Party, party, party (it's just like being a librarian)

The death of Nelson Mandela has been a momentous event for the world this week. There are many South African’s living here in NZ, most of them white, so the emotions generated by his death have resonated here.

In our own little way, we too have had a memorable week. Nicky has finally been told which library she is to be moved to next year, and Claire has accepted a job in Dunedin. Both these pieces of news came on Monday. 

When Nicky was asked which libraries she would be willing to move to, Blockhouse Bay was not on the list because it is inundated with children after school and is not to a pleasant place to be. Keeping the children under control as they wait for their parents to collect them is a major headache. So, Blockhouse Bay is where she is to be moved to! Probably around the end of March next year. The one upside is that it’s close to home so we won’t incur increased transport costs.

Claire has been offered a post at a legal firm In Dunedin which is not quite the one she was interviewed for, but it looks like it provides the sort of opportunity and work she has been looking for. So, she an Ryan will be moving down south in January.

Nicky went back to work on Monday even though she wasn’t 100%. I had to collect her late in the afternoon, but has has had full days in the library the rest of the week. We went to her prison group Christmas social on Monday evening (the hosts, Chris & Ken get in a range of takeaways) and its always an enjoyable event, and this year was no exception. I discoverd sweet and sour pork goes well with with pizza and chips. When we got home we settled down with a pot of tea so that Nicky could watch this weeks episode of Downton Abby, which had just finished recording. It had been a lovely sunny day and I got all the washing dried easily.

Tuesday started cloudy but brightened up later. I took the bus into town to do a Mac job, and then made a chicken pie before collecting Nicky from work. The weather turned overnight and Wednesday and Thursday were very wet. I did some food shopping and prepared some meals for next week in case they are needed when Gill and Dave are back in Auckland.

Wednesday evening was church house group Christmas social, a pot luck supper at John and Jan’s. Another selection of excellent food and good company. I did a modelling job at a centre for the mentally ill on Thursday, which was a little unusual in that I kept my clothes on. That’s what they wanted so that’s what I did. The weather dried up by the evening in time for us to walk up to the pharmacy for pre-Christmas evening shopping and nibbles. I enjoyed the nibbles, Nicky got a very good gift for her work Secret Santa requirement, and we picked up the Scholl sandals which she had ordered, which are very nice. I was the only man there.

Friday started cloudy but was forecast to be dry so I put some washing out. By lunchtime it was hot and getting sunny so I got two more loads out and dried. Nicky was working a late shift so popped over to Glen Eden first thing to deliver wool to Chris (same one as Monday evening). I went Christmas shopping in Ponsoby and then took Claire to work as she had lots to carry but didn’t have the car. I went out for a drink in the evening and Nicky had some more stunning news - the five missing egg cups had been located. In a cupboard. In the kitchen. In the library. Why they had been taken to the library is still a mystery, but there they were.

We had breakfast on the Ratigan on Saturday morning even though it was a bit chilly because the dinning room table was covered in presents and wrapping paper. Nicky is doing a sterling job with the Herculean wrapping task. The weather didn’t improve and it started to rain, but this didn’t dampen the spirits for the Santa Parade (Nicky was a shepherd this year) which was a long as ever and greeted by a crowd as large as ever. Even the mast of the Sea Scouts boat hitting a power line didn’t stop it for long.

Shortly after the parade finished it stopped raining (go figure). I went and bought a Christmas tree, Nicky had a hasty lunch before going to Henderson for Scrabble, and I did some sunbathing and made lemon curd. In the evening we put the tree up and decorated it and the lounge.

The weather has been mixed today, I made a bacon and egg pie while Nicky was at church. Once she had returned we both set-to making a selection of sandwiches for tea, before going off to Becky and Dave’s for lunch. They have bought a house in what I think of as Kelston and are busy repairing and decorating it. We had lunch outside undercover which was good as we had a couple of downpours. It was great to see then again.

We finished making sandwiches when we got back and then tootled off to the airport to collect Gill and Dave. They flew back from Queenstown after having a very good two and a half weeks touring the South Island and visiting their daughter, Rachel. We dropped them off at the BHB B&B. They later joined us, Claire and Ryan and Paul and Jenny for tea, which was really nice.

And now it is time for the dish washer to earn its keep and for me to head for my bed.

Night all,

Rick