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

Drove to Lawrence today it was grey and drizzly. I think some of the smokiness was from the Aussie bush fires this was a midday shot taken in Gabriel's Gully the early gold mining site..
This was a shot of the Clutha Dam near last night's motel very powerful.

Clutha dam

Gabriels Gully in the smog

New year's Eve

Here we are in Roxburgh the temp is 32degrees

far too hot.
Left Hawea and camp Duke and headed off to Arrow town to have lunch with the Hills. Haven't seen them since Takapuna days. I think I got sunstroke sitting out in the sun felt awful for quite a time til we got the air con going.
Got to Roxburgh Lodge renamed a garment I had meant to sleep in into a dress much cooler but not commanderstyle!
Met. Gaye Robertson old Mph colleague for coffee with Jennie she hasn't changed. Here is Gaye and a shot of the blue pools on the road to Haast. Finding it hard to manage blog on tablet.

Christmas 2019

Here we are in the deep south for Xmas. Meredith summoned us down so we had to abandon our proposed trip to the East Cape in Princess Margaret.
Arrived in Dunedin in the freezing cold put as many clothes on as posible. What a pity I did not bring my puffer jacket with me!!

Meredith with Coco and friend.

Did a trip to the shops,L went to LanarchCastle which was very nice.

Took a trip to Oamaru visited the Victorian area which was charming. I spotted this little soul just coming out of the book bindery she agreed to the photo forgot to say went to see Janet Frames house in Oamaru too. It's a very pretty town

Went to Lake Hawea for Xmas with Jennie and Kevin had a pleasant day the weather wasn't much! As usual I was glad when it was over!!
Today we went to theCardronna Distillery had fancy find and a platter Graham, Kevin and Graham and I did a tour of the distillery had tastings of gin and whisky all very interesting Andy and Meredith went back to Dunedin we will head south Tuesday morning.
Weather has warmd up thank goodness