A cluster of birthdays.

 We've had a little cluster of family birthdays.

On Tuesday I went out for brunch with some of my favourite people to celebrate my birthday. I rang the girls and invited them. Vanessa was working and couldn't make it but Bob, Jacqui and I went and enjoyed a relaxed couple of hours together.

Jacqui arrived with flowers from her garden.

Bob and I both ordered pancakes with berry compote and maple syrup, it was very yum. Jacqui is gluten sensitive so had to get something a bit more boring but she didn't complain.

When we'd finished the waitress brought a little carrot cake out with a candle on it which was a nice surprise. And a doggy bag just in case.

Wednesday was Amy's birthday, a great niece. She turned 17. She's in the North Island and we don't see the family much but her grandparents went up to celebrate with her.

Then came Thursday and wee Theo turned two. We'll take his present over sometime in the weekend.  We've seen photos and videos and it looked like he had a lot of fun. He had cake as well and of course two candles to blow out :)

Most of our birthdays seem to fall in the few months either side of Christmas with just a few scattered throughout the rest of the year. I don't think we have any for a month or so now.

And that is all my news for just now.

Keep well and safe until next time,

Diana

Random stuff

It's an awful  day outside today, winter decided to let us know she hasn't quite finished with us yet. We were going to head over to the Rotary book sale at Wingatui but decided to just hunker down for the day. It's on for another couple of days so we have time to get there before it finishes. So I thought I'd just do a bit of a random post and keep in touch.

First of all let me tell you I was really surprised to arrive back at the bookshop after my holiday and discover some of our Christmas stock was already on the shelves! Not only Christmas cards but books, tote bags, nativity sets and decorations! I know it's only three months until Christmas but...

We don't have any fruit trees on our property but the neighbours feijoas overhang our drive which gives easier access to the bio security officers when they come round to monitor them for pests. We get a nice thankyou note and a card from them at Christmastime. This is one of the officers doing an inspection below.

Youngest daughter has had a birthday so we bought her a nice crystal flower. It didn't have a box when i picked it up so  asked the young fellow behind the counter if there was one with it. I'm sure there should be. It will have been stored away from the display area.

This is what he came back and gave me! I just grinned and said I'd make it work but I'm sure there is now a stray box lurking in a storage area somewhere!

Halloween is on display in the shops. Some of the stuff is nicer than others. I liked these friendly looking pumpkins and ghosts but didn't buy anything. We don't get anyone much coming trick or treating but usually have a few treats on hand just in case.

The North Island great grandkids were down for a few days recently but we only saw them briefly at their grandmother's house. They were here for a graduation celebration for the other side of their family. This is a photo of them with one of their southern cousins - you can tell who the southern one is, the kids who are born here don't seem to feel the cold :)

And because i haven't really done a springtime post I thought I do a couple of collages of some of the photos I've taken around town in the last week or so.

Mosgiel is very pretty in the springtime with the blossoms in full bloom and the spring flowers out in the gardens and on the verges.

The daffodils from my last post are on the edge of town.

And that's it from me for another day or two ... or three.

Keep well.

blessings,

Diana

A social week.

We've been in Mackay just over a week and it has been quite a social time. We've caught up with relatives and friends over morning and afternoon teas, a birthday dinner, a meal out one evening and tonight we have a barbecue to go to. We went out to see if we could spot some whales one day but they weren't really  cooperating. Saw some big splashes from the tails but they weren't breaching. Well not while I had the binoculars anyway :)

I'll just post some pictures with a short description if they need it.

I was trying to get a pic of the plovers, there were five in all, but they weren't having any of it either. Sisters  front lawn.

Sis with her son and daughter in law.

Trying to spot whales. Both my sisters and Bob just out of the shot.

The shipping harbour...

...and the marina in Mackay. There's a lot of money tied up here.

Sisters sharing a laugh, that's me on the right.

Another morning out, I liked the way they presented the sandwiches.

Morning tea at a friend's house. We knew them in New Zealand and he is a rally car driver. 

He took both Bob and I for a spin in one of his cars, very exhilarating. And noisy :)

A short clip of our ride.

And last night we had another couple of family members arrive for a few days. So it will be nice getting to know them. They're from further south and we'd never met them until now.

And until next time,

enjoy your week,

blessings

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

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

A couple of birthdays, a cyclone and orcas

A couple of birthdays seventy six years apart. 

Well that's our age difference. Young Theo turned one on Wednesday and I had my 77th birthday a couple of days before. 

Theo had a wonderful day, he woke to a room full of balloons and birthday presents from his Mum.

And after his Dad picked him up from daycare he came to his Granma's house for smash cake and more birthday presents. He's so loved by his rellies, inlaws and outlaws. There's an awful lot of us.

