A 50th celebration

Aglow in New Zealand celebrates 50 years this year.

We decided at a local level to have a celebration meeting for those who can't travel to Wellington later in the year to join in 

the national celebrations. 

A lot of work went into advertising, sending out invitations and organising rides for those who needed one. Then there was the actual meeting to put together and the afternoon tea to get sorted and only three of us to do it!

We sang a lot of the old songs, shared memories and stories and just generally enjoyed each others company. We had eight past presidents attend and half a dozen ex advisors. As well as others, who for various reasons, no longer come along. One lady came from a rest home, she was 96 and still going strong.

Once the meeting was over the cake was cut and then it was time to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. People didn't seem to want to go home, and I think that is always a sign that they have enjoyed themselves. 

It was a wonderful afternoon but I've decided that I'm getting past this organising of events lark. I think it's time for a younger generation to take over.

That's it from me this week. 

Take care until next time

Diana

A birthday

My GKB (good kiwi bloke) had a birthday last week. Youngest daughter visited him on the day with a little gift for him and a silly card.

A couple of days later eldest daughter arrived and gave him a copy of an 87 year old weekly newspaper commemorating the coronation of King George 6th. He laughed at that and hoped she didn't think he was quite that old :)

Some of you older kiwis might remember the old Weekly News. I remember it coming home with grandad when I was a child. I used to love looking at the centre photos.

Son and his wife were away last week so we caught up with them yesterday. Those of us who could went out for lunch together. Unfortunately the girls couldn't come as they were both in different parts of the country for the day.

 

"Would you like to eat western or Chinese?" he was asked. "Chinese would be  nice," was the reply. So the kids picked us up and we headed in to town to the Golden Harvest restaurant.

The food was delicious, we had chicken, beef and pork dishes plus a vege one. Son and daughter in law had steamed chicken feet, we drew the line at that and just watched them enjoy it. Yuk!

I'd like to say I used the chopsticks to eat with but it is about 16 years since I've used them and was a little bit rusty so opted for a knife and fork instead, otherwise we might still have been there! It was a lovely meal out, we all enjoyed it and the company was great.

Have a good week,

Diana

Fun in the park.

It was a lovely sunny day day even if a bit nippy. Middle daughter called to say she might bring her two North Island grandkids out later.  We decided to meet at the playground and then come back to my place for a cuppa and, as it turned out, lunch for the kids. Eldest daughter joined us at home for a drink as well.

Fun in the sun.

On the climbing ropes.

Teamwork.

Higher Granma.

Quiet time with Lego after lunch.

It was great to see the wee ones from Palmerston North, down for a big birthday celebration. One of their cousins is about to turn one and that is a big milestone in the Tongan culture and they celebrate BIG.

That's it for today, 

until next time,

Diana

Matariki

 Celebrating the Maori New Year

This is a new holiday in the New Zealand calendar, this  year is only the third year it has been celebrated nationally.

 I have to admit that it took me some time to work out my feelings about it as this is a cultural celebration belonging to the Maori people and as such has some aspects I'm not entirely comfortable with. 

I've come to the conclusion that those who wish to will celebrate in the way it is intended and others will treat it as another reason for a long weekend with the majority taking part in activities in much the same way as they would at Christmas or Diwali or other cultural celebrations - without having a full or true understanding of the celebrations.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. In Japan it is known as Subaru and in Hawaii Makali'i, and by various other names throughout different cultures.

It is also known as the wishing star. Māori traditionally would use this star to set their desires and dreams for the year, commonly known now as New Year's resolutions. (notes from the internet).

The pictures above are our town's depiction of the Matariki cluster and it looks quite special in the darkness, much better than in the photos.

Whatever you are doing this weekend have a wonderful time.

Keep well, keep warm, keep cool and enjoy yourselves.

Diana

Winter time

We've had a lot of cold, wet, windy weather of late. In fact just what we would expect at this time of year. Winter. At least it hasn't snowed. I've probably told you before that I don't really enjoy the cold wintery weather but we live in the south of the south, so that's what happens. And Dunedin is a nice wee city, I enjoy living here. Except in the winter!  :)

We have had the occasional break in the clouds and one day were rewarded with this hint of a rainbow.

