Autumn harvest

Look at this!!

In a vain attempt to get a few winter veges in and to clean up the remainder of the summer garden I ventured into the wilderness last weekend and this was my reward. The eggplant is amazing - one plant has produced over a dozen fruits (much to Lucy's horror), and the chillies just quietly got on with their job to produce this abundance. The little ones are habaneros - very hot - and we haven't been game enough to try them yet, the long thin ones are called wildfire, and the fatter ones are a mild salad chillie which is able to be stuffed and baked. We have an abundance of apples - several varieties which have done as hoped and ripened at differing times - yummie, tamarillos are ripening well - almost sweet enough to eat! passionfruit were not so great this year - time for a rethink and replant! Feijoas best not mentioned, so next planting round will include more of these, pears and maybe a persimmon - they are the most beautiful autumn tree for colour and fruit. All this amazes me as we had such a long hot and extremely dry summer - and autumn is looking to be equally as dry.

This all sounds very organised - but it happens despite what we do rather than because of it - even more so since Maurie has broken his rib so the serious pruning and big gardening projects I had planned for the holidays are now on hold - needless to say there is not much sympathy for his self inflicted pain!

Finally - I get to the computer

Well - long time no blog! It would be difficult to explain how hard it is to get access to a computer in this house. The alpha male comes home and catches up with his facebooking and online scrabble and blogging, as does the alpha female which leaves me with the newspaper and a book! But ever present in my mind is interesting (well interesting to me anyway!)things to blog about.


My wee Thomas came home for a week - of food, beach and relaxing - this I think has captured the moment perfectly - a cold beer, favourite music mag, sun shining and a spa pool.

It was great to have him home and I think the fact that we were back at work probably made no difference to this man's mission!
And of course he managed to sunburn himself to the max which, I got the feeling, was not part of the mission. Now we are all back into our groove and the weather has been so changeable it feels as though the summer is well and truly coming to and end.

We have had a long, hot, dry summer - how dry I didn't realise
until I saw the last rose Mum gave me - a beauty called
Sir Tristam. It needed urgent attention (oops don't know how
to get rid of italics!) A bit of water, a feed of rose fertiliser and the result was as you see. I think of Mum and my family most days and sometimes when the need to be with them almost overwhelms me, I look at the garden I call 'Mum's garden' and it always makes me feel better. It takes me back to the visits when the children were little and just before we left to go back to where ever we were living at the time, Mum would hand me a plastic bag with a few things for the garden and always the question 'Would you like a cutting/a piece/a few seedlings of ...?' I always said yes and now I have mum's garden.

Beginning of the end

Well we are now just a couple of weeks away from being back at work - and all the stuff I planned to do and all the reading I planned to get done - well nuff said about that!!


We have had our annual camping trip to Maraehako - superb weather in one of the best camping spots we have found. Talking to the other regulars there ( we meet them there every year and enjoy each others company - never see each other in the town we live in!) we are all agreed there is no where better to be - sun, beach, rocks, fishing and best of all - hot showers and flush toilets!!



As usual we didn't have nearly enough time there but it was great anyway. It was the first time we had been there with just one child - Sam where were you? Luckily Lucy had a friend staying there so she didn't have to hang out with old people all the time.


Maurie managed to get out in his kayak each day and even caught a few fish although it didn't help him overcome his seasickness! ( see http://principalpossum.blogspot.com/ )


This year there seems to have been an abundance of crayfish - these were caught by the neighbours - but it wasn't a great morning as they usually got 6 - everyday!

The fishing was a bit harder and to get the big ones you needed to be further offshore than the trusty kayak driver could cope with.

We walked around the rocks a couple of times so Lucy and Maurie could fish and I could fossick (after smothering myself in insect repellent - the biting things on those rocks can drain all your blood in minutes!) I didn't get into any of the rockpools this time after seeing the size of the octopus caught in the neighbours craypot. Where were you Sam - I usually have your company on the rocks and I really missed not having you there to poke around in the pools with me! So to make you feel better and to see what you missed I took some photos of the pools for you.

One thing that was interesting, after hearing of a huge number of jellyfish infesting the water at Mount Maunganui was seeing heaps in a crevice around the rocks -

luckily they didn't actually come into Maraehako Bay - otherwise that would have been the end of swimming for me.

A great few days - and we left with plans to return before the end of summer - as we do every year!

