A real Kiwi house

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We have been living at Covid Level 2 this week until 6am this morning, when we went down to Level 1, which is life as normal for us as we don’t travel overseas. What wasn’t normal was the earthquake which woke us a 2.30am on Friday. It was the first of three but we didn’t feel the following two which were much further off the coast in the Kermadec Trench. Even though we were in bed we felt that we could feel the ground “rolling” and could certainly hear it. It was my first real experience of an earthquake. Later in the day we put a Go Box together - a box of basic supplies that we can just pickup and leave with, if ever we have to evacuate.

Nicky has been working hard on the berm, preparing the ground and planting poppy seeds and seedlings. She has also been buying plants for the font garden which is next on her list, and has included some Naked Lady lilies along with flax and ferns. I have done a little wilderness clearing in the back garden and and also bought some weedkiller to help.


The cones surrounding the vehicle access across the berm to our driveway were collected on Thursday morning, and we have started using it, which is just lovely. Bert came on Tuesday and built a wall for us by the dogwood tree to retain the surface material with which we are very pleased. We have also purchased and fitted toilet roll holders because we were fed up with waiting for the ones that Bert had ordered. Prior to fitting the one in the “downstairs loo” I painted the cabinet and vanity unit. We didn’t really care for the “distressed” look of the ones we had chosen, but had not been able to see the finish in the images on the website where we chose it.


I have done some remote support work everyday, which included a nice FaceTime chat with Jancis, and have also been enjoying using the kitchen. I made a smoked fish pie on Monday, we had our first roast here on Tuesday (despite the warm weather!). Nicky made a courgette flan on Wednesday and on Friday we tried another fish and chip shop which turned out to be the best yet.


Elaine, next door but one, invited Nicky to a women’s dinner plate event on Saturday night. Nicky suggested that I invite Mark (Elaine’s husband) round for the evening which I did, and he suggested going out for a bite and drink along with another “abandoned” husband and we had an enjoyable meal and evening at Stella’s Sports bar.


We have both been feeling a little under the weather today. I made a pork pie this morning while Nicky was away at church, and then we went to a shared lunch. Upon our return I cooked the pie and we both had some zeds prior to me baking some chocolate and raspberry slices and having tea of the left over cheese salad which Nicky had made for last night.


Finally, we have become a real Kiwi house this week because we now have a chair by the front door. OK, it’s not a sofa, but its still something to sit on while donning and removing outdoor footwear.





Take care, Rick

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