A lazy day

Hello again, I am trying to get back to blogging but it has been a bit of a struggle to tell the truth. But today I find I have an evening to myself so thought I'd sit and do a bit of a post.

My GKB and I have had a lazy day in that neither of us had to be  anywhere apart from morning tea with youngest daughter. She rang last night to see if we wanted to go over to her new workplace for a coffee. It is a new café on a sports field and hasn't officially opened yet but the workers were invited to come and bring family and friends so the staff could have a practice on us while they learnt their new skills. Most of the café staff are students and for a lot of them this is their first job. So of course we went over and let them practice. A nice morning out :) Took my camera, forgot to take photos :(

On the way home we called in to see our number one son and he gave us a bag of silver beet fresh from the garden and we gave him some ciabatta and sourdough. Then eldest daughter arrived home at lunchtime with a big box of fresh vegetables, a couple of bunches of grapes and a pottle of blackberries all harvested in the last day or so. Feeling blessed and spoilt.

April has been quite mild so far and so after lunch we decided to do some work in the garden, tidying up a bit before the winter comes. I got into the garden around the back and my GKB got the lawn mower going. It was nice and relaxing and the yard is starting to look much tidier - it has been a hot summer and not very  pleasant for working outside.

I've had a birthday as well, while my little sister was here. We had a family gathering at lunch time at a restaurant in town. Lunch time is better for my little mother, she still gets a bit tired so we need to watch out for her. We took photos but unfortunately we posed in front of the big front window which let in too much light. Then when we looked at it later we realised the teenage boys had disappeared to different part of the restaurant and we didn't have any pics of them. Boys :)

And that's it for tonight. I'm off to make a cup of tea and settle down to watch the Commonwealth Games on TV.

Have a good week,

Diana

Trying to catch up with myself

     It's been busy since Christmas what with my brother and his family and then two of my sisters arriving for holidays from Australia. Don't get me wrong though, it's been a fun busy time and I've enjoyed seeing everyone :)
     I've also been to a conference in Auckland and now find I'm "trying to catch up with myself". I had an opportunity one afternoon to go up to the viewing platform on the Sky Tower, so here are a few snaps taken that day.




Looking toward the harbor viaduct

from the bridge over to the tower.



The tower from the same bridge.

Part of Auckland Harbour from the viewing platform.

I managed to put my toes on the glass floor

 long enough for a photograph.

 That was long enough, then I was back to the

more solid looking area.

When we got back to street level there was a

Pacifica dance group performing.

A nice finish to the tower visit :)

I'll see you again when I can :)
Diana

Odds and ends

Just a few words and pictures to catch up with everyone.

First I've been locked out of Google for a few days but

 number one son now has me up and running again.

Middle sis has been over from Aussie and is now away home again. She likes a busy holiday so that's what we have been - busy.

Amongst other things we have been to the Chinese Gardens to see a Chinese opera.

We have visited family, eaten meals together

 and then relaxed and just enjoyed each others company.

We've gone for drives and ended up drinking tea,

coffee and hot chocolates after eating more food.

Some of the places we went had some fun décor as well.

And on top of that we have had our roof repaired.

We lost some of the ridge iron during a storm last winter

and have been waiting for about 5 months to have

 the whole roof repaired. It was finished the day before

another torrential storm hit us - phew :)

And now I am preparing for my youngest sister to arrive.

Also from Australia but that is not for a week or two yet.

So some breathing space :)

Stinky plant

My brother has been over from Aussie and is away again. Middle sister arrived the following day so it has been a bit of a busy time. This morning we, sis, youngest daughter and I, went in to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens to view the Corpse Plant as it is commonly called. It's botanical name is Amorphophallus titanum. We weren't sure that we would see it before it collapsed as it has already been open for two days but we were in luck. It was closing when we saw it and was past it's best and the stink had dissipated somewhat. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not as I would have liked to experience the whole shebang, stinking or not. Another time maybe.

This way.

Sis (in pink) talking to an attendant.

Corpse plant

or Amorphophallus titanum.

We have also been to a Chinese opera 

but I'll tell you about that another time.

