Work & Play

Well I've survived the first 2 weeks of my new work regime, with sore feet now added to the neck & shoulder probs. However the neck is on the mend, & the feet will get used to it. I'm starting to get an idea of how things work now, but I'm still managing to make the odd cock-up each day.
Today is a special day for the Sinnott Whanau - Kath's birthday. Well it's the 20th here. So all their friends will be thinking of them today. Paul invited a few of us up to his place on Sunday to join some of the whanau for a get together. It was a great day, with fab food & wine, & equally great company. Ann proposed a birthday toast for Kath, then we tossed around a few ideas re Paul's fitness level for his upcoming op. That led to some of us heading down to the beautiful Waiotahi beach for a walk in lovely sunny weather. The sea was flat, & John was disappointed that he hadn't gone out in his boat for some fish, but he needn't have worried, because as they were making their way back along the beach, the fish came to them. OK 3 yellow tail wouldn't have fed them, but the cat won't go hungry. Then followed a tense time back at the house watching the cricket. The result capped off a great day for us. Ann worked wonders with the leftovers, so it was only polite to eat what was offered. Late home, but it was worth it. Thanks guys. More photos of Paul's day on Picasso

New Term - New Duties

Today was the first day back at work for 2007, & a whole new regime for me, now that I'll be working 6 hours a day 5 days a week. No more sleep ins during the week now. I've been roped in to help out in the school office, while a staff member is on sick leave. I was a bit nervous at first, but thanks to the rest of the office staff I was able to settle in & cope with all the new stuff. I have one other 'non office' duty to perform - a very important one for the rest of the staff - that of setting up the morning tea. Other staff members were on hand to help me out, & when I went back to clean up another kind person had done it for me. Fantastic people. Still having physio for the neck & shoulders after work, so I'll be getting home a lot later in the day than I've been used to. But it's all good. Tomorrow I need to try & fit my ancillary work in with the teachers' requirements, & that could be tricky. Today was Lucy's first day at College, but I never saw her until school had finished. She seemed happy, & was off to soccer practise for the elite squad straight off! Philip is in for the biggest change though. He'll be either totally lost or getting to grips with boarding school right now at Rotorua Boys' High, & Janine will be trying not to think about it.

Serious Tree Pruning Day

First day of Anniversary Weekend saw Maurie out with his chainsaw.After felling a few of his trees down the track, he offered to finish off what Bunny & I had started a couple of weeks ago. As a result of my effort last time, I have been sidelined by a couple of injuries, so I assumed the role of supervisor on this job. After a few hours of hard labour from the pruning team we now have a much better view of the sea from our kitchen, & a better chance of some extra late afternoon sunshine to the west.Leigh arrived back just in time with our pizza lunch See Picasa link for more photos.

Comet Watch

Great to wake up to a sunny day after a week of murky weather. Last night we sat around the bonfire at Reed's place catching up with all the news. It was a lovely clear night & we had a fantastic view of the comet. My pics weren't very clear, so we were looking forward to getting better shots this evening. The trouble was there was a bit too much cloud this time. However, I managed to get a reasonable shot of the sunset & a few shaky pictures of the comet- maybe not good enough quality to be posted - but here goes.

White out

Another day of extreme humidity & occasional showers culminating in a series of white out conditions. The beautiful pacific ocean is out there somewhere. During one of the less wet times this morning we went on a chook hunt. Over the last couple of days we've seen only one of the black hens, so imagining the worst I did a recce around the outside of the run, then Bunny did a search through the undergrowth inside it. Glad to say he found her alive & well sitting on 14 eggs! Where are the 'neighbours' when you want them to take their share? I just hope that they have plenty of books & wine with them 'up North' if the weather is anything like it is here now.

Hot Tub

Thought I was going to be first with the spa pool pic, but Maurie beat me to it. Bugger! Anyway this one is the first of him in it. Had a long day in Whakatane, with no retail therapy whatsoever. Saw the neighbours driving past the Hub area & waved like fury but no-one in the car noticed. After dull & damp conditions in Whakatane arrived home to a sunny afternoon. For more pics on Picaso click on the links panel. Can't get it to work here.

Tree Pruning

Lovely sunny day again, but a very cool breeze. Just right for a spot of pruning. I started slowly with a few cuts into a karo by the picnic table, then moved on to the flowering cherry outside the kitchen window. It looks fabulous in full blossom. I counted a mix of 10 tuis & bellbirds in it one day, & this year we watched a pair of thrushes feeding their chicks in the tree, before the young birds left the nest. However, the tree had become overgrown & was blocking the early morning sun from the house, so we had a go at thinning it out. Still work to be done yet, but have at least made a start. Next on the list was the puka. It looks dramatic, but it was shading the vege garden, so I sawed, & Bunny guided the cut branches as they fell. Thanks to Lucy the clean up was over in a flash.