A week in the Bay
We are at Julies and Rosses for a week at 104 Breaker Bay Rd. Nice to be here and catch up with old friends but I don't really regret leaving. The sun aspect is a big thing but then I knew that , if you are at work abe it is not such an issue.
There are still a few friends in the Bay  we have caught up with Helen and Don , Lester and Kate had a wine with Jonathon and Karen next door. Peered at our old house which is in sad need of attention.
The days are spent walking Chippie and Max who incidentally doesnt like it here. Tomorrow we are going to Kapiti to meet Andy's parents Kevin and Jenny who knows might see a house !!
Nadia Lims meals have given me a new look on some food ideas which is good
Crispy salmon with honeyed yams very nice

Here is Chip hopefull that a crumb might drop

Best Boiled fruit cake

500g saltanas
2 cups water or cold tea
250g butter cubed
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1teasp orange zest
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 ripe banana opt
1tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1heaped tsp baking powdwe
Heat oven to 180

Simmer saltana for 5 mins drain
Add cubed butter and sugar
When butter is melted add lightly beaten eggs then dry ingred bake for 60-90 mins
Drizzle with brandy when out or oven

Pancakes for 2

Good for a quick lunch with bacon
1cup SR flour
1/2 tab sugar
1/4 teasp salt
1 egg
1tab melted butter
Mix all together cook in pan with extra butter

You are What you Eat

Cheese Scones
 2 cups flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 egg 250ml milk Pinch cayenne or chili Small amount finely chopped herbs,bacon or veg optional Assemble dry ingeds Whisk egg and milk Mix together Press on to a board fold over and cut into shape with cutter Bake at 180 degrees 15 to 20mins.
This recipe produces a good result

Monday Night Craft Group

Every Monday night we meet at the Community Centre in Featherston,usually about 10 women from the area. We each bring what we are working on, this can vary naturally. This last Monday we met at Kay's house as our leader Del was away and we wanted to escape the footprints meeting. Ideally this should be interesting but we the knitting group have become a captive group to a lot of nonsense some nights that Julia has gleaned from the interner. What I want to write about is the three amazing women who are pasrt of our group. Betty, Kay and Wendy all around 65 give or take. These women have not had easy lives and are happy with their lives lot. They have knitted countless garments for the children of Featherston to help them through the winter. Wendy is an active member of NZ First political party and looks after her mother and a husband who has had a kidney transplant. She is always smiling and busy. Kay lives with Doug still has a cleaning job , irons for the Charity shop knits for the community and looks after her mother who is still in her own home. Betty knits ferociously and is content to spend weekend with her sisiter in Stokes Valley she enjoys the chat and fellowship of the group. These are three stalwart women whom I am honoured to know. For obvious reasons I can't post a photo

Almost the Shortest Day

Yesterday was a lovely treat we had as visit from Peter and Biddy they even bought lunch a delicious pear and blue cheese pie and sausage rolls. As the day was realaviely still and sunny we sat out in the sun chatting about this and that theythen went off to a wedding at Tauriko in featherston. Confirmed to me that I need to be nearer to old friends. We talked about writing and how you have to do it every day am going to try that out now that the days are winter is here.

Last weekend we went to Napier to play bridge Graham came and he fished. Lizzie and Neil Catherall, Barry and Judith Smith and my partner Rosie. Much as Rosie is a mate I think I am over going to tournements with her or even playing much bridge with her. There is too much pressure to please her. I am amazed that she still gets iritable when she doesn't get to play many of the hands. I think I am over all this nonsense. Maybe I can find a partner or two in Kapiti where I can just enjoy their company and the game a big ask I fear. Its all out there in the universe!!

Change of Heart

Since the visit of Millie and Steve I have seen how lonely life can get in the country. We had 2 weekends with Millie and Carmen ao Kapiti that was after Steve went back. It was so lovely over there the sea air and the beach made me realise how much I miss the coast. I have more friends over there and life would be so much simpler and less expensive which is a big consideration. Graham is not keen because he still wants to toil on the land to what end I wonder. I can still manage to grow some food on a regular section at far less expense.I have found that I no longer want to maintain a draughty villa and a large garden. It has become lonlier here with less visitors and I seem ever to be in my car I need to drive to take the dog for a walk how stupid is that So I am hoping that we will be able to find a buyer for this property and we will be able to find one over there!

Graham Max and \i walking along the beach at Raumati

Change

Think I might finally have windows10 working on this notebook. We are looking forwar fto the visit of Steve MIllie and Carmen in 3 weeks. Tis summer for me has been dreary to say the least. The weather has been aletnately hot or grey and cloudy. It does not inspire one to do much the latest craze of colouring in has been a godsend and activity I have found very relaxing and absorbing. Money seems to be a constant problem my new car will hopefully help with the cash flow. What one forgets when you live in the country is the constant use of a vehicle. Managed to source some reasonably priced hay today it looks pretty good hopefully it will keep the sheep going. We are having an outing to Wellington tonight to see a play am looking forward to that but not forward to rollicking over the hill!!