Hello there

 I've just been for a stroll down to the Silverstream to have a look and it is almost back to normal levels but running swiftly. A new path has been built up to the flood bank which is great, it'll save walking through the. grass and getting wet feet after it's been raining. People and their dogs and kids on bikes are using it again on this lovely, warm (for winter), sunny day. An enjoyable walk really.

My GKB Bob has had another birthday, he's reached the grand old age of 83. We had cream buns with chocolate icing to celebrate, he didn't want to go out, and the girls came over for the afternoon. He had phone calls and messages from other members of the family as well and I think he quite enjoyed a nice relaxed day. The girls pandered to his sweet tooth, giving him ice cream, fudge and chocolates, which he is being very good with and only eating a couple of pieces a day. And yes, he is sharing :) Though we haven't tried the ice cream yet. Maybe tonight :)

Apart from that there is not a lot going on. I am working 3 shifts a week at the moment as one of the volunteers is away, but I'll have my turn in August when we head to Aussie to visit my sisters. So we're looking forward to that. 

Until next time, keep well and enjoy life.

Diana

Not so silver Silverstream

 It has been raining non stop for the past 27 hours.

 Not heavily but steadily. 

It's not forecast to stop until sometime tonight and the council have had a sandbagging station operating since yesterday morning. 

We're lucky in that our house is quite high off the ground and the flood banks keep the water of the Silverstream contained. Unlike in earlier years when the properties at the bottom of our street would flood.

I took a walk down to have look this afternoon and these are the photos. It was very muddy on the bank and slippery so I stayed well back. I didn't fancy slipping and getting a dunking.

We haven't seen the local news today but know there was bad  flooding further north yesterday, in Marlborough, and I suspect there will be flooding in South Dunedin today. 

Take care.

Diana

Travelling with Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4

Hello! It's time for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4

Summer is June 21st and people usually take advantage of the warm weather to take a trip or vacation or day trips to visit, shop or for recreation.

  So could we talk about travel?

1. What are the most memorable destinations you've visited, and what made them stand out? (this could include places like museums, art galleries, etc. not only a vacation site.)

Memorable places? The first that came to mind when I saw this question was my trip to Fiji with a nursing colleague when we were  just 18. The culture was so different to anything I knew and the colours, smells and sights were so wonderful. The first overseas trip either of us had ever made, in an age where no one went overseas (not where we lived anyway). It was so exciting and we looked forward to it for so long.  It was probably another 40 years before I went overseas again and that was to visit my sister and her husband and family who had moved to Australia. We took the family and that was an exciting time for all of us. We had a great time, visited one of the islands off the Queensland coast among other things. But we learnt a good lesson, don't visit north Queensland in the summer, we'd gone for Christmas! Never again.

Then Aaron  was living in Japan, met a Chinese girl and we went to Japan for the wedding. What a wonderful time and I don't really know where to start. So totally culturally different and we didn't speak the language. Thank goodness we had our family interpreters with us most of the time :) We learnt how to use the buses and some of the drivers got to know us and where our stops were. All I can say is if you plan on going to Japan - do. It was a wonderful experience made even better because we were staying in Aaron's flat in an older part of the city and didn't do only tourist things.

the view from Aaron's flat in Kobe, Japan

2. Which hidden gem locations have you explored that you'd recommend to others ?

I don't know that Te Papa the national museum of New Zealand could be called a hidden gem but if you're in Wellington make a point of visiting, even if it is just to visit the Gallipolli Exhibition. I found it to be a very emotional experience but had to rush the end of it, one because I was getting emotional and two because my GKB had disappeared about 10 minutes earlier. It depicts conditions for the men and women in the battle at Gallipolli during the first world war and as well as letters, photographs and short films there are life size models of soldiers and nurses as well as a model of the trenches. Well worth a visit.

Anywhere in New Zealand is well worth a visit though :) We have lakes, beaches, rivers and mountains all within a short drive of most places.

