I have sooo much to do. I am behind on emails, blog, and general indoor stuff (I never did get to the accounts over Labour weekend). I am also trying to get the lawn in front of the cottage re-seeded (still in a mess after I removed a camelia and re-leveled the area, the seed planted last summer got washed away with rain and has not been replaced), have decided I want to paint some bits missed when Harriette’s extension was done (yes I know that was 4 years ago) and am trying to finish the painting in the kitchen that was never finished after that was extended (all needs a 2nd coat etc). I really would like to take some leave (I need it anyway) but am not sure how much leave I have and have to keep a month back for July. We only get 3 weeks leave here (I miss my 5 week UK allocation!). I also have Mom’s 70th birthday next weekend which I am catering for (which of course I am only to pleased to do) and had booked a days leave on Friday but that has been partially swallowed by a leaving lunch for a colleague in Rotorua.
Today we are off to a flights expo in Hamilton where I expect we will book our UK trip so watch this space! Harriette has a busy day, gym followed by swimming with her friends (it’s Kylies birthday), McDonald’s lunch (yuk) to Kylies for the afternoon then stockcar racing in the evening in Tauranga. All good except I have to pick her up in Matamata at 11pm!! Roll on her 15th birthday when she can drive (maybe not, I’ll be worried sick for her). Alice is going to come into Hamilton with us but I will drop her at Juliet and Kev’s so she can spend the time with Emma. J + K moved into their rented house 2 weeks ago and it is great, I can pop in for a coffee frequently as I am out and about in Hamilton between 1 and 3 days a week. They have recovered from their traumas of earlier in the year now and are back on track. Kev is working from home auditing a hotel chain (which obviously means weeks away at a time), Juliet’s pregnancy is going well and the girls are thrilled to be 15 minutes from schools rather than the 1 and ½ hours away as they were before in Glen Murray. Kev pointed out how ironic it was that they are outdoors more now. You buy a rural property to give your kids space for an outdoor life and they live indoors reading on the pooter etc. Move to town and they are out all the time. It’s worth getting the bikes out as there are places to bike to; library, friends round the corner, shops etc. J+K say they never see the girls now.
It looks like a nice weekend so I am hoping that it stays that way so I can blitz the drive tomorrow. I want to make sure there is no fallen branches etc in case Carol decides to light fires!!! She and Milky arrive in 4 weeks and we are all on countdown here! Everyone is very excited.
Oh well, time to get up I suppose. If I am going to be in the garden at the weekends I don’t walk but I don’t have that excuse today so I’d better pull on my walking togs and get going. I MUST buy myself some descent shoes, my trainers are very cheap and aweful!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Champions
Firstly, and mostest important, we won the rugby. Waikato beat Wellington in the final of the NPC. We have only ever won once before way back in the 90’s and we had the semi’s and the final on home turf to boot. It was an exciting game, the Mooloo’s came out all guns blazing and played at a pace that looked unsustainable. There were some silly errors and scrappy play at times but the scrum was solid and the lineouts awesome. Waikato people are passionate supporters of their rugby and this was on full display. I tried, half heartedly I have to say, to get tickets. I say half heartedly as the weather forecast was not good and Helen and Phil had offered to have us over to watch it on their enormous TV. Anyway, the website was not co-operating when I tried to book and I gave up. We had already watched the semi-finals with Helen and Phil as it coincided with a barbi we had already arranged to have at theirs. I took upper with us, Delias Chicken Basque and a crème caramel. Our chook are laying well so eggs will be a feature of our diet for the next few months. Chooks mean lots of pavlovas, lemon meringue pies and home made lemon curd!! Between Robyn and Mom lemons are nearly always in good supply.