Until next time,

Diana

January scavenger hunt

It's that time of the month again when we join Hawthorn for a photo scavenger hunt so if you are interested in seeing what others have come up with head over to I live, I love, I craft, I am me 
and have a look.

I'm also joining Debbie at Breathing in Grace for

friday foto friends

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Yellow

I went out one morning to see that one courgette flower was fully unfurled and shining in the sun. A lovely bright yellow. If you look closely you can see two or three others still tightly curled, they came out as the day progressed and the sun heated things up. I've since picked that one and am waiting for the others to become a decent size so we can use them. The courgettes, not the flowers.

Starts with an ... O

I was out walking one evening and saw this circular latch hole in a gate and thought it looked like an O. I know it doesn't begin with an O unless, of course, you want to call it an 'ole. Sorry, cringe :)

Light

Dark clouds threatening rain that didn't come. We've been watering our veges most nights. I loved the way the evening sun was breaking through the clouds and the silvery light it threw, but alas, it didn't come out as well as I had hoped.

Found

Walking on the beach a couple of weeks ago we 

came across a big old log. In one little cranny 

we found a mini garden growing in some sand.

Colourful

Don't you love the this colourful display of tulips.

 This photo was taken by my daughter when

 she was in Wellington a few years ago.

My choice

I was browsing through my photos a few days ago and decided to share this one as my choice. Taken on a Kobe Harbour cruise while we were in Japan for our son's wedding in 2008. 

L-R: DIL, son, middle sis, me and my GKB.

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I'm expecting my brother and his partner arriving in the next day or so from Australia. A week later middle sis also arrives from Aussie and then between then and March youngest sister is also arriving from Aussie so we are in for a busy time. Not sure where everyone is staying apart from my brother who will be with us. I hope to catch up with you all during this time, but we'll see what happens.
Brother's partner said they were coming over to cool down but they won't unless the temps fall dramatically, although it is just 25C at the moment and that is a vast improvement on the 40C we had a week ago.

*********** 

And that's it for this week. 

Diana

A family barbie

We've had some high temperatures this past week, 

touching on 40 C. Just a little bit hot for us southerners. 

It has cooled down somewhat today with a bit of rain

 but not enough to do much for the ground or gardens.

But before that sort of heat set in we managed to have 

a barbecue over at our son's home last weekend. 

Getting the fire started, one to light and several supervisors. 

Son in law hadn't arrived yet so couldn't stand there with 

the others giving helpful, or not, advice :)

The pohutokawa (red flowering tree) in the

 background was beautiful, in full bloom.

Daughter in law and visitors from Japan - they haven't 

cottoned on yet that the blokes do the cooking 

and the girls leave them to it. I can see there is some 

educating to be done. But never mind, 

the food was delicious.

Relaxing on the deck. Youngest daughter and her 

 hubby came over too. Our eldest daughter was away  

for the weekend so couldn't make it, and as it is school 

holidays the kids were away doing what kids do with 

their mates during the summer.

Later we adjourned to the garage to play pool and darts 

and as our new Japanese friend had just celebrated

a birthday we had a birthday cake for her

 much to her surprise and pleasure.

Brother and sister facing off. He has just knocked her

 off the table, up until then she had taken on all comers

 and won. Oh dear :) I didn't realise I'd caught them like this 

until I saw the photo and it just looks so funny.

Well that's it for this week.

See you next time.

Diana

joining Debbie over at
Breathing in Grace for 
friday foto friends

A walk along Brighton Beach

One day earlier in the week my GKB suggested we go for a walk on the beach at Brighton. It was a grey day but not cold, even though we look like we are wrapped up against the weather. In reality we were in short sleeves under our jackets but there was a bit of a stiff breeze blowing off the Pacific Ocean. 

In the pic above my GKB is standing on the bottom step, 

there is about a metre drop down to the beach from here 

where the sand has been eroded by the sea. It was interesting hauling ourselves back up when we got back.

Just strolling and refreshing my soul :)

The tide was going out so the beach was good and wide.

Rock pools,

seaweed,

and mussel beds.

A child or hobbit size cave in the bank 

and kelp just in front of it.

We enjoyed our walk and I hope you did as well.

Until next time,

Diana

joining Debbie at Breathing in Grace 

for Friday Foto Friends