2017 - A NEW START

2016 was not the best of years.  I found it very hard visiting Max with no sign of recognition (even when he was awake) and general deterioration.  It still came as a shock when he died at the beginning of October.

Since then things have moved on.  While I was still married Doug and I kept to our respective houses (a bit old fashioned I know) and two gardens and two houses to maintain was quite hard.  When it was no longer necessary we decided there was no point waiting and I have put my (newly decorated) house on the market.  It was decorated and new carpets and curtains for me to live in not to sell but looks good for sale.

I put it on the market 3 weeks before Christmas but that was obviously not a good time.  Since Christmas there has been more interest so we shall see.  I do not need to sell urgently but it will be good to know a time frame to make things more settled.

When the house has sold Doug and I will be married and I will move into his house.  It is smaller than mine and easier to maintain and has the added advantage of a double garage woodworking workshop that Doug had installed.

Currently he is building a cat run adjacent to the main bedroom so that Kim can have somewhere to be outside safely.  She is still not too sure about Sophie.  After that he will be enlarging his lounge onto part of the deck and then the inside will be painted in the same colour scheme as my house.  The arrangement is his house and my furniture and decorating choices.  Sounds fair to me!!

We also hope to do some travelling both around New Zealand and to Australia and possibly U.K. but time will tell - I hope there is no rush but at our ages one can never be sure.

I  wish every one of you a happy, healthy and safe  2017

A MILESTONE

Doug's youngest Grandson got his pilot's licence last month and today Doug was his very proud first passenger.  We drove up to Kerikeri.

Doug  and his grandson walk out to the plane

Grandson does his pre-flight checks

Doug gets into the plane

and gets belted in

Ready for take off

and they are up and away

and here they come - I see from the clock on the camera that the flight lasted 25 minutes.  They had a wonderful view of the Bay of Islands.

SUPERMARKET SHOPPING ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Every Saturday morning Doug picks me up at about 7.30 a.m. to go to the market, walk Sophie, then go to the supermarket.

I suggested we go a bit earlier this morning and leave Sophie's walk until after we got back to Doug's.  He picked me up just after 7 a.m., several stalls at the market had already sold out when we got there at about 7.15.  Anyway, I completed my list and we got to the Supermarket just after 7.30 and had to drive around to find a park.  

We went in and the place was packed.  We use one trolley but each get our own groceries and had almost finished when Doug left the trolley while we got our cream, milk etc.  When we went back to the trolley it had vanished.  We both searched through the supermarket in vain and finally had to start all over again/.  Needless to say the second time around I wasn't quite so careful in my selection.  As I had crossed out my list as I went it was also a bit harder the second time.  I wonder if the person who "stole" our trolley really wanted cat food, cherries, grapes, strawberries, bananas etc.  

Anyone would think the supermarkets were closing for a month not a day.  

MERRY KIWI CHRISTMAS

Almost all Christmas songs are about snow and winter but I have just heard this lovely New Zealand (Aotearoa) Christmas song.  Enjoy!!!.

                             Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy 2017 to everyone.

Pataua South - Final Parkinson Walk for the year.

On Monday we met at Onerahi and car-pooled to Pataua South.  There were only 7 of us.  The forecast had been for rain but it was fine although there was a strong wind.  

We walked across the footbridge to Pataua North and had a pleasant walk before returning to our cars and having a picnic lunch.  

Our next walk is not until the last Monday in January.

Whangarei Quarry Gardens

This morning we had an enjoyable walk in the Whangarei Quarry Gardens with the people with Parkinsons Disease group.

Doug's Spring Garden

The red roses all came from a cutting obtained about seven years ago.  The foxgloves are self sown from some planted last year.  The bed as one drives into Doug's property is looking great.