Good to hear @Huia. I worry about the Cheery son's gut health (amongst many other things). He has had so many antibiotics that I fear for his gut biota. It was unavoidable, unfortunately, as part of his cancer therapy, but I'd like to try to repair it if possible and I think could be worth a GP chat next time we are there.
In other news, after sending through a couple of emails through to my interviewer, we have decided on a follow up chat/recording, which she now has approval for and will hopefully happen before the end of the month.
Other than that, we have a very quiet week planned. I might even start writing the festive cards!!!
Kombucha a fizzy tangy success (for those of us who like wilder probiotics). I think fermented health drinks or pickles work better for some than others.
Went off to celebrate the first birthday of a friend's first grandchild on Sunday and took along a bag of little carved wooden shapes made by a local carpenter. Her parents loved them but the tiny birthday girl looked as if she'd rather have had a squeaky plastic toy. There was a long trestle table set out in the garden and piled high with homebaked cakes, meringue pavlovas, ice-cream sandwiches, apple strudel rolls, brownies etc. The children present were only allowed one small piece of cake each. The adults, however, guzzled up all the cream-frosted slices and chocolate sponge etc followed by glasses of bubbly, got hectic sugar rushes, danced around on the grass and behaved like lunatics, watched over by solemn or possibly disapproving small off-spring. It was very funny and enjoyable.
I don't know what happened, but next doors' wi-fi which I use (with their permission), stopped working on my laptop, but not on my tablet, but my tablet can't currently access the Ship so I got shut out again. I now have an easy to remember password (famous last words) so when I am strong enough to sign in again I will do so with my tablet so I have a back up, Life is challenging to the technologically challenged.
It's good to be back again - I hate not being able to add my pearls of wisdom(???)
My Facebook account got hacked/spammed/whatever the current evil thing is today, and when I tried to reset my password I got all in a fankle (mostly because I couldn't remember the old one - who ever does?). I'm going to try and log in on my laptop shortly and see if they were telling porkie pies when they told me I had reset my password ...
Sorry to hear of technical troubles, Huia and piglet. Those messages are worrying indeed piglet given they may, may, don't know about your case, be scams; my mum recently fell victim to one. Luckily she called me (as it kept saying her credit card detail were wrong) and I got her to call her bank and stop the card before any damage was done.
The birthday celebrations sound wonderful, MaryLouise! Adults dancing around and behaving in lunatic ways sounds like a great way to be! Fun is for all ages.
I think it was maybe a hack rather than a scam; someone suggested it may have been because I replied to one of those silly but strangely irresistible "how many of these have you done?" posts.
That's fantastic @Huia, both the ability to participate once again and the name of the boar - just wonderful!!
I loved the sound of your wooden blocks @MaryLouise - who doesn't like to build a tower of blocks and push it over!!??
I hope you are ok after your hack @Piglet, what a pest!!
Extremely slow day today. Daughter having her weekend today and tomorrow is finalising her holiday plans for late Jan '25. Son has done all his jobs and enjoying a bit of R & R for the lead into the weekend. Cheery husband will hopefully escape work early and we will have a lovely quiet evening before hitting the garden tomorrow morning! Cats are enjoying a dozy day too, but I anticipate they will be after some cuddles and some food very shortly!
I am hoping against all hope that the promised heavy rain will come on Sunday. I am so used to the BOM forecast being slightly off that I think I have to be slightly less hopeful just for self-preservation!
Hubby and I are enjoying a break away in Tasmania. Two weeks gone already. Back to the mainland on Wednesday night. It is over 50 years since I was last here and am still gobsmacked by how like the UK 🇬🇧 it is. Weather is a bit chilly for us northerners.
I did wonder if Elon Tusk's name helped him win, but he probably has a more endearing piganality than his more famous almost namesake.
Last time I had to enter my password to connect to the Ship and I thought I was going to have to do that each time now, but that didn't happen so I am really back properly (until next time) . As a technopeasant I am always a wee bit surprised and very grateful when technology runs smoothly.
Today I am photocopying bookmarks. I stitched some saying "BREATHE" in rainbow colours. After that I'll stick backing paper on them and have them laminated. I'll give them to the group of people I'm spending a day on a Mindfulness retreat with in early December.
