LOCK DOWN LEVEL 2 AGAIN!!

Well it was bound to happen again if you listen to the pundits and yes we were not surprised. Fortunately forus we dont live in Auckland which has been locked down to level 3. I telephone Tam yesterday and they are still waiting to view their finished apartment on the Avondale raceway. Something seems to have happened to this blog site one does not seem to have contro; over the size of the print. Went today for an ECG $35 dollars thank you it was norma. I think AF is probably more common than oe thinks. Outcome GP has referred me to the Cardiology Dept. Enough of ailments. Poor sister Denyse is in a bad place with her family I am trying to be as supportive as possible. They are all very disfunctional and Mattie has had a doomed life so far . It would be good if she could be found a place where she could settle but I fear that may not be a possibility for her given her gene pool. Had a lovely walk on the rail trail today with my mate Max. Everything is ready for Meedith's visit so hope the weather holds out. We are back into internet bridge which I like though it is much less sociable am playing with Frosty tonight. Have mae Jamie Oliver's lamb curry for a quickdinner

Level 2 Lockdown

Life is a lot freer now people are rushing to the shops. Apparently, The Warehouse was full and there were queues to get in,  Going to The Warehouse is an outing for a lot of people I guess they rake through the bargains hoping for something goo to spring into their hands. Personally, even though I do shop there I generally find it quite depressing. Its the smell and the ugliness of some of the stock. There that's me and The Warehouse!!

Called to see Fran yesterday she was sunk in gloom had been sitting feeling bad all weekend. This virus has dealt her a cure blow, after Mollie's death she was always going on a big trip but alas that is not going to happen for a while. I took her up to Clareville to get some plants then she came for a walk with Max and I not too weak to do two twirls of Carrington Park.
The online bridge has helped pass the hours away, as there is nothing to watch on TV one might as well play. I have played with some poor players but have had reasonable games with Frosty Rosie and Katherine.

Maxie still expects to be out every morning which is good because it gets me going. Now the Library and the French Baker are open life is looking up. I have raked over my wardrobe and think I have enough to wear over the winter without buying any more. I am contemplating a pair of weatherproof Allbirds as my last year's models are inclined to get a bit damp in the long grass.
Hair is being attended to tomorrow that will be interesting. Looked at it today it looks like Camilla Parker Bowles hairdo. Not so glam of course.  Graham has painted the container dark green a great improvement to the back yard It makes a better view from Crouch End

Lock Dow Level 3

This does not make much difference to me life goes on as the last 4 weeks or so. Did manage a walk with Fran on Wednesday we did the big block round Mole St then got a coffee from The Main St Deli  and sat and drank it at the bus stop watching the world go by.

We have had beautiful Autumnal days lovely sunshine and around 20 degrees in the daytime then cooling about 3. I  am still awaiting vegetable plants for the back garden hopefully this week.
Lockdown hair will last another couple of weeks I wonder if Shine will survive here's hoping! Not the best picture in the world.

Another Grey day today will be playing a bit of bridge with Rosie today. Must say the bridge has helped allay the boredom. Cooked a big roast last night and we both ate too much. Won't need to cook anything today can rest from the cooking potsAnother Grey day today will be playing a bit of bridge with Rosie today. Must say the bridge has helped allay the boredom. Cooked a big roast last night and we both ate too much. Won't need to cook anything today can rest from the cooking pots.

One More Day of Stage 4 Lockdown

What a boring 5 weeks this has been. Moving on to Stage 3 tomorrow which won't make much difference to what I can do. Graham can go fishing consequently he is looking forward to getting on to the river. Myself I guess can drive my car and do some contactless shopping.
Any normal time before all this I have been shopping online so it won't make much difference to my life. Possibly  I might continue to grocery shop online for some time.

I have Myfresh food bag coming tomorrow for 3 nights which will be a change. One needs a change in the style of cooking from time to time I wonder if that will replace takeaway and eating out.
Last night I cooked some ancient lamb shanks that had come from 840 they were delicious I must remember to get some when next I am shopping for meat at Gavin's.

You can see from this I am somewhat fixated on food, tonight I am going to make some fresh fettuccine which I am looking forward to eating.

Both Graham and I have purchased from Alliexpress Fitbits so now we can monitor useless things like heart rate blood pressure and sleep as well as how many steps one takes don't think this will last

for me. Very depressing because what I thought was a decent walk was only 5000 steps woe is me !!!
Finished the lockdown jersey very pleased with the result. It's a big sloppy joe which will be great in the winter. I have ordered some merino trousers from Ezibuy they were a lot cheaper in the sale. When the cold strikes I will be ready.
Have played some bridge with Neil not very successfully seem to do better playing with strangers. Tonight I am going to play with Lyn.
Vege garden is still awaiting plants maybe next week??
Once this is all over life, I think will be very different for some time.
All my whanau far and wide seem to have weathered the storm something I can be grateful for.
These lovely autumnal days are a blessing at least we can all get out in the sunshine before we rock into winter.


Almost forgot Anzac day Graham made these poppies which he put on our fence, I thought they looked wonderful. In place of the usual parade this year we all stood at our gates at dawn staying in our bubbles. There were quite a few I West St that is down our end. We will keep them for next year. They decorated the fences in the UK for Remembrance day which always looks good so a new activity here in the Antipodes.

Lock Down  week 2

Well survived the first-week life is very slow. Graham has been doing sorties to the shops. We still can't get flour they say its the packaging. Mary Mason called by to drop off some yeast which is not bread yeast but might work. I can do that recipe that cooks in the crockpot perhaps or cook it in the oven because I think it uses the type of yeast I have.

I needed to get a bit of a trim yesterday so Gre had to do my fringe for me that looks better. He got some figs from our tree and the tree in the hub where he steals them and made a very nice jam. After having no jam we now have some purchased from the supermarket as well so are spoilt for choice.

I have played a couple of tournaments online with Neil and Fran didn't do any good and they tend to be a bit slow.
We have had some rain so the weeds are growing especially out the back path so there's an activity

Spoke with Heidi and Alex yesterday it was her 11th birthday she is certainly growing up. That seems to one week gone so we are pushing on to the next.
Gre got the old Huawei tablet going so now he is sorted.

Lockdown

Day three and it is raining heavily outside so it is a true lock-in!!
Hard to get motivated even craft project is not interesting maybe I will have to look to my pencils.

This has been moved to my outside studio and awaits me and motivation. Let's hope motivation returns tomorrow

Loss

View from the Rail Trail should be at the end

This week has been one of loss for me, I guess as we move through life this happens more times than we would wish,
After a lovely holiday with Steve Millie and Carmen in Collingwood Golden Bay, we bade them farewell as they headed south for Christchurch and the long journey back to England. Steve and I are emotionally attached if one can be to one's child we always hate to say farewell.
Daughter Meredith came up for a few days she is loving her job in Dunedin but partner Andy is restless. I fear that she will never settle and my heart aches for her  - a mother's anxiety for one's

 daughter.

Meredith and Carmen in a contemplative pose

Here we are at Te Puia Springs a beautiful clear spring in Golden Bay

Apart from family, there were other issues to deal with my friend Fran's old dog Mollie had to be put down as one would expect she has been devastated but is starting to get through it. I don't think I have a photo of her, unfortunately.

Bad news again last week our friend Warwick Wright died of cancer after only being diagnosed 3 weeks ago all very sad.
Today when I was walking Maxie along the rail trail I was struck by the vastness of my world and the beauty  of it which helps one cope with these sad and emotional vents in one's life