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!!

Sun

This has been a long cold and gray winter. At last the sun has begun to shine the days are getting warmer and there is some blossom in the air. Starting to get my much smaller veg garden going for the coming spring. Planted my tomato seeds from last year Georges grandfathers and bell shaped Italian in my glass house. So here is hoping. We acquired 4 Guinea Fowl this winter hoping to get some for the pot so far they are not showing any sign of laying eggs just make a noise.They are attractive wander about all day and then fly up into the Kanaka tree near the kitchen for the night. No photos for a while I will get some of the coming spring and post them later.

Sharing

Yeasterday I had the pleasure of my friend Mary helping me to bag up a sheep that we had had slaughtered for the freezer. I was reminded of the many time I had shred taskd with women and how pleasurable it can be. Was this how it was in the cave man period brfore the days of marriage etc. There is instinctive knowledge that we hold and this enable tasks to be done whilst we chattter and discuss stuff. Each of us intent on what we are doing and somehow knowing what is expected. Throughout my life I recall other experiences of sharing ......group feeding of young children before our sposes/partners got home from work providing much needed adult company for young mothers. Recently I held a wedding here on our property and my sisters Denyse, Lesley and myself prepared the food and set up the decorations and cleared up afterwards with some extra help. We enabled Jojo and Tony to have a lovely wedding at little cost. I am wondering if women are pack animals too because I really enjoy the company of my woman friends and relatives. Does isolation disempower us and intere

sting idea This picture is me an the jersy Daidy knitted for me in the 1980's which I cant bear to part with.

RIP Nelson

Well it has been some time since I wrote in fact over a year.This week we loast one of our cats a lovely Birman Cross called Nelson. He had a short illnes only unwell for 2 days though when I think of it he had been getting thin. When the vet xrayed him he was found to have cancer stomach and probably liver plus heart failure. Graham and I made the only descision that could be made and he was put down by the lovely vet and her assistants at South Wairarapa vets. Neelson started off life with us in Breaker Bay about 2000 we think. When he arrived we assumed he was a female so when the time came right he was sent off to be speyed . Some time later the phone rang and it was the vet who had cut her/him open to find his true sexuality, name was changed from Nellie to Nelson. He was always an independent soul watched us balefully with his crossed blue eyes. His speciality was hunting leaves and twigs which he used to bring in at night littering the hall. When Max arrived he joined max sleeping on our bed scarcely room for Graham and I. We have a Black Boy Peach tree to plant where he is buried. Farewell old friend

Yesterday I turned 72 scary when one thinks about it! Had a lovely day starting with lunch at Catherine's kitchen in greytown with some of the craft group. Later Graham and I went to see "The Book Thief" at Circus in Martinborough. We were the only 2 in the theatre so it was a private showing so to speak. Spoke with Alex that went fine though a little guarded. Mere and Steve called as well. Have to start thinking about holiday next week. Jo and Anthony are going to house sit. Am hoping I will be able to writes while we are away

Maddock Relatives

Have a lovely visit from Kit Divehall the next cousin in age to me he will be 70 in April. We talked about old times visited an old school friend of his whoo lives in Martinborough and is now an artist. On Wednesday night we went to the Tin Hut and had dinner whilst listening to the Local Blues singers, we ate Steak and Oyster pies vvery nice thank you Kit. Friday dawned bright and sunnny so we set off to look at the marine Memorial at Mackays Crossing in Paekakariki

. I was all very interesting for me reading about how the camp was developed during WW2. Had cafe lunch visited an art gallery and drove back home ovver the Paekakariki hill. Tres pleasant on a lovely sunny day. We did a visit to the Fell museum something Graham and I have never done and had a look at the Heritage museum which had relicts from the Japanese Prisioner of War camp and the big army camp thet was built in Featherston. Saturday we went to Mary Maddocks 90th birthday at Sue and John's in Palmerston so all in alll we have had a lot of looking back!!! It was lovely to see Aunty Mary looking so sharp and nimble and great to catch up with cousins. Another week til I go to the south island I am going to endeavour to document activitieds.