A play date with Arlo

 On Friday young Arlo came to visit us. He had wanted to visit the week before but I was volunteering in the local Christian bookshop so we made an 'appointment' for this week. I suggested to his gran that we meet at the playground if the weather was halfway decent - and it was. He had a great time playing in the preschool area under the trees and met some others his age to play with.

Granma and I sat under the trees and supplied snacks and drinks when they were needed. Of course after a while he wanted to explore the older kids area on the other side of the fence so we went for a wander out there. He had a go on the climbing net and one or two other pieces of equipment that were okay for him but as it is still school holidays there were quite a few older kids around which was a little intimidating for him.

And then it was over to the library where great Granma (me) had a book to drop off. That lead to a quieter visit and playtime out of the heat of the day. Colouring in and board games among them - and cars and trucks.

When he was finished we came back to my place for ice cream and berry fruit, for Arlo, and hot drinks and a biscuit for the grannies. Oh, and great granddad had set up the little construction rail set for him to play with while we had our drinks. 

Arlo is the eldest of our great grand kids and will be away to school later this year. Where does that time go?

That's it for now

Diana 

A sociable day

 Yesterday dawned, cold wet and windy. Our high was 14C. It's the middle of summer for goodness sake. I wasn't impressed.

Regardless, we were due to meet my GKB's sister and her husband down in Port Chalmers for a lunch date, so we rugged up warm and headed away. The wind was howling down the main street when we arrived and really quite unpleasant, cutting through our layers.

There had been a cruise ship due in but the stopover was cancelled due to the high winds. But that worked in our favour as there was plenty of room in the cafe we chose. We still had a few minutes before SIL and her hubby arrived so we went inside to wait. When they arrived BIL was carrying a large brown grocery bag - my GKB laughingly said, 'he's brought his lunch with him'. But no, it was a bag of garden produce for us from his garden.

He has a big garden and he is very generous each time we visit, we always head home with veges freshly dug from the garden. It is never expected, I'm always surprised even after all these years, and it's always appreciated.

We had a lovely relaxed lunch and caught up with all the family news, we hadn't seen each other since well before Christmas.

Later in the evening my home study group was meeting again for the first time this year. It was to be a dessert and coffee evening and we all took a dessert. I have to admit to cheating as mine came from the supermarket, my excuse - I'd been out all day. 

It was the first time we'd met together as a group for about six weeks, so again a time to catch up and just enjoy each others company. 

Two hot, two cold, cream and icecream, some snacks and home made shortbread, Yum. And of course tea or coffee depending on your preference.

That's it for now.

Have a good week,

Diana

A day trip

 A few days after I got home from my holiday we decided to take a day trip up to Roxburgh to buy some stone fruit. So after breakfast and the essential housework, dishes and beds, we got on the road. It was a good day for travelling and we made good progress. 

Our first stop was a comfort stop at Lawrence where the public toilets are guarded by a statue of a gold miner who seems to be looking to the hills and working out his route.

Then on to Roxburgh where we took a stroll along the main street and did some window shopping. Not a lot of the shops were open in this small rural town, we had travelled on a Tuesday which seemed to be when they closed for the day. But never mind, our favourite cafe was open and we went in for lunch. 

We opted for fresh scones with cream and fresh apricot jam. Fresh as in we were in apricot country and the jam was made from this season's fruit from one of the orchards.

I also browsed the gift shop, the cafe and gift shop are combined, but didn't see anything that took my fancy. 

After lunch it was time to head home, checking out the roadside fruit stalls on the way.

We usually buy enough fruit  to share amongst the family but this time only got enough for ourselves and youngest daughter. Eldest daughter goes through once a fortnight and number one son has just been holidaying up that way.

Just the other side of Lawrence is the site of one of the Chinese goldfield camps. We'd seen the sign several times on our way through on previous years and decided to take a look on our way home. It was disappointing in that there were only a couple of buildings still standing. One was the renovated Joss House, or meeting house, which the locals call the Chinese church, and the old hotel.

Even so the information on the notice boards was very interesting and informative.

That's it for now.

Diana

I have had trouble commenting on your posts 

but hope I have it sorted now.

And just like that..

 ...the holiday is over.

I had a wonderful few days up north with the family. The little fellow hits the floor running in the morning and doesn't stop until he is asleep at night. Just two, he is curious about everything. We took several trips to different playgrounds, usually followed by ice cream on the way home.

Of course big sister was with us as well.

And then suddenly it was time to pack up and head for home again. We were flying out of Wellington and granddaughter was driving us down. My daughter suggested we take a picnic lunch and leave early and take the kids to the zoo, so we did.

We all enjoyed it - big kids and small. Stevie ran everywhere, and it was on a hill. He couldn't get enough of everything, Alice followed close behind but a bit more subdued. She was a bit apprehensive of the big animals, tigers and giraffes for example but loved the meerkats and otters. Oh and the little wallaby. Stevie would have been in the enclosures with them if he could, having the fearlessness of a two year old boy.

Then it was time for lunch at the playground next door, a quick hot drink and comfort stop at McDonalds for the adults and more playtime for the kids. Then out to the airport for the trip home. Alice and Stevie slept all the way home, about a two and a half hour drive, their mother said.

I have to admit it was nice to be home again but I'm missing the little ones - and the warmer weather!

And so, until next time, take care.

Diana

Berry picking

 Youngest daughter and I have arrived in the North Island for our week with her family. We had a long day travelling by car, plane, train and then car again, leaving home at 3:30pm and  arriving here at 10pm. I was pleased to fall into bed that night I can tell you.

The next morning I was greeted with excitement by Alice, who knows me, and a scowl from her wee brother who had no idea who this strange lady was who thought she knew him and what's more was drinking out of his mother's cup! But he has warmed to me and even climbed up for cuddles tonight.

Today after daycare we went to a blueberry farm and did some picking, something I've never done before. It was a really hot day and even in the shade of the bushes we felt it. Ice creams were the order of the day on the way home, then a stop at a little playground just around the corner from home, a short walk back for some of us and the others went in the cars.  It was good to get back to the house and have a refreshing drink.

And so now I am lying in bed anticipating another busy afternoon tomorrow with busy toddlers who don't quite understand that great grandma hasn't got the same energy levels as them. But what the heck, it's only for a week and I don't know when I'll see them again so I'll make the most of it.

Until next time

Diana

Holidays

 The busyness of Christmas is over but here in New Zealand it is our main holiday season and at the beginning of next week I'm going to head north to the other island to visit my granddaughter and her babies. My daughter invited me to go along with her and we're leaving our menfolk behind.

Son and daughter in law have been away camping and tramping in the mountains with friends.

Grandaughter has been away camping and boating in the rivers and lakes in Central Otago with her boyfriend and his family.

While I'm waiting I soak up my vitamin d where I can and at the moment that is when I go walking or while I'm reading and having a refreshing drink out the back out of the breeze.

Until next time.

Diana

Happy New Year 2024

 Last night I realised I needed to write something here before the blog was deleted due to lack of use. 

So I wrote a short post, posted it only to discover I'd written it on my photography blog. Not that it mattered, it meant I was active and so the blog is still alive.

A couple of pics from the past year.

Harbour cruise - a gift from the kids.

House sparrows in the tea rooms at Hanmer Springs

One of the great grand boys with his Grandma.

Christmas tree and gifts.

With best wishes and abundant blessings for the coming year.

Diana