ACRYLIC PAINTS

 I had an appointment this morning so Doug dropped me off and headed to Spotlight to buy some more acrylic paints in their sale.  

He had just gone through checkout when a lady approached him.  She had bought some acrylic paints but decided painting was not for her and had been thinking of taking her remaining paints to an Opportunity Shop but instead offered them to Doug.  She was on her way home and her home was not far from where Doug was picking me up. 

After we had picked up the paints Doug suggested we go to another suburb and order some flowers for her but I suggested we go to Bethany Gardens a short drive away and buy some flowers from the grower.

We picked up this lovely bouquet as well as some green beans, peaches, avocados and tomatoes.  When Doug gave her the flowers she said they were lovely but he didn't need to do that.  He, of course, responded that she didn't need to give him the paints.  So we ended up having a lovely drive, getting some vegetables and paints.  Plus we called into a delicatessen for a browse and I bought some Italian made gluten free tagliolini, some New Zealand made Dukkah and another cookbook (one can never have too many).

The lovely bouquet

The selection of paints

NO WONDER IT WAS WET

The rainfall figures are now out for "Summer" if you can call it that.  For the 3 months, December, January and February we received a massive 1004 mm.  This was just under four times the normal summer average and the highest since records began.  Over summer we received over 77% of our normal annual rainfall.

I recently posted photos of the Quarry Gardens and it was thought they would be closing permanently because of all slips but they re-opened parts of the garden yesterday.  There are lots of slips but it was all built by volunteers from a bare quarry so will be rebuilt again.

When we visit I will post some photos.

Meanwhile the devastation is too shocking and too much to write about.  Hundreds of people are unable to return to their homes as they have been red stickered.  Many more have yellow stickers which mean work is needed before they can return.  In many places it will not be practical to rebuild because of possible future flooding or landslips.

Our State Highway between here and Auckland is now open for northbound traffic only with long detours for southbound and much more work to do.

Meanwhile, here is Doug's first painting.  He has been to Art Class again today and is really enjoying it.