After the break Mark and I started emptying the homestead living room into the old hall (new library) and the dining room.

Oak Avenue Weather:5.7℃—23.0℃ no rain [76.9] TdO eggs=2 Mark=4

Chooks are not doing well; three are broody, sitting in nest boxes but not laying any eggs while the other four laid but one egg today.

Lots of grass and ground is slowly drying out so sheep are happy.

For a change we went to the Clive wetlands for our walk today; cold wind but otherwise very pleasant.

Oak Avenue Weather:7.5℃—18.2℃ no rain [76.9] TdC eggs=1

Quiet day as the ground slowly dried out. Monique came and finished the Dining room. So downstairs that only leaves the Living room and upstairs just the “bee” room, “tween” room, and the “bed-sit” room plus outside some doors and windows. She won’t be back until after Christmas she says. I’ll be able to start clearing the Living room into the Dining Room and the “Library” so that Paul can GIB the Living room.

Oak Avenue Weather:8.3℃—13.2℃ 2.0mm rain [76.1] TdT eggs=2

Rain threatened then backed off. Still soggy underfoot.

Apart from a walk along the stop bank we didn’t venture out today; just reading and emails really.

Got hold of all three episodes of a murder/mystery serial, Karen Pirie, set in St Andrews and binge watched the entire series tonight – pretty good. Not nearly as violent or graphic as the five episodes of the new Van Der Valk, most of which I watched while Bridget was here.

Three chooks are now broody which has cut down egg production considerably. The Black Orpingtons, Blue-Tag and Yellow-Tag, make a fuss, clucking and ruffling their feathers when you lift them off the nest. But No-Tag is fiercely protective, jabbing savagely with her beak – takes after her Light Sussex father perhaps.

Oak Avenue Weather:8.7℃—13.1℃ no rain [76.9] TdT eggs=2 Mark=0