Scribbling

Things are slowly getting back to normal here and Bob is talking about some of his home aids being taken away again - e.g. his raised toilet seat :) We both dislike it so I'm hoping the powers that be will agree. 

Just lately we have taken the car about half a mile up the road to a public car park and then walked to the shops, that saves us getting into the busier traffic on the main road. Jacqui comes and takes us to appointments or to do supermarket shopping.

But before we could drive we had to get a Warrant of Fitness (WOF) for the car and I think it needs a new registration in the next month or so. That's ours on the bottom in the picture, waiting for me to go in and pick her up. She passed.

I've managed to get back to church once, a young couple kindly came and picked me up. We meet in a school hall and that particular Sunday was the annual fundraising day and so there was a large number of stalls scattered around the grounds. It was a really hot day and so after a brief look around after the service I went and sat in the car and people watched while they browsed. I enjoyed being back.

I've been out for some shorter than normal walks when the weather has been good, it's turned back to winter this week with -2degs where my daughter was working today. And hail. Oh well, I suppose that's typical spring weather. But we'll be putting another blanket back on the bed tonight.

A couple of months back I put a pair of dress boots on layby ready for next winter. I had them almost paid for when Bob had the stroke and promptly forgot all about them! It was Bob who reminded me about them one day when we were out doing shopping with Jacqui so I went in and finished the payments. It wasn't until I got them home I realised they had the blue on them and it's rather nice. Or if I knew, I'd forgotten. It's just a bit different.

Today we had a couple of bills to get paid and some snail mail to get away and when we'd finished we visited the op shop just a couple of doors down. They had a lot of their Christmas decorations out on sale and it looks so pretty. I love this build up to Christmas but alas I think it's going to be a bit different for Bob and me this year. I don't know whether we'll get out to do shopping the same and I can't see me baking half a dozen Christmas cakes, sadly, But Christmas will still happen and we'll still join family on the day :)

I'm not really an op shopper but my girls and Bob are, so I go in and poke around with him. Today he got himself a brand new telescopic lens that fits on a cell phone. He'll have fun trying to get that worked out. And it wasn't until I got home that I thought I should have bought the baby doll I had picked up, it was only $9, and we could have used it as baby Jesus in the crib at the shop at Christmas. Hopefully it's still there next time I go in. So sometimes I see bargains and don't act on them :)

I will try to get around to reading posts this week. I haven't really felt up to it recently, I get tired quickly at the moment but am looking forward to catching up on everyone's news.

And that's it from me for this week.

Keep well, blessings,

Diana

Update

Good evening, all. I thought I would quickly nip in and tell you where we are at since my last post.

Bob is doing extremely well after the stroke. Within an hour of it happening he was being airlifted from our hospital in Dunedin to Christchurch hospital by helicopter. Their stroke unit is apparently better equipped than the local one and they removed three blood clots from his brain. His right side is affected but he is walking well unaided but having a bit of difficulty with his speech. Our girls drove up the next day so that he had some family support while there.

I spent three days in hospital in Dunedin while they ascertained what was wrong with me but we're both home now with a good support team in place. Bob has carers coming in three times a week to supervise his showers and from next week will have physio and speech therapy. There's also someone coming in once a week to do the heavy housework, but that's probably only temporary - until I recover more. In theory the support is all for Bob as the social worker decided I was well enough to do things for myself without bothering to come and see me. I wasn't impressed.

We both get tired easily and I don't have a lot of energy. A funny story - when Bob's carer left today I decided to go back to bed for an hour as we'd had a busy day yesterday with appointments and I was still tired even after an early night. I had a lovely hour sleeping, got up and dressed and who should arrive but the needs assessor who wanted to see how he managed getting on and off the bed - which I hadn't yet made! Ah well, these things happen and I don't suppose it is the first unmade bed she has seen. 

Thank you so much for the prayers, God has been good in answering them and I am deeply grateful to Him and you all for lifting us up in prayer.

I don't know when my next post will be, things are still a little unsettled.

Take care,

blessings,

Diana

The past week.

The past week has involved food to quite an extent. It's been quite a busy week and it doesn't seem like it was only a week ago we were lunching with our daughters at Kades Restaurant. It was Bob's birthday and we had a lovely meal and chat with the girls.

Then later in the week I was cooking for Friday Light, the local Anglican church's outreach. 

But before that I managed to get the cake baked for the GF dessert I was making for Saturday night's dinner. Once the F.L meal was cooked and down at the church I started assembling the dessert. I thought it would be nicer if it could sit in the fridge overnight but I left the cream until just before we left home. I hadn't made one, a banoffee trifle, for quite a while and wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it was good. And none leftover on the night.

The hall looked really nice with decorated tables and fairy lights strung up. And a little Christmas tree by the door. The food was plentiful and delicious. It was a lovely dinner and a great crowd, over 70 people arrived, but there was enough food to feed an army :) The place was buzzing.

