Summer evenings

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The combination of a more work-structured week and some lovely summer weather has seen us developing a new routine. It has been too warm to have dinner on The Rattigan, so following the 6.55pm weather forecast on the tellybox we have been taking the Barlow Recliners outside with our mugs of tea and books, and having up to an hour in the cooler evening air. Only when the sun has finally dipped over the ridge of the kindy roof, or the breeze has become cooler than the warmth, have we returned inside. Night time temperatures in the house have not been getting below 23º, and mid-afternoon temperatures in the roof-space have been reaching 44º. We have had no rain.

We had a trip to Dilworth Hearing on Monday as one of Nicky’s hearing aids wasn’t working properly. A replacement is on its way. On our journey home we did some food shopping and bought three very nice salmon steaks, as we had invited Stella over for a birthday celebration dinner. Nicky made some salads and I baked the fish with a crumb topping. This was followed by (thin) slices of birthday fruit cake. We really enjoyed the Prosecco which Stella had brought on Christmas Day and had not been opened. It was really good to catch up with Stella and hear about the family gathering at Ohakune.

Nicky’s week at the library has been “quiet, but getting busier”. The trains are running again so her commute has also got back to normal. She had a hair appointment first thing on Thursday and has been into prison this afternoon.

I have had some on-site work this week - the first of the year - which has been welcome. Household duties have gone smoothly with the fine weather and I managed a swim at Ladies Bay on Thursday. Jancis, who returns to these shores soon, has been in need of the technical support, so we have had a few FaceTime conversations to deal with her issues. I have had an “at home” weekend, reading and scanning. I’ve done a little over 400 photographs in the last two days which is good progress, but as our infomercials say, “wait, there’s more!” Don’t I know it.

We are also reaching the end of our Christmas food. This week we have finished the Christmas Pie, and there is just one meal of steak and cheese pie (made from the left over Christmas Day steak) remaining. We are also down to the last pieces of Christmas Cake and big mince pie (this year’s mince has been my best ever I think). However, we still have the bulk of three birthday cakes in the freezer, and two boxes of chocolates and two tins of biscuits, all unopened. 


Take care, Rick

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