THE DRIVE 4

Sunset is at 5.15 pm and last night they were working until 8 pm by torchlight to get the concrete to their desired finish.  We are very pleased with it.  They came back this morning to do some clearing up that they were unable to do last night and remove the boxing.  They had worked a sixteen hour day having started at 4 a.m. on another job. We discovered today that the wife of the man who we are actually working with is in hospital and had surgery on her back today.  What with that and the long hours from yesterday apart from the clearing up and a bit of work with a water blaster they are having a rest day.  I gather they will be back to start work on the bottom part of the drive tomorrow afternoon.  These photos were taken first thing before the tidying with the water blaster.

 

THE DRIVE 3

The workers didn't arrive until about 11 a.m.  All the concreters work together in the city and at 4 a.m. our workers were on a large job for another firm where there were twelve concreters working together.  It is now just gone 4 p.m. and they are still going on our job.  

There was more work needed to get the job ready for the concrete truck which came at about 2 p.m. and, so far, two of them have spent two hours spreading the concrete in our car port and on the top part of our drive down to the gate.  The concrete all needed to be moved in a motorized wheelbarrow.

                                                               First thing this morning

Ready for the concrete truck

First load in the motorized wheelbarrow

A couple of hours later

 

THE DRIVE 2

These photos were taken last night

They had not been working for long this morning when the rain started.  Luckily, it has now stopped and they are busy working again.  Unfortunately, there is a warning for thunderstorms with heavy downpours tonight so fingers crossed that we miss the worst of it.  The concrete is planned to go down tomorrow.

Doug had a hand physio appointment this afternoon.  She was very pleased with it.  He doesn't need any covering now apart from a small "sleeve" to wear if he is working in his workshop.  He was so lucky not to hit bone or a tendon.  It is just under five weeks since the accident.

OUR DRIVE

We chose a young lad (to us) who has worked in concrete for a while but just started out on his own.  He arrived at 8 a.m. after picking up his hire truck and digger and got straight to work with three helpers.  I can't get the photos to go in the right order.

The next two photos were taken just before we left for the Parkinson's walk a little after 9 a.m.

The next photo was from the bridge that we walked to alongside the river.  There were 14 of us on a very pleasant walk.

Rain forecast for tomorrow.  Hope it is not too heavy.

 It felt very wintery this morning,  5 degrees Celsius.  We didn't rise until 7 a.m. to head to the Growers' Market.  Sunrise 7.28 a.m.  One of the stalls we wanted wasn't there but we got most of what we intended.  We then do our weekly supermarket shop and  always seem to be running late by the time we get home, put everything away and have our breakfast.  I had bought a nice piece of boned lamb so I diced it and made a Moroccan flavoured casserole which I just took  out of the oven at about 4 p.m.  I always find it takes longer than I expect by the time I have cut up the meat all the vegetables and prepped the casserole but it will be good to have several meals in the freezer. 

It is now 4 weeks since Doug cut his hand on the drop saw and finally, this week he didn't need to see the nurse just the hand physio.  The wound is healing well and he can now start some exercises.  Unfortunately, when the saw gripped his glove it pulled his arm and also hurt his shoulder so he started physio for his shoulder as well this week.  

We seem to have been busy but not sure what we have accomplished.  We were waiting for several weeks to hear back from the Council as our concrete drive needs renewing and we had to check that we could do the small part that went over the pavement.  They have finally got back to us and we can go ahead so we have someone coming to remove the old concrete and then build a new concrete drive.   We are also having the carport concreted.  This means we will not be able to use the drive for a couple of weeks (hopefully no longer than that).

Just remembered, one of the busy days was Wednesday, I had put a loaf of gluten free bread in the bread maker before filling in a form on-line with Doug for his physio appointment the following day.  I went through to the kitchen to check on the calendar and noticed the bread was ready.  As the bread is best not left in the machine I quickly removed it, turned the machine off but did not unplug it.  It is on a wooden  trolley that Doug built for me.  When we finished with the form Doug went through to the kitchen while I continued with more "stuff" on the computer.  The next thing there was a loud crash.  I went through to the kitchen to find the bread maker on the floor.  Doug had decided to put the trolley back in its usual position and when it stuck he thought it had hit a mat and gave it a tug but, of course, as it was still plugged in it crashed to the floor.  I checked with Mr. Google and there was one for sale with the sale ending that day so we headed across town to buy it as well as some painting gear and timber for a new gate stop for the drive.  It is amazing how days can fly past.