I am so pleased with the progress being made in the veg plot. Eric has almost finished the fencing. Although a relatively short bit on fencing in relation to the rest of the block, about 60m in all, it has 2 gates and 4 corners(!), which means lots of strainer posts. Each strainer post means a hole 1.2m deep and we live on the hardest clay you could imagine. He has worked so hard on this and I am really grateful. I do feel a bit bad as I offered several times to help dig holes but then got distracted with my own work in the garden. I have sorted much of irrigation system and started to weed the strawberries, finding hundreds of fruit in there, a few of them already red. Unfortunately the slugs have also found them!! I am so tempted to use slug bait but this goes against all my near-organic principles (I say ‘near organic’ as I’ll use anything to kill the beetles that have decimated my fruit trees in the last few years, and I use week killer on the drive). The broad beans are looking great but I think I should have planted a second row. I put some warratahs in to put the supports through. I had to fight Eric for them as he is very protective of his fencing stuff and always insists his need is greater than mine! The potatoes are looking good as are the first lots of brassicas and beetroot that I put in. The dwarf beans are looking less than healthy, and I need to look up why. I am now putting in the brassicas that I planted in seed trays. We are going to be so over run with cauliflower, broccoli and broccoflower in a few months!!! I put the courgettes in yesterday and when the chooks have finished eating their way through the weeds I’ll get all the pumpkins in. ALL the peas have germinated but we will see if they grow to descent size. I usually produce pathetic sized plants that manage one pea pod each! I bought some aubergine plants yesterday and several different types of basil. I love the smell of basil. I have also been working in the orchard, watering trees for an hour each and clearing the base of the trees. I have been laying the sheep dags around the base to feed and mulch them. Trouble is the bl***y dogs come along and poke their snouts in through the tree guards and drag out the dags to chew on – disgusting creatures. We have marked off a section in the veg plot to make into a fruit plot. This is in addition to what I have as making the whole plot square meant incorporating a section of paddock not already cultivated. I have put black plastic over it at the moment and will till it, edge it and add more topsoil before planting. I put a raspberry plant in the veg plot about 2 years ago which has sent off tens of runners but I am loathe to dig them up and plant them where I want them as they have yet to produce any fruit. I’ll leave them and see what happens this year.
I didn’t mention that it is a public holiday today - hence it is raining!! Oh well at least it means I have been able to write this. With the longer days now I would have been in the garden (at 8.30am). Labour Day weekend is viewed here as the traditional start to summer (so like an August BH in the UK you can almost guarantee rain). I suppose that means I have no excuse for not doing the household accounts and other boring stuff indoors today!
I am so pleased with the progress being made in the veg plot. Eric has almost finished the fencing. Although a relatively short bit on fencing in relation to the rest of the block, about 60m in all, it has 2 gates and 4 corners(!), which means lots of strainer posts. Each strainer post means a hole 1.2m deep and we live on the hardest clay you could imagine. He has worked so hard on this and I am really grateful. I do feel a bit bad as I offered several times to help dig holes but then got distracted with my own work in the garden. I have sorted much of irrigation system and started to weed the strawberries, finding hundreds of fruit in there, a few of them already red. Unfortunately the slugs have also found them!! I am so tempted to use slug bait but this goes against all my near-organic principles (I say ‘near organic’ as I’ll use anything to kill the beetles that have decimated my fruit trees in the last few years, and I use week killer on the drive). The broad beans are looking great but I think I should have planted a second row. I put some warratahs in to put the supports through. I had to fight Eric for them as he is very protective of his fencing stuff and always insists his need is greater than mine! The potatoes are looking good as are the first lots of brassicas and beetroot that I put in. The dwarf beans are looking less than healthy, and I need to look up why. I am now putting in the brassicas that I planted in seed trays. We are going to be so over run with cauliflower, broccoli and broccoflower in a few months!!! I put the courgettes in yesterday and when the chooks have finished eating their way through the weeds I’ll get all the pumpkins in. ALL the peas have germinated but we will see if they grow to descent size. I usually produce pathetic sized plants that manage one pea pod each! I bought some aubergine plants yesterday and several different types of basil. I love the smell of basil. I have also been working in the orchard, watering trees for an hour each and clearing the base of the trees. I have been laying the sheep dags around the base to feed and mulch them. Trouble is the bl***y dogs come along and poke their snouts in through the tree guards and drag out the dags to chew on – disgusting creatures. We have marked off a section in the veg plot to make into a fruit plot. This is in addition to what I have as making the whole plot square meant incorporating a section of paddock not already cultivated. I have put black plastic over it at the moment and will till it, edge it and add more topsoil before planting. I put a raspberry plant in the veg plot about 2 years ago which has sent off tens of runners but I am loathe to dig them up and plant them where I want them as they have yet to produce any fruit. I’ll leave them and see what happens this year.
