A Christmas lunch

Today the volunteers with husbands and wives and friends from the bookshop went out for our annual pre Xmas lunch. I'd like to say it was an enjoyable time but apart from the company it was not!

Twenty minutes to heat a loaded potato and some of the meals were already off the menu and it was only 12:30pm.

 Our table was situated under a fan and the air con and it was cold. One couple stayed long enough to eat and then left. We had asked for the air con to be adjusted or, preferably, turned off but the staff member didn't seem able to do either! But on the plus side, I still got to enjoy my cup of tea from a pretty bone china tea cup. (And no, that is not a rather large insect in my tea, it's part of the pattern on the inside of the cup). 💗

We all left with a small gift and mine was a small

 hand held wooden cross.

There were some nice Christmas decorations

 and below is the tree in the foyer...

...and the wreath 

just down the hall from it.

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And just because I can - Caitlin and Brayden with their triplets :)

 

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Peace be with you this Advent season.

Diana

'Tis 2019

First of all let me wish everyone a belated New Year.

How did you celebrate? Did you celebrate?

We didn't. We had our grandson staying

so thought we might at least sit up until midnight

 but he scooted off to bed about 10:30pm

and so we went not long after.

It still happened without us :)

We were a bit spoilt on New Year's day, a friend invited

 us out to lunch and we had a very enjoyable catch up

 with her at one of the hotels a couple of suburbs over.

That evening we were also invited to our son's home for the evening meal. We had a delicious cold meal, summer noodles, followed by icecream with a passionfruit sauce over it.

This was all finished off with rose petal tea

(coffee for my GKB) served in beautifully fine

 porcelain tea cups. So delicate. In the bottom

of the cup was an image in the porcelain of the

head of a Japanese lady. I think you'll see it

if you look closely at the picture below.

We all headed to the beach afterwards, next time

I'll take my swimming togs. It was a beautiful

 evening and the water wasn't too cold. Some of

us paddled, one of us decided the water was

too cold and another one guarded the cardigans,

cell phones etc. We headed home about 8:30pm.

After grandson headed back up to Christchurch

 we had a day or two just relaxing and then Sassy

arrived to stay for a couple of nights. She's missing

her family but once she realized we were actually

going to feed her and take her for walks she perked up.

She has been good and it's been fun having a dog again

 for a little while. We were out early for our walk this

morning as the forecast was for warm temps during

 the day, it's 31C at present. Unless it cools off somewhat

 she may miss out on her evening jaunt :)

And that has been our first week of 2019.

I hope yours has been just as relaxing.

Diana

joining Deb today for

Friday foto friends

Tea and tea

To answer some queries regarding tea, from this New Zealander's point of view - most, but not all, of my generation's ancestors came from Britain so we enjoy morning and afternoon tea (also known as smoko in the workplace). And supper, which is not tea or dinner.

Morning tea  is usually mid morning, a cup of tea (or coffee these days) and perhaps a plain biscuit. 

morning tea

Afternoon tea is slightly fancier in that we might have cake as well as a biscuit with our cup of tea, served on a nice plate. Or maybe it will be a scone or something similar. My mother in law was very disapproving of someone taking a fancy biscuit or cake to eat if they hadn't first had a plain one! Good manners also dictated that you only had two biscuits. I'm not sure we stick to that any more. Afternoon tea is about halfway between lunch and the evening meal, sometimes as late as 4 o'clock. 

afternoon tea

Tea is also our main meal in the evening, usually followed by a cup of tea. Some people are now calling this dinner but when I was growing up dinner was a hot meal in the middle of the day and the evening meal that day would be a light one, still called tea. Followed by a cup of tea of course :) 

tea, the evening meal

Then later in the evening we have supper, another cup of tea and a biscuit before heading off to bed. As someone said, New Zealanders have 6 meals a day if you count all the 'teas'.

supper

I hope all the different 'teas' haven't confused you, and I haven't even mentioned high tea or Devonshire tea yet. Maybe another day :)

And just for fun:

Seen in a tea rooms when I was on holiday a year ago.

Have a good refreshing week.

Diana

Lunch in Outram

It was a beautiful spring day and as life has been a tad busy lately we decided to head over to Outram for a bite of lunch. It seems everyone else had the same idea but we managed to get a little table outside and dined al fresco.

That's my GKB sitting under the hanging basket on the left.

I had a cinnamon roll and cup of tea which was served in a lovely Queen Anne rose patterned china teacup. Lovely. It's nice to get your tea served in one of these dainty cups when you're out.

One of the reasons we decided on Outram was that we wanted to get some photos of the blossoms and daffodils. And although it is country it's only 10 minutes drive from home.

The pink and white blossom is really beautiful and we could hear the tuis calling to each other as they fed. I have more photos and will put some up next week if I get the chance. 

We had parked in the gateway to a farm road and it is absolutely beautiful. Either side of the driveway is absolutely smothered in daffodils. More photos of those as well for next week, so I guess this post is a bit of a tease.