Quiet times

Well the festive season has well and truly gone - and this one was particularly quiet! Sam spent his festive season in Invercargill, Thomas was well into relax and downtime mode and the rest of us are just getting older!! Lucy had cuzzie Phillip to hang out with so it wasn't too boring for her I hope!We did at least manage to get a tree, creatively decorated by Thomas and Lucy, and we even had a few pressies to put underneath it (although not everything that was on Lucy's list unfortunately!) I got my camera and a lot of the photos being posted by Maurie have been taken by me (where is intellectual property right here!) so if you get to see the same photo more than once that is the reason. I also got myself a jigsaw puzzle - first in a long time and I have almost finished it. I had forgotten how much I enjoy them and what excellent time wasters they are.

The weather has been amazingly summery - hot and fine ( which brings its own problems with lack of water) but the sea is warm and lazing on the beach is a fine way to spend a little bit of time.

These piccies were taken on 7 Jan 2009 at Tirohanga Beach with a view to the west (you can make out Whale Island on the horizon) and to the east looking to the hills.

And here we have a sample of the bathing belles you will often find on the beach.

Sam, Auckland and travel.

Christmas has come and gone and it is time to update!

Our trip to Auckland went extremely well - apart from trying to get through Tauranga before 8 o'clock in the morning! At least 30 minutes ( felt like much longer) to go less than 5km. Major works on a roundabout coupled with school drop offs (every school in Opotiki had closed by then so this was a real surprise) and then when we finally reached the roundabouts they had lights installed on them - couldn't quite work out how they were helping traffic flow but a few very deep calming breaths and I was a little more reasonable about it (I think). So we got to Auckland later than planned - but Sam was even later. We were waiting at x-ray for him when this extremely tall, very thin, harried looking young man burst through the door. It took a couple of seconds to realise it was Sam. All was well with his checkup and he can now have them done down south which is a relief to his parents credit cards! We stayed at City Lodge ( run by the YMCA - quite appropriate really) which was ok. The first night a group was having a farewell do outside until the wee small hours, then the cleaners started followed closely by the construction site next door - luckily Saturday night was a lot quieter and we had a much better sleep.


Maurie and Sam having a quiet read Saturday afternoon!

Saturday night we had a lovely meal at Sri Penang on K Road with Jackie and Eryn. Unfortunately Alex had a sleep over so wasn't there. We then visited Franklin Rd to look at the Christmas lights - absolutely amazing - well worth it. Sunday morning began very dramatically with Lucy tipping out of her bed - my shrieks of laughter were not much appreciated!

Later that day we travelled home via Hamilton to pick Thomas up and bring him home for Christmas - the whole family together for the first time in a year -a fabulous way to end the journey.

Countdown to Sam

Despite my dread of early morning starts, the one happening on Friday I am looking forward to.

We set off from here before the dawn chorus to head to Auckland to link up with Sam. He has an appointment at Starship so we will be there to support him, and then have a couple of days in Auckland with him and Lucy. We will also be able to catch up with Eryn and Jacqui, though not Alex as he will be at a birthday party. So I am looking forward to it. Sam will come home briefly but will be back in Invercargill for Christmas - the price of a job and a flat to support!

The (slightly older) foursome will take the city by storm!!

Blushing Lucy

Finally - what you have all been waiting for! After my good intentions to update not coming to fruition a wee bit of nagging from Maurie has

got me at the keyboard.

I'm sure time speeds up at this time of year - as usual I am not on schedule for Christmas ( or anything much else for that matter!) but I am sure it will all drop into place.

The title of this post refers to the most spectacular climbing rose of the same name. This was given to me a few years ago - where it was originally growing it was continually eaten by possums - and since I already had a Lucy I was lucky enough to get a rose to match.

I wish I could say this is a tribute to my tender loving care - but this wonderful rose seems to thrive on neglect and erratic pruning ( it does look a bit like Sideshow Bob with the random branches sticking out where I can't reach them!)

And continuing the theme of Blushing Lucy - this amazing child has not only topped her class this year, she has been named Junior Dux ( or equivalent - she couldn't remember the title!). I have to admit - with all due modesty - that she takes after her mother here!! I feel as though my heart could burst with love and pride. Her nana would have been so proud as well.

Kia manawanui Lucy.

Motu piccies

Finally - the photos I said I would post! Bear in mind I am not the best with a camera!

This is the team Lucy competed with - from left to right - unknown mountain biker, Lucy, Amber and Nicole. It wasn't quite as dark as the photo implies!



We see this gnome at Motu every year so thought it would be cool to have a photo of him!





Lucy and a worried looking Nicole waiting for Amber.



Lucy kitted up and ready to go - unfortunately still no Amber. Note lack of bikes in the racks behind Lucy!




Lucy at the kayak changeover - made it before cut-off time and Amber was limping badly but mobile.

