Rain ...?

A few days ago I came up with a nice pithy title for this week’s blog, didn’t write it down, and now of course I can’t remember it! So the one above, like the spicy cheese and corn muffins that Nicky is making for our tea, is fresh.

We have had another 4-day working week by dint of Nicky taking Tuesday as annual leave. Not only was it the day that my niece Rachel returned to these shores, and Valentines Day, but it was also a birthday for our friend Jancis and we had arranged to take her to the Awhitu Lighthouse on South Head (at the entrance to the Manukau harbour).

Rachels’ flight from San Fransisco was due in at 05.40hrs. So, as is our usual custom we checked on the airport website for an updated ETA, so that we could leave home about the same time as she landed. It takes us about half an hour to drive to the airport, park, and walk to the International Arrivals area. However, the flight came in half an hour early, and we didn’t leave until around 05.45hrs, and there was more traffic than should be allowed at that time of day, so Rachel beat us to “this side” of arrivals. No matter. The wonders of texting got us together. Nicky and I enjoyed our bacon and egg breakfasts while getting a nicely précised account of Rachels’ trip to Japan, UK, Austria and the US. Rachel ate a bit later with having been fed on the ‘plane, and then we made our way through the drizzle to the domestic terminal for her flight south. It was great to catch up with her again.

By the time we were walking back to the International terminal to collect our car, the drizzle had turned to rain. By the time we got home after doing a bit of shopping, not only was it quite late in the morning, but the rain and low cloud were much more prevalent. We suggested to Jancis that an indoor activity might be more appropriate as the weather would ruin the views from the lighthouse and the picnic on the beach, so we headed off to the Maritime Museum as she had never been there. Being local we can all get in for free which is great, and as it was almost noon we were in time for the daily canon firing. After having a good wander through the Immigrants section and the Peter Blake area we popped next door for a spot of lunch at The Crew Club. We really enjoyed the food and our view from the deck, so felt sufficiently replenished to return to the museum and go through the early years galleries.

Nicky had been hinting at having dessert after lunch, but we were all a bit stuffed so I suggested popping up to the French patisserie in Parnell after we had collected the car. This suggestion went down well, and we got to the patisserie just a few minutes before they closed and got three stunning looking items. We took Jancis home (she had other evening plans) and gave her one of the pastries with a candle in it so that we could sing happy birthday. We went home for a light tea (with pastries) and a quiet evening with the tellybox and the Great British Bake-off. Even though the day didn’t go quite as planned, we really enjoyed it. Nicky also seems to be enjoying her Valentines gift of the Ladybird “How it Works” book: The Husband. I though it was time she had an accurate instruction manual.

Jancis and her birthday candle

The rest of the week has been busy at work for both of us, and at times very wet. Nicky has resumed prison prayer group and was at alpha again, and I had a Deep & Meaningful meet up at the Hibiscus Coast RSA.

It was still raining heavily on Friday (it started on Thursday). Nicky went to the Doctors for her three month visit (bloods still good) and because of an infection wasn’t feeling brilliant afterwards so took the rest of the day as sick leave. As a result, we decided not to go down to the BHB Beach Reserve for the free Music in The Parks event that we usually attend, but Jancis still came over and we still enjoyed the fish and chips. We watched Mahana on DVD and even though the evening seemed dry we didn’t regret our choice of staying at home.

Yesterday for me was work, buying and replacing a drive in a customers Mac, rebuilding it and then delivering it to them. The BHB quilting group that Nicky and Mary have set up had its first gathering of the year with a very good session on Saturday afternoon. After she came home I dropped Nicky off at Stella’s for Scrabble with Steve and went on to my customers to deliver their machine. I collected Nicky on the way home.

Today has been prison for Nicky in the morning and pottering at home in the afternoon. The washing I did got rinsed by the rain but a spin and the afternoon in the hot sun sorted it. Nicky has picked loads of beans from the plants she has been growing and has blanched and frozen them. I put some together with some capsicum to go with our savoury muffins for tea.

We are getting back to summer syndrome of “can’t sleep at night, can’t stay awake during the day” so will be heading off to bed shortly. The forecast low for tonight is 19°C, so I have got the HRV on full blast already to try and cool the house down a little.

Take care, Rick