Milford Sound on a misty day

The Southern Alps 

3. What’s the most unique cultural experience you’ve had while traveling ?

Well, lets see. I've been packed like a sardine into a commuter train in Japan, eaten raw seafood which was still moving. I couldn't get out of it as I was the future mother in law and that position held a certain amount of prestige apparently. And part of that was getting to eat first whether I wanted to or not. I didn't want to actually but was told I needed to and looked around the table and every eye was on me, kids and all. My GKB was smirking away but he got to try it too. So I bit the bullet, or raw, moving octopus, and swallowed. Then they all  clapped and I had to do it again. And then they all tucked in. Not my most exciting moment I can tell you but certainly memorable.

that greyish stuff is the still moving, sliced octopus

On the day of the wedding I got to take part in a tea ceremony at the reception. No one warned me but I duly took part and Aaron's sister in law guided me through, We finished our tea, only the bride, groom and mothers took part, and I looked up to see Aaron and Sofi kneeling in front of me. Once again no one had warned me I was supposed to bestow a blessing on them so I stumbled through something, I'm not good at off the cuff stuff, but finally it was over. 

4.What mode of transportation is your favorite for a long trip? How about a short trip?

I would have to say I prefer to travel by plane for a long trip. Well let me qualify that. I live on an island. If I want to visit family who don't live in the South Island I have to cross the sea, to the North Island or to the bigger island to the west (Australia) so really I don't have a choice. I don't enjoy flying and we usually drive if we're going anywhere in the South Island.

Some celebrations

Sitiveni turned 4 last weekend. It was a time to celebrate with his family and some of his little kindy friends. He had a Spiderman theme and mum made and decorated the cake for him. We just sent some cash up and mum took him shopping so he could pick out something himself. He bought himself a Spiderman glove that squirts water :) What else would a 4 year old boy buy :)

 

A week or so earlier Arlo turned 6 and he also had a party with his school friends. He likes to read so we gave him a fun book about a farmer who blew up the cowshed. And a card. A 5 year old card! I received a message from his grandmother "please message 

Great Granma and tell her I am 6, not 5." Oh dear. I knew he was turning 6, how did I make that mistake? But all is forgiven and we sent him another card with the correct age on it :) 

And I was celebrating getting my new specs, until I got them. Everything is beautiful and clear but nothing is sharp. So they need to go back but I need to see the optometrist again before they can be adjusted and can't get in until next week. Which also means I have to cancel an afternoon tea engagement as well as they're both at the same time. But I do need the specs adjusted so I'll grin and bear it. Otherwise wait another week. 

Tomorrow is a holiday for Matariki, the Maori New Year, so I thought I'd go and take a photo of our towns' matariki star cluster in the dark but it didn't turn out as I'd hoped as there are too many lights around it. A shame as I think it would be quite striking otherwise. 

A short explanation of Matariki taken from the internet.

 Matariki, also known as the Māori New Year, is a time of celebration, remembrance, and looking forward, marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster (Pleiades) in the winter sky. It's a time for communities to gather, share stories, reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

Alice and Sitiveni are all dressed up in their Tongan national dress tonight to go to Alice's school celebration for Matariki. Sitiveni took part in his kindy kapa haka presentation earlier in the week. 

And just because I can - eldest daughter Jacqui sent me this photo of a feijoa she had sliced in half and captioned it

'It looks so happy. I don't want to eat it...😥'

And I'll leave you there.

Enjoy your week wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

Until next time

Diana

Eating out and other stuff

 It's a beautiful blue sky day today and so we decided to go out for lunch at a tavern a couple of suburbs nearer the city. The place we used to go to has burned down and they're not rebuilding so we need to find another 'favourite' eatery. We enjoyed being out in the sun even if it was still a bit cold. When we arrived the carpark was full, we parked outside the takeaway shop and I hoped the owner wouldn't object.

 The tavern was crowded but we managed to get a table for two. There were renovations/extensions happening next to where we were sitting but all closed off so no danger to the customers. And nothing going on today. 

We had a delicious meal but unfortunately it was very noisy, the restaurant and the bar were both full, and we couldn't hear ourselves speak. But it rounded off nicely a week of grey, cold, miserable weather. 

We didn't bother to stop for a hot drink after but left pretty much once we'd finished our meal and headed over to youngest daughter's place to have one. And to check out how they were going with setting up their new home. They have just bought their own home and are still settling in.

Sassy and Purr exploring their new back yard.

 

Theo had been visiting for the night and was waiting for Mum to pick him up so not a lot was getting done but next weekend is a holiday weekend so they're hoping to get everything finished up then.

And feijoas! There are still a lot on the tree, and yes I am over them, but they are not as prolific as they were which is a blessing. I'm managing to keep up with them :) I found a recipe for a feijoa loaf so I've made that a couple of times as I don't have any more room to freeze any. It's a nice change and will only be seasonal so that's good. I've also used the leaf rake and deposited the smaller ones in the green bin!