After the Motu

Well bit slack here about keeping this up to date! Never mind 1 computer + 3 people means that when the muse strikes it may not be at a time when the technology is free!!
Motu day was long, reasonably successful and true to form I was the best first reserve on the day. Luckily for Maurie and Andrew they managed to get a good mountain biker, and Andrew was able to do the road bike - and a good 40 minutes faster than me, and Maurie had a good run and kayak. I think it was the earliest Maurie has ever finished a Motu Challenge event but his excitment soon went when he realised that he still didn't get a hot shower!!
Lucy's team didn't have such a good day. Nicole found someone to do the mountain bike after the original biker had to pull out due to injury, and they were in contention but unfortunately Amber had a recurrence of an old injury so didn't manage to finish the run. Lucy left on the road bike with the only other biker left, but was soon biking on her own, knowing that she was on a timeline to get to the kayak transition before the official cutoff time. Lucy biked extremely well - followed by an anxious mother and the tail-end Charlie vehicle. It was a hot afternoon by then (cold and cloudy most of the day!) and was quite windy. But she managed to cut 7 minutes off her time - not bad for a hard solo bike - and she made the cutoff time. Lucy is awesome! I did take some photos but the camera is not around so will post them later.

Of biking and being a reserve

Lucy and Shirley on the way!



Well my return to the world of exercise has been a baptism of fire!!
After driving Lucy and Shirley up to Motu to do the road bike - and watching them blast their way through the 52 kms (machines the pair of them!) I found myself on my bike a week later doing the same thing - still astonished and not quite sure how it happened! I managed to get up Traffords Hill (Shields whanau take note!) and then down the other side without too much damage! Very scary on the downhill at the top - further down you go the gentler the slope which suits wusses like me. I was surprised at my time - not too far behind Lucy but I died completely in the last 10kms - legs felt like tree stumps (still looked particularly attractive and shapely tho!) But as Sarah said the pain disappears quickly and you are soon ready for the next challenge. So what was the next challenge?? Promotion to first reserve in Maurie's Motu Challenge team!! I listened with a mix of horror (who?? me!?!?!?) and quiet humility (as us finely honed athletes do) as I was told I was quite capable of doing the road bike leg. So off we went again last Sunday to do a repeat performance. It was cold, rainy and an extremely strong wind was blowing at Motu - again I had to ask myself what was I doing there? I set off - yeehaa tail wind to Motu - easy peasy ride. Turn right at Matawai - whoops strong head wind! Gamely I rode on until 2 bends from the top of Traffords (very little forward momentum at this point!) a reeeaaallly big gust of wind hit me and I literally stopped mid pedal! I managed to unclip but then had to walk about 20 metres until I could get back on my bike. So up I went and cruised over the top into a strong gusty swirling wind, so I zigzaged, very slowly down the top part of the hill. It was scary as I was blown in all directions, but once the road was less exposed I managed to pick up a little bit more speed. I was HUGELY disappointed at my time as I did feel I was biking more consistently than the previous week, but have sucked it up and am ready to be the best first reserve in Opotiki.

Janet Frame

This post harks back to the one I did on mum's birthday. One night while helping Lucy with her homework I came across this poem by Janet Frame - and it really struck a chord with me! So I really want to put this up for people to read and to hear how they react to it.

The Place



The place where the floured hens
sat laying their breakfast eggs,
frying their bacon-coloured combs in the sun
is gone.

You know the place-
in the hawthorn hedge
by the wattle tree
by the railway line.

I do not remember these things
-they remember me,
not as child or woman but as their last excuse
to stay, not wholly to die.

After reading this I started to think of the places of my childhood - my grandparents place in Otoko where we spent half our time ( and which I now drive past reasonably regularly!) which exists now only in the memories I and my family have. I also thought about growing up in Taupo - the place where my children spent a lot of time - which also now no longer exists. But my thoughts are that for me those places are as they always were - they exist in my memories and for my children the existence of their childhood haunts in Taupo will also be bright and bold in their memories. The places of my childhood will exist until there is no longer anyone to remember them - and in memory they are always places of fun, laughter and love.

Life of an ex-international tourist!

The amazing travels and times we had are becoming a memory as routine begins to kick in. Maurie is on his last overseas jaunt in Australia so Lucy and I are being brave and coping as best we can - two defenceless females, alone, with just a particularly ineffective dog to guard us! The list making idea has stalled (sort of) but I'm sure that once I find my diary (or at least one of them) I will be a list maker supreme! Meanwhile I am making inroads into the pile of work in my office, and having brief looks at the online stuff I want to do ( really must learn how to use 'office' type programmes ) and my head is filling with ideas of what I want to do - must be a positive.

