Pearls before lunch

We started the week in a spin - at the Sky Tower rotating restaurant (Orbit). We had both booked Monday off to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. The weather was quite cloudy as we sat up in bed drinking our first mugs of tea of the day and opening our presents - pearls for Nicky and a waistcoat with mother-of-pearl buttons for me (which Nicky made; it’s brilliant). People had told us that the food at the Orbit restaurant wasn’t always fantastic, but that the views compensated. It rotates a full 360° every hour (I think) so you get to see the whole view of Auckland while eating.

We actually enjoyed the food very much. Nicky had the pumpkin soup entrée and the cheese board dessert. I had the venison pie main course with baby carrots and smoked mashed spuds followed by tiramisu. The only disappointment was that Nicky would have liked some nice bread with her soup as she still felt a little hungry at the end of her meal. By the time we had taken our seat in the restaurant the clouds had largely cleared and we had a lovely sunny day, so the view was just wonderful.

To compensate for our very sedentary lunch we went to the zoo in the afternoon to use Nikcy’s complementary pass which expired at the end of the month. It was getting quite chilly so many of the animals preferred being inside, but we had a good few minutes watching one of the tigers, and Kia’s were as diverting as usual. It was a great day, though the edge was taken off a little with neither of us feeling 100%.

Nicky is still living with the lurgy which was slowly improving but she has gone downhill again towards the end of the week. She came home from work on Friday with instructions to have a quiet weekend. Staff shortages have made work very busy for her this week. Tuesday was a particularly difficult day as after work she had great difficulty finding a borrowers house in the dark to deliver some wool, and then the recipient wasn’t very grateful. Her bag slipped off her shoulder, breaking the dish within and ruining the the bread and butter pudding, and she had a major fright when passing a parked van.

I have had a busier week with Mac work doing a couple of jobs on Tuesday, a very frustrating day in an office on Friday, and a home visit on Saturday. I was out on Tuesday evening at a Chamber of Commerce “speed dating” event, where you get a minute to pitch your business individually to 30 other people. It is too early to tell if it will lead to any work.

The nights were really cold in the middle of the week - we woke to 2° on Wednesday morning. The compensation has been a number of clear and sunny days, which have been good for getting the washing dry. We are now into the time of year where I do a little and often, because even after 6-7 hours out on the line it isn’t always dry, especially if there is no wind or sun. We have had sun this week so that hasn’t been too much of an issue but the chilly starts have not encouraged leaping out of bed.

Nicky took Thursday morning off work (she later regretted not taking the whole day) for Christine’s funeral (she died last week). We went over to Henderson for that and Nicky thought it was good service, especially the choice of hymns. I cut the grass in the afternoon.

Saturday started quite damp. We have got some bogof vouchers for a café in Avondale (The Coffee Club) so used one of them for breakfast, which we both enjoyed. I had eggs Benedict with smoked bacon and Nicky had bacon, eggs and tomato, and it was a good size serving. After tea and coffee we called into the new Bunnings DIY store which has just opened in New Lynn to get some coat hangers (while they are on offer). With it being their opening weekend their were lots of activities organised, but we were too early for the face painting which was a disappointment. I was hoping to get a George Clooney.

I dropped Nicky off at home and while she did the ironing I went off to work in Avondale. The day got dryer and sunnier so after lunch we went to an open home for a very unusual dwelling. Take a look at http://harcourts.co.nz/Property/732070/TS150610/8-Hayes-Road The series of interlinked domes make for a very interesting interior space, but we were not at sure about the standard of workmanship. However, it was interesting to see, but even if we had the money we wouldn’t take it on because it just needs so much work.

We finished the day watching Interstellar on DVD, which we enjoyed, and drinking the bottle of tokaji which we bought recently, and really enjoyed. I haven’t had anything quite like it before; sweet and thick and as substantial as some liquors.

Today has been more routine, with Nicky at church and me walking at Karekare, and Scrabble in Henderson. Nicky made some scones which we enjoyed for tea with some chunky soup. To finish off this week, here is a picture I took today of Panatahi Island at Karekare.

Take care, Rick.