Moving on

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It has been a memorable week by our standards; my busiest week of Mac work since starting MacOnSite, and Nicky’s last week at New Lynn library.

Nicky was moved from Ranui to New Lynn in 2011 after having her suspected TIA’s (which turned out to be atypical migraines caused by MSG). She started part time in early February and then when it was confirmed in the March that she would not been going back to Ranui, she went full time in early April. Even though Nicky found the transition difficult at first, she settled into New Lynn and has enjoyed being there. When the requirement for staffing changes were announced way back in 2013, she said that even though she didn’t want to move from New Lynn, she would do if she had to. So Friday was her last day, and she was one of the last members of staff who have been relocated from New Lynn to leave. She was unexpectedly presented with a very large bouquet of gorgeous flowers in oranges, reds, and yellows at lunchtime, and she had provided a selection of goodies for morning tea. She is now taking a weeks holiday before stating at Blockhouse Bay library, and to celebrate has come down with the lurgy, which also seemed to be popular amongst the congregation at church this morning.

I have spent much of the week setting up a reasonable sized deployment of iPads at a school in South Auckland, but I have had other work too. The work at the school has made February my best month ever since starting trading here, but the really good news is that when taking out the hours at the school from the calculation, it has still been one of my best months. Perhaps at last the tide is turning in my favour.

The weather has been pretty good again, with lots of sun and warm temperatures, but the nights are getting cooler. I have managed the usual quantities of laundry washing and drying, but only got to the ironing today (which Nicky has currently taken over). I made an onion, shallot and chive tart on Monday from my new Paul Hollywood book, and it turned out to be very good. Went very well with a salad on the Rattigan.

On Tuesday evening Nicky zipped off straight after dinner to attend a listening course (being run by Jancis) over in Remuera. On Wednesday evening she was at the AGM at church. On Friday, after collecting her from work, we went straight over to the Botanical Gardens in Manuerwa for the free Movies in The Park event. This is the first one we have been to. Like the Music in the Park at BHB the setting was lovely. We had at the last of the onion tart with some salad for our picnic, and hot chocolate and coffee before the film started. Watching the sunset and the ‘planes flying into the airport as the screen was inflated was great. The film, Gravity, started shortly after it had gone dark enough to see the image. Unfortunately, about half way through the film, after three bouts of rain, we, like many other people, gave up and headed back to the car, chilly and wet. What we saw of the film was very good. I discovered I had a copy on file which Claire & Ryan gave me so we watched it all the way this evening.

We have had a quiet and relaxing weekend. Both days have started cool and cloudy but the sun has joined the blue skies in the afternoons. Nicky hasn’t felt like doing much with having a respirator infection, and I still glued to the last of the Harry Potter books. Dawn and Barry came and had a chat with us about the rent yesterday morning. Their insurance costs have gone up considerably so from next week we have agreed to pay them an extra $10 a week. We still think we are getting a very good deal. They have also asked us to take over the mowing of the lawn as Barry’s health isn’t so good and neither of them are as young as they used to be. So, while Nicky is on holiday this week we might go lawn-mower shopping. Steve and Stella came over for Scrabble yesterday morning, and Nicky and I went for a walk down to the reserve in the evening so that she could have a go on the swings. I got another 4 or 5 mozzie bites while we were there, and another 8 overnight. Soon there won’t be any un-punctured flesh left for them to bite!

Take care,

Rick

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