Discovering that simple bookmarks photocopy well saves a lot of work as I couldn't stitch 20+ identical bookmarks without losing mind. I have also stitched and copied bookmarks to sell (at the vast price of $2) at the local Community Library where I volunteer. I must stock up on those because both volunteers and borrowers often pick them up as small gifts at this time of year.
I am not a fan of the humidity @MaryLouise so hopefully a refreshing drop coming for us both!
I am more a fan of the cooler climes as @Dennis the Menace is describing and having been to Tasmania in October (and it snowed in Hobart), I think it sounds like total bliss!
@Huia, I love the sound of your bookmarks (being a fan of cross-stitch), and I think your solution sounds perfect. I am sure the Mindfulness retreat attendees will love them.
I remember when Cheery Son was first sick, the feeling of total overwhelm and thinking to myself, just get through the next 10 minutes and you will be OK. Had a bookmark with Breathe been presented at that time, it would have helped a lot! So I think that is just perfect.
Today has been a bit messed up but not in a bad way. When husband and I were chatting about weekend plans last night, he informed me that he had bought something at the auction house and needed to go there this morning.
So that has turned into getting up early to water the garden. Out to the auction house, then onto the big retail area for bulk groceries and a spontaneous visit to the garden centre. That does not align with our original plan to garden and for husband to start working on the pavers for the shed he plans to erect. As the day is heating up, I think the paving plan will need to be scrapped and hopefully I'll get the seedlings I bought planted tomorrow or later this afternoon when it's a bit cooler. Cheery red and white petunias, which I'll mix up in the pots for Christmas.
Petunias are lovely. Good luck for all the garden work.
I love Tasmania, though I've only been thrice (twice as a youth; parents had relatives in Hobart, and once as an adult). When I'm working again it is on my list as my next holiday if funds allow. Enjoy the rest of your trip, Dennis!
Is spring/summer a constantly humid time, MaryLouise?
What a wonderful gift, Huia! All the best with the selling.
I've done my draft of two-and-three-quarter assignments this morning. I feel productive. I will review the two this afternoon and look to complete the third either later today or tomorrow (church is fortnightly so I have some time...perhaps better spent bushwalking but the weather is a bit wet and humid here too).
Sounds lovely, Climacus. I need to do some bush walking. I really enjoy it but don't have a car to go over to the West Coast where the best bushwalks are. The smell of the bush after rain is one of my favourite memories.
You may know it, but the word petrichor describes the scent of dry soil after rain. One of my favourite words, when I stumbled across it, and smells.
I went by train and bus so was limited. But I did walk to the Franz Josef glacier (rapidly receeding) lookout and did a short hill walk from town which was nice. I know there is so much more to see. Maybe one day.
Petrichor is one of my favourite words too, Climacus. It's particularly poignant here, where we have 300 days of sunshine each year. The irrigation sort of recreates the smell, but for the first time this season, we had rain overnight and the weather overcame the 'dome' of mountains and islands that prevent most of the weather from dropping rain. When I got up the next morning the smell was WONDERFUL.
Totally agree about the petrichor smell, we knew there was rain coming today, but it couldn't come fast enough for me. Once our cat began to look for somewhere to hide, we knew it must be close and so thankful for the heavy soaking rain and the beautiful smell.
Our first decent rain for over a month and I've planted all the petunias, weeded, repotted some things and husband has burnt more weeds! A good morning's work and all done before the rain, so I could be lazy and watch TV without feeling too guilty!
I've passed through Franz on a bus but never stopped to have a look around. It's one of the wettest places in Aotearoa/ NZ, Secretary Island in Milford Sound being the wettest most years.
I actually found a NZ liquid shower soap called Kaimai Rainfall* that is scented to smell of the bush after rain. It lists manuka (tea tree) as an ingredient.
* The densely wooded Kaimai ranges are in the North Island, near Tauranga, I think, but it's years since I was up that way.
I have just spent a frustrating but ultimately rewarding time looking for my phone. I did think I may have dropped it in the rural area where I went to collect pine cones yesterday, in which case it would have been a write off, but I charged up my little phone and heard it ringing in the house. I was so relieved. I purposely kept the old phone and am so glad I did, but will have to update it when the whole network changes sometime next year.
The leaves are purple??? My favourite colour. When my nephew was about 3 he escorted me around his mother's flower garden showing me all the purple flowers. He didn't call them purple but, "Aunty Huia's favourite colour."
