Back to Bridge today

 Yes back to Monday bridge. Managed to misread this stupid watch I have and got up at 7.15 when I thought it was 9.15, While I was messing around wondering what to do with my spare time I suddenly had. David phoned during this spare time to say his car battery was flat' surely he has been out since he last went to bridge before Christmas!! Poor man he really enjoys his bridge.

I ended up playing with Kay who kept saying she was too old to learn anything new. Don't think I will ever feel like that. But who knows how one will be affected in old age.

It was very hot almost unbearable but at least the washing is dry and all crisp.

Tonight we have a lovely clear blue sky with streaks of pink something we haven't seen for a while there seems to be a warm glow about my outlook I have taken a photo.

oo hot to cook anything we had rice instead of potatoes with BBQ sausages and salad it worked out very well. Ate on the front deck it was more sheltered and I was reminded how the Cabbage trees are about to flower.

Mary and Paul are coming over for a couple of days managed to get the back room sorted and the bathroom for them.

Kerry"s Oleander is flowering unfortunately you cant see it in the first photo.

The golden glow of evening.

Phoned Robyn they are finally free from Covid but finding the recovery slow. We watched  last night Madoff and all about the ponzi scheme he ran interesting after all these years,

Better be early doors tonight as I will have to be sharp tomorrow. Thank goodness I am not doing bnb any longer too stressful I don't think Graham realises this. Anyway the place is not set up that well thank goodness. 

Another Grey Day

 Miserable morning managed to take Ma for a walk around the block, most of the woofingtons were out !! Then  just potterd about getting Mary and Paul's room ready. Denyse's bedroom furniture looks a bit battered, so perhaps we are doing her a favour.

Forgot to say Rosie's mother has died, we are going over to the funeral on Thursday. Nice for her she had been having a merry time at Xmas with family then that was that . Sad for the family, Rosie will be a free agent now.

Made Mac cheese for dinner not my best but Graham liked it. Also tried a new recipe in the breadmaker that looks like a success it will be in the tasting tomorrow.

This was my chalk paint effort over Xmas break a cabinet I plucked from the street. Very handy to keep stuff in though it doesn't have files. Have done quite well out of Atkinson ave. Bridge tomorrow.

Rain came today

 Some light drizzly rain was good for the garden and gave the greenhouse good water. Ant came to visit we were able to provide him with some fishing gear and my old pack. He had been staying at Simons for a couple of nights, returning to Levin. Like me, he doesn't like Levin much but unlike me, he is planning to do some tramps in the hills. Perhaps Graham might accompany him some time.

Thinking this journal might be called The Book of old Age, I will have to dream up a plot. Would anyone be interested? 

Am sick of the dud fruit cakes gave the burnt one to the chooks and made a banana cake to take to Mere's. Graham had a Rotary visitor who by chance we found had served in Bosnia with Mike so we took him along to TeHoro as well they had a bit of an Army reunion.

Mike and Mere are trying to give up smoking praise the lord let's hope it succeeds.

Thought I saw a seagull fly out of the pohutukawa tree on the verge that would have to be unusual, better get dinner started its clouding over and the wind is rising. This all seems to be a bit of a ramblebut its been that sort of day. Max seems to be a little brighter which is good.

Easter Monday 13/4/20

Still locked down the only escape is to troll the streets of Greytown. Yesterday did a big loop and spoke with Phil and Karen from the approved distance. They are managing well and have their visas extended until September. I know Karen would like to stay here but don't think Phil is so keen.


  State Highway passing through Greytown yesterday.
                                                           

We walked through town, alas some of the shops won't survive I fear..
                                                                                                          
Graham's birthday yesterday got everyone together on Hangouts and we sang him a happy birthday while he blew out his candle!! Forgot to get a picture, unfortunately.

Here we are in Isleworth with Steve and Millie and of course the delightful Carmen. The sun is shining it's about 12 degrees.
The journey was long 12 hours to Shanghai, 6 on the ground, and a further 12 to Heathrow.

This post is completely out of sync !!!

