Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Hooray for Hollywood - Tuesday 4

 

Hooray for Hollywood Part 2

 Back so soon?  Well, weeks fly by it seems.  The Inuit people say that time has speeded up and as they are experts on reading the sky due to their hunting, they offer great proof.   

 Welcome to Tuesday 4 in memory of Toni Taddeo it's first host and founder.


How about the subject of Hollywood, it's 'stars', its products and it's affect on the world?

1.  Which of the big movie stars of the past were your favorites? 

Doris Day, she was funny and quirky, rather lovely to look at and could sing. I loved her in Calamity Jane. (And I love musicals).

2. What movie is the funniest you've seen? How about the most romantic?

I can't think of a really funny movie that has stuck with me but I do remember going to one with a friend who moved seats because she said I embarrassed her by laughing too loudly. Oh dear. 😂 

Sleepless in Seattle. Youve got mail. Both Meg Ryan I think. I loved Ghost, that was really romantic. And sad. I enjoyed Dirty Dancing as well. Or maybe it was Patrick Swayze I liked?

3.  Do you watch the Oscars or the Emmy Awards shows? 

Not any more. I don't know who most of the actors are these days. Once upon a time we made an evening of it and had nibbles and drinks on hand and settled in to watch.

4.  Some movies, plays had a big impact on people.  Orson Welles radio performance of War of the Worlds was broadcast on Halloween 1938 and people, causing panic and widespread hysteria especially in the Grover's Mill area of New Jersey where the "invasion" took place.

  Is there a movie that you were greatly influenced or affected by hopefully in a good way?

One movie, which I always thought was called Circus, really affected me in a bad way. All I remember of it is a woman being mauled by a polar bear.  I was about 10 or 11 when I saw it so it was during the 50s. I've looked for it online but can't find it so maybe the title is wrong. Regardless, as I say, it badly affected me and I never went back to the movies for years. I can still see the scene today.

Thanks for dropping by and thank you so much for participating and making this a lot of fun for everyone.

*****

If you'd like to join in the fun or see what others have to say on this subject just click on the link below

Blessings until next time,
Diana

Friday, 26 September 2025

Random stuff

It's an awful  day outside today, winter decided to let us know she hasn't quite finished with us yet. We were going to head over to the Rotary book sale at Wingatui but decided to just hunker down for the day. It's on for another couple of days so we have time to get there before it finishes. So I thought I'd just do a bit of a random post and keep in touch.

First of all let me tell you I was really surprised to arrive back at the bookshop after my holiday and discover some of our Christmas stock was already on the shelves! Not only Christmas cards but books, tote bags, nativity sets and decorations! I know it's only three months until Christmas but...


We don't have any fruit trees on our property but the neighbours feijoas overhang our drive which gives easier access to the bio security officers when they come round to monitor them for pests. We get a nice thankyou note and a card from them at Christmastime. This is one of the officers doing an inspection below.


Youngest daughter has had a birthday so we bought her a nice crystal flower. It didn't have a box when i picked it up so  asked the young fellow behind the counter if there was one with it. I'm sure there should be. It will have been stored away from the display area.


This is what he came back and gave me! I just grinned and said I'd make it work but I'm sure there is now a stray box lurking in a storage area somewhere!


Halloween is on display in the shops. Some of the stuff is nicer than others. I liked these friendly looking pumpkins and ghosts but didn't buy anything. We don't get anyone much coming trick or treating but usually have a few treats on hand just in case.


The North Island great grandkids were down for a few days recently but we only saw them briefly at their grandmother's house. They were here for a graduation celebration for the other side of their family. This is a photo of them with one of their southern cousins - you can tell who the southern one is, the kids who are born here don't seem to feel the cold :)


And because i haven't really done a springtime post I thought I do a couple of collages of some of the photos I've taken around town in the last week or so.


Mosgiel is very pretty in the springtime with the blossoms in full bloom and the spring flowers out in the gardens and on the verges.


The daffodils from my last post are on the edge of town.

And that's it from me for another day or two ... or three.
Keep well.
blessings,
Diana

Saturday, 20 September 2025

Wiliam Wordsworth

 


I wandered lonely as a cloud,
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.


*****

I remember learning this poem by the English poet William Wordsworth in our English class when I was at high school but can't get beyond the first verse these days. So that's what we have above. I thought of it as soon as we saw the daffodils along the side of the motorway. We had to take a short  detour from our normal route to get the pictures but that was no problem. 

Does anyone else have these things spring to mind when you see or hear something like this?

Blessings,
Diana

Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Lets Blog - Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4

 

Let's Blog!


Welcome once again friends to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 and how about talking about blogging this week since it's something we all do anyway.   
Get yourself a cuppa, come sit down at your computer and let's think about blogging for a bit....
Blog is short for Weblog, a log or diary on the World Wide Web or internet.   Your journal or diary can hold personal stories, ideas, opinions of all kinds and can be private or public as you wish.  It is an excellant way to document your life or interests.


1. Why did you begin blogging?  
My niece mentioned she was blogging and I had no idea what she was talking about but she showed me her site and I thought "if she can do it so can I". So I had a go and found I enjoyed it. I started off trying to copy her upbeat style but decided that wasn't me and so now it is more "me".

2. What benefits does blogging offer you?
It keeps my brain active. I'm at an age where the words don't always come as easily as they used to so I need to keep it exercised. And I get to interact with people from all over the world - how cool is that?

3. Have you made friends from blogging?
I like to think so. I appreciate when you take the trouble to comment and although I've never met any of you I look forward to reading what you've been up to and how you're faring in your corner of the world.