(In a stern voice) Piglet, the only reason blue is a colour is because it is needed to make purple.
@Climacus Thanks for the photo. I wish it wasn't too cold for it here.
Yesterday my wonderful neighbour helped me move 2 roses. I know it is not the right time of year, but the drainage blokes are coming to fix the drains which sustained invisible damage during the quakes and the roses were planted over them.
I also delivered bags of pinecones around the neighourhood to 3 grateful
recipients. I've discovered one relies on burning wood for heating so she will be my priority. She also told me that the City Council are planting native trees on the other side of the river to improve the habitat of native birds and skinks. I'm going to investigate during the weekend if its fine.
No judging! Do these, one of the streets in town (not my photo), look any more purple?
I applied for four part time jobs for next year (TAFE goes to 2 days from Feb to Apr); not confident, but getting the applications together for a different role/industry is helpful in getting my thoughts down and having a standard resume and a standard cover letter I can use as a base is helpful.
All the best with the drains, Huia. Happy pinecone delivering and the native tree plantation sounds well worth a visit!
@Huia, I'm glad your found your phone and I hope your roses will thrive in their new spot. I had a Blue Moon which I dug out many years ago and had in a bucket which was topped up irregularly and after about 6 months I finally got around to giving it to a friend who offered to rehome it. When that friend moved house, it was still going strong, so that it my wish for your roses too!
Good luck with the job hunting @Climacus, we are working on resumes with Cheery son and it's hard going. Tonight he starts a short course in Animation and we hope that will at least be something to add to the resume as recent training. If he copes with the course he might do some additional ones next year. Loving the Jacaranda photos. I have always wondered, are they scented? Or is most of their beauty in the show they put on? They really are spectacular!
Not a lot planned for today. Just some weeding and some housework and hopefully some reading too. I've just heard the washing machine singing it's song, so off to sort that out now!
I talked to a helpful and knowledgeable Aussie bloke in Mitre 10 today about propagating roses. While I have had some success in propagating, I've never had a high strike rate. He explained what I could do that would increase my chances. So tomorrow I will be trying to follow his advice in the hope that everything will be coming up roses. One thing I got wrong was that I have been using potting mix, which contains fertiliser (because I already had some). Fertiliser can burn the developing roots of the cutting. so I now have a growing medium instead.
When I was teaching I often came across the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." I'm beginning to think it takes a small city to educate me.
My neighbour consulted her mother regarding the pruning of the roses and her mother consulted her rose guru in Dunedin.
The helpful bloke didn't know there is an apricot coloured version of Cecille Brunner, called Perle D'or so If I successfully strike a few I thought I'd take him one. I know being helpful is part of his job but his advice will make a difference to my results.
Would those of you who are into God-bothering spare a prayer for my (unnamed) diocese this weekend as we seek to elect a new bishop. There's one or two, er, strong characters who may not play nice. The candidates are high calibre but I fear some of the subtexts may not be.
Meanwhile, after about ten days feeling like a quasi-comatose cow after having to eat unmentionable and untastable substances like chick peas, lentils and tofu, I was home alone tonight, so had an exquisite dish of pre-packaged shepherd's pie drowned in HP Sauce (on a bed of baby spinach smothered in peri peri mayonaise) followed by a sumptuous dessert (which I rarely eat) of Weetbix (not the same as Weetabix, @Piglet) kerplonked with cheap fruit yogurt and (again a rare lapse) full cream but bargain basement milk.
Nom nom nom.
All I need is a French name for it.
All washed down with unsweetened lime juice in a 1:3 ratio with iced water because I'm on the wagon these days (Sundays excepted).
NZ weetbix is a substance that I have avoided entirely since buying my own food. I think "not very nice generally" describes it well, although in less civilized company I may have been less polite in the terms I used.
I have managed to sabotage my phone so it is not working. It will take a charge and play the recorded message, but not allow communication. It happened before and the lovely staff at One, (Vodaphone) sorted it out for me. I'm hoping they can do the same today.
Will be thinking of you @Zappa as you endure the process of making a good selection sounds like there might be some games, that are not so fun to work through, good wishes and wisdom for you!
