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

Rainbow

 A few days ago I woke to a lovely orange/gold light shining through the window. I went through to the lounge and opened the drapes to be confronted by a magnificent rainbow. It was a beautiful full arch over the southern sky just as the sun was coming up.

 

This is all I could get on my phone camera and it doesn't 

look like much. Too much 'stuff' in the way. 

Then the phone pinged. Vanessa sent this pic through to the family chat page - taken from her workplace.

Then the phone pinged again. This time granddaughter 

shared a pic - taken on her way to work. 

And this is another one of Vanessa's. Saddle Hill bathed in light overarched by the rainbow. I live the other side of the hill.

 

For me the rainbow brought to mind a verse from pslams,

The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19 v 2. 

And the story of the rainbow after the flood in Genesis where God promised never to flood the earth again and put a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of his promise.

 ***************

Thank you for your concern about my friend who I told you about in my last post. She is home now after spending five days in hospital. Still in her own home as she has a few ongoing hospital and clinic appointments to go too but we are all hoping she will head down to her daughter's place for a week or two of rest and recuperation once they are over.

***************

Take care

Diana.

Mission accomplished

I am not arty or crafty so when youngest granddaughter gave me a Diamond Art picture a couple of years ago it really challenged me.

Why? You may ask.

Because it was a kit and I had to make it myself.

I would sit of a winters afternoon and take it out, look at it and put it away again. It is only 4x6 inches but it scared me. What if I did it wrong and spoilt it?

But this winter I bit the bullet and started on it. And guess what? I actually enjoyed doing it. It is now framed and sitting where my granddaughter can see it next time she comes over :)

So, mission accomplished :)

Enjoy the rest of the week.

See you next time :)

Diana

 

Queen's Birthday Weekend 2019

Well that was a weekend and a half...but we got through it :)

Queen's Birthday Weekend happens in June, and you guessed it, we commemorate the Queen's birthday. A long weekend, Friday through until Monday.

*************

It started off with our expectant mother going into labour late on Thursday and giving birth to a lusty son on Friday via emergency C section. He weighed in at 9lb 1oz and is named Arlo. We haven't been to see him yet as, although he is doing well, mother is a bit overwhelmed and isn't up to visitors. So we'll put it off for a few days and go when she's ready. Sorry no photo's, you'll have to take my word for it that he's a good lookin' dude!

*************

On Friday night I helped my daughter decorate the church hall for a baby shower. Yes, we have another little person joining the family in August :) A little girl this time. So it was a pink theme.

Very traditional.

Chloe lives in the North Island. She came down for the holiday weekend so her Mum decided a shower would be nice for her,

and for her old girlfriends.

She was given some beautiful gifts, the girls and the family did her proud :) Someone was even thoughtful enough to give her a big pink fluffy dressing gown for herself.

Her aunties and grandma's provided most of the afternoon

 tea and it was a lovely spread. It was also very cold with snow threatening which is why we are all dressed in our winter woolies.

We managed to get a photo of Chloe with all the grandma's.

Left to right we have two great grandma's, grandma, mum to be, grandma and great grandma.

As you can see we decorated with little baby outfits and dresses - from back when my girls were babies and toddlers.

I didn't know they had kept them.

 The only trouble with decorating is that it all needs undoing but the young girls all stayed behind and helped. I thought that was a really nice gesture.

*************

Now it's Tuesday evening and I've spent the day away at

the funeral of a friend. He was only in his late 60's

 and his death was unexpected. But it was a joyful funeral,

he had a deep faith and has gone home to be with his Lord.

As I said, it's been quite a weekend, but we got there.

So, have a good week folks,

until next time,

Diana

A lazy tea

It's been a busy day today. Housework in the morning

and down to the shops this afternoon followed by a visit

from eldest daughter and still pregnant granddaughter.

She was due six days ago but I think

he is nice and warm and cosy where he is

 and knows it's winter out here :)

ready to go under the grill

So it was a lazy tea tonight.

We had cheese rolls - a southern specialty.

People have their own secret recipes

and they are a popular school fundraiser.

ready to turn

A cheese mixture rolled in bread, brown or white.

We prefer white. We often pair them up with a cup of soup.

Cold day comfort food.

ready to eat

Youngest sister ordered two large cheese roll whilst

out for lunch one day, not realizing large ones

 were made from a caterers loaf. She hadn't

had one since she moved to Australia nearly

thirty years ago.

hamming it up on holiday.

Have a good weekend

Diana