The new machine is identical to the old one.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO:

We were lucky with the walk on Monday which was on the Boardwalk at A.H. Reed Park

 

Tuesday, Doug went back to his Art Class for the first time since his accident and really enjoyed it.  In the afternoon he went to the hand physio.  We thought he may not have to go back to the nurse at the G.P.'s again but the physio suggested it would be a good idea.  He had an appointment for yesterday at 2.15.  I have had sinus problems for a while so phoned the G.P. yesterday morning and the Gods were looking after us as the triaging doctor said she could see me at 2.15. Doug has another appointment with the nurse tomorrow as his physio appointment isn't until Tuesday because of King's Birthday long weekend and it was thought six days was too long to leave it.  I am on a course of antibiotics for my sinus infection.  

Our taps in the laundry have been dripping for a while only when the washing machine is on.  Nothing major so we didn't do anything about it but with the new machine I got in touch with a new plumber.   He came on Monday after our walk and installed new laundry taps and a drain for the washing machine so that it doesn't drain into the tub.  We are very pleased with the result and wonder why we didn't do this earlier.  So much neater and the taps are easier to use.  He also put new taps in the laundry for eldest daughter who bought a machine at the same time.

Today we are getting some quotes to re-cement our driveway.  Had to wait for the o.k. from Council as part of it is across their pathway.  Onwards and upwards.

TODAY'S WALK

Last night we had heavy rain and thunderstorm watches and wondered whether we would be having the Parkinson walk this morning.  Anyway, the day dawned fine so we headed for the planned walk which was from A.H. Reed Park to the Whangarei Falls.  We were surprised at how full the river was as it only rained overnight.

This is the most water I have seen coming over the Falls.

This is a photo of the Falls in March last year (what it usually looks like).

After the walk and coffee we headed to do a supermarket shop then back home for a quick lunch before heading to the GP for Doug's dressing to be changed.  It is coming on well but a long way to go. 

ONE WEEK ON

Yes, it is a week since Doug had his accident.  He had his third nurse appointment today, a different nurse this time and she was very thorough.  He has different antibiotics and  a new sling (put on properly this time so that it does not pull down on his neck.  A new type of dressing with a splint.  He has also been referred to the District Nurse in the hope that he can be seen more frequently and also a referral to a hand physio. 

While we were out having all this done youngest daughter and a grandson came and picked up the offending saw and took it to be serviced. So things are progressing.

MONDAY

 We had a lovely walk around the Loop.  At one stage we could hear a haka being performed and then realised it was on a catamaran coming towards us with Maori flags flying.  Not sure where they were headed - the Bay of Islands or the Islands as in Rarotonga, Fiji etc. perhaps.

Just after we reached the road I noticed a spoonbill on a patch of grass.  Unfortunately, it had walked away by the time I got my phone out to take a photo but I did manage this:

I haven't seen one up close before. 

Home for lunch then out again for Doug to get his dressing changed.  She was also able to remove the rest of the glove from the wound.  

AND

On Friday we had warnings for heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong wind but in the morning there was a lull in the storm so I took the opportunity to get some fresh air and walk down to get Doug's antibiotics.  Unfortunately, they didn't agree with him so he only took 2 and then stopped.  He says it doesn't feel as though there is an infection in the wound and the nurse was of two minds whether to prescribe antibiotics or not.  

The sling didn't last long and, of course, he has still been doing work but has been holding the hand raised in between jobs.  We got everything ready including the plinth for the machine to sit on.  The washing machine and new freezer were delivered just after lunch on Saturday but the delivery man who also set the washing machine up suggested it would be better not to use the plinth even though it was the Salesman who suggested it.  Anyway, I am very happy with the new machine and did two loads yesterday and another today.  I had a front loader previously but as I moved into Doug's house when we married I just used the machine he already had.