Today is sunny and trending towards hot. I've done a few jobs in the cool of the morning and selected others where I could plonk myself under the aircon. All done now, bar bringing the bin in from the road, and have just enjoyed some porridge and peaches for lunch. Nice and filling and my sweet tooth quite likes it. Unlike others, I am quite the Weetbix fan and have them every day that I don't have porridge. The dietician suggested my toast and vegemite were not healthy enough!! I was very sad about that.
Cheery son and I will be enjoying a movie this afternoon and later on he will have his animation course to look forward to and I'll have some time to myself for reading and starting dinner.
I am sure the Mitre 10 man will appreciate seeing your roses once they are struck and good luck with getting your phone sorted @Huia.
Miracle of miracles, I sorted out my phone without having to take it into town and admit I'd had stuffed up again. What I had done was turn the phone off, rather than disconnect the call first (It was only a recorded message and I knew what it said) . I think this was probably what happened last time too, which is why the technician sorted it out so quickly. He did seem a bit bemused by the speed at which it came right, but that was possibly because it fixed itself in the same way.
@Zappa, definitely prayers for a bishop, holy, humble and wise. @Huia, yes phones can be awkward like that. I once had to take mine to the shop, because I had somehow managed to set the screen brightness to zero. But the bloke in the shop knew a way around it.
Hope the movie was enjoyable Cheery Gardener and your son is enjoying his class. A student in a class a fortnight ago was creating an interesting Doctor Who animation in free time.
My phone, admittedly a cheap one, is behaving in odd ways occassionally. A few times I have used it on whatever those things are called where you need to press numbers to make a selection when on a call and the screen has gone black. I'm sure dropping it several times has nothing to do with it.
Out of curiosity I looked up weetbix, it looks similar to weetabix, which you could have with yoghurt if you so desired I think. Weetabix makes a surprisingly good tea loaf btw.
Ooh, is it possible you could put the recipe on the recipe thread @Sarasa?
I have a nice slice recipe, which I always use Weetbix crumbs for, but is supposed to be any cereal you like, I like the idea of using up the bits that no one else wants.
Glad to hear all the phone problems appear to be resolved, my phone too has had a few drops, I won't tempt fate by posting about the outcome so far.
I've been out and cut some roses this morning as I knew they would be fried by tonight if I didn't. I've also used the warm weather as an excuse to sit in the cool and dash off a couple of emails to friends, I have not been a good correspondent this year!
I think the weekend will be a lot of lying around and doing not much, as it's going to be quite unpleasant in my book, I know others will be enjoying it though!!
I think tonight will be rushing around with the hose and giving the pot plants a good soak which can be taken up overnight before tomorrow's heat.
Speaking of roses, I am cautiously optimistic that the large bush of Perle D'Or I had to shift because of the drainlayers is going to survive in its new spot in the raised garden. After chopping it back severely I have been watering it twice daily and the leaves that are left are no longer wilting. Having a few cooler days has helped.
Yesterday we had Open day at the Community Library where I volunteer, The partner of one of the volunteers is an avid gardener and I bought a couple of mint plants for which I will need to find a semi shaded place. I was tempted to buy a small kakabeak (a native tree with red flowers) but he warned me it would grow into a large tree. I had not seen one fully grown so I thought it was only a small plant. Good to have expert advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.
Last year the garden stall was by far the busiest. A group of young people came by who were keen to grow a vegetable garden, so he conducted an impromptu glass on growing vegetables.
Petunias are lovely. Good luck for all the garden work.
Is spring/summer a constantly humid time, MaryLouise? snip
Sorry for late replies, we have had extended power cuts so catching up. @Climacus, our weather here in the Western Cape of South Africa is usually more Mediterranean and drier, but if we get heavy rain, the humidity is oppressive. In more subtropical regions like KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, it is damper and steamier right through summer.
Jacaranda season here too, we get white jacarandas as well, very eye-catching. Less common than they used to be: jacarandas, along with flamboyants and bougainvillea, were planted by the British all over the colonies of the southern hemisphere but are now considered invasive water-guzzlers to be replaced by indigenous trees.
@Huia, @BroJames the old saying that mint runs rather than walks is why I've always only planted mint in pots, and some gardeners use buckets to contain the spread. Because I'm now in an apartment with landscaped grounds around me, I've taken to guerilla gardening and sneaked mint into half-barrels, tucked away small bushes of thyme and origanum between shrubs.
