STILL IN MY 70's

 Forecast for today was 26°C so decided to go for a walk in the bush to celebrate my birthday.  We did the Loop walk at Taheke Falls and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Not a long walk the Loop is 3 kms. about 5 kms. altogether but it rises quite steeply.

Because of the angle of the sun I was only able to photograph a glimpse of the Falls.

When we got to the top we stopped and had some refreshments and enjoyed the birdsong.

Looking back at some of the steps we went down.  It shows how high we had climbed.

The trunk of a kauri tree

Back home for lunch 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It is 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve as I write this.  A pleasant day 24°C, cloudy with possible afternoon showers.  We have been getting afternoon showers for a few days now.  Great for the garden.

Tomorrow is forecast to be 25°C with afternoon showers possible once again.  We head to Doug's Granddaughter's farm for a family gathering.  There will be about 30 people from her family and that of her husband.  Two lambs will be cooked on the spit and everyone takes either a dessert or salad.

We received about 20 Christmas cards (some still to be opened as they are with presents) and my favourites came from two cousins on the Welsh Borders.

So, as the card above says: Wherever you go and whatever you do may all your Christmas wishes come true.

IT'S FINISHED

On Sunday Doug finished the paling fence.  It took him less than a month for the actual fence which is pretty good considering the weather as we have had a lot of rain.

A couple of photos from the neighbour's side.  They have the "better" side as it was easier doing it from their drive rather than our garden.

Our side of the fence

We are extremely pleased with it.  Once we are sure there are no more creepers coming up we will get some more plants in the garden.  

A PROUD DAY

Today was the Graduation Ceremony for the Police Wing 361.  There are now 56 new constables and Doug's Grandson was the top student.  He is 27 and has had other jobs previously and been waiting all through Covid to get on the course.

We sat for 90 Minutes and watched the live stream of the ceremony.  (Unusual for us to stay still for so long).  

So Congratulations, well done.  Here he is receiving the Koruwai or cloak from Police Commissioner, Andrew Coster and  the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

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and being applauded

REOTAHI

Today's walk was at Reotahi and, after days of rain it was a beautiful day.  We met at Onerahi and carpooled from there.  

The Pohutukawa flowers (also know as New Zealand Christmas tree because of its red flowers) was flowering well.

Another plant in full flower was the Flax

The walk takes you along the coast to Little Munroe Bay below. It was high tide so we didn't venture on to the beach 

The weather stayed fine all day and Doug even managed to get some more palings on the fence in the afternoon.  At 9 p.m. it is still 18°C. very pleasant.

Rosemary: very similar to bottlebrush but the flowers are round. 

THE WEEK

Sunday was another sunny day and Doug kept working and got all the top railings up.

Monday was good as well and we had a lovely walk along the Onerahi waterfront followed by byo morning tea. We had just walked in the door when we got a call from Gary (the son of Stan who Doug went to primary school with). Gary is over from England visiting his Dad and we had time for lunch before they came around. It was great catching up with both of them. Gary flew home yesterday. We then drove the 6 kms to Steve's Honey to pick up a carton of his delicious Bush Honey with Manuka. He told us that the market has fallen for Manuka honey and he is now adding more to his bush honey. 

Tuesday started fine but there was a heavy rain warning for Wednesday. While I continued weeding Doug managed to get the palings up on 2 sections of the fence before the rain started.

It has rained ever since (now Thursday evening). Doug did manage to get enough palings chamfered for 3 more sections when the rain eased slightly this afternoon.

Tomorrow we are having brunch with Granddaughter and baby Ella. It is still forecast to rain until Monday.

Hopefully the rain will sto

p for Monday's walk which is a bit further away than usual. 

NEW POTATOES

I dug the first of our new potatoes today (Cliff Kidney).  They were delicious with homegrown beans, courgette and baby carrots.  No photo as we ate them straight away with some sausages.  Actually, if I had realised I was going to dig the potatoes I may not have cooked the sausages as the vegetables were  delicious on their own.

 It is a beautiful day today let summer begin.  Doug did some more work on the fence and is ready to put the top rail up tomorrow.  I did some more weeding.  We stopped work as the sun was too strong.

A Busy Life

 This morning I got up at about 6.30 a.m. Fairly standard for this time of year.  I did a couple of loads of washing and got it out on the line and had breakfast before starting on weeding the flower garden alongside the new fence.  

Meanwhile, Doug was putting the bottom rail on the fence.  He put a rail along ground level  to hold the soil in yesterday.

I persevered at it as once the palings go on I won't be able to weed from our neighbour's drive and it is so much easier.  I am pleased with the result and Doug has sprayed the remaining creepers once again in an attempt to kill them.  I got to the end of the fence at about 1 p.m. then returned some English Country Living magazines to a neighbour and received the latest one.  I then went to the street around the corner with some lachenalia bulbs for a lady who had requested some.  She has hurt her knee so hasn't been down our street for a while.  She offered me some English Snowdrops and some bluebells although, most likely, not the English ones.  I said yes to both. I was surprised about the snowdrops as I didn't think they would grow here.

Back home I made two loaves of bread a gf one and a wheat one. The gf one is baked and ready and the wheat one is in the breadmaker.

I then made a stir fry for lunch which we have just finished (3.15 p.m.) I must now send out an email for the Parkinson's walk and catch up with a few things on the computer. 

This is a fairly typical day, although we do not put a fence up regularly, there are always lots of jobs needing attention.  I must say I much prefer this and dread the thought of not being able to garden or do other jobs.

I actually have a list of "office" jobs that need attention but I think most of them will have to wait for tomorrow.

So far I haven't done much towards the fence as our neighbour has helped when needed.