ANZAC Day 2018

Lest we forget

Fluffybum aka Mischief

Back in 2014 I did a post about the wee kittens that a wild mama had been bringing to a neighbours house to be fed. All of them were finally rehoused except the mama and this wee one at the back. I called him Fluffybum. He was a cutie. This year we finally managed to trap the mama, and both of her litters, and she has been desexed, inoculated and is back in the neighbours yard. The kittens are in the process of being rehoused.

Fluffybum, now known as Mischief, is still about. He has been adopted by the neighbours and now only has three legs after being hit by a car while playing on the road. He is quite timid still, but you wouldn't think so he way he is staring me down in this next photo.

A nice late afternoon snap, I thought.

Bellview Wetlands

Back in December eldest daughter held her 50th birthday party at Bellview Wetlands in Lawrence. The wetlands are still being developed and there are walking tracks, picnic areas and a barbecue area for people to enjoy. There are also some old buildings being restored but we never got photos of them although you can see some of them in the background of some of the photos. A lovely relaxing place to visit.

 I'll let the pictures do the talking. Enjoy :)

And to finish off, some of the party goers feeding

the eels in one of the ponds :)

joining Debbie for

friday foto friends

A lazy day

Hello again, I am trying to get back to blogging but it has been a bit of a struggle to tell the truth. But today I find I have an evening to myself so thought I'd sit and do a bit of a post.

My GKB and I have had a lazy day in that neither of us had to be  anywhere apart from morning tea with youngest daughter. She rang last night to see if we wanted to go over to her new workplace for a coffee. It is a new café on a sports field and hasn't officially opened yet but the workers were invited to come and bring family and friends so the staff could have a practice on us while they learnt their new skills. Most of the café staff are students and for a lot of them this is their first job. So of course we went over and let them practice. A nice morning out :) Took my camera, forgot to take photos :(

On the way home we called in to see our number one son and he gave us a bag of silver beet fresh from the garden and we gave him some ciabatta and sourdough. Then eldest daughter arrived home at lunchtime with a big box of fresh vegetables, a couple of bunches of grapes and a pottle of blackberries all harvested in the last day or so. Feeling blessed and spoilt.

April has been quite mild so far and so after lunch we decided to do some work in the garden, tidying up a bit before the winter comes. I got into the garden around the back and my GKB got the lawn mower going. It was nice and relaxing and the yard is starting to look much tidier - it has been a hot summer and not very  pleasant for working outside.

I've had a birthday as well, while my little sister was here. We had a family gathering at lunch time at a restaurant in town. Lunch time is better for my little mother, she still gets a bit tired so we need to watch out for her. We took photos but unfortunately we posed in front of the big front window which let in too much light. Then when we looked at it later we realised the teenage boys had disappeared to different part of the restaurant and we didn't have any pics of them. Boys :)

And that's it for tonight. I'm off to make a cup of tea and settle down to watch the Commonwealth Games on TV.

Have a good week,

Diana

Trying to catch up with myself

     It's been busy since Christmas what with my brother and his family and then two of my sisters arriving for holidays from Australia. Don't get me wrong though, it's been a fun busy time and I've enjoyed seeing everyone :)
     I've also been to a conference in Auckland and now find I'm "trying to catch up with myself". I had an opportunity one afternoon to go up to the viewing platform on the Sky Tower, so here are a few snaps taken that day.




Looking toward the harbor viaduct

from the bridge over to the tower.



The tower from the same bridge.

Part of Auckland Harbour from the viewing platform.

I managed to put my toes on the glass floor

 long enough for a photograph.

 That was long enough, then I was back to the

more solid looking area.

When we got back to street level there was a

Pacifica dance group performing.

A nice finish to the tower visit :)

I'll see you again when I can :)
Diana

Odds and ends

Just a few words and pictures to catch up with everyone.

First I've been locked out of Google for a few days but

 number one son now has me up and running again.

Middle sis has been over from Aussie and is now away home again. She likes a busy holiday so that's what we have been - busy.

Amongst other things we have been to the Chinese Gardens to see a Chinese opera.

We have visited family, eaten meals together

 and then relaxed and just enjoyed each others company.

We've gone for drives and ended up drinking tea,

coffee and hot chocolates after eating more food.

Some of the places we went had some fun décor as well.

And on top of that we have had our roof repaired.

We lost some of the ridge iron during a storm last winter

and have been waiting for about 5 months to have

 the whole roof repaired. It was finished the day before

another torrential storm hit us - phew :)

And now I am preparing for my youngest sister to arrive.

Also from Australia but that is not for a week or two yet.

So some breathing space :)

Stinky plant

My brother has been over from Aussie and is away again. Middle sister arrived the following day so it has been a bit of a busy time. This morning we, sis, youngest daughter and I, went in to the Dunedin Botanic Gardens to view the Corpse Plant as it is commonly called. It's botanical name is Amorphophallus titanum. We weren't sure that we would see it before it collapsed as it has already been open for two days but we were in luck. It was closing when we saw it and was past it's best and the stink had dissipated somewhat. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not as I would have liked to experience the whole shebang, stinking or not. Another time maybe.

This way.

Sis (in pink) talking to an attendant.

Corpse plant

or Amorphophallus titanum.

We have also been to a Chinese opera 

but I'll tell you about that another time.

Until next time,

Diana