I didn’t mention that it is a public holiday today - hence it is raining!! Oh well at least it means I have been able to write this. With the longer days now I would have been in the garden (at 8.30am). Labour Day weekend is viewed here as the traditional start to summer (so like an August BH in the UK you can almost guarantee rain). I suppose that means I have no excuse for not doing the household accounts and other boring stuff indoors today!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
A lazy Sunday evening after a day in the veg plot. I actually haven't done much, just pottered really, and watch Eric do all the hsrd work. He is currently putting up proper fencing for me. He gets so despondent digging a 4 foot hole only to fill it in again with the strainer post in. I also insisted on a gate (Eric thinks this is totally unreasonable and that I should just climb over a stile) which means 2 extra strainer posts. I did managed to sort out my irrigation system, having found goof plugs which means I can relocate the risers. A lot of them where in the wrong place once I'd moved the tubing. Otherwise I just put in a few seedlings and seeds and started weeding the hug strawberry patch that has been very neglected but seems to be producing more fruit than when I look after it! We had our first feed of broad beans and spinach today, AND the chooks are laying so I am long last feeling productive again. Rebecca came home with Harriette on Thursday having decided to give Waikato band a go again. The last time she was here was when I was in Auckland and they arrived home to find the sheep demolishing the veg plot. As we came up the drive she looked down and said "the veg plot's looking much better Michelle'!!!!!
I have avoided cooking for much of the weekend. On Friday we went to Mom and Daddys for supper. They have an odd room downstairs from their main living area which would make an ideal rumpus room, it is very big. Well they are trying to get it decorated and use it as another spare bedroom as they have 2 sets of visitors next month. Mom's sister is coming over from the UK and an aunt and her husband from Australia for Mom's 70th on 12th November. The decorating has been a long job as the wallpaper has been very reluctant to separate itself from the wall. Still I think they are nearly there.
Last night we went to Helen and Phil's. They had friends over from the UK. Waikato were playing in the semi-finals of the NPC final AND the Silver Ferns were playing their second test against Australia so we ended up watching the TV (at Harriette's begging I hacve to say). Helen and Phil have an obsenely huge screen so it was a real treat. Waikato thrashed Otago 44 - 15 in the rugby which means a home NPC final. We will definately try and get tickets for that. To cap the evening off we won the netball also. On top of that we had a lovely meal and an all round very pleasant evening. Thank you Helen. Helen and friend Vicki came over for a coffee today so Vicki could have a look at where we lived. "Relaxing' was how Vicki seemed to sum up Cedar Lodge!
Well I am going to relax off to my bed now.
I have avoided cooking for much of the weekend. On Friday we went to Mom and Daddys for supper. They have an odd room downstairs from their main living area which would make an ideal rumpus room, it is very big. Well they are trying to get it decorated and use it as another spare bedroom as they have 2 sets of visitors next month. Mom's sister is coming over from the UK and an aunt and her husband from Australia for Mom's 70th on 12th November. The decorating has been a long job as the wallpaper has been very reluctant to separate itself from the wall. Still I think they are nearly there.
Last night we went to Helen and Phil's. They had friends over from the UK. Waikato were playing in the semi-finals of the NPC final AND the Silver Ferns were playing their second test against Australia so we ended up watching the TV (at Harriette's begging I hacve to say). Helen and Phil have an obsenely huge screen so it was a real treat. Waikato thrashed Otago 44 - 15 in the rugby which means a home NPC final. We will definately try and get tickets for that. To cap the evening off we won the netball also. On top of that we had a lovely meal and an all round very pleasant evening. Thank you Helen. Helen and friend Vicki came over for a coffee today so Vicki could have a look at where we lived. "Relaxing' was how Vicki seemed to sum up Cedar Lodge!
Well I am going to relax off to my bed now.
Monday, October 09, 2006
A great weekend with The Jackson's
Our clocks have gone forward, and the temperatures plummetted! It was OK over the weekend but last week it was so chilly I lit the fire again. This weekend was OK but it is blowy and raining now (Mon evening) and there is a bad weather warning for the South Island with 20cm of snow expected down to sea level. For heavens sake, what is the weather coming to? Eric and I got outside when he got home at 5pm today but we gave up when the rain arrived. I must say I am pleased with the progress I am making in the veg plot. I do not have much luck growing peas. I diligently collect twiggy pea sticks to support the plant and put them in when I plant the peas and end up with about 3 scraggy plants in a 20' row. Eric laughed at me today and said 'you're not planting more pea sticks are you' I'll show him. I've planted about 400 plants this time!! The seedlings of broccoli, cauliflower, broccoflower, beans, silverbeet, spinach parsley, coriander etc are doing well and my broad beans look fabulous. Another 3-4 days and I'll pick the first ones I think. (I'm typing this while MSNing Katie, Eric's neice and I obviously can't multi-skill as well as I used to!!). Chooks gave up laying eggs 3 days after they got here but have just come back into lay so as long as they stay that way I will be happy.
