4-0

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Towards the end of the wedding festivities that we attended yesterday, I drew Margaret (the bride) aside to have a quiet word. I said “You’re not a football fan then?”. Her blank expression suggested more information was needed. “You wouldn’t have arranged your wedding for Euro 2021 Quarter Finals day if you were.” “Correct” she said “I’m not a football fan”, which is a bit of a shame really because England’s 4-0 victory over the Ukraine would have been the cherry on top of the icing on the cake (which was chocolate, by the way). At the time of writing this post (sorry it’s so late) all I know is the score line, I have yet to investigate the details.

But I am getting ahead of myself Dear Reader, as the earlier part of the week didn’t pass us by un-noticed. Monday was the re-scheduled extraction of the paddle steamer Waimarie by two traction engines for boiler and general maintenance. It had been postponed from Sunday because of the tide not being high enough, and I had not gone down down to watch it because of the rain. So I was very pleased that Monday was a fine sunny day, as I joined a number of other spectators on the Dublin Street bridge to watch the event.



Monday was windy, but Tuesday was even windier and it was biting with coming up from the south. A lunchtime power cut lasted until around 6.30, at which point I was cooking soup by candle light. Nicky had been over to the other side of town for life group where the power was still on, and our flax was having a decidedly bad leaf day:



Wednesday morning was a major outing into town. This started with Nicky’s hair appointment and was followed with our “Book a Librarian Session”. The librarian (Rachel Smith - Ros’s cousin) took us through the Whanganui Library’s Digital Offerings. We had time to squeeze in morning tea and scones, and the buying of hand towels and toilet roll holder (squiggly), before Nicky’s appointment for her second Covid vaccination. We both felt like having a nice quiet afternoon with lots of pots of tea after so much excitement.


On Thursday morning I put my back out while (ironically) doing my back exercises. I was still able to do some remote support work and had my second FaceTime session of the week with Jancis in the evening, as Nicky made a casserole and baked cakes. The wind dropped quite a bit and the sunshine delivered some welcome solar warmth into our living room.


Friday’s clear skies gave wall to wall sunshine and snowy mountain scenery made for a very pleasant drive to Auckland via Thames for dinner with Andrew (and delivery of casserole and cake). We arrived at Pat and Clem’s around 8p.m.


We had gone up to Auckland for Margaret and Sean’s wedding. I met Margaret at Deep and Meaningful, and James, Wendy and Andrew from the group also attended the wedding. The service was at the Somerville Presbyterian Church in Remuera, followed by a reception at Five Knots (Tamaki Yacht Club). The views of the sun setting over the Auckland skyline were just gorgeous, and a lovely way to end what had been a very enjoyable ceremony and celebration of the couples wedding.


Lighting the Unity Candle

Wendy, Nicky and Andrew



Today we started our return journey with a visit to Blockhouse Bay to catch up with Nicky’s friends at church and Dawn our landlady. Next stop was to Paul (drinking partner at The Block) in his new home in Weymouth and deliver gifts that we had purchased in Raetihi (tea towels), preserves purchased at Silverdale market with Pat yesterday morning, and a cake that Nicky made on Thursday. It was good to see him (and Jason briefly) and the home which he is buying.


With not leaving Paul until well after 2pm, stopping for a meal in Mercer, and then encountering ice and fog on the road, we didn’t make it home until almost 10p.m. Nicky cooked some eggs which had started scrambling in the boot of the car, and I am writing this as we have our last pot of tea of the day.


Take care, Rick

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