Tuesday 4

 I thought I would join in with Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 this week as not a lot has been happening in my life - and I'm quite happy with that state of affairs after the last few weeks :) So I've just copied and pasted the questions but if there is a better way let me know.

Staying Put/Moving On

Welcome back to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Sometimes we live in the same place where we were born and remain there all of our lives.

Sometimes we move away and never come back because of jobs, marriage, circumstances of all kinds.

Sometimes we choose where we will live and we have definite reasons for staying there even though we might be far from family.

1. Are you far from family and if so why? Would you like to have them closer and have you discussed that with them? 

I live within a 10 minute drive from one daughter and 15 minutes from the other. Our son was 5 minutes away but he has moved north and is now a 2 or 3 hour flight away. But still in the same country so not too far really - close enough not to have to worry about getting there if we need to. But in a city I enjoy and my husband doesn't :) Oh, and we're in New Zealand, so it's provinces not states :)

2. How did you come to live in the state you are in? How about the city/town?

I moved down to Otago to work and was living with my cousin for a while and then an Aunty. Met my husband and we were married and stayed here. We've had a few moves, one down to Southland where two of our kids were born then back to Otago, mostly because of Bob's work. He is Otago born and bred :)

3. What good things keep you living where you are?

What's good about your state and town?

Well It's not the climate although I enjoy the spring and the autumn. The winters are wet, cold and long and these days I find the summers a bit hot. I enjoy being close to the family, we do quite a lot together and always enjoy celebrating milestones of all sorts. Bob's only sister lives about an hour away, on the other side of the city but for us older folk buses are free during off peak hours so if we don't want to drive anywhere we take the bus and meet in the middle. The city is only 10 minutes drive if we want a change of shops but we can get pretty much all we need here. Of course there are art galleries, theatres, museums, parks and some wonderful Victorian architecture. We were a satellite town but are now an outer suburb. The area is flat so good for walking and we have beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers all within easy driving distance.

4. What things might convince you to move to another state or just another town? 

Nothing will convince my hubby to move and really the only thing that would convince me would be if all the kids moved away. Then again I might feel like I'm too old to be moving and making new friends and all the other adjustments that go with a move. I'm a bit of an introvert and am not good at meeting new people or going new places :)

And that's about  it for now. 

Have a good week.

Diana

Mother's Day

 Just wanting to wish all the mothers in blogland a very Happy Mother's Day.

I hope you've all had a lovely relaxed day doing things you enjoy doing with the people closest to you :)

I've had a very lazy day myself and might send my GKB Bob up the street to get curry rice rolls and chips for tea.

I've been feeling tired lately so had a long lie in and then watched our church service on line today. And after lunch both the girls visited at different times, bearing gifts :) I'm so glad they keep them simple. One gave me a nice scented bath bomb and the other a tub of slightly more expensive ice cream than I would normally buy, in a flavour I've never tried. I'm looking forward to trying it. Supper tonight probably, if I can wait that long.

Leaving you there. 

Have a wonderful week.

Keep well.

Diana

Here and there

Well the kids have been here ... and now they're there. 

 It's been quite an emotional few weeks.

And I'm feeling a little blue.

My GKB came home from hospital and the next day was Aaron's ordination. He wasn't able to attend but I went with Jacqui our eldest daughter, our youngest daughter was away visiting her grandchildren for Easter or she'd have been there too. 

Aaron and Sofi after a relaxed but suitably formal service. 

Very proud Mum and sister.

There was a nice celebratory supper put on afterwards.

Aaron called in on his way home and donned his robes so his father could have his photo taken as well which was really thoughtful of him. We appreciated that :)

A couple of days later it was time for our house group to farewell them so we had raspberry chocolate cake before we started our study that evening. Yum. Very rich though.

Then at the weekend the family wanted to have a farewell get together and as Vanessa was home from her visit we gathered at her place. Nothing formal, we had takeaways - fish n chips, Chinese and pizza so there was something for everyone. Including the wee fellow.  Followed by GF cream puffs :)

Not long after Aaron and Sofi left on their trip north to their new home and appointments in Auckland.

They crossed on the ferry on a beautiful day, after the crossings had been cancelled for three days due to stormy weather. 

Out for a meal with Chloe, Atu and the kids in Palmerston North.

They drove up and stayed with friends and family or called in for coffee and a catchup on the way.

Catching up for coffee with Andrew in Cambridge,

and spending money in his shop before they left.

Then arriving in Auckland to discover their furniture hadn't arrived and was still on the wharf in Picton. I was quite pleased to hear that's where it was as we'd seen containers toppled on the wharf in Wellington due to the winds and hoped theirs wasn't among them.

So they're camping in their new home at the moment. Luckily they'd packed their camping gear in the car in anticipation of their first night being without furniture so are coping okay for now.

So they've been here, and now they're there. Not a five minute drive away but a two hour flight. Sigh.

Hoping everyone is well and enjoying the season, whatever it is. There is always beauty to be found in our surroundings if we only look.

Until next time,

Diana

ANZAC DAY 2025

LEST WE FORGET

Resurrection Sunday

 Death could not hold You! The veil tore before You! You silence the boast of sin & grave! The heavens are roaring the praise of Your glory, for You are raised to life again! You have no rival! You have no equal! Now & forever God You reign! Yours is the Kingdom! Yours is the glory! Yours is the Name above all names! What a powerful name it is! What a powerful name it is! The name of Jesus Christ our King! What a powerful name it is! NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST! What a powerful name it is! The name of JESUS! 

(From “What A Beautiful Name It Is” by Hillsong)

Good Friday

 

 Greatest man in history, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. His name is Jesus.

Taken from Faith Believe fb page

A bit of a fraught week

 Good morning folks. I'm sorry, I've been MIA the past couple of weeks. I was about to sit down and write a post on our visit to a couple of places in The Catlins when my GKB became ill and needed a doctors visit. While there he collapsed and was taken to hospital by ambulance and was quite ill for a few days. He was given several units of blood and had some investigative procedures. After a couple of days, when all seemed well and he was stable he was sent home. Three days at home and we had another ambulance ride. More blood transfusions, more procedures and some medication changes which should help but finally he is home. 

Tonight he is going to watch our son Aaron become fully ordained as a Presbyter before he heads to Auckland. Unfortunately he won't be going to the church to watch, will see it on livestream, but wants me to go in. He said one of us need to be there in person. It's such a shame as Bob is very proud of Aaron but I think he's making the right decision for himself.

Waiting with Jacqui for discharge paperwork. The kind nurse brought us all a hot drink while we waited as Bob had missed the afternoon tea trolley when it arrived. Both the girls were very good with taking me to the hospital and back, it saved the stress of finding car parks, there's never one when you need one and the hospital car park is always full. I'm very grateful to them :)

I'll leave you there. 

Have a good week.

Diana