I will definitely plant the mint in two large pots. When I was about 6 years old my maternal Grandfather visited and my family, along with Pop and my cousins family went to Wellington Zoo.
It was a lovely day, even though I was squirted by the elephant when it was being bathed. Mum, wanting a small souvenir did something totally out of character and picked a small piece of eau de cologne mint to plant in her garden. Years later were still pulling it out! It definitely grew more strongly than the usual garden mint, under the house and out the other side. Mum said she was duly punished for taking a cutting.
@MaryLouise I like the sound of guerilla gardening.
Christchurch, where I live now has been known as The Garden City and a lot of English trees were planted here. Since the earthquakes more native trees are being planted and it's lovely to see the bird life they attract. Native birds in Aotearoa/NZ are making a comeback due to the plantings and local efforts throughout the country to eradicate possums which were introduced here from Australia for the fur trade, and although I love my possum and merino socks, the sooner possums go the better.
Oh my goodness, mint. In some ways it's a plant to give to people that you don't like!! I have some in a thick concrete pot from my parents' place. Where it was growing through the bottom of the pot we have ended up with a whole lot of plants which I rip out periodically!! It certainly is a friend for life!
@Huia, I love your being squirted by the elephant, what a great story! And your poor Mum and mint, my Mum loved her eau de cologne mint, but she had a lot of trouble keeping it alive and it seemed as though Dad was always on the lookout for another one at various markets.
@MaryLouise I also love the sound of guerilla gardening, there should be more of it!! I did not know that white jacarandas existed, I've only ever seen the blue ones in photos and never the white variety.
Very hot today, so have been around and given everything a good soak tonight in anticipation of tomorrow being hot again. I made sure my container for the birds was topped up and put some ice cubes in the cats' water this afternoon.
Husband has bought a box of Magnums for the family tonight. We aren't the biggest ice cream eaters, but I do find a Magnum hard to resist!!
D, the bloke who mows my lawns and helps with the more physically demanding garden work came over today and left me totally exhausted. We tied back some roses so the drain people can dig a new stormwater drain in front of the house. I cleared half of the potting bench which will also need to be moved so they can access the drains. This will totally annoy Aroha and Spooky (the black cat from along the road) as they use it for access to the house and for making sure they catch the last of the sun each day. I will also need to find a place to temporarily store the empty pots and and potting mix, so D left me his large wheelbarrow so I can transport everything easily.
Fortunately it's a sunny day so being outside is lovely, if exhausting.
That sounds like a huge effort @Huia, I felt exhausted just reading about it! However, it must feel good to know the work has been done and that you won't be caught unprepared for workmen.
I've just come inside from doing another round of watering the potplants. We might get some rain midweek and some cooler temps but we have a good hose and multi-setting attachment, so it's not a difficult job and it only took me about 10-15 minutes.
I've had a morning of listening to podcasts, one an interview with Rick Morton and the other being the Scandal Mongers, both of which I enjoy very much and make the day very pleasant when it's too hot to do much else.
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In other news, after sending through a couple of emails through to my interviewer, we have decided on a follow up chat/recording, which she now has approval for and will hopefully happen before the end of the month.
Other than that, we have a very quiet week planned. I might even start writing the festive cards!!!
Went off to celebrate the first birthday of a friend's first grandchild on Sunday and took along a bag of little carved wooden shapes made by a local carpenter. Her parents loved them but the tiny birthday girl looked as if she'd rather have had a squeaky plastic toy. There was a long trestle table set out in the garden and piled high with homebaked cakes, meringue pavlovas, ice-cream sandwiches, apple strudel rolls, brownies etc. The children present were only allowed one small piece of cake each. The adults, however, guzzled up all the cream-frosted slices and chocolate sponge etc followed by glasses of bubbly, got hectic sugar rushes, danced around on the grass and behaved like lunatics, watched over by solemn or possibly disapproving small off-spring. It was very funny and enjoyable.
It's good to be back again - I hate not being able to add my pearls of wisdom(???)
The birthday celebrations sound wonderful, MaryLouise! Adults dancing around and behaving in lunatic ways sounds like a great way to be! Fun is for all ages.
Must try and resist in the future.
I loved the sound of your wooden blocks @MaryLouise - who doesn't like to build a tower of blocks and push it over!!??
I hope you are ok after your hack @Piglet, what a pest!!
