2013 - oh how time flies. I wonder what it has in store. I must say I am feeling a lot more optimistic than I was just a few months ago which has a lot to do with the new friend in my life.
It is so good to have someone (once again) to share things with. The trouble with Alzheimer's is that the person one would have shared things with has gone and in my case isn't sure who I am.
I didn't quite see the New Year in. I went to sleep about 11 p.m. but was woken by fireworks just after midnight and just as I was nodding off again a fresh burst that sounded more like canon fire. I heard another possum by the plum tree but the fireworks must have frightened him/her off. I will set the trap again tonight if I remember when I get home - (going out for some smoked fish for tea).
At least it was a cooler night and the humidity has gone down which makes the weather quite pleasant.
Well, I must go and get two loads of washing in and folded before heading out.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The year has flown so fast
Another year older today (yes a day after my sister-in-law). I looked at my post this time last year and I commented on yet more rain with high temperatures. It has been the same today. 97% humidity was forecast and I awoke to heavy rain.
I had been going to join my friend, Doug, walking his dog but decided against it and had an extra hour in bed. I had asked Doug to come around tonight for a meal but he called in this morning and announced that he was going to bring sandwiches and fruit etc. to save me having to do the preparation - now how nice is that.
Anyway, at 10 a.m. my friend Lynn arrived and we went to Mokaba at the Town Basin for a coffee and I had a delicious frittata. The rain had stopped but it was quite muggy. By the time we got back it was a bit cooler so I finally got around to doing some vacuuming (yes on my birthday). I spent the rest of the day taking it easy, reading and having nice long chats on the phone. One call was from a cousin in England who has friends that visit the north of New Zealand each year. After talking to him I phoned them and they are passing through Whangarei on Wednesday so will call in.
At about 5.30 Doug arrived complete with delicious gluten free sandwiches (some ham and some salmon) and some nectarines and peaches and we sat outside chatting and eating - he has just gone home and shortly at 7.30 Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey is on television so we will both sit and watch that in our respective homes.
I have been thoroughly spoiled and given some lovely presents.
Only a year till I get free parking in Whangarei and if the last year is anything to go by that year will fly.
I see my hydrangeas are not nearly as advanced as they were in my post a year ago.
I had been going to join my friend, Doug, walking his dog but decided against it and had an extra hour in bed. I had asked Doug to come around tonight for a meal but he called in this morning and announced that he was going to bring sandwiches and fruit etc. to save me having to do the preparation - now how nice is that.
Anyway, at 10 a.m. my friend Lynn arrived and we went to Mokaba at the Town Basin for a coffee and I had a delicious frittata. The rain had stopped but it was quite muggy. By the time we got back it was a bit cooler so I finally got around to doing some vacuuming (yes on my birthday). I spent the rest of the day taking it easy, reading and having nice long chats on the phone. One call was from a cousin in England who has friends that visit the north of New Zealand each year. After talking to him I phoned them and they are passing through Whangarei on Wednesday so will call in.
At about 5.30 Doug arrived complete with delicious gluten free sandwiches (some ham and some salmon) and some nectarines and peaches and we sat outside chatting and eating - he has just gone home and shortly at 7.30 Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey is on television so we will both sit and watch that in our respective homes.
I have been thoroughly spoiled and given some lovely presents.
Only a year till I get free parking in Whangarei and if the last year is anything to go by that year will fly.
I see my hydrangeas are not nearly as advanced as they were in my post a year ago.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Possums and Tuis
Possum
In its native land the possum is up against dingoes, bush fires and less palatable vegetation. In New Zealand there are no predators and lots of very palatable vegetation. As a result, possums have a huge impact on New Zealand ecosystems.
I have had a possum trap set for a few days under my plum tree with no success. I use a piece of carrot with Chinese Five Spice as the attractant. Yesterday afternoon I put more of the spice on the carrot. Last night I went to bed at about 10.15 and shortly afterwards I heard the trap go off. (It is a Timms Trap that kills them).
This morning just after 6 a.m. I managed, with some difficulty, to remove the possum from the trap and, as the carrot had not been touched I re-set it leaving it covered during the day.
This afternoon I was sitting on the middle terrace with a friend eating an ice cream when a Tui came down to my "home-made" bird bath. It had a great bath throwing water everywhere and wasn't worried about us sitting talking a few feet away. It flew up into the Puriri tree for a few minutes then back down for another bath.
I then got my camera but before it came back Roger arrived to mow the lawns so I got the washing in and we went indoors. Hopefully, I will get a chance to take a video some other day.
Friday, December 28, 2012
The good and the bad of people
This morning I joined my friend again walking Sophie, a Labrador/Golden Retriever cross. On the way back to my place we came upon a queue of traffic just before the railway crossing. It seemed odd as the traffic was coming the other way.
We then realised that the people in the front car were on the road trying to catch a dog. Everyone waited patiently and the dog was finally caught but they put it at the side of the road and proceeded on their way.
The dog then went out under the following car. The occupants of about three cars then got out and after several minutes the dog was finally caught. In the meantime several cars went on and we pulled in to the left of the road behind yet another car that had stopped.
My friend went to see what was happening and to offer to take the dog to the SPCA if needed. When he returned he said that a young man in one of the cars had seen someone throw the dog out of a car. It looked from a distance like a spaniel cross in a very poor condition and was shaking, most likely in shock.
The people in the front car (who already had one dog in their car) were going to take it to the SPCA. I was disgusted at the person who threw the dog out - why not take it to the SPCA? I was also pleasantly surprised by how many people stopped to help and the fact that everyone waited patiently (or not patiently) while all this went on. Everyone was courteous even when they went past.