We'd had a red weather alert not long before we left and the rain started as we were leaving home for the dinner and it stopped about 2 hours ago. So it poured for about 42 hours. We weren't affected apart from a little surface flooding but others weren't so lucky. There were evacuations overnight as properties flooded and to make matters worse a valve failed at the waste treatment station and sewage leaked out into the floodwaters. And needless to say the Silverstream is in flood but hasn't breached the flood banks. Once upon a time I would have walked down to take a photo but you'll have to take my word for it this time :) Florida, you could have some of our rain if you wish.

Our storage box is floating and I'm not sure the lid is fully closed but I'll check that when the weather improves. Too late now anyway :)

*****

And just because I can, daughter Jacqui's cat, Sooty, letting the world know what he thinks:)

 

That's all from me today.

Stay safe and well.

blessings,

Diana

Catching up after a busy week or two

 

Winter has really arrived now that the shortest day is over :) We knew it was winter but it has been fairly mild. Then came the shortest day followed by snow just over the hill from us. A couple of mornings ago it was -8C degrees in Middlemarch, which is just 64kms away and we could certainly feel it. There has been a cold wind blowing since and not a lot of sun. So we just need to rug up and get on with things. (but ya feel it in ya bones).

So, apart from my usual stints in the bookshop, what have I been up to?

Over the last couple of weeks I seem to have spent a lot of time at the eye clinic in at the hospital. I've had to have laser surgery for high eye pressure and that required an eye check followed a few days later by the actual surgery. I had to sit myself down and have a chat to myself as no one had told me anything and I was imagining all sorts of silly things happening. Then I was told I needed cataract surgery as well and that required another visit for pre op. I made sure I asked questions this time. But the silly thing is that each time I went in, even on the surgery day, I was given all the same tests. In fact the nurse and I were on first name terms, she was a lovely smiling Rachel. I'm still awaiting a date for the cataract surgery, probably up to three months away. Enough! Except to say getting older is not for the faint hearted :) 

This coming week will be busy as well. Bob has his birthday on Monday and we're going out for lunch with the girls. Just up to Kades Restaurant at the local tavern, so not too far to go. But we're looking forward to it :) Apart from anything else it's always good to catch up with family.

Then I am cooking for Friday Light again this week as well but that is an easy one pot meal. Sausages or mince depending on what is in their freezer and I decide what to make with it. So that is not too onerous.

Saturday is our church midwinter Christmas dinner and outreach. We have six interns from our mother church doing evangelistic work in the community this week and it will end with the dinner. As I've invited two people who are gluten intolerant I thought I should volunteer to make a gf dessert. I'll make a banoffee trifle which I've only made once before so I hope it'll be okay. I've still to bake the cake for the base but will do that about Tuesday. That's the plan anyway :)

Then when we are at home there is all the sport on telly. I'm never sure what we'll be watching, if I leave the room and the football (soccer) is on I could come back to the cricket or the darts or even the netball. Never a dull moment :)

That's all from me.

See you next time,

blessings, 

Diana

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 😂

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

A quick round up.

Last Saturday we flew out of Dunedin to Auckland on the first leg of our trip to see the family in Australia. Our youngest grand daughter and her husband took us to the airport and sat and had a coffee with us while we waited. It was a nice time.

 Aaron and Sofi met us in Auckland and we had a nice relaxed evening catching up on the news. On Sunday we all attended the church Aaron is pastoring. The congregation is small but welcoming and consists mostly of pacific islanders. Below is a picture of a tapa cloth on the wall. Tapa cloth is highly valued in the pacific communities and traditionally represented a woman's wealth. It is made from beaten bark.

After church we went out to Maraetai Beach for the afternoon. It was a really pleasant day and we enjoyed being able to sit there in the sun and watch everyone enjoying themselves, swimming no less. 

We had hot chips for a snack with a hot cuppa. 

And just as we thought we were going home Sofi thought it would be nice to show us Sylvia Park Mall, which is the largest one in the country. So we strolled around there for an hour or so and some of us spent money and some of us didn't :) It was a long day.

On Monday we did a trip down to Cambridge to visit our grandson who has a 'retro and collectibles' shop there. AMPERSAND is what he calls it. It wasn't open but he took us in to have a look...

...after which we all went for lunch and then strolled down to the local museum for a browse.

Below is a mosaic on the footpath. 

Cambridge is the main horse racing stud area of New Zealand. This is one of the horses, 'Mainbrace', very famous in its day.

Next day was a rest day :) it had been very busy then on Wednesday we flew to Aussie. Below is Bob coming out of the chair lift from the plane at our final destination - Mackay.

I'll leave you there until next time. 

Have a lovely week,

Keep well and enjoy yourselves,

Diana

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

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