WHITTAKER

 A few weeks ago Doug's youngest grand-daughter and her husband lost their chocolate Labrador, Whittaker.  (Whittaker is a New Zealand chocolate brand)

She asked Grandad to paint Whittaker for her and this is the result.

A LOVELY WALK

 Yesterday 13 of us had a lovely walk from Vinegar Hill Road to the Tikipunga sports fields and back.  The autumn colours are starting to show now.  We don't get a lot of autumn colour  as we have a lot of evergreens here in the north.

It is a lovely park and is where we used to walk Sophie and meet up with other dog walkers.  

AN EARLY COLD SNAP

Not a frost but very cold this morning, 5 degrees C.  I lit the fire first thing but then we let it go out as it warmed up.  The wind has been icy coming from the south but it was warm in a sheltered place.

5 p.m. and the fire has just been lit, four baskets, 1 of paper, 1 of kindling, 1 of slightly larger wood and 1 of the large pieces.  On top of the stove is a pot of frozen soup defrosting for my evening meal.  Doug is having poached eggs.  We have our main meal at lunch and often have something different in the evening.  

MORE BANANAS

Better timing this year.  Just finishing the last bunch when we noticed another bunch turning yellow.

I have just delivered a hand each to three of our neighbours (each hand containing 6 or 7 bananas) and had one with my lunch. Still a lot left so will be giving out more.

HEARING AIDS

For many years now I have had hearing checks and always been told I need aids.  Finally, I have agreed to get them as I know I have some hearing loss.  On Thursday I had them fitted.  As suggested, I am only wearing them for part of the day while I get used to them but, so far, they are not as bad as I had feared and I can hear.  I had worried because I have very small ears but they are good.

One of my problems is that people with Parkinsons' Disease tend to speak quite quietly so I have had a problem with that.  Can that grey haired lady really be me?

ANNIVERSARY AND PARKINSON WALK

Today is our seventh wedding anniversary - how time flies.  Doug was still not feeling up to going on the Parkinson Walk so stayed home.  We had a pleasant walk alongside the river from Whareora Road to Mair Park.  Rain was forecast but stayed away until we had finished the walk.

I skipped the  cafe and came home.  I didn't take any photos just enjoyed the walk.

                                                              seven  years ago

BUSY SUNDAY

We used to be on a power plan (electricity) that gave us 30 cents a litre off petrol every month.  This came to an end in January and we are now on a plan that is slightly more per Kw but we have free power on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  This has made my weekends much busier as I do my washing then as well as some cooking.  

A while ago we bought a Bissell Upholstery cleaning machine and it has been sitting in the spare room but yesterday (Sunday) Doug decided to try it.  He ended up cleaning the cushions on our three piece lounge suite as well as 6 dining chairs.  While he did this I got several loads of washing done and roasted a leg of lamb.

After lunch I decided that I might as well wash some cushion covers as well as the arm covers from the lounge suite.  We usually try and put our feet up for a while at about 3 or 4 p.m. but it was nearly 5 p.m. when we finished and I noticed our neighbour opposite was home and I had some bananas for her.  As I went to cross the road her daughter was coming to see us in the other direction, she had been fishing and had a snapper for us. This meant that I went home and filleted the fish but it was well worth it with delicious fresh snapper for our evening meal.

We have both been out of action and not been on the Parkinson Walk for a couple of weeks.  Doug after having a skin cancer removed from his nose with a skin graft and me being on two lots of antibiotics with a sinus infection.  Today, I rejoined the walking group and eleven of us had a very pleasant walk around the Loop at the Town Basin.  Hopefully, Doug will be back walking next week.

Life is busy but good.