So in the mornings I've been cooking up a small pot of feijoas and then putting them in the freezer. Why a small pot? Because it's quite a time consuming job. So far I've done up a bucketful and have about half a bucket on the bench waiting. These ones are too small to give away except to family if they want them. 

They're falling off the tree before they are properly ripe and we don't always bother to pick them all up at this point of the season.

Today was one of my days for volunteering at the bookshop so was  my GKB's turn to make tea. When I started volunteering I suggested that he could get tea on the nights I was working. He hadn't thought of it but he is happy to do so, especially when I said I didn't care if it was sardines on toast as long as I didn't have to come home and start preparing a meal. So tonight it was 'greasies' or curry rice rolls and chips. Nice and easy, warm and filling and no dishes. What more could you want?

Have a good week, keep warm, or cool, 

whichever the case may be, 

and we'll catch up again another day.

Diana

Roll up, roll up

Well, that was a day and a half, that was.

Remind me not to do it again :)

I left home at 8;15 in the morning with my son and daughter in law to head to the church hall for cheese roll making. We had barely got things set up and the young people who were going to benefit from this fundraiser turned up to help. Well some of them did. Some came at lunch time and others went home.

We hadn't cooked the cheese mixture yet so started a little later than anticipated but we got going eventually. Yes, you cook the mixture and cool it a little and then spread it on the bread.

(No, it is not just grated cheese rolled up in a slice of bread).

And then you roll the slices. It's quite a labour intensive activity really and the young people got to see how hard their Mums had worked over the years doing this as a fundraiser for their various childhood activities. 

Cheese rolls are a southern NZ thing. People have their own secret recipes and don't divulge them. They're great as a snack or with a cup of soup on a cold winters day. We can also order them in a cafe for lunch if we want but usually only in the winter. Oh by the way, to eat them they're toasted and then a little butter spread on the top.

They're very popular as a fundraiser and they're sold by the dozen in bags, so the process is: cook the mixture, spread on slices of bread, roll and pack. And then make up peoples orders.

We rolled over 3400. 

We finally finished the cleanup and left for home about 7:30pm. I had a cup of tea, a hot bath and fell into bed and stayed there until mid morning the next day.

So please, remind me to leave it to younger people next time!

The end of autumn

The feijoa tree is absolutely laden with fruit and with the recent winds the fruit has been falling all over the drive. I stewed the little ones this morning after sorting out some of the larger ones to go to Daniel, youngest grandson, who loves them.

Then after I'd kept some for ourselves I put a bucketful at the gate for people to help themselves. They didn't last long and the lady who took them came back and gave us a jar of jam she'd made previously and a couple of kid's wheatbags, which can go to a couple of the great grands.  :)

It was such a beautiful autumn day I decided to go for a walk down the Silverstream after lunch. The sun was shining and so I didn't need a jacket but wore the vest my daughter had given me for Mother's Day. It was just the right weight for the day.  :)

 

It's the last day of autumn tomorrow although you wouldn't be blamed if you thought it had ended several weeks ago. Anyway the wildlife was staying out of sight, maybe it was still a bit early in the day for ducks (that's as wild as the wildlife gets). There were quite a few dogs out walking their people but I never got any snaps of them.

The trees were in different stages of losing their leaves, this one has almost none but the walnut tree further back in the picture still has a lot on the branches. I think there are a couple of dogs with their walker under it.

There were still some red summer roses in bloom on the fence.

 And a nice seat to rest and just enjoy the view if you feel so inclined.

An apple tree in someone's yard with a wonderful crop on it. The birds were certainly enjoying them.

And a tiny solitary pansy along the fenceline. (Ignore the rubbish).

Isn't it pretty and really an old fashioned colour.

And now I need to go and get tea on.

So enjoy your week and I'll see you next time.

Diana