Whoops missed a day

 Yesterday was a grey wet day rained most of the day we went for a walk on the beach which was nice. Watched Madoff on Netflix which was interesting all about the vagaries of the 1988 crash certainly it was a man's world.

I Sat on the deck with my morning coffee listening to the birds they certainly love the cabbage tree and the pohutukawa. It's just as well Roubles can't get to them.

 Got a message from Rosie that her mother died last night sad for Rosie but for her, it must have been nice she had had a lovely Xmas time with her family and appeared to have had good health as much as old people can have. We will go over to the funeral on Thursday.

Mary and Paul are going to come over for a night on Tuesday so will have to get the bedroom spruced up for them. Mary will be able to collect the strips!!

Did a few jobs about town today dropped the petanque balls off for Carolyn had d coffee with Basiia she is such a serious person then I suppose so am I.

It's a nice peaceful view despite the awful fence. My Xmas bowl still looks good. Not much else going on today but I have stirred myself and done a few jobs.

The view from my turret window is shiny and green everything looks clean that's because it is wet.

Shopping for food is depressing everything is so expensive bought some frozen broccoli and cauliflower which I think might be more economical.

Meredith and Mike are trying to give up smoking it would be lovely if they could the cost of it is terrifying me anyway. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Apart from writing I have to get a picture to post as well !

A Very Hot day

 When I looked out my window today I spotted the farmer across the road gathering up his baleage before the rain. As I said a hot day with an easterly wind up north they are having very bad weather and more to come. Campers have been advised to go home and a big concert has been canceled am wondering how the Tennis is going must phone Tam to see if she has been able to go.

Hard to get focused in the heat tidied the greenhouse had to tie up some of my dwarf tomatoes, must say they are more than dwarf and quite heavily laden. The big ones which are ripening are really nice and fleshy. Garlic was a dismal failure!!!

Took Max for a walk to the beach Graham came and went for a swim, the tide was too far out for me. Funny there were a lot of families on the beach today.

Lots of children swimming though they don't show here tried to get Graham a bit closer but seems I failed The other shot is of a cute sandcastle setting.

Sue's birthday is tomorrow so I will give her a call. Maybe I will go down and see Meredith she is working from home  she  always seems so busy .

Last Day of Twixmas

 Just hot and sunny from my view today people are starting to go home from the beach camp.

Max and I have just been for a walk on the beach the tide was out and the sea was as flat as a pancake. Graham has been faffing with bees and honey must say it smells nice.

Not much was achieved today except the usual washing and rustling up some lunch. Too hot to garden

A little shelf the Gra built for me and my baby succulents. Can't wait for the opp shops to open and find a few more cups and saucers. Nothing much in the wings for this week weather is going to change tomorrow. We might get some rain which will be good for the garden. Picked some Hydrangeas today hope they will provide me with some plants to fill some of the empty places in the garden. Otherwise just pottered and played some online bridge tourneys which I enjoy.

Decided not to play golf again as the coming year does not look that great and as I play at 2 bridge clubs another sub that I might not use that much seems to be a bit wasteful.

I think I should stop feeling guilty when I do nothing much!!

 

Finally remembered how to get my photos and fixed the internet banking . The latter being only an extra zero !!

January 2/1/23

 Some time has passed I am going to try and write more this year, saw a good prompt o Instagram which I thought might help.

Looking out from my desk I see the cows across the road and the tops of the trees next door. They help hide some of the odd stuff Kerry has in his backyard.

Yesterday New Year's Day Graham took his Kyack out, and came home with 1 nice schnapper and 3 gurnards first catches of the year. Max and I went down to the beach to watch him come ashore.

Later in the afternoon Janice and Stewart from 2 houses away came for a drink. We sat around our new table on the back bricks and chatted. It is funny how some people only operate as a couple they only have a joint email address. As you can guess old people eventually get to health, because they don't have an individual email they cannot access the My Health website. 

Janice seems to have given up all her identity since she married something I find bizarre.

I like things going on in my head and being independent perhaps I am a bit too much that way inclined. 

Have to work out how to get photos uploaded next. Always something to learn