Had a very busy few days. Beth, Graham and Luke came down from Auckland for a weekend in the country. They are such good company and we thoroughly enjoyed them being here. Luke (aged 10) loves all the animals and they bought their goergeous shaggy golden retriever Max. He was shampooed for his trip out(at Grahams insistence before he would let him in his car) and rolled in cow poo within 5 minutes of arriving! Actually they got dragged off to the paddocks before they got in the door as, just as they arrived, Eric had spotted a ewe trapped under his trailer and we were just going to release it. Eric had his trailer in a back paddock as it has all his fencing stuff on it. The daft creature had gone under the the towing arm and obviously knocked it. The trailer tipped and trapped her. She must have been their awhile as her back legs took a good few minutes to work once she was freed. Anyway, we finally got Beth and Graham indoors for a sup of tea.
Eric and Graham went to Rotorua to do some fly fishing early on Saturday morning and arrived back just as the rest of us were leaving to go swimming. We had a lovely supper that evening. Huge's aromatic pork belly. It is in his Meat book that Carol gave us and absolutely divine, and sooo simple. I also made bread and butter pudding but when I went to serve it I found we were out of apricot brany and one cannot serve B+B pud without it. Eric was not impressed! We had some pud left over and, after going in 3 liquor stores on Saturday, I managed to find some so he had it on Saturday. Saturday we had a great evening. R+R came round with the girls. The poor Scotts had to suffer Chicken Thighs Normandie again as Beth had particularly requested it (I always seem to be cooking it for the Scotts - and Richard doesn't eat chicken!). We had some pork left over and I served that also but I don't think that appealed to Richard either, not that he's fussy you understand!!!!!! We also had jacket potatoes, Robyns famous potatoe dish, asparagus (the local farm has started selling - hurray. I was beginning to think they had gone out of the asparagus business), broccoli and this new veg I have seen but not tried. Beth bought it down. It is like a bunch of about 30 thin, spring onions but 18" long, straight and garlic flavoured. Does anyone know what they are called? It was very nice. I also made a choclate cheesecake - again and Robyn did a fabulous meringue roulade. We went to bed stuffed!!!
Sunday was a bit of a lie in, a huge breakfast (home made sausage and bacon, our own eggs, home made bread, OK from the bread maker, and brought mushrooms - I can't be fagged to grow them) and then a wander down to the veg plot to discuss with Beth (a keen veg grower despite her hankerchief sized city garden. I'm amazed at what she produces), and then on to my orchard. It was while we were there that Eric spotted the calf that I posted photos on yesterday. After B,G and L left we had a lazy few hours curled up on the sofa reading. Bliss!
Today the girls are back to school after 2 weeks holiday and I spent the day trying to catch up with work that has been neglected! Eric is in week 6 of soliciting.
Had a very busy few days. Beth, Graham and Luke came down from Auckland for a weekend in the country. They are such good company and we thoroughly enjoyed them being here. Luke (aged 10) loves all the animals and they bought their goergeous shaggy golden retriever Max. He was shampooed for his trip out(at Grahams insistence before he would let him in his car) and rolled in cow poo within 5 minutes of arriving! Actually they got dragged off to the paddocks before they got in the door as, just as they arrived, Eric had spotted a ewe trapped under his trailer and we were just going to release it. Eric had his trailer in a back paddock as it has all his fencing stuff on it. The daft creature had gone under the the towing arm and obviously knocked it. The trailer tipped and trapped her. She must have been their awhile as her back legs took a good few minutes to work once she was freed. Anyway, we finally got Beth and Graham indoors for a sup of tea.
Eric and Graham went to Rotorua to do some fly fishing early on Saturday morning and arrived back just as the rest of us were leaving to go swimming. We had a lovely supper that evening. Huge's aromatic pork belly. It is in his Meat book that Carol gave us and absolutely divine, and sooo simple. I also made bread and butter pudding but when I went to serve it I found we were out of apricot brany and one cannot serve B+B pud without it. Eric was not impressed! We had some pud left over and, after going in 3 liquor stores on Saturday, I managed to find some so he had it on Saturday. Saturday we had a great evening. R+R came round with the girls. The poor Scotts had to suffer Chicken Thighs Normandie again as Beth had particularly requested it (I always seem to be cooking it for the Scotts - and Richard doesn't eat chicken!). We had some pork left over and I served that also but I don't think that appealed to Richard either, not that he's fussy you understand!!!!!! We also had jacket potatoes, Robyns famous potatoe dish, asparagus (the local farm has started selling - hurray. I was beginning to think they had gone out of the asparagus business), broccoli and this new veg I have seen but not tried. Beth bought it down. It is like a bunch of about 30 thin, spring onions but 18" long, straight and garlic flavoured. Does anyone know what they are called? It was very nice. I also made a choclate cheesecake - again and Robyn did a fabulous meringue roulade. We went to bed stuffed!!!
