UPDATE

I have finally got to the stage where I am not sleeping for 9 - 10 hours a night and then needing to sleep during the day.  Over the past week I have been able to do a few jobs mainly in the garden. Tomorrow I finish my two week's course of six antibiotics a day.

The tomatoes I planted earlier are doing well

and various beans.

Too much fruit set on the grape.

The Passionfruit has flowers and some early fruit.

Tomatoes that have come up from the compost.  I will transplant a few.

In spite of the frosts and high winds the banana has three flowers. It does need a good tidy up though.

LACK OF BLOGGING

I was doing pretty well with my blogging but it all came to an abrupt halt.  Following a cough and cold well over a month ago I was left with extreme tiredness which was part of the reason for my recent visit to the doctors.  I have been sleeping for nine or ten hours a night and then falling into a deep sleep in the afternoons.  I have not been taking part in the Parkinson walks (or doing any walking).  

After the numerous blood tests it was decided I should have a week's course of antibiotics and am now about to start another course of two different antibiotics taking 2 of one and 1 of the other twice a day for a fortnight.  This is for some underlying issues that have been ongoing.  I am now told to limit physical activity while taking this course.  

I did attempt to go on the walk yesterday,  just going on a short part of it and then to the cafe but it must have been too much for me as I have been exhausted today.  Doug has not been to his Art Group for a while but went today and I just took it easy. 

I start taking this new course tonight so fingers crossed that I don't have any side effects - it is only a fortnight so should pass quite quickly.

Tomorrow's plan is a visit to the Library although I have been having trouble concentrating.  I just want to get back to being able to jump out of bed and get into the garden bright and early.

DALMATIONS IN KAITAIA

Yesterday, I mentioned growing Dalmation beans this year.  When we lived further north first in Kaitaia and then nearby there were lots of Dalmation families. So many in fact that this was the sign on the entrance to the town.  Three languages - Maori, Dalmation and English.

Dalmation Beans

 At the Growers' Market yesterday I noticed some pots of Dalmation Beans.  We already have a variety of different beans (more about that later) but I was keen to get the Dalmation Beans.

The Dalmations came to New Zealand mainly as Kauri Gum Diggers.  They are very hard working and always had large vegetable gardens.  I don't know why I never obtained the beans when we lived in the north but I bought two pots (of two each) yesterday.  We will have a good variety of beans this year.

12 x 12 PAINTING

Reyburn House Gallery recently held a 12 x 12 Exhibition.  All artworks had to be 12 inches x 12 inches.  Doug decided to enter a painting called Monlight.  

All artworks were for sale.  We went to look the day after opening night. There were some lovely artworks in various mediums

It is great that Doug really enjoys his painting.

SAUSAGES

Finding a good sausage is made harder by being gluten intolerant.  We have had some good ones when staying away made by the butcher in Kamo but they only sell them frozen and not free flow.  Anyway, a few weeks ago I saw some packets that looked interesting.  I like that the meat isn't imported but they are made by imported Frenchmen.  They obviously know what they are doing as they are delicious.  There are other, more spicy, flavours but these suit us perfectly.

The sausages are not very large and I was surprised to see a serve was one sausage but we go for 2.  I had started eating when I thought to take a photo.

WALLET

 On Tuesday, after I went to the G.P. the phlebologist was on a break so I went across the road for my chest x-ray.  Doug had been in the car doing the crossword and followed me across.  I was there for about 15 minutes and then went back across the road to the phlebologist where I waited for a short while and was there perhaps another 15 - 20 minutes.

When we got back to the car a man came out of a shop in front of our car and handed Doug his wallet.  Doug was just wearing his work shorts and it must have fallen out of his pocket when he got out of the car.  This man had noticed it and kept it safe for him all the time we were away and Doug hadn't even realised it was missing.

It is great that there are honest people about. We are now going to get Doug either a shoulder or waist bag for his wallet and phone to prevent this happening again.

FLOWERS

A few flowers in the garden at the moment.

Flowers on one of the oranges we bought a couple of years ago. All the citrus is in flower.

I like this variegated Weigela.

Various clivia's

VEGIES OVER WINTER

 Over winter I grew a punnet (6) Romanesco Cauliflower and a punnet of a side shooting broccoli. They both did very well.

The above is a photo from the Internet as I didn't take one of ours.  I also grew Swiss Chard and spinach and we are still eating that.

They are growing in the front garden and would have been behind the old fence. 

Things are starting to dry out again. There is a lot of work to do on this area.

WINTER

Winter went quickly in spite of having several frosts that knocked the bananas and a few other plants.  Luckily it didn't seem to damage the actual bananas and we have just picked two large bunches.  I have been trying to get back to blogging for a while but the time just seems to fly.  

I managed to get through winter without picking up any bugs but managed to get a cold/cough about three weeks ago and it just doesn't want to go away so today was the second Parkinson Walk in a row that we haven't been on.

The fence in the front of the house was, presumably, built at the same time as the house - 1973 - and was past its use-by-date so Doug decided to replace it.  The photos below are from both sides of the fence.  Flower garden on the road side and vegetables on the house side.

Anyway, Doug dismantled it and manage to remove the posts that had as much under ground as above and then we decided we like it without the fence so it will stay that way.  There is a fence further back. Doug is now working on new edging around the garden.

BRIGHTON

In our local paper this morning was this photo of Falmer pond.  It said it was in Sussex so I did a google search to see where Falmer is as I was brought up in Surrey right on the Sussex border.  I discovered that it is, in fact on the outskirts of Brighton just 15 miles from Worthing where my parents were living when I came out to New Zealand.  

