The dogwood isn't dead!

We have had a considerable amount of rain this week, so have spent much time indoors. However, we have been out for appointments and essential supplies. Nicky visited an audiologist who checked her hearing and fixed her non-functioning hearing aid, and then later in the week Nicky returned for wax removal. Her new glasses arrived so a trip to the optician’s was required. Nicky is very pleased with them and even though I had a hand in their selection, I also think that they are very nice. In addition we visited The Burrow, but more of that later.

This means we have reached another milestone in settling into Whanganui. We now have optician, dentist and audiologist with whom we feel happy, to add to the doctors and nurses at the Gonville Medical Centre. These are services that we will use increasingly over the coming years, so I’m very pleased that we now have them “on the books” so to speak.

The very spring-like weather (it can’t make it’s mind up) has encouraged changes in the garden, and the dogwood is now budding. This is good news as with the build and the fencing it has suffered some harassment, and there was a possibility that it might not be well:

Before the weather turned wet, I managed to get the most difficult under fence gap filled, and the next most difficult one before I ran out of painted wood. The weekend weather has been dry and mainly sunny, so yesterday I got four more planks painted and completed another gap today. We raided Mitre 10 for compost and a new hose and hose trolly yesterday.

Nicky had a masked and physically distanced Life group this week, and her first Friends of St John’s meeting since we went into Level 2. Our Science Forum meeting for last month was moved to a Zoom session this week. Today Nicky went to Joy McGregor’s home, along with a few others, to participate in the streamed church service.

We have enjoyed a couple of films in the evenings; The Dig about an Anglo-Saxon boat found just before the outbreak of WW2, and Shaun the Sheep the Movie - great fun. We have also completed a jigsaw and had visits from a couple of neighbours in line with level 2 restrictions.

You may remember that back in July we attended Margaret and Sean’s wedding, Margaret being a friend of mine from Deep and Meaningful. Before we left Auckland they gave us a very generous gift voucher as a house warming present, for a deli in Whanganui called The Burrow. We went to seek it out not long after moving here, and were delighted at the range and quality of products that they offer. We spent the voucher on Tuesday morning to celebrate our 14th anniversary of moving to Aotearoa. We purchased chocolate, chutney, pate, cheese, and for lunch stuffed jacket spuds, broccoli salad and a selection of fresh pastries. Unsurprisingly, lunch was wonderful. 

You may recall me recounting this next story before. Some years ago I met one of Nicky’s favourite borrowers at Blockhouse Bay library, an elderly Englishman called Lionel. I asked how long he had been in Aotearoa, and he replied “53 years. I think we might stay!” I think we will too.

Take care, Rick