Sunday was a bit of a lie in, a huge breakfast (home made sausage and bacon, our own eggs, home made bread, OK from the bread maker, and brought mushrooms - I can't be fagged to grow them) and then a wander down to the veg plot to discuss with Beth (a keen veg grower despite her hankerchief sized city garden. I'm amazed at what she produces), and then on to my orchard. It was while we were there that Eric spotted the calf that I posted photos on yesterday. After B,G and L left we had a lazy few hours curled up on the sofa reading. Bliss!
Today the girls are back to school after 2 weeks holiday and I spent the day trying to catch up with work that has been neglected! Eric is in week 6 of soliciting.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Todays new calf
Today our 'teenage mum' Daisy had her calf. We were quite concerned as she should not have got pregnant being only about 4 months old when she was deflowered by the murray grey on loan to impregnate Freckles and Carol. But she has produced this sweetie without any problems. She is quite small but feeding fine. As Carol has named her half sister Bronte we thought that Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie?) might be a good name for this one.
With Mom Daisy and Bronte...
This years 3 calves, Daisy and Al (I think)...
Getting to know you....
Some quiet time with Mom....
And just to remind you what Bronte looked like 6 weeks ago....
With Mom Daisy and Bronte...
This years 3 calves, Daisy and Al (I think)...
Getting to know you....
Some quiet time with Mom....
And just to remind you what Bronte looked like 6 weeks ago....
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Spring? definitely - I think!
Sunday morning and this will be a short entry, the sun is shining at 7.15am and I am keen to get outside. I have made tea and returned to bed. This is the first morning I have been able to open all the doors and let the sun in so early. It is very spring-like here and I just hope it stays that way.
This is the first weekend that we have not had people over or needed to go somewhere and with good weather I have been able to concentrate on the garden/outdoor jobs. I have made a list as long as my arm and spent all of yesterday in the veg plot. Tilled almost all of it. It now looks very bare but has lots of seedlings and seeds in. Planted potatoes, carrots, onions, spring onions and broccoli. The chooks are eating the weeds but have not learnt yet to scratch. Freckles likes watching me in the veg plot when she is in that paddock as the weeds are usually big and I feed them to her but she is missing out now as there are hardly any weeds and I am in planting mode now. She looks most disgruntled! She and Carol are separated from the other cows at the moment as Nelson is still ‘intact’ and it’s that time of year, and of course they are still feeding. It is great working with them around, the calves are so curious and of course they play around and keep me amused. Eric was testing my tiller yesterday (I thought the tines were on the wrong way round) and found the electric 3-phase cables that have been eluding us since we moved in. Ian and Claire told us where they were, roughly, but we have never been able to find them. In theory this means we can now get electricity supplied to the barn. The only problem is the cable is right in the middle of the veg!!! A job for the winter I think.
The best thing about the variety how…. was when it finished!!! However, although it was not very good I have nothing but admiration for the kids getting up there and performing in front of hundreds of parents in a packed hall and would go again and again to support them. The funniest bit was a child doing the hamster dance (some country and western sort of thing) with her mother. Well I say funny, it was incredibly embarrassing. They had to do a series of vigorous jumps from the back to the front of the stage. I will just say that this lady could have done with a better supporting bra, and leave the rest to your imagination!! Alice’s groups performance was quite good and she seemed to stand out because she moved a little (many of the child stood like scared rabbits), was near the middle, smiled and had bright clothes on. There were some displays of superb talent, a piano rendition if Beethovens 5th etc. At the end I saw Di who came and spoke to me very briefly as she was whisked away. I didn’t get much of an update on Rob but I don’t think there is any improvement.
Well the tea is finished and my garden is calling!!