Extremely slow day today. Daughter having her weekend today and tomorrow is finalising her holiday plans for late Jan '25. Son has done all his jobs and enjoying a bit of R & R for the lead into the weekend. Cheery husband will hopefully escape work early and we will have a lovely quiet evening before hitting the garden tomorrow morning! Cats are enjoying a dozy day too, but I anticipate they will be after some cuddles and some food very shortly!
I am hoping against all hope that the promised heavy rain will come on Sunday. I am so used to the BOM forecast being slightly off that I think I have to be slightly less hopeful just for self-preservation!
@Huia, Elon Tusk the unboorish boar sounds a much nicer bet than the real thing!
Last time I had to enter my password to connect to the Ship and I thought I was going to have to do that each time now, but that didn't happen so I am really back properly (until next time) . As a technopeasant I am always a wee bit surprised and very grateful when technology runs smoothly.
Today I am photocopying bookmarks. I stitched some saying "BREATHE" in rainbow colours. After that I'll stick backing paper on them and have them laminated. I'll give them to the group of people I'm spending a day on a Mindfulness retreat with in early December.
Discovering that simple bookmarks photocopy well saves a lot of work as I couldn't stitch 20+ identical bookmarks without losing mind. I have also stitched and copied bookmarks to sell (at the vast price of $2) at the local Community Library where I volunteer. I must stock up on those because both volunteers and borrowers often pick them up as small gifts at this time of year.
I am more a fan of the cooler climes as @Dennis the Menace is describing and having been to Tasmania in October (and it snowed in Hobart), I think it sounds like total bliss!
@Huia, I love the sound of your bookmarks (being a fan of cross-stitch), and I think your solution sounds perfect. I am sure the Mindfulness retreat attendees will love them.
I remember when Cheery Son was first sick, the feeling of total overwhelm and thinking to myself, just get through the next 10 minutes and you will be OK. Had a bookmark with Breathe been presented at that time, it would have helped a lot! So I think that is just perfect.
Today has been a bit messed up but not in a bad way. When husband and I were chatting about weekend plans last night, he informed me that he had bought something at the auction house and needed to go there this morning.
So that has turned into getting up early to water the garden. Out to the auction house, then onto the big retail area for bulk groceries and a spontaneous visit to the garden centre. That does not align with our original plan to garden and for husband to start working on the pavers for the shed he plans to erect. As the day is heating up, I think the paving plan will need to be scrapped and hopefully I'll get the seedlings I bought planted tomorrow or later this afternoon when it's a bit cooler. Cheery red and white petunias, which I'll mix up in the pots for Christmas.
I love Tasmania, though I've only been thrice (twice as a youth; parents had relatives in Hobart, and once as an adult). When I'm working again it is on my list as my next holiday if funds allow. Enjoy the rest of your trip, Dennis!
Is spring/summer a constantly humid time, MaryLouise?
What a wonderful gift, Huia! All the best with the selling.
I've done my draft of two-and-three-quarter assignments this morning. I feel productive. I will review the two this afternoon and look to complete the third either later today or tomorrow (church is fortnightly so I have some time...perhaps better spent bushwalking but the weather is a bit wet and humid here too).
I went by train and bus so was limited. But I did walk to the Franz Josef glacier (rapidly receeding) lookout and did a short hill walk from town which was nice. I know there is so much more to see. Maybe one day.
Our first decent rain for over a month and I've planted all the petunias, weeded, repotted some things and husband has burnt more weeds! A good morning's work and all done before the rain, so I could be lazy and watch TV without feeling too guilty!
I actually found a NZ liquid shower soap called Kaimai Rainfall* that is scented to smell of the bush after rain. It lists manuka (tea tree) as an ingredient.
* The densely wooded Kaimai ranges are in the North Island, near Tauranga, I think, but it's years since I was up that way.
I have just spent a frustrating but ultimately rewarding time looking for my phone. I did think I may have dropped it in the rural area where I went to collect pine cones yesterday, in which case it would have been a write off, but I charged up my little phone and heard it ringing in the house. I was so relieved. I purposely kept the old phone and am so glad I did, but will have to update it when the whole network changes sometime next year.
A windy night with our front lawn now a sea of purple of Jacaranda leaves from next door.
Purple indeed. Photo from the walking/bike path across the road.