Smash cake, in case you're not familiar with it, is a sponge cake covered in cream or ganache which is just for baby to smash and play in. In this case leftovers went to Sassy, the dog, who thoroughly enjoyed it. There's generally other cake for other people:) He, Theo,  had lots of fun :)

 

Mum picked him up about 6pm and he went home for a party with Mum's family where he had a Micky Mouse cake - and of course more presents. I think he would have been a tired wee boy by the time bedtime came and I'll bet he slept well.

Diana had a much quieter day but still enjoyable. My friend Carol rang the evening before to see if anyone was taking me out to lunch and if not could she? So I said yes and we went up to Blend for a very pleasant lunch and chat before she had to head off to her exercise class. We had hoped to sit out in the garden area but the weather didnt cooperate.

In the afternoon Vanessa came over and fed my sweet tooth. She brought coconut ice and chocolate. The coconut ice is gone but the chocolate is still there. I try to limit my sugar intake these days or I may have to join Carol's class :) Maybe I should anyway, hmm.

In the evening we went over to Aaron and Sofi's home for a lovely roast dinner and they sent us home with all the leftovers which was enough for another meal each! They also gave me a voucher for one of the clothing shops here in town and a lovely card. 

My GKB and I are going out for lunch tomorrow which I'm quite looking forward to. At the Grange. My GKB hasn't been there before so a new experience for him.

image courtesy Bureau of Meteorology Australia

We've been watching Cyclone Alfred with interest. It's off the east coast of southern Queensland today and due to make landfall in the next 24 hours. It's fifty years since they've had a cyclone in the area. I have a friend and a cousin in the Brisbane/Gold Coast area so praying they're not too badly affected. When we first started watching it was off the coast of Mackay in north Queensland and we have quite a number of family members there so were quite relieved when it changed track and started heading south. Now it's just a matter of watching and waiting.

And something totally different - we have had orcas in the harbour! An adult male and a calf apparently. How exciting is that? I wish I'd seen them but have only seen photo's and video on facebook :(

And on that note I will finish.

Have a good week and keep well until next time.

Diana

Round up time

It's a long time since I've been here or even visited anyone so I thought I'd take time to do a bit of a roundup of the past month or so.

I hope you don't get too bored while I catch you up :)

It's been a busy time since the end of October. At the end of the month my sister in law celebrated her 84th birthday and then the following weekend she and her husband celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Only half their family were able to make it to their celebration dinner but the whole bridal party were in attendance. Unfortunately no one got a photo of them together. We all had an enjoyable evening together - and the waiter was a robot :)

Family at 60th wedding anniversary dinner.

I've already shared about clearing out the two spare bedrooms and then before we knew it it was time to head to the airport to pick up my sister who was arriving from Australia. Grandson arrived the following morning on the redeye flight and was picked up by his aunty, she was already up and had been at work so volunteered.

It was a busy few days with sis wanting to catch up on all the family so we had lots of visits, coffees and meals out.

On the morning the day before the wedding Grandson rang his sister, the bride, to have a chat. She was in a bit of a fluster trying to get the venue set up with only a couple of others helping her so we all piled in the car and went over to help. It looked lovely by the time we had finished, even if some of us had no idea how to tie a bow. I just pretended I was tying a bow in a little girls sash.

Then it was back to the house to finish blowing up balloons to take round to decorate the newlyweds house and bedroom. Someone decided it would be a nice idea to put red balloons, petals and chocolates in their room to surprise them when they arrived back after the wedding. I think they enjoyed it :) I hope so.

I'd like to say the wedding day dawned sunny and warm but no. It was fine but no sun and a very cold wind. The bride's dress was backless, sleeveless and beautiful and she must have been frozen as it was an outdoor wedding. The venue was lovely but to be honest I was hoping they'd move it indoors. We weren't the only ones who went home between the ceremony and the reception to have a warm drink. Caitlin was given away by her paternal grandfather, he looked so proud. Her father had passed away when she was just 13 years old. It was good to catch up with them again.

proud Grandad and Granma with Caitlin

The reception was fun, it was only a small wedding and most people knew each other. Round tables and family groups.

The next day we were all invited to a barbecue lunch at Caitlin and Brayden's. It was also a chance for the kids to come as well, they hadn't been invited to the wedding. We spent a relaxing couple of hours chatting, playing with the kids, they had outdoor games set out for them and catching up again.

Then it was home for a freshen up and out again for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in town with our son and his wife. We were celebrating his 50th birthday. Just them, his sisters, their husbands,  his aunty and us. A lovely immediate family time. 

We'd spent part of Friday wrapping little parcels - 50 silly presents for 50 years. It was a lot of fun watching him open them all.

And I've also had a Christmas/end of year function to attend where the food was delicious and we sang Christmas carols accompanied by the harp. So unusual and lovely.

And after all that Sis got back home and discovered she had covid. Youngest daughter and I are currently recovering and my GKB has come down with it. Wonder if we picked it up at the wedding? Who knows. We were out and about a lot that week.

So, I hope you haven't been too bored - if you got this far.

Keep well and enjoy this Advent season.

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