This is the first weekend that we have not had people over or needed to go somewhere and with good weather I have been able to concentrate on the garden/outdoor jobs. I have made a list as long as my arm and spent all of yesterday in the veg plot. Tilled almost all of it. It now looks very bare but has lots of seedlings and seeds in. Planted potatoes, carrots, onions, spring onions and broccoli. The chooks are eating the weeds but have not learnt yet to scratch. Freckles likes watching me in the veg plot when she is in that paddock as the weeds are usually big and I feed them to her but she is missing out now as there are hardly any weeds and I am in planting mode now. She looks most disgruntled! She and Carol are separated from the other cows at the moment as Nelson is still ‘intact’ and it’s that time of year, and of course they are still feeding. It is great working with them around, the calves are so curious and of course they play around and keep me amused. Eric was testing my tiller yesterday (I thought the tines were on the wrong way round) and found the electric 3-phase cables that have been eluding us since we moved in. Ian and Claire told us where they were, roughly, but we have never been able to find them. In theory this means we can now get electricity supplied to the barn. The only problem is the cable is right in the middle of the veg!!! A job for the winter I think.
The best thing about the variety how…. was when it finished!!! However, although it was not very good I have nothing but admiration for the kids getting up there and performing in front of hundreds of parents in a packed hall and would go again and again to support them. The funniest bit was a child doing the hamster dance (some country and western sort of thing) with her mother. Well I say funny, it was incredibly embarrassing. They had to do a series of vigorous jumps from the back to the front of the stage. I will just say that this lady could have done with a better supporting bra, and leave the rest to your imagination!! Alice’s groups performance was quite good and she seemed to stand out because she moved a little (many of the child stood like scared rabbits), was near the middle, smiled and had bright clothes on. There were some displays of superb talent, a piano rendition if Beethovens 5th etc. At the end I saw Di who came and spoke to me very briefly as she was whisked away. I didn’t get much of an update on Rob but I don’t think there is any improvement.
Well the tea is finished and my garden is calling!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Spring - well almost!
I feel that I am making a bit of headway in the veg plot. After the sheep got in and decimated it when I was in Auckland I have taken the opportunity to rethink and plan. I have consulted my companion planting bible and planned the whole thing. I am moving away from sowing seeds into the bed and towards buying seedlings or growing in seed trays first. I have real problems getting seeds to germinate. So far I have planted; lettuce, cauliflower, pak choy, cabbage, spinach, silverbeet and coriander.
Last night we went up to Ian and Shirleys and bought down the chook house they said we could have. I was going to put it in the orchard and leave them free range but decided to use the chooks to eat away the last of the weeds in the veg plot first. I do not feel guilty at leaving them confined to a chook house as they have come from a battery hen house so what they have now is a thousand times better than were they were 3 days ago. Until now our chooks have been in wendy house sized accommodation close to the house with an ajoining run. Demolishing this is now on the, very long, 'to do' list. I am focused on the veg plot and Eric on fencing at the moment so it may have to wait a wee while.
Whilst our life is plodding along, no better than that, our life if very good at the moment, that of a local familys has been devestasted by an accident. Rob, a local vet was kicked in the head/face by a sedated horse while it was being AI'd. He has been in am induced coma for several days and transferred to Auckland. I am not sure why he was transferred as Waikato Hospital has recently opened it's long called for neurosurgical unit. Anyway, years of working in ICU means I fully appreciate what Di and the rest of the family must be going through. The thought of this is stuck in my head, dominating my quiet moments and makes me feel quite tearful talking or writing about it. I have written to Di and just pray he recovers well. although I've never seen anyone come out of induced coma totally unchanged.
Richard and Robyn have been in hiding for about 6 weeks aka calving. I've missed them and haven't seen them for 2-3 weeks. They came for supper last night and we had a good catch up, well as much as you can with one overgrown teenage daughter hanging around! Why can't she hang about with the other girls. It was nice earlier in the evening when, on going into her room to see the seriously gross, new duvet cover Robyn and I found Sarah and Harri laying on their tummies on the bed pouring over magazines listening to loud music. Soooo teenage-ish!! It's just a shame that Harriette finds the company of adults so appealing and hangs around so much when we are trying to talk. Even at her age some conversation is not for her ears.
Spring keeps putting it's toe through the door... then retreating!! Some lovely days have been followed by somw very chilly ones. Everybodies grass eems to be growing except ours! (I can here Richard says 'put some fert on it'!) The problem has been fencing, another job that has been neglected this last year or 2. That's not getting at Eric either, he just hasn't had the time. Consequently, the stock cannot be confined to paddcks and so we cannot manage the pasture as we should. It also means we have not been able to break feed throguh the winter. We are hoping that the grass comes on soon as we are almost out of silage and don't want to be buying in at this stage.