@Climacus Thanks for the photo. I wish it wasn't too cold for it here.
Yesterday my wonderful neighbour helped me move 2 roses. I know it is not the right time of year, but the drainage blokes are coming to fix the drains which sustained invisible damage during the quakes and the roses were planted over them.
I also delivered bags of pinecones around the neighourhood to 3 grateful
recipients. I've discovered one relies on burning wood for heating so she will be my priority. She also told me that the City Council are planting native trees on the other side of the river to improve the habitat of native birds and skinks. I'm going to investigate during the weekend if its fine.
I'm quite partial to both (depending on what sort of blue it is).
<scuttles off in a hurry>
I applied for four part time jobs for next year (TAFE goes to 2 days from Feb to Apr); not confident, but getting the applications together for a different role/industry is helpful in getting my thoughts down and having a standard resume and a standard cover letter I can use as a base is helpful.
All the best with the drains, Huia. Happy pinecone delivering and the native tree plantation sounds well worth a visit!
Good luck with the job hunting @Climacus, we are working on resumes with Cheery son and it's hard going. Tonight he starts a short course in Animation and we hope that will at least be something to add to the resume as recent training. If he copes with the course he might do some additional ones next year. Loving the Jacaranda photos. I have always wondered, are they scented? Or is most of their beauty in the show they put on? They really are spectacular!
Not a lot planned for today. Just some weeding and some housework and hopefully some reading too. I've just heard the washing machine singing it's song, so off to sort that out now!
It has been a great season for the jacarandas around us.
When I was teaching I often came across the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." I'm beginning to think it takes a small city to educate me.
My neighbour consulted her mother regarding the pruning of the roses and her mother consulted her rose guru in Dunedin.
The helpful bloke didn't know there is an apricot coloured version of Cecille Brunner, called Perle D'or so If I successfully strike a few I thought I'd take him one. I know being helpful is part of his job but his advice will make a difference to my results.
Meanwhile, after about ten days feeling like a quasi-comatose cow after having to eat unmentionable and untastable substances like chick peas, lentils and tofu, I was home alone tonight, so had an exquisite dish of pre-packaged shepherd's pie drowned in HP Sauce (on a bed of baby spinach smothered in peri peri mayonaise) followed by a sumptuous dessert (which I rarely eat) of Weetbix (not the same as Weetabix, @Piglet) kerplonked with cheap fruit yogurt and (again a rare lapse) full cream but bargain basement milk.
Nom nom nom.
All I need is a French name for it.
All washed down with unsweetened lime juice in a 1:3 ratio with iced water because I'm on the wagon these days (Sundays excepted).
I'm glad you clarified re: your Weetbix; I don't know what it is, but Weetabix would Not Be Nice with yoghurt!
Come to think of it, it's not very nice generally ...
I have managed to sabotage my phone so it is not working. It will take a charge and play the recorded message, but not allow communication. It happened before and the lovely staff at One, (Vodaphone) sorted it out for me. I'm hoping they can do the same today.
Today is sunny and trending towards hot. I've done a few jobs in the cool of the morning and selected others where I could plonk myself under the aircon. All done now, bar bringing the bin in from the road, and have just enjoyed some porridge and peaches for lunch. Nice and filling and my sweet tooth quite likes it. Unlike others, I am quite the Weetbix fan and have them every day that I don't have porridge. The dietician suggested my toast and vegemite were not healthy enough!! I was very sad about that.
Cheery son and I will be enjoying a movie this afternoon and later on he will have his animation course to look forward to and I'll have some time to myself for reading and starting dinner.
I am sure the Mitre 10 man will appreciate seeing your roses once they are struck and good luck with getting your phone sorted @Huia.
What a nice gift to the Mitre 10 man, Huia.
Hope the movie was enjoyable Cheery Gardener and your son is enjoying his class. A student in a class a fortnight ago was creating an interesting Doctor Who animation in free time.
My phone, admittedly a cheap one, is behaving in odd ways occassionally. A few times I have used it on whatever those things are called where you need to press numbers to make a selection when on a call and the screen has gone black. I'm sure dropping it several times has nothing to do with it.
I have a nice slice recipe, which I always use Weetbix crumbs for, but is supposed to be any cereal you like, I like the idea of using up the bits that no one else wants.