And finally on the other side of the road were the paddocks with the ewes and lambs. Sure signs that spring is here.

I hope you have enjoyed my springtime photos.

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Thank you for your concern for my little mother.

She has had a bad year and for someone who is not used to being ill and is very independent she has not coped well. On Monday she had her annual checkup with the heart specialist and on Friday she goes in for tests to ascertain what to do next. She is much happier now she knows something is being done. 

joining:
Five on Friday
Friday foto friends
Teacup Tuesday

Quite a racket...

...from two tiny critters.

Yesterday I had a fairly full afternoon and evening. I had a meeting in the afternoon and this particular one usually ends with enough time for me to head home, organise tea and go out again for an evening meeting. But that's okay, it only happens once a month.

Anyway I was first to arrive for the meeting and knocked on the door and went in when I thought I heard our hostess call out. I definitely heard something :) but not our hostess. I walked in and there was this loud bleat then a loud raucous squeal. I'd forgotten that there was a lorikeet just inside the door and boy did he make me jump.

Next there was a shrill bleat, followed by the lorikeet again and another loud bleat and I thought, "that can't be 'K' unless she's

 got an awfully sore throat." No, she came through the door and was quite okay. Another loud, shrill bleat. "Come and see," she said, "isn't she beautiful?"

And she was. Just a little four day old lamb and she

 was demanding her dinner. 

She came tip tapping over the kitchen floor looking for her surrogate mother, she didn't care who it was as long as she got fed. Don't you love her nappy, it kept her and the house clean.

She was one of a set of triplets and wasn't doing too well 

so was brought into the kitchen and warmed up in the oven

 and was being hand reared. The hawks were hanging around the lambs and we could see one or two of them swooping overhead from where we were sitting. They attack the lambs when the mothers have wandered away to feed.

Between her and our lorikeet mate it was getting rather rowdy inside so our green friend was relegated to the outside to

 enjoy the sun. Then wee Flossy was given her meal. 

We enjoyed watching her run around but she found it a bit 

difficult to keep on her feet on the tiles and was occasionally

 seen spreadeagled on the floor. Needless to say the meeting

 was rather late in starting and by the time we finished off 

with a hot cup of tea it was rather later than usual.

Sorry about the photo quality, they were taken on my old 

cell phone as I didn't have my camera with me

 (and I don't own a smart phone).

joining Amy and friends for 

Five on Friday

although I have used seven photos. 

I hope you don't mind Amy.

Taking five

Five totally unconnected paragraphs but I hope you'll enjoy them.
Joining Amy at Five on Friday

1). Daylight saving finished at the weekend and with it the good weather. Almost overnight. I can't believe it. Even so the temps are still in double figures but 24 C. one day and then talk of snow the next - not my idea of fun. But I am not going to complain as we have been having unseasonably warm weather for this time of the year. It couldn't go on for ever :) It has been a very dry summer and not good for the gardens, even the weeds didn't grow much - but my little mother's sunflowers alongside her garage did. I love this photo of her looking at them looking back at her. It almost looks like they're having a conversation.

2). We've been taking ourselves out for coffee about once a week, my GKB and me. We are not very adventurous when it comes to what we eat and it is usually a case of cheese rolls or scones. I decided to try hot pancakes and maple syrup a few weeks ago, I have wanted to for a while, but I was very disappointed. I won't be ordering them again. These date scones below were very nice though, heated and butter spread on them. I always drink tea or hot chocolate (in winter) and my GKB has discovered that he quite enjoys a flat white, even though they are never hot enough. It was still warm enough to sit outside when this was taken.

 

3). Just over a year ago we were at a family funeral and someone mentioned that it was a shame that we only got together these days at funerals. There are five sets of cousins and some of us haven't seen each other for over forty years. And so because I was retired and on the spot I was elected(?) to organise a reunion of some sort.  So this year I am starting to get into it. We have decided to have a dinner in the town where our grandparents and parents lived and where most of us grew up as well. Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand. It will all take place at Easter 2017  and we are having it in a hotel just around the corner from where I grew up and not far from where some of our cousins lived as well. So far quite a few have shown interest (from Japan, Indonesia and Australia) which is good, as it's a bit daunting in a way to be given the task of bringing it together.

Greymouth CBD

4). My GKB enjoys taking photos and quite often the ones I put up here are his. I love the one below that he took one day while sis and I were walking and he was wandering and waiting. It is very moody I think and the clouds look like the beginning of the Taieri Pet, a cloud formation that appears over the Middlemarch area when certain conditions occur. We never saw the 'Pet' though as it didn't form fully. Anyway I like the starkness of the tree against the cloud and sky.

5). I've been feeling a bit tired lately, I think it's the start of year activity beginning to catch up with me. We have been really busy since Christmas with visits from two of my sisters and two of my nieces and their little ones. We have walked quite a bit on the rail trail and there have been one or two other functions happening as well. And I have thoroughly enjoyed it all. But...I think I need a bit of a rest because my brain doesn't seem to be functioning as it should. Blow it. So if I don't post quite so often in the next little while you'll know why. 