We are just off to Intermediate Schools Variety Show. Alice and 3 of her friends are performing a song along to the actual record playing. She singing is not perfect and I am intrigued to see how this goes!! 2 of her friends have come home with her and are currently dressing up, straightenoing hair etc.
Last night we went up to Ian and Shirleys and bought down the chook house they said we could have. I was going to put it in the orchard and leave them free range but decided to use the chooks to eat away the last of the weeds in the veg plot first. I do not feel guilty at leaving them confined to a chook house as they have come from a battery hen house so what they have now is a thousand times better than were they were 3 days ago. Until now our chooks have been in wendy house sized accommodation close to the house with an ajoining run. Demolishing this is now on the, very long, 'to do' list. I am focused on the veg plot and Eric on fencing at the moment so it may have to wait a wee while.
Whilst our life is plodding along, no better than that, our life if very good at the moment, that of a local familys has been devestasted by an accident. Rob, a local vet was kicked in the head/face by a sedated horse while it was being AI'd. He has been in am induced coma for several days and transferred to Auckland. I am not sure why he was transferred as Waikato Hospital has recently opened it's long called for neurosurgical unit. Anyway, years of working in ICU means I fully appreciate what Di and the rest of the family must be going through. The thought of this is stuck in my head, dominating my quiet moments and makes me feel quite tearful talking or writing about it. I have written to Di and just pray he recovers well. although I've never seen anyone come out of induced coma totally unchanged.
Richard and Robyn have been in hiding for about 6 weeks aka calving. I've missed them and haven't seen them for 2-3 weeks. They came for supper last night and we had a good catch up, well as much as you can with one overgrown teenage daughter hanging around! Why can't she hang about with the other girls. It was nice earlier in the evening when, on going into her room to see the seriously gross, new duvet cover Robyn and I found Sarah and Harri laying on their tummies on the bed pouring over magazines listening to loud music. Soooo teenage-ish!! It's just a shame that Harriette finds the company of adults so appealing and hangs around so much when we are trying to talk. Even at her age some conversation is not for her ears.
Spring keeps putting it's toe through the door... then retreating!! Some lovely days have been followed by somw very chilly ones. Everybodies grass eems to be growing except ours! (I can here Richard says 'put some fert on it'!) The problem has been fencing, another job that has been neglected this last year or 2. That's not getting at Eric either, he just hasn't had the time. Consequently, the stock cannot be confined to paddcks and so we cannot manage the pasture as we should. It also means we have not been able to break feed throguh the winter. We are hoping that the grass comes on soon as we are almost out of silage and don't want to be buying in at this stage.
We are just off to Intermediate Schools Variety Show. Alice and 3 of her friends are performing a song along to the actual record playing. She singing is not perfect and I am intrigued to see how this goes!! 2 of her friends have come home with her and are currently dressing up, straightenoing hair etc.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Just a general catch up
Very run of the mill Tuesday evening, except I have managed to find time to blog. Eric's 3rd week in the job but only the first one when I have been at home every night. Quite organised at the moment, preparing supper (sorry tea as they call it here) in the morning so it's not a big rush in the evening. I was so organised today I even managed to get the orchard sprayed and do a little bit in the veg plot after work and before it got dark (around 6.30pm). The veg plot - what a disaster. While I was away last week the sheep got in, during the day when no-one was home! They ate everything, except the broad beans and leeks. Sounds disaterous but actually there wasn't a lot in there. The 3 celeriac plants I have been nurturing so carefully where eaten but luckily they could dig up the root so I dug them up and we had them yesterday. I have saved some for Robyn and must take it up to her tomorrow as she has never had any. Celeriac is sooo rare here. I could get some but it would cost about $7/kg which is outrageously expensive. I have never just come across any in the shops. Back to the veg plot. I dug up all my carrots today and examined the rhubarb, which I think will survive. Beetroot, cabbages and broccolli all gone though. Still I have now had a re-think and have planned what I am going to do now for the whole year. We will be putting permanent fencing up very soon! In fact we sat down last night and planned all the fencing and prioritised it. Some fencing has come down in various paddocks and now we can hardly keep stock confined to any one. Yet another job that has not got done due to lack of time and money. Still with spring on the way we are now getting some time in the evenings, and we have decided not to plan anything for the next few weekends so that we can get on top of a few things.
IMAC had their biennial vaccne symposium last Friday/Saturday and as usual we had a national training day the day before so I was in Auckland from Wednesday to Saturday. I really don't like being away for so long and was shattered when I got back. Sunday was horrible weather so not much got done then. t the symposium I met a lady from America. She was one of our guest speakers. We hit it off and I have invited her and her family to stay with us when they come to NZ (she was very keen to bring them back for a holiday. She has travelled extensively with her work and we shared a love for Africa.