Although the forecast is for a high of 22 degrees today it is sweltering with 30 degrees on the thermometer in our front porch.
We then realised that the people in the front car were on the road trying to catch a dog. Everyone waited patiently and the dog was finally caught but they put it at the side of the road and proceeded on their way.
The dog then went out under the following car. The occupants of about three cars then got out and after several minutes the dog was finally caught. In the meantime several cars went on and we pulled in to the left of the road behind yet another car that had stopped.
My friend went to see what was happening and to offer to take the dog to the SPCA if needed. When he returned he said that a young man in one of the cars had seen someone throw the dog out of a car. It looked from a distance like a spaniel cross in a very poor condition and was shaking, most likely in shock.
The people in the front car (who already had one dog in their car) were going to take it to the SPCA. I was disgusted at the person who threw the dog out - why not take it to the SPCA? I was also pleasantly surprised by how many people stopped to help and the fact that everyone waited patiently (or not patiently) while all this went on. Everyone was courteous even when they went past.
Although the forecast is for a high of 22 degrees today it is sweltering with 30 degrees on the thermometer in our front porch.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Christmas is over for another year
I had a pleasant Christmas Day - much better than last year.
Every year I receive a pewter ornament from my cousin in Canada (they come from Nova Scotia). This year it was a polar bear which her cubs.
I started the day by attending a service at Christ Church in the Regent. I must admit I have not been to church for a long time and the service had changed a lot. It was, however, most enjoyable.
Following the service I went straight to the Rest Home and found my hubby being fed some "Rocky road" and wearing a Santa tie that was in his Christmas present from the home. There seemed to be extra staff but I think it could have been the usual number but just that a lot of the residents had gone home for the day (or an hour or so). As it is a hospital rather than the previous dementia unit he was in a lot are able to go home. His lunch was going to be turkey, ham and lamb with all the trimmings.
I gave him his present (a red shirt in a brand he has always liked) and another toy for him to fiddle with. I spent about an hour with him and he was quite happy when I left to go to lunch with my friend/hairdresser who lives around the corner. She had two elderly widows for lunch as well as they would have been on their own. In the afternoon I was pleased to get phone calls from both my stepchildren.
Boxing Day was quiet. The weather has been miserable over the whole holiday period mainly drizzle with some heavy showers but very muggy - I see the humidity has gone down to 82% although it doesn't feel like it.
Today (it is now just after 5 p.m. on the 27th) I went with a friend on a dog walk and then went to visit M and help him with his lunch before going to the shops to change a couple of items. The carparks and the shops were full - I thought having left it until after Boxing Day that it would have been a little easier. Still I sorted everything that I needed. The sun has finally come out. I see that on Saturday we finally have a fine day forecast (although only the one day).
Every year I receive a pewter ornament from my cousin in Canada (they come from Nova Scotia). This year it was a polar bear which her cubs.
I started the day by attending a service at Christ Church in the Regent. I must admit I have not been to church for a long time and the service had changed a lot. It was, however, most enjoyable.
Following the service I went straight to the Rest Home and found my hubby being fed some "Rocky road" and wearing a Santa tie that was in his Christmas present from the home. There seemed to be extra staff but I think it could have been the usual number but just that a lot of the residents had gone home for the day (or an hour or so). As it is a hospital rather than the previous dementia unit he was in a lot are able to go home. His lunch was going to be turkey, ham and lamb with all the trimmings.
I gave him his present (a red shirt in a brand he has always liked) and another toy for him to fiddle with. I spent about an hour with him and he was quite happy when I left to go to lunch with my friend/hairdresser who lives around the corner. She had two elderly widows for lunch as well as they would have been on their own. In the afternoon I was pleased to get phone calls from both my stepchildren.
Boxing Day was quiet. The weather has been miserable over the whole holiday period mainly drizzle with some heavy showers but very muggy - I see the humidity has gone down to 82% although it doesn't feel like it.
Today (it is now just after 5 p.m. on the 27th) I went with a friend on a dog walk and then went to visit M and help him with his lunch before going to the shops to change a couple of items. The carparks and the shops were full - I thought having left it until after Boxing Day that it would have been a little easier. Still I sorted everything that I needed. The sun has finally come out. I see that on Saturday we finally have a fine day forecast (although only the one day).
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Merry Christmas
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2013.
The weather is a little cooler and it has been raining most of the day. The forecast for tomorrow is for rain and on Christmas Day "a chance of a storm" . This is the remains of the cyclone that hit Samoa and Fiji a week or so ago.
I went to the New World Supermarket to get a couple of items that I missed in yesterday's shop and when I got to the car park wished I had got them earlier as it was practically full. I managed to find a park and quickly got the items I needed. Amazingly as I came out of the last aisle there was a teller in front of me that became free and I was through in no time at all.
I came home and have finally made my small Christmas cake (or loaf) - it is in the oven right now and smells delicious. I usually add whiskey but had forgotten that I used it all up in some whiskey macs over winter so have used brandy today.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Lamb Roast
I can't remember the last time I had a roast of lamb. In the late '60's lamb was very cheap in New Zealand. In fact we bought a deep freezer as it did not cost much more to buy a whole side of lamb compared to just a leg. It was the poor man's food.
Not sure when everything changed but things have been reversed and lamb has been expensive and chicken which used to be a special meal is now much cheaper.
So I was thrilled when I saw legs of lamb on special for $10.00 a kg. I asked the kind man in the butchery department whether he would be willing to cut one in half for me which he did giving me two small roasts - one about a kilogram and the shank part slightly larger.
I roasted the smaller joint earlier in the week and last night roasted the shank end and shared it with a friend. It was delicious. The photo comes via Cro (who co-incidentally posted on lamb recently) as I completely forgot to take a photo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)