Maybe I'll just be away a few days or a week or two but I will check in occasionally to see what everyone is up to. 
Life is very busy at the moment :)

joining Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

and Amy at:

Five on Friday

with love, 

Diana

Books, veges and other stuff...

Well it has been one of those weeks where I seem to have been busy but couldn't tell you what I've been doing. So please, take a load off your feet, make yourself a cuppa and take five minutes and I'll see what I come up with.

What I can tell you is that I have completed my first book in the reading challenge I'm taking part in. I wrote about it here. I quite enjoyed it even though it was a study resource - '30 Days to Understanding Church History' by Max E. Anders and Judith A. Lunsford.

It was easy to read and understand, chapters were short and there was a test at the end of each chapter. I've started another one which I think will take the rest of the year, I've been reading it on and off for about 20 years and only got to the end of Chap. 1 this week so I'll read others in conjunction with it. One day I might even tell you what it is :) I definitely will if I ever finish it!

Today was Shrove Tuesday so we had a pancake morning tea at church this morning. My GKB was coming but missed out because he has come down with a cold and is a bit miserable with it. There was quite a good turnout and we had the vicar and one of the ladies making the pancakes. I had mine with maple syrup. Yum. Some kind people had brought produce from their gardens to share so I came home with rhubarb and a courgette. Actually it is a bit big for a courgette but not quite big enough to be a marrow.

 I'm sure it will still be tasty.

Quite a while ago I said I would show you some of my 

demitasse teacups.These are more that my GKB 

used to bring home for me on a Friday night after work 

when we were first married. They are rather dainty

 and pretty and are stamped with

fine china, Japan.

Aren't they gorgeous? Very feminine.

I love the gold trim on them.

And of course it is Chinese New Year, the Year of the Monkey.

In fact it is the year of the Fire Monkey.

This big celestial dragon was in one of the city malls when we went in on Monday. Sorry the photo's are not clear, it was behind glass and the mall lights were reflected in it. Unfortunately the Lion Dance wasn't taking place until 7pm and we didn't want to hang around for another four hours so headed home. 

A close up of the dragon, if you look closely you will see that he has caught the 'sun' and is holding it in his mouth. I'm not sure whether that bodes well or not.

joining Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

and Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

And also with Amy at:

Five on Friday

Wishing you all a 
Happy and Prosperous 
year of the monkey.
Diana

Coffee mugs and teacups

Coffee mugs - I love them.

The trouble is I have had the same ones 

for years, the blinking things won't break!

And my sis and my SIL have both said

 the same thing to me since Christmas.

They won't break! 

So when I saw these ones in the 

Warehouse I decided to buy them regardless.

They are thick glass but I think they are fun.

Good for every day use.

And then I pulled these ones out. 

I have had them for years, my youngest

 daughter gave me four of them several years ago.

Of course you'll probably recognise them

 as Avon breast cancer fundraisers.

Really nice to drink out of, quite fine china.

This pretty pair came from Korea. 

My son brought them home after he had been

 in Seoul on a three month mission stint.

They are Hankook Fine Bone China.

I've only had them on display so far

but they are nice and fine as well

 - and don't you just love the delicate pattern?

Now I just love the rich autumn colours in this

 beautiful pair. The photo really doesn't do 

them justice.They were a gift from my DIL 

the first time she came over from Japan.

It has a rather ornate stamp on the bottom 

ringed with the words BEST HOME PORCELAIN.

Eldest daughter is a tea drinker,

 I may just get them out next time she's over :)

And she's the one who gifted us these two coffee mugs.

First to come along was the big mauve one - it says:

my Mum can make the smile 

on my face come straight from my heart.

Nice sentiments you say. 

But then a little later she gave her Dad the one that says:

I don't need Google, my wife knows everything.

Mixed messages from the cheeky child, haha.

 Now you might be wondering what I did 

with all the old coffee mugs - well they have 

been cleared out of the cupboard, cleaned up 

and will be taken to the op shop 

the next time we head down there.

joining Amy at:

Five on Friday

and Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

Keep well until next time,
Diana

Spring in my town...

I went out and took one or two photos today

 around the town I live in.

Spring has arrived and I will not say any more except

some were taken in public places and others in private yards.

The camellias are at my little mother's place and I love them.

camellia

daffodils and snowdrops

flowering cherry, pear and magnolia

hedges and edges

planter box

I hope you enjoyed the spring flowers as much as I do.

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Seeing as it is spring I thought I would show you these 

pretty Colclough tea cups, saucers and plates. 

They are the same colours as some of the spring flowers.

This is the set my little mother gave me, I had coveted it for years. As you can see it has several pieces missing and so I am 

on the lookout for replacement pieces. 

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This week I am joining Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

and Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

See you next week.

Take care until then, 

Diana