ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND

Saturday was much as usual.  Didn't go to the market but did an early Supermarket shop.  I bought both lamb mince as well as a couple of pieces of boned lamb leg so needed to make  lamb meatballs as well as a large casserole.  Cutting the vegies and all the prepping of trimming and cutting up the meat always takes longer than I expect but I got it done although the casserole didn't go in the oven until after lunch.  I also did three loads of washing and wonder where it all comes from.  it was showery so most of it went in the porch.  I managed to get most of it dry and finished drying the rest on Sunday.  As well as this we were getting the porch ready for visitors on Sunday.  

Doug's Grandson, his wife and their two boys are here from Perth.  Last time they were here the eldest was a baby and the youngest hadn't been before.  His sister decided it would be nice to get a family photo with Grandad and everyone while they were here so they came here yesterday.  The photographer came at 4 p.m. (her choice of time) .  Luckily, everyone was able to come.  The A & E nurse had just finished her shift as had her brother, in the police. 

We had everything ready, drinks, finger food etc. and the first ones arrived at about 3 p.m.  The photographer arrived promptly at 4 and decided that instead of using the park behind us she would use our garden so most of the photos were in front of the mandarin tree.  I just love to see all the great-grandies having fun together.  Two ten years old, an eight years old, a six years old, two 3 years old and a seven month old.  They were all so good.  After the main photos in the back garden they moved to the front garden to take photos of the children in front of the Windmill the Doug built.  When it was all over most had a cuppa and cake in the porch while the children and some adults went to the playground in the park behind us.

We are both tired today but a happy tired.  Our walk was back to the Whangarei Falls and, once again, there was plenty of water.

I took a video of the Falls but can't get it to download.

CRAZY PAVING

 Doug thought that the old drive would be broken up for removal but, when he noticed that they were cutting it into squares he asked them to leave some.  Since the drive was finished he has been breaking these slabs up and making a crazy paving path around the other side of the house.

At the same time he has made the path wider where it goes past the cat run.  Below is all that is now left of the old drive.  Not sure what Doug has planned for this.

FINISHED DRIVE

It is now eight days since the concreters finished and we are able to use on the drive.  Our Toyota Spade has been living next door while the work has been going on and has now returned (being led up the drive by Blue).

Pretty much the same view before the work.

 

On another subject,  We spent a very pleasant afternoon on Sunday helping Doug's Primary school friend celebrate his 90th birthday.
 

THE DRIVE 4

Yesterday, we had our usual Parkinson walk and got home just before midday.  The concreters were already here doing their final preparations ready for the pour.  The concrete truck was booked for 1 p.m. and arrived shortly after then the hard work began.  Three workers kept going until 9.30 p.m. and we are thrilled with the job.

Our contractor had decided to put an expansion cut down the middle as well as across.  He also brushed the concrete in different directions alternately giving a chequerboard effect.  These photos were taken first thing.  They had another job at 6.30 a.m. this morning but came a couple of hours ago to start cleaning up. 

We can walk on it from tomorrow with a week before it can be driven on.  We are so pleased with our choice of contractor.

DOUG'S PAINTINGS AND DRIVE

Here are a couple of Doug's recent paintings.  He knows I love and miss robins so painted this robin for me.

He also painted another view of the Whangarei Falls from a photo I had taken.  I love the light in this painting.

 As far as the drive is concerned we had an email last night to say the concrete is due to arrive at 1 p.m. on Monday.  Our contactor was here this morning doing some more work to get everything ready for the pour.  I know he is working on a big job tomorrow involving several firms.  He was telling Doug how he plans to finish the concrete.  We are really looking forward to seeing the finished job.  

WINTER VEGETABLES

In spite of the bad weather last month my vegetables are doing well.

Cabbages

                                                       Cauliflower Romanesco (my favourite)

                                                                        Parsley

                                                                  Lovage

                                                                         Sorrel

                                                        Swiss chard and perpetual spinach

The bottom part of the drive is still not concreted.  With all the rain earlier there is a queue for the concrete truck and the larger, established firms obviously take precedence.  It is a Long Weekend this weekend (tomorrow is Matariki holiday. We are hoping the concreting will be done on Monday.

 

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.