SOLAR POWER

Four weeks ago we got a quote for the installation of solar panels and decided to go ahead with it.  For the first three weeks there seemed to be a lot of virtual paperwork between our installers and our power company but not much else was happening.

That changed last Tuesday when we got a phone call to ask if the following day would be suitable for the installation.   At 7.30 a.m. on the 6th three workman arrived - two to install the panels and an electrician.  

They worked hard all day and finally left just after 5 p.m. telling us that an Inspector would be here on Friday morning at 7.30 a.m.  Actually, there were three men - the electrician who had done the work, the Inspector and someone from our power company.  

We were wondering how long it would be before it was up and running but it was "all go" before they left.  Of course with sod's law the weather has been pretty cloudy ever since.  

I am still coming to terms with the website that gives me lots of information and am yet to download the app which, I think, will give me more information and we will receive an "Owners' Manual" in the mail in a few days. 

This was all one could see of the work on the day.

  

This tells me that, in spite of the weather, our dependence on the grid is 65%.

p.s. I hope people were able to play the video and hear the Tui sing on my previous post.

AUTUMN COLOUR & A TUI IN OUR GARDEN

It was a beautiful autumn day for our walk to the Raumanga Falls yesterday.

This morning the Tui was singing at the bottom of  our garden.  It is hard to catch his song which is mostly towards the end of the video.

Tūī are known for their incredibly complex and varied songs, which include clicks, whirrs, creaks, and melodies. Because they have a massive vocal range, they often produce sounds that are at such a high frequency—sometimes bordering on ultrasonic—that they are beyond the range of human hearing. This is why there appear to be gaps in their song.

STRESSFUL WEEKEND

Yesterday afternoon Blue was nowhere to be seen when it came time to feed him and we realised we had not seen him since breakfast. He often curls up somewhere snug so we had not really noticed he was not about.  

We checked around our section many times and contacted a few neighbours and were really worried as it not like him to miss a meal.

This morning there was still no sign of him so I found this photo taken a few weeks ago, edited out the grandson he was sitting next to,  and put it up on Facebook as well as making a flyer.  I then visited a few of our neighbours as we thought he must be locked in somewhere.    I nearly didn't go to a house a couple down from us as they don't have a shed or garage but went anyway.  He hadn't seen Blue but while we were talking we heard a plaintiff meow.  Blue was under the wooden deck.  We searched for a way into the space and decided a plank would have to be removed. I went to get Doug to come and remove it but by the time we got back it was already removed. We could see Blue in the distance.  It took a few minutes before he came out and then he just shot off home.  

He was hungry and thirsty as he must have been in there for about 24 hours and is staying close to home.

What a relief.

AUTUMN

We are, finally, getting some lovely autumn weather.  I hope it continues.  There were just eleven of us for yesterday's walk from Vinegar Hill Road to the park and back but the weather was fine if a little chilly.

There are several of this  yellow Justicia in the bed by the drive and we look out at them  from our kitchen window.  We also have the white and pink although they have finished flowering for the moment.

I picked these chrysanthemums before the last storm.  They are plants we bought last winter. The plants are quite tall and tend to fall over but are lovely in a vase on our dining table.

This Salvia isn't very showy but the bees love it.

MONDAY'S WALK

 On Monday the forecast was not the best but, luckily the weather held for our walk at Beach Road in Onerahi.  We often see small boats and yachts going past but, just as we were setting out a larger boat appeared. It was the Allankay, a Sea Shepherd boat.

We ended up having an enjoyable walk followed by coffee at Flames.

MORE ON THE WEATHER

With Climate Change (or Global Warming) we are getting more and more severe weather events.  Last weekend it was the turn of the  south of the North Island and the north of the South Island with flooding and slips in Wellington and other areas.  One man was missing from his house in Wellington that had water through it and, unfortunately, his body was found yesterday.

These photos are from Radio New Zealand.

A bowling club

This car was swept from a carport further up the road and came to rest on this fence

Wellington Hospital Carpark under water

We now have another heavy rain warning although, so far the front has travelled further south and has hit the area between us and Auckland.  The slip below has closed the non-tolled road between here and Auckland.  The road is between these villas and the slip.  The villas have been evacuated.  

Just came across these photos of the same slip on the Hibiscus Coast Neighbourhood Support FB page.

There has also been snow on the Desert Road and temperatures here are a lot colder.

We still have a heavy rain warning until 9 a.m. tomorrow so fingers crossed for the areas already affected by earlier storms.  

UPDATE: I have just read that tomorrow's Anzac Day Dawn Service has been cancelled due to safety concerns.

WEATHER AND FLOWERS

 Well, luckily, the storm wasn't as bad as predicted and no loss of life this time.  We ended up with a lake for a lawn but it drains away quickly.  

A lot needs doing in the garden.  I bought some broccoli, spinach and silver beet plants a few weeks  ago and they still haven't been planted out.  Hopefully in the next couple of days.  The weather and appointments keep getting in the way.

Just before the cyclone I picked some flowers as I thought they would get damaged by the weather.