It was only today that Doug showed me the glove he was wearing when he had the accident with the drop saw.  It could have been a whole lot worse.  goes back to see the nurse tomorrow to get it checked.

The almost finished laundry.  The deep freeze was the only upright one that would fit under the cupboards.

Youngest daughter came to lunch today and brought me these lovely chrysanthemums for Mother's Day.

 

WHAT A WEEK

Monday was a lovely fine day for our weekly walk.  We met at the Information Centre at the south of town where a new cafe, The Cabbage Tree Cafe, has just opened hence our revisiting that particular walk. There were 17 of us (I think that may be a record of walkers) and some were away.  Both the walk and the cafe were excellent. I even had a message from the cafe afterwards checking that we were all happy.

The waterfall was in full flow after all the rain we have had.

Tuesday was our eighth wedding anniversary but on Monday afternoon I had done a load of washing and realised that the washing machine had developed a leak so the day was spent deciding on a replacement then checking it out, going into town and purchasing.  They are so busy that delivery could not be until Saturday.  We also bought timber for Doug to build a plinth for the washing machine.

Wednesday was spent moving the old washing machine out and starting on the drying out from the leak.  As we are buying a front loader to replace a top loader we realised that we would have to move the fridge and freezer to accommodate the door opening from the left side.  We have a chest freezer and have decided to purchase a vertical freezer.

Today, Thursday, was spent trying to find a vertical freezer that would fit as we have a height limit.  After some phoning and checking on line we went to town and purchased a freezer to be delivered with the washing machine.  When we got home we emptied the freezer and between us managed to move it out to the back porch and then refill it.  The clock seemed to be on steroids.  I then cooked lunch, our main meal while Doug cleaned up where the freezer had been.  

By the time we finished lunch it was about 3.30 and while I did the dishes Doug went outside to cut some timber for the plinth.  He returned a very short time later having cut his finger quite badly.  I phoned his eldest daughter to take him to A. & E.  She just lives around the corner and while she drove here I phoned the GP to see if they would be able to see him.  I was put on hold but just as she arrived I was told that they could see him if he was there before 4 p.m.  so that saved driving to the hospital.

While they were gone I did the dishes and checked a couple of things outside discovering a bunch of bananas had started to ripen so I picked them just before they got back.

Apart from the sutures Doug's arm is in a sling so the building of the plinth will be put on hold for a while.  

We now have a heavy rain warning, severe thunderstorm watch and strong wind watch for tomorrow.  Sculpture Northland is on at the Quarry Gardens from today until Sunday and we had intended to go today but the day ran out.

Doug was prescribed antibiotics but the script did not arrive at the pharmacy before they closed so I will check on that first thing tomorrow.  I am looking forward to a quieter day.

Te Rau Aroha A Company Maori Battalion Museum

 Yesterday morning we set off north to Paihia, 70 kms. away.  Doug's eldest daughter came as well and was our driver.  

Showers had been forecast but they held off until we were returning home. It was a pleasant drive and sixteen family members met for the ceremony to have Doug's Uncle Lockie's photo installed on the wall of Remembrance.  The ceremony was set to start at 12.30 and there was a lot of catching up with family members who had not met for some time. 

As with all Maori ceremonies there was a lot of singing and a lot of talking or korero.

Doug was the only family member who could actually remember Lockie.  He remembers standing between his legs as a young child with Lockie playfully hitting him on his head with a rolled up newspaper.  He can also remember when he was about five years old his father going to work and telling him to be good for his mother that particular day as she had just heard that her brother had been killed.  

We were extremely pleased we attended.  We had been to the Museum a few years ago and wondered why Lockie's photo was not on the wall.  (Apparently it was because he was with another Battalion to start with and something went amiss with the records).  

In the background nearly 600 white crosses on the Field of Remembrance for the soldiers of 28th Maori Battalion who were killed in action and buried overseas.

Lockie's photo on the Wall of Remembrance where it belongs.

Doug beside the photo

Part of the Wall.

After the Ceremony we went to the Cafe at the Copthorne Hotel, Waitangi for a late lunch and then the drive home.  It was a lovely day but this morning we were both pleased that we didn't need to get up at Sparrowfart to go to the Market.