Looking back on the week

 We had a day in town this week mainly because I had to take my phone in to be looked at. It's been going very slow and even telling me I had no internet connection when I was sitting in my own house. Anyway I'm hoping it's fixed now but to be honest I'm not sure. And the young fellow in the shop was not very forthcoming. I found out more when Bob went into another shop, we're with different companies, and I may change over when I have to update my phone one day.

Still it was good to have a wander and buy one or two things we need to take away on holiday with us. After we'd finished we went to our favourite cafe for lunch. Arrived just before the rush, by the time we left it was full. 

 We catch the bus in these days, it saves trying to get a park somewhere, the parking buildings are often already full. And it's amazing what you see from the bus, being higher up, that you miss when sitting in the car.

I've been in the shop as well but it has been very slow lately. I think in part because of the weather, it's been very cold and miserable, but also because of the economy. People are not buying a lot of books these days, we do great sales in greeting cards though :) But today it was a little different, I had two authors ring and enquire how their books were going. Quite exciting having a little chat to them.

I mentioned how cold it's been, again, and the picture above is what we woke to this morning. Thick fog which turned into freezing rain about midday. A lot of flights were delayed today, the airport is a few kilometres further down the plain than us. I just hope it doesn't happen on Saturday when we're due to fly out. Youngest grand daughter is taking us to the airport.

And a montage of my great grands with the quilts my sister made them and sent over from Aussie. Amazingly they all arrived on the same day and there were some excited little people ripping open parcels. She personalized them to what the three older kids are into and made up a lovely colorful one for the toddler.

And just because I can.

I was using a public rest room when I spotted these unusual tiles on the walls. I found them quite fascinating. Some of the chemical elements on the periodic table. I would have taken more photos but people were starting to look at me funny :)

Top left S 16 - sulfur.

Bottom right Sc 21 - scandium.

And that's it from me. 

Next time I post I'll be in Auckland or Mackay. See you then. 

Diana

Camp Waihola

On a nice mild Friday afternoon recently I packed my overnight bag and drove down to Camp Waihola, well my GKB drove me. We picked up a 12 year old on the way and rendezvoused with the rest of the youth group at the camp, along with
the kids from Balclutha.

 

kitchen and lodge

 

My GKB left me there, he is not quite sure what the attraction is in wanting to spend any great length of time with thirty or so young teenagers. He picked me up the next day when I swapped over with one of our other leaders. It is only 20 minutes drive from home so not too far to do the trip twice.

 

 

early sunrise

 

The camp is set in farmland and there is a lake is on the other side of the state highway, which we didn't go to. In the photo above you might be able to see the fog rising from the lake in the distance. (The lake and the highway are hidden behind the hills).

 

early morning fog

 

This photo is taken to the right of the one above, more early morning fog, it burnt off very quickly and by the time we'd had breakfast it was a lovely sunny morning

 

 

informal game of touch rugby

 

Some of the kids played a game of touch while they waited for the first organised session to start, while others cleaned up the dining room and did the chores - there's always those chores to do.

I went for a bit of a walk, touch rugby is definitely not my 'thing'.

 

 

 

Past the playground for the little ones - we had some young families with us as well, their parents helped in one way or another.

 

 

 

Past some ponies in the top paddock...

 

...and in a paddock further down the hill, a very pregnant ewe and another one with triplets,

you can just see the leg of the third one on the other side of her if you look hard...

 

 

They all seemed to have more than one baby to look after.

 

pie fight

 

We had thirty plus very energetic bigger kids to care for...and one of them, a 2 year old, picked a daisy and gave it to me. No stem , just the flower. Cute.

 

very blurry daisy.

All in all it was a good weekend and the kids enjoyed themselves. A lot of fun had by all.

 

I felt great while I was there but as soon as I got home and sat down in my own nice comfortable easy chair I felt extremely tired - I wonder why?

 

 

Diana