At work we have an ongoing battle over our accommodation. Penny and I refused to stay at the motel they keep booking us into but were not much impressed with the alternative. It did have a gym though which we managed to use. I was most impressed when I went in there on Thursday and Penny asked me to listen to her account of the functioning of the immune system to see if she had got it right. I would NEVER be thinking of such a thing whilst on a walking machine. maybe that's where I am going wrong. I find such activilties sooo boring.
I have been trying to get back into walking in the mornings now that the days are getting longer. My efforts have not really got off the ground though as I have not been here for many mornings and now I am full of cold and feeling yuk. It is certainly harder than when I was walking before so it must have been doing me some good, even if I didn't loose any weight.
The weekend before last was Father's Day, well the Sunday was. I was chatting to Ian in the morning while loading the wheelbarrow up with silage (Eric wasn't doing it as it was Father's Day you understand) and on asking they had nothing planned for the day (Ian and Shirley's children are in New Plymouth) so I asked them to join us for lunch. Mom and Daddy were coming over and we were having a huge bacon joint that Eric had recently cured. Well we had such a nice afternoon, and drank far too much wine!!
You know we have an intelligent child (well 2 but I am refering specifically to the bigger one). Well. Harriette was looking at an article on 9/11 in the Waikato Times. There was a picture of the World Trade Centre with a direction arrow pointing north just below the South Tower ie pointing at the South Tower. Harriette asks "If that's north why do they call it the South Tower" (Think about it!)
All well here. Geese still sitting on the nests. Can't get anywhere near them to see how many eggs are there. Ducks took up residence on the pond in the front paddock again this week, which had again appeared due to even more rain. We have had a pond there for more days this winter than in all the time we have been here. Calves and lambs are thriving. Hoping for some good weather this weekend so we can get the sheep in to dag, drench and ring them. Jobs that desparately need doing.
Well I think that catches us up. Taking my poor cold to bed now. Night night.
IMAC had their biennial vaccne symposium last Friday/Saturday and as usual we had a national training day the day before so I was in Auckland from Wednesday to Saturday. I really don't like being away for so long and was shattered when I got back. Sunday was horrible weather so not much got done then. t the symposium I met a lady from America. She was one of our guest speakers. We hit it off and I have invited her and her family to stay with us when they come to NZ (she was very keen to bring them back for a holiday. She has travelled extensively with her work and we shared a love for Africa.
At work we have an ongoing battle over our accommodation. Penny and I refused to stay at the motel they keep booking us into but were not much impressed with the alternative. It did have a gym though which we managed to use. I was most impressed when I went in there on Thursday and Penny asked me to listen to her account of the functioning of the immune system to see if she had got it right. I would NEVER be thinking of such a thing whilst on a walking machine. maybe that's where I am going wrong. I find such activilties sooo boring.
I have been trying to get back into walking in the mornings now that the days are getting longer. My efforts have not really got off the ground though as I have not been here for many mornings and now I am full of cold and feeling yuk. It is certainly harder than when I was walking before so it must have been doing me some good, even if I didn't loose any weight.
The weekend before last was Father's Day, well the Sunday was. I was chatting to Ian in the morning while loading the wheelbarrow up with silage (Eric wasn't doing it as it was Father's Day you understand) and on asking they had nothing planned for the day (Ian and Shirley's children are in New Plymouth) so I asked them to join us for lunch. Mom and Daddy were coming over and we were having a huge bacon joint that Eric had recently cured. Well we had such a nice afternoon, and drank far too much wine!!
You know we have an intelligent child (well 2 but I am refering specifically to the bigger one). Well. Harriette was looking at an article on 9/11 in the Waikato Times. There was a picture of the World Trade Centre with a direction arrow pointing north just below the South Tower ie pointing at the South Tower. Harriette asks "If that's north why do they call it the South Tower" (Think about it!)
All well here. Geese still sitting on the nests. Can't get anywhere near them to see how many eggs are there. Ducks took up residence on the pond in the front paddock again this week, which had again appeared due to even more rain. We have had a pond there for more days this winter than in all the time we have been here. Calves and lambs are thriving. Hoping for some good weather this weekend so we can get the sheep in to dag, drench and ring them. Jobs that desparately need doing.
Well I think that catches us up. Taking my poor cold to bed now. Night night.
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