My tennis group went out for a pub meal last night to say goodbye to us. It used the savings from playing fees to cover all our meals and a drink.
A nice gesture.
@MrsBeaky I have been thinking of those in the far North and Whakatane and Ohope where I have friends as well as Wairoa, where I taught for year and where they've had more than their share of natural disasters in the last few years
We have been fortunate here in the middle of the South Island and it looks as though we will only have rainfall that is a bit heavier than usual. In the past I've gone out with a shovel and cleared the gutters, but I noticed this time the Council had already done that which was a relief as I have a heavy cold and it would be stupid to be out unless it was absolutely necessary.
I think the Student Volunteer Army. which was first formed in response to the Christchurch quakes, may mobilise again as they have a week of holidays left.
@MrsBeaky I have been thinking of those in the far North and Whakatane and Ohope where I have friends as well as Wairoa, where I taught for year and where they've had more than their share of natural disasters in the last few years
We have been fortunate here in the middle of the South Island and it looks as though we will only have rainfall that is a bit heavier than usual. In the past I've gone out with a shovel and cleared the gutters, but I noticed this time the Council had already done that which was a relief as I have a heavy cold and it would be stupid to be out unless it was absolutely necessary.
I think the Student Volunteer Army. which was first formed in response to the Christchurch quakes, may mobilise again as they have a week of holidays left.
Glad you're ok.
Beaky daughter has messaged to say things are relatively ok where she is based in the North.
She's currently training as a volunteer in the Fire Service so could well find herself on duty during future weather events!
Just a quick note to say that we have departed for the other side of the equator for the next ten weeks, although I may post the occasional update here. See travel thread in Heaven for more details.
Just a quick note to say that we have departed for the other side of the equator for the next ten weeks, although I may post the occasional update here. See travel thread in Heaven for more details.
Safe travels: I trust you have bypassed the Middle East.
@MrsBeaky -Good to hear of your daughter training in Civil Defense. The more trained people there are in the community, the better the outcomes for everyone.
Buses are my only mode of travel, so I'm not affected by the rise in petrol prices and being over 65 I have a gold card, which means I travel free after 9.00 a.m. There are more people on the buses at the moment due to school holidays, but it will be interesting to see if/how rising prices affect bus patronage. The bus fleet in Christchurch is also increasing the number of electric buses which will make it less vulnerable.
The NZ Government has stepped in with an extra payment for families affected by price rises, but I believe it's quite limited.
Off to the vet today. Aroha disappeared on Thursday. I thought she was in the house, but she wasn't responding to my voice. I finally rang a friend at 3 p.m to report that I thought she had disappeared or died. I opened all the inside doors and a few hours later she appeared from the spare room. I put out food, which she ignored and she didn't show any interest in cuddles (she's usually a smoocher).
I woke up this morning and she was lying on top of me, then she ate some food and wants to go outside. I think she's probably O.K, but we are going to the vet this afternoon anyway, just to check.
I discovered what happened with Aroha. She went to the house next door but one and beat up their disabled cat. The disabled cat's able bodied friend apparently then beat her up.
It's not the first time this has happened.
The vet has prescribed antibiotics which will help the scratches, but I'm not sure how to address the behaviour.
I might have to have a catio constructed so she can go outside without being free range.
@Huia, our 2 cats had previously been allowed out at whim during the day, but kept in
from sunset until the next morning. We now only let them out on a lead for a walk. They are both now about 14, so perhaps don't want to go outside as much as they did when they were younger. The lead training made me very unpopular and I was being hissed at every time, initially, but that did pass. I think persistence and a treat to keep busy whilst harnessed up and after a walk, might help with tolerance, but I am not an expert!!
Re the change or not in people's driving habits, I went out for a drive 20 mins across town, last week. I normally sit right on the speed limit (90km/hr) on that road and I was being overtaken at every opportunity. I don't know whether it's people driving on autopilot, but no one appeared to be slowing down at all! At our place Cheery husband's motor scooter has been playing up, so a new battery was bought, then he got a flat tyre. So he tried going to work on his electric scooter and that got a flat tyre. So he's been using the family car (Camry) and using more fuel than he would normally. Bit of a pest, but we can't do a whole lot about it other than get those tyres fixed and hope that the new battery for the scooter has done the trick!!
We had a couple of cool nights this week, so tomorrow's job is to get all the aircon vents blocked with cardboard as is our usual practice!
Comments
A nice gesture.
We have been fortunate here in the middle of the South Island and it looks as though we will only have rainfall that is a bit heavier than usual. In the past I've gone out with a shovel and cleared the gutters, but I noticed this time the Council had already done that which was a relief as I have a heavy cold and it would be stupid to be out unless it was absolutely necessary.
I think the Student Volunteer Army. which was first formed in response to the Christchurch quakes, may mobilise again as they have a week of holidays left.
Glad you're ok.
Beaky daughter has messaged to say things are relatively ok where she is based in the North.
She's currently training as a volunteer in the Fire Service so could well find herself on duty during future weather events!
I haven't noticed much.
Have NZ fuel costs increased by 25% to 50% because of the Iran war?
Safe travels: I trust you have bypassed the Middle East.
Buses are my only mode of travel, so I'm not affected by the rise in petrol prices and being over 65 I have a gold card, which means I travel free after 9.00 a.m. There are more people on the buses at the moment due to school holidays, but it will be interesting to see if/how rising prices affect bus patronage. The bus fleet in Christchurch is also increasing the number of electric buses which will make it less vulnerable.
The NZ Government has stepped in with an extra payment for families affected by price rises, but I believe it's quite limited.
I'm not sure how you'd notice that. OTOH, we are driving less these days, and using the train/walking more.
I woke up this morning and she was lying on top of me, then she ate some food and wants to go outside. I think she's probably O.K, but we are going to the vet this afternoon anyway, just to check.
It's not the first time this has happened.
The vet has prescribed antibiotics which will help the scratches, but I'm not sure how to address the behaviour.
I might have to have a catio constructed so she can go outside without being free range.
Has anyone changed a cat's life from being free range to being contained?
from sunset until the next morning. We now only let them out on a lead for a walk. They are both now about 14, so perhaps don't want to go outside as much as they did when they were younger. The lead training made me very unpopular and I was being hissed at every time, initially, but that did pass. I think persistence and a treat to keep busy whilst harnessed up and after a walk, might help with tolerance, but I am not an expert!!
Re the change or not in people's driving habits, I went out for a drive 20 mins across town, last week. I normally sit right on the speed limit (90km/hr) on that road and I was being overtaken at every opportunity. I don't know whether it's people driving on autopilot, but no one appeared to be slowing down at all! At our place Cheery husband's motor scooter has been playing up, so a new battery was bought, then he got a flat tyre. So he tried going to work on his electric scooter and that got a flat tyre. So he's been using the family car (Camry) and using more fuel than he would normally. Bit of a pest, but we can't do a whole lot about it other than get those tyres fixed and hope that the new battery for the scooter has done the trick!!
We had a couple of cool nights this week, so tomorrow's job is to get all the aircon vents blocked with cardboard as is our usual practice!