R.I.P. KATH 2004 - 17/08/2015

Kath and Kim came into our lives in 2005.  Kath had been found abandoned and was feeding kittens.  She was in a bad way and we had her on antibiotics for some months before she was able to have her "flu shot".  Our previous cat had died and it was the first time we actually went out and chose a cat (or cats in this case).  Previously cats had always just turned up even though we were out in the country

We thought that getting two  they would be company for each other.  We got them from the SPCA in Kaitaia and Max chose Kath.

We had never had a calico cat before and were to discover how feisty they can be.

When Max went into care they were great company especially in the long evenings.

She had her last annual check up in May and appeared fine. Lately she has been losing weight and I have been trying all sorts of different foods to get her to eat.  She would eat chicken one day and then go off it,  the same with beef, tuna etc.  This weekend she went downhill rapidly and last night was really bad - just lying listlessly. It was only Friday or Saturday morning when I called "walkies" and both cats came running.

This morning I took her to the vet who kept her to do some tests and phoned me back with the diagnosis of diabetes with complications because she had got so low.  I could have taken her down to a specialist in Auckland  and then given her injections for the rest of her life.  I  know she would have hated this and she was so low that the only real option was euthanasia.  I doubt whether she would have survived another night.  She was gone after only a very small part of the dose of anaesthetic..

Doug has dug a hole and we buried her with a pohutakawa tree planted next to her in a lovely spot at the bottom of my garden where she used to love to go hunting.

Yes, It's BIKES

Have been thinking of getting a bike for a while and when I noticed one on "Grab One" I took the plunge.  As Doug has a "significant birthday" coming up soon his family then bought him one.

They duly arrived and Doug assembled them this morning.  Due to the heavy rain I didn't go to his place to "supervise" but did take him some lunch and had a look at the nearly completed bikes then.

He has now finished the assembly and, he tells me, road tested both bikes.  It must be 55 years since I was last on a bike so it will be interesting.  Hopefully there will be a break in the weather for me to try it out.  The forecast is not looking good with Monday being the only fine day in the next ten.

NEW TOY

I have a new toy.  It arrived this afternoon.  As with most things these days it needs 'SOME ASSEMBLY" .  Tomorrow rain is forecast so the assembly will be done then.  Doug has also purchased a similar toy so his will be assembled as well.

Roll on tomorrow - great excitement.  Just one more sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Hokianga - final day

The rain had stopped on the final day.  We drove down to the headland and then went down to a lovely (stony) beach for a walk.  It was then back home on an extra long route via Kerikeri.

The Hokianga - Omapere

The weather was not the best but it was nice to just sit and watch the squally showers,some with thunderstorms.  What I needed was time to do nothing and recharge the batteries and that is what I had.

On the morning of our departure the weather had improved (c'est la vie)

This last photo was taken looking up the harbour.

The Hokianga

A couple of years after I arrived in New Zealand (which was 50 years ago today) a friend took me up to Rawene to a 21st birthday.  I have loved the area ever since.

Living in the north we often went down to either Rawene or Kohukohu.

Last week we had a break staying at Omapere.  We drove to Rawene and when we arrived the ferry was in so we hopped on and just went across the harbour and back again.  A very kind man offered to drive us to Kohukohu and take us back in time for the next ferry but as the wind was a bit chilly we declined with thanks.

Late Monarch Butterflies.

Before I met him, Doug made up a box covered with mesh in which he places Monarch caterpillars with some Swan Plant for them to feed on  to save them from the wasps.

He has released over 80 butterflies this year with three this month, the latest being to-day.  It is really late for them to be emerging from the chrysalis.  This photo is of one that emerged just over a week ago.