There have been many other photos of a parched London.  England doesn't look like a green and pleasant land at the moment judging from these photos.  

Meanwhile, it is, once again, hosing down here but we keep being told that the El Nino is about to change all that.

MONDAY 10TH AUGUST

Yesterday, it rained all day as forecast.  I baked some peanut brownies for Doug and made a tamarillo and apple crumble.  These jobs always take me longer than I expect. For lunch we had the last of the seafood chowder followed by the crumble with yoghurt.  

In the afternoon we went across the road to our lovely neighbours to socialise and help them celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary.    By the time we got back it was time to have our showers and our evening meal (the pea and ham soup I had made the previous day.  I also took some to our friends who were pleased to have it for their evening meal as well.

The weather has completely changed today and we had a very pleasant walk at Totara Parklands in lovely sunshine.  We didn't go for coffee as Doug had an appointment and I went home and did yet more washing as rain was forecast for tomorrow.  The washing is just about dry and I have got it in.  Looks like it may now be fine tomorrow but at least the washing is done.  

For lunch we had a meal I have been intending to make for a while - garlic Portabello mushrooms with mashed cannellini beans and freshly picked broccoli. It was delicious and even got a tick of approval from Doug who usually likes to have some meat with his meals.  This was followed once again with the crumble.

I haven't got around to slicing and freezing the bread I made on Saturday so had better get that done and put fresh sheets on the bed. I noticed there were a few plants that got knocked back by the frost but they will regrow.

THE WEATHER

During the past week we have had two frosts.  Water froze in bird baths and there was some frost damage but, luckily, it looks as though the bananas are o.k.  Last time I can remember it this cold was before we got married so well over 9 years ago. 

The  weather is now set to warm up as we have rain forecast from tomorrow in fact we have a heavy rain watch from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. It then looks better for Monday,  Tuesday and  Wednesday with rain again from Thursday.

The worst part of the forecast though is the El Nino weather system which is likely to bring some extreme heat during our summer.  It sounds as though we may be following Europe with the heat and drought.  

We went to the butcher yesterday and supermarket this morning.  I bought a bacon hock from the butcher (much tastier than supermarket ones) and have a pot of pea and ham soup cooking at the moment.  Among other things we bought some Terakihi (fish), mussels, and cockles.  We usually have pan fried fish after going to the supermarket but decided on a seafood chowder which we made with the seafood from the supermarket and some prawns.  It was delicious and there is plenty for tonight and lunch tomorrow.   The photo definitely doesn't do it justice.

We both had some nice bread with it and I have a loaf of gf bread in the oven at the moment nearly cooked.

TODAY'S GARDEN

Just a few photos from today's midwinter garden. 

A small patch of parsley

Some calendula in the vegie beds

a very ripe lemon on our tree

The sprouting broccoli are starting to form. I also have Romanesco cauliflower/broccoli but they are not starting to form yet.

Two or three years ago a lady in the next street asked for some of our Lachenalia bulbs and asked if I would like some bluebells and snowdrops.  I had thought it was too warm here for snowdrops.  They are in an old  pot so that they don't get lost and are just coming into flower.

and the Pieris is coming into flower.

There are a lot of other plants in flower but I just took a photo of these few.

MIDWINTER FLOWERS

 I always like to have flowers on the dining table. For several weeks we had this potted chrysanthemum but it was nearing the end so I had a look in the garden.

 and I found these 

The oranges aren't ours but from a friend.

SOLAR

 We are pleased with our Solar panels in spite of some very cloudy days (it is winter after all).  A couple of days ago I discovered another use for the solar panels.

CRO

 Cro tells me he is fine but has been locked out of his own blog. His eldest son will sort things out for him when he visits in about a fortnight.

I tried to put another comment on his blog but was unable to.

TODAY'S WALK

We had a pleasant walk today with the Parkinson's Walking Group followed by our morning coffee and cake at the home of one of the ladies who recently moved house.

Showers had been forecast but, luckily, there have been no sign of them.  It is a lovely sunny day but there is a chilling wind presumably from the ice and snow in the South Island.

Joined by a friend on the walk.

MORE WEATHER

This was the sky first thing this morning.  I know the colours are never as bright in photos and just pushed my phone through the venetian blinds but it shows the idea.  We have a severe thunderstorm watch from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. so short and sharp.  The centre of the country (Wellington area and the north of the South Island) had severe thunderstorms last night with many power cuts.

 I have just walked down to the pharmacist to pick up a repeat prescription.  It is just 750 metres away so a pleasant 20 minute walk there and back.  I wanted to make sure I got home before the rain hits. We have had a few heavy showers but, luckily it was dry for my walk.

At least it looks as though we are in for a good week weatherwise after this storm.

I cancelled this week's Parkinson walk, the heavy rain hadn't started but with the strong wind and light rain it was most unpleasant.  Luckily it looks as though we will have a good day this coming Monday so I have scheduled a bush walk.  It is a few weeks since I started going to an Exercise Class on Thursdays and am starting to enjoy it.  It is quite full on and much more energetic than I had expected but I feel good for it.

MAINLY YELLOW

It is the official start of winter tomorrow and the main colour in our garden is yellow which is nice and cheerful.

Not yellow but a splash of colour.  I can't remember the name of this plant.

There are still a few roses in flower.

These salvias have small flowers but the bees just love them.

There are a couple of these yellow abutilons

and the lemons are starting to ripen

Things will change tomorrow with a heavy rain warning.