Culture week

Well, it has been a rollickingly exciting week here in NZ for John Key, the Prime Minister. Our week, in contrast, has been a more sedate affair.

For the first three days we had some major showers, but than a high pressure system took pity on us and it has been clear and sunny since Thursday morning. This has meant some cold nights of course, but the very chilly wind dropped today so it is was almost spring-like.

In addition to doing Mac work at the beginning and end of the week, I have got the “new car” issues sorted out. The CD player now works and we can get both of the radio stations that we want. This has required a band expander on the radio because the car is a Japanese import (like Lilly was) and they only use a small range of frequencies there. It is not a perfect solution, but works for now, and in the fullness of time I might look into having it replaced with an NZ radio with hopefully and iPod connection. I took Luna to a main Suzuki dealer on Tuesday to get a new remote looking ket set up, as the one one which came with the car was badly damaged, so the only good key was a “manual” type. We now have remote looking again, and a good spare key. I have really enjoyed driving Luna this week, and it looks like she will be more economical than Lilly by a couple of kilometres a litre.

Nicky has had another busy week at work in the library, and on Thursday did iPad training for some borrowers, which went very well. I often think that you don’t know how much you know about something until you have to teach someone else.

One Tuesday evening we went over to Ellerslie to see a dress rehearsal of an amateur production of “I Hate Hamlet”. We quite enjoyed it. The actors were very enthusiastic and well practiced, and the interval food and hot beverage was very good. We had found out about it through one of Nicky’s work colleagues (who was also there) and much to my surprise I met one of my customers there too.

Yesterday we took in some culture - the Mt Albert Grammar School fine art exhibition (mainly established artists with some student work) and the Titirangi Painters Exhibition (all amateur). We enjoyed them both before heading down to Titirangi Beach for our picnic. Even though the sun was strong and warm, the chilly breeze warranted a rug over our legs while we munched. Steve and Stella came over for Scrabble after we got home and Nicky made savoury muffins for tea.

Today while Nicky was at church I did the ironing. We had an early lunch and then went over to Glendowie so than Nicky could visit Ruth. I had a gentle walk in the sunshine and enjoyed the views over the water to Half Moon Bay. We delivered Tim’s birthday card on the way home and saw Lucy and Kate too.

As I said dear reader, quite a sedate week.

Take care, Rick