Some Chrysanthemums still in bud.

Different colours of Justicia

Some small white hydrangeas at the end of the season with some white chrysanthemums in bud.

ANOTHER ONE

We are having warnings about Tropical Cyclone Vaianu which is due to hit New Zealand on Saturday (tomorrow) with heavy rain and strong winds overnight into Sunday.

There are warnings for the whole of the North Island. This was at 4.46 p.m. yesterday (Thursday).

The rain and wind watches have now been upgraded to warnings (orange at this stage and I hope they stay that way).  The soil is already sodden from all the other storms.  I can't remember having this many warnings about a coming storm before and just hope they are being over cautious.  

WALKS AND WEATHER

 In spite of the storms we had the previous week and a storm the previous night we had a wonderful day for last week's Parkinson Walk around the Town Basin.  

The shadows are starting to lengthen

At the weekend the clocks went back for the end of Daylight Savings. It is great to have some more daylight in the mornings. In spite of rain overnight we had a reasonable walk today with just a couple of showers however rain is forecast later today. We have a heavy rain warning and strong wind watch for tomorrow and a suggestion of another storm at the weekend or early next week.

BETTER DAY

We awoke to a heavy mist which has cleared to a beautiful sunny day.  26 degrees. this is the main highway (State Highway One that runs from the top to bottom of New Zealand) just north of here where flood waters have made a mess of it.  I just saw a news clip saying that a temporary fix will be put in place which is good.  

Once again a lot of damage from this storm.  In many places even moe than in the earlier storm this year.

RED RAIN AND WIND WARNINGS

 

Already the Far North (where Max and I used to live) is cut off on both highways.  There is a lot of flooding especially in the areas hit by the last floods in January.  Apparently, the heavier rain is due to arrive this afternoon.

We are pleased we don't have appointments either today or tomorrow so can stay home in the dry.  My only outing has been a quick one down the drive to collect today's newspapers.  

Doug's youngest daughter has a much needed day off as all Rural Deliveries (Mail) are cancelled due to the Red Warning.

Forecast: 

Expect 100 to 130 mm of rain on top of what has already fallen. Peaks rates initially 15 to 25 mm/h, but increasing to 25 to 40 mm/h and possibly greater from this afternoon through to early Friday morning. Thunderstorms possible from Thursday afternoon.

UPDATE THREE

 Once we changed from summer to autumn with the start of March we could feel the change of season.  Of course the days are getting shorter (Roll on the end of Daylight Savings)  but it also feels a lot cooler.  We have rain today which is very welcome.  I really must get around to starting my winter garden. 

This was actually our last Market shop in February but is the same as our most recent shop.

With the cooler weather we returned to Lake Waro for our walk on Monday and it was very pleasant.

If you enlarge the photo there are Dabchicks 

UPDATE TWO

 A couple of weeks ago my stepson came up for a few days and, while he was here, we went over to Matakohe to the Kauri Museum.  The first photo is a "slice" from a kauri triee as one enters the Museum. 

Then there is some very impressive kauri furniture (there was a lot more)

A wonderful tool chest

How is this Water pump for ingenuity.

Looking down at some of the machinery

and some of the "models" doing different tasks

This hollowed out kauri with a seat. 

The girths of several large well known kauri trees 

We spent an interesting couple of hours there and it was good to see so many people.  We then went across the road to the cafe and were lucky to order just before a large coach load came in.  (There were two other coaches parked when we arrived).  It was a very pleasant day out.

UPDATE ONE

 Well, the peaches kept on coming.  For a self sown tree it is amazing.  Unfortunately, a lot had the dreaded Guava Bud Moth in them but we eventually froze 38 x one litre packs of lightly stewed peaches, ate a lot more and gave lots away to family and friends.  

The above photos are back to front as the peaches are frozen in the 1 litre containers then removed and vacuum packed.  This way we can fit 18 in the small drawer of our upright freezer.

As we had excess bananas we decided to freeze some for use in smoothies.  It was my first time freezing bananas and has worked well.  These are also in vacuum pack bags.

YESTERDAY'S WALK

I posted my photos straight from my phone before writing the blog and they have gone on back to front.  Never mind.  It was another hot day so I had organised another bush walk for the Parkinson's Walking Group. It was a shorter walk with the possibility of adding on to it for the more energetic walkers.  As it turned out there were only six of us and we were all happy to go at a gentle pace. It was most enjoyable and lovely and cool in the bush.

Trees and branches are just left to rot naturally unless they are a hazard, this one fell across the small stream.

photos of the stream from both directions taken from a small bridge

it is a lovely path, much better to walk on than a concrete path.

I love the patterns on kauri bark.

lovely new growth on a Punga or Ponga tree fern

I liked this fern growing up the trunk of a small tree.

A smaller kauri with two smaller trees either side

This is the main kauri tree alongside the boardwalk from eye level and looking upwards.

the valley floor from the boardwalk

Someone must have tied this tree in a knot when it was young.  Often done to make a walking stick.