I think I'll finish on that note.

Keep well, keep warm 

and I'll catch up again in a few days.

Diana

A blah day

  It's been a cold, wet and miserable day.  My GKB Bob had an early appointment so he was up earlier than normal. When he left home the temp was -2° C. That's 3° warmer than when he got out of bed. I think our high for the day has been 2°. So a good day for inside stuff. And today I had plenty to keep myself occupied. 

When Bob left the sun was shining and although it was cold I thought I might get a load of washing out and, maybe, even dry. Didn't happen. Just as the washing finished the clouds came over, not from the south which is normal, but from the east. Low, grey clouds. They looked like snow clouds to me and the breeze coming ahead of it was bitter. With the clouds came drizzly, sleety rain which has continued all day. So the washing is draped on the clothes horse, in line with the heat pump, and will hopefully be dry by morning.

I've also spent part of the day preparing a one pot meal for Friday Light, an outreach group which meets at one of the local churches once a week. It's so much easier to prepare these days, when they first started we prepared meat, potatoes and veges and it was quite labour intensive. I only cook once every couple of months now so it's no hardship. 

There's also a jigsaw on the go so I got some of that put together. Still a way to go but getting there. 

And I finished my book. I'm sure I've read this one before but I quite enjoy Donna Andrews' books, they're light, easy to read and humorous. Good for giving the brain a bit of a rest if you've been studying or just reading something a bit intense or challenging.

Did I say I was planning on stewing more feijoas today? Well that didn't happen. By the time I'd cooked the meal and done a few chores I just wanted to relax for a bit. But I'm sick of them covering my bench so I think I'll need to get into it tomorrow and as the forecast is for more of the same what else will I do?  I picked up about four dozen today so took some down to Friday Light, hopefully someone there will enjoy them.

And so I think I'll finish there.

Keep warm if you're in my part of the world

 and whatever else you do look after yourself.

Diana

I'm joining Tuesday 4 again

I thought I would join in with Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 once again. I have just copied and pasted the questions as before. I'm not sure who is running it so copy from Pam at Closed Doors, Open Windows. Feel free to redirect me. 

Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.
We ask 4 questions each week to get you blogging, thinking, discussing and visiting with other bloggers.

The commercial song said "the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup".

1. What is in your cup in the morning? 

Oh, definitely tea. No milk, no sugar. Just plain black and not too strong but I do like to taste it :) My little mother liked hers weak, we used to laugh and say she just waved a tea bag in the general direction of her cup. And no, I don't leave the tea bag in, I took this pic while I was making a drink to have while I wrote and it was still brewing.

2. What brand of coffee or tea is the best in your opinion and why do you think so?

Call me a Philistine if you like but I had to look up Folger's. I am no longer a coffee drinker although my hubby is. For some reason about two years ago coffee started to trigger migraines so I stopped drinking it. That was hard for a start but I'm used to it now and it doesn't bother me. So what brand of tea? Dilmah. English Breakfast or Extra Strong. I prefer the English breakfast though. It's a little dearer than some of the other brands but I don't mind.

3. Where do you drink your cuppa in the morning? Do you have a nice view.

We always used to sit at the kitchen table for breakfast and our early cuppa but since hubby retired we sit in our easy chairs in the lounge, he likes to catch up on the news on tv and so I catch up with any messages I might have on my phone. And at times we even talk to each other :) 

The top half of this picture is what I can see when relaxing in my easy chair. Not very exciting, it is looking south though, which is where our bad weather comes from, so we can see the rain or wind in the trees as it heads towards us. 

4.Besides the morning, do you take little tea or coffee breaks during the day? If you are out and about where is your favorite place to get some tea or coffee?

I like a drink about mid morning and mid to late afternoon. Always one with lunch and if my sisters are here one after tea as well. Tea in that case being our evening meal followed by a cup of tea. When we're out and about in our little town we like to visit Aurora, it has the old fashioned sort of food we prefer and when in the city we go to a little out of the way mall off the main street and visit a little cafe there. It's always busy so not a secret, just out of the way :)

 I'll finish there, 

have a good week. 

Until next time,

Diana

 PS. The Rooibos tea in my picture is my go to for my evening drink as its decaf.