Have managed to get my aging butt back onto a bike seat - and followed Lucy around Woodlands twice this week - hills are particularly hard at the moment! Sunday is a scheduled ride for Lucy and her other mum Shirley on the Motu Challenge

(http://www.motuchallenge.co.nz/) road bike course. Photo is Lucy finding out about the ride!

Unfortunately I will have to be the driver - one of the sacrifices a parent makes.

It is all action next door - finally. The earth moved for us on the weekend as big machines dug and consolidated Hine's and Kurt's house site, and today the profiles are there.

Mum's birthday

Yesterday was mum's birthday, and possibly the last of the 'firsts' as we come up to the first anniversary of her death. I was thinking about this quite a bit yesterday and pondering the question "when someone is dead is it still a birthday?" My take on this is that she lives on in all of us in some way and until we no longer exist it will always be mum's birthday. Bit difficult to celebrate with her now, but it will be a day for memories, laughs and maybe a quiet tear. Interestingly when talking with Lucy earlier in the week the first thing she thought of in relation to the number 10 was that "it is nana's birthday".
I have just walked around our track and seen our magnolia (poor spindly thing!) in spectacular flower - and my first thought was mum would love this! The second thought was that I really need a camera! (ma-in-law took a photo so hope it will appear on her blog (Ariadnes thread)).
Any camera recommendations gratefully received.

Reality bites

Today was my 3rd day back at work, and I have managed to clear the mail that was piled up, weathered the 'oh you're back' (as in I better be a bit less out there!)from a few of my library lovelies, taken home all my professional reading, discovered I have stacked 116 emails to deal with, and found that at least 100 new books are waiting for attention. I am starting to feel a little overwhelmed, but am determined not to put my ideas for a library blog and wiki on the back-burner!
Time and motion studies are under way!! (ie time to move onwards and upwards and buy into Maurie's system of MAKING LISTS - watch this space).
Weather cold and wet today, and the heating was off at school, and to compound this misery I discovered that I am not being paid due to an oversight by the payroll lot (a very kind description of their error!), so it has been Monday all day today. On the plus side Maurie cooked a yummy meal (but couldn't stop himself from pointing out that his time and motion study of Maurie in the Kitchen that it was a 12/12 presentation - 12 minutes to prepare, 12 minutes to cook!) I think I will stick with Lucy's assessment of me, delivered in sympathetic and understanding tones a few years ago "You're not a natural in the kitchen are you Mum"
More ravings to come! :-)

Home sweet home

I can't believe how much time has passed since I last rambled incoherently for you, my avid and dedicated fans!!
The last few days of being an international tourist raced past - only one minor hiccup. By our second to last day in Penang, Maurie was getting a bit tetchy (too much lying by the pool!) so my solution which was masterly (even if I do say so) was to load him into a bus, get him to find us a map and to lead (a slightly smaller) tourgroup - me, around Georgetown. The result was as you read in my previous blog, although I forgot to mention that the light industrial area was viewed from the Peneng equivalent of the Auckland motorway! I managed to get the last of my list of essential purchases in Singapore before it was time to wing our way home. We arrived, slightedly jetlagged on Sunday morning, went to our extremely scungy motel and tried to stay awake until NZ bedtime. Monday, after a rushed start because we slept in, we flew back to Whakatane to the welcome sight of Marilyn and Bunny, and a trip into town to get the best coffee we had had in a long time. The rest of the world just does not "do" coffee!
Tuesday was off to Gisborne to learn more a bout blogs and wikis, Wednesday to Taupo to watch Lucy play soccer and to spend a little time with her, and the rest of the week has been catching up at work. Chances of getting at the computer to do anything have been small, but Maurie is now playing with his CD's so I have my turn!
I am missing the breakfasts that international tourists get served up (mostly) and missing seeing Terry and Dallas across the table!
I did a lot of thinking while travelling (some of it deep and meaningful) about life, love, family, work so watch this space.

Light industry

Well we ventured out of the grounds of this flash resort this morning and went to Georgetown the biggest city of Penang. Fascinating mix of architecture - colonial, Chinese, Malay, Indian. After a hot walk which took in the waterfront as well as the light industrial area by the docks, we returned to swim in the pool, eat curry puffs(without thinking of the HUGE rat I saw in the drain in Georgetown!!) and unfortunately think about packing to return to Singapore and then home. Being an international blogger is hard.

Day two of being a blogger - I view the world in a whole new way. Now I think - can this go on my blog, or how can I use this somewhere - amazing how your world can change overnight! I think the days lazing by the pool help this reflective mode.

In Penang

The last week of our amazing holiday - time to wind down and reflect on the last 5 weeks. Life can be hard but sometimes there are no choices - see ya by the pool!!