4. Where do you get ideas for things you blog about? Do other bloggers influence you?
Sometime other bloggers will give me an idea but I like to take my inspiration from what is happening around me including what is going on with the family. And I do enjoy taking part in a collective blog like this occasionally, it makes me think!

So if you want to join in or read what others have to say join us here at  https://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/


see you in a few days,
keep well,
have fun

Diana


Sunday, 7 September 2025

Church and cake.

 It's been quite a special day. 

This morning was the first service of our new church plant here on the Taieri. Our new pastor has been here for several months and there has been a lot of background work and prayers going on to get us up and running. But today we did it with a small group of just 25 plus four children. We're meeting in a school hall and it was freezing with snow on the local mountain. Some mentioned bringing cushions and a blanket next week :) But the morning tea and conversation afterwards in the staffroom was lovely and warm and I met new people which is always good.

And then of course it is Father's Day and so both the girls arrived over to see their Dad and bearing cake. 

It was great to see them and catch up with the news over tea, coffee and cake. Vanessa and her hubby have just arrived home from their holiday in Perth, Australia and so we had a fun time comparing notes on our respective holidays and travel experiences. Only the second time travelling to Aussie for Vanessa and her hubby's first time. He's a real homebody and I don't see him going again any time soon :)



We're anticipating a phone call from Aaron and Sofi this evening, it would be unusual for them to miss calling on a special occasion.

And with that I will finish.
Keep well until next time,

Diana


Tuesday, 2 September 2025

Tea Break - Tuesday 4

Welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.


The longest living cat on record, Creme puff,  lived to be 38 years old and was given coffee at breakfast all his life.  Breakfast for him was bacon, eggs, broccoli and coffee.
The previous owner of the record was Grandpa Rex Allen who\ lived to be 34 years old on the same diet.
Coffee reduces chances of Alzheimers, Parkinsons.  
Tea without adding milk can "tan" your bladder making for many problems  Milk binds the tanic acid making it safe to drink.
Homemade food increases an animal's life span too.  Let's talk about it, okay?

1. Coffee increases a bee's memory and does the same for you.      Bees love caffeinated coffee  flowers.  What do you love about coffee or tea?

I love two cups of tea first thing in the morning with my breakfast and I'm quite fussy about it so like to make it myself. It sets me up for the day.

2. If you opened a tea or coffee shop in your neighborhood what would it be named?  How would you decorate it? Would pastry or cake be served?

I'd have to call it 'Tea Break'. I have no idea how I'd decorate so would have to give my daughters almost free range, but it would have to be cosy and comfortable. And definitely cake...and pastries. And biscuits (U.S. cookies) and scones with cream and jam, (U.S. biscuits).

3. Beethoven required 60 beans per cup of coffee.  How particular are you about your coffee or tea?

I'm quite particular about my tea. I like Dilmah, preferably English Breakfast. If I'm away I'm happy with whatever the hostess gives me but it's always good to get back home to my preferred tipple.

4.Italian clergy in1600s  declared coffee the devil's brew and forbid it.
Pope Clement the VIII wanted to taste it, loved it and blessed it ... today, new research shows black coffee is drunk mainly by psychopaths... 
Sweden banned coffee in 1746 as dangerous and Islam banned it for causing free thinking!
How do you take your coffee you free thinking, radical and what's your favorite brand of devil's brew?

I love my Dilmah tea, none of this free thinking radical stuff for me, mainly because it triggers migraines, unfortunately!

Have a good week, 
blessings,
Diana


Friday, 29 August 2025

A day out in Devonport

We're home again and adjusting to the cooler southern weather.
We stopped over again in Auckland for a few days with Sofi and Aaron and attended church with them on Sunday. I wanted to show you the altar table, dressed by one of the Pacific Island congregations. I thought it was so pretty I had to photograph it.


On Monday we spent the day over in Devonport - drove 40 minutes to get there and didn't leave the city. We small town people aren't used to those sort of distances in the urban area :)

Devonport is a nice little village with a lot of well kept colonial style houses and I suspect, a lot of money. I tried to take some pics of the houses with their delicate iron latticework and white picket fences but the car was travelling just a little too fast.
 

After some op shopping, where some of us found stuff to buy and others decided they couldn't fit anything else in their bags we found a nice wee cafe for lunch... 


...and then decided to go and explore the Naval Museum.


Below is a model of HMNZS Otago which my brother served on and went to Mururoa Atoll with when the New Zealand and Australian governments sent ships to protest the testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific in the mid 1970s. The man in the photo is our then Prime Minister Norman Kirk who died in office a few years later.


And this is the medal awarded to all personnel taking part. The New Zealand Special Service Medal (Nuclear Testing). My brother didn't apply for his medal but his twin sister decided it belonged in the family and applied on his behalf - and received it!


Then it was time for coffee, or tea in my case, and a chat then we went outside to play :)


Captain and crew, Bob and Aaron.


Admiring the Auckland CBD across the harbour and rainbow spotting. We guessed it had been raining where we'd come from so a good day to get away for a while.


Aaron and I 'played' chess. Well Aaron did and I pretended to. I've only ever played on the computer and that was years ago so he finished me off in about three moves, mainly because the only moves I could remember were the pawns and then I went blank ðŸ˜‚
Then it was time to head home and pack our bags for the trip home the next day.


And guess who was waiting to board with us? Mary Poppins! was my initial thought but then - no, it's one of the Marx brothers!

I'll do my best to catch up with some blog reading over the next few days. Have a good week. 

Diana