Glad to hear all the phone problems appear to be resolved, my phone too has had a few drops, I won't tempt fate by posting about the outcome so far.
I've been out and cut some roses this morning as I knew they would be fried by tonight if I didn't. I've also used the warm weather as an excuse to sit in the cool and dash off a couple of emails to friends, I have not been a good correspondent this year!
I think the weekend will be a lot of lying around and doing not much, as it's going to be quite unpleasant in my book, I know others will be enjoying it though!!
I think tonight will be rushing around with the hose and giving the pot plants a good soak which can be taken up overnight before tomorrow's heat.
Yesterday we had Open day at the Community Library where I volunteer, The partner of one of the volunteers is an avid gardener and I bought a couple of mint plants for which I will need to find a semi shaded place. I was tempted to buy a small kakabeak (a native tree with red flowers) but he warned me it would grow into a large tree. I had not seen one fully grown so I thought it was only a small plant. Good to have expert advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.
Last year the garden stall was by far the busiest. A group of young people came by who were keen to grow a vegetable garden, so he conducted an impromptu glass on growing vegetables.
Sorry for late replies, we have had extended power cuts so catching up. @Climacus, our weather here in the Western Cape of South Africa is usually more Mediterranean and drier, but if we get heavy rain, the humidity is oppressive. In more subtropical regions like KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, it is damper and steamier right through summer.
Jacaranda season here too, we get white jacarandas as well, very eye-catching. Less common than they used to be: jacarandas, along with flamboyants and bougainvillea, were planted by the British all over the colonies of the southern hemisphere but are now considered invasive water-guzzlers to be replaced by indigenous trees.
@Huia, @BroJames the old saying that mint runs rather than walks is why I've always only planted mint in pots, and some gardeners use buckets to contain the spread. Because I'm now in an apartment with landscaped grounds around me, I've taken to guerilla gardening and sneaked mint into half-barrels, tucked away small bushes of thyme and origanum between shrubs.
It was a lovely day, even though I was squirted by the elephant when it was being bathed. Mum, wanting a small souvenir did something totally out of character and picked a small piece of eau de cologne mint to plant in her garden. Years later were still pulling it out! It definitely grew more strongly than the usual garden mint, under the house and out the other side. Mum said she was duly punished for taking a cutting.
@MaryLouise I like the sound of guerilla gardening.
Christchurch, where I live now has been known as The Garden City and a lot of English trees were planted here. Since the earthquakes more native trees are being planted and it's lovely to see the bird life they attract. Native birds in Aotearoa/NZ are making a comeback due to the plantings and local efforts throughout the country to eradicate possums which were introduced here from Australia for the fur trade, and although I love my possum and merino socks, the sooner possums go the better.
@Huia, I love your being squirted by the elephant, what a great story! And your poor Mum and mint, my Mum loved her eau de cologne mint, but she had a lot of trouble keeping it alive and it seemed as though Dad was always on the lookout for another one at various markets.
@MaryLouise I also love the sound of guerilla gardening, there should be more of it!! I did not know that white jacarandas existed, I've only ever seen the blue ones in photos and never the white variety.
Very hot today, so have been around and given everything a good soak tonight in anticipation of tomorrow being hot again. I made sure my container for the birds was topped up and put some ice cubes in the cats' water this afternoon.
Husband has bought a box of Magnums for the family tonight. We aren't the biggest ice cream eaters, but I do find a Magnum hard to resist!!
D, the bloke who mows my lawns and helps with the more physically demanding garden work came over today and left me totally exhausted. We tied back some roses so the drain people can dig a new stormwater drain in front of the house. I cleared half of the potting bench which will also need to be moved so they can access the drains. This will totally annoy Aroha and Spooky (the black cat from along the road) as they use it for access to the house and for making sure they catch the last of the sun each day. I will also need to find a place to temporarily store the empty pots and and potting mix, so D left me his large wheelbarrow so I can transport everything easily.
Fortunately it's a sunny day so being outside is lovely, if exhausting.
I've just come inside from doing another round of watering the potplants. We might get some rain midweek and some cooler temps but we have a good hose and multi-setting attachment, so it's not a difficult job and it only took me about 10-15 minutes.
I've had a morning of listening to podcasts, one an interview with Rick Morton and the other being the Scandal Mongers, both of which I enjoy very much and make the day very pleasant when it's too hot to do much else.