Just like Bob the Builder

It has been a “fixing things” week for us, though this hasn’t included Nicky’s strep throat which while improving, is persisting. Luna, our magical little car, developed a mis-fire during lockdown. A trip to my newly adopted garage and a new set of spark plugs appears to have rectified the problem. While out shopping for a new filter for our instant hot water tap I encountered a very nice plumber called Rob. He came round the following day and fixed the plug in the Map Room wash basin. It has been stuck in closed position for about three months and we haven’t seen the plumber Bert organised and we just wanted it fixed. Rob also gave us a quote for a water softener which we have accepted so we will probably be seeing him again next week. I also fixed our £5 IKEA shoe rack. It took me hours, and hours and hours…. Not really fixing but maintenance that was on my list was gutter clearing, with which Nicky kindly helped me. Interestingly, the western gutters were absolutely fine (no nearby trees), but the eastern gutters had a good half-bucket of stuff in them.

We now have red Flanders poppies blooming, in addition to the yellow/orange Californian poppies. 

Along with working in the garden when ever possible, Nicky has been baking. Scones were made, given away to neighbours and consumed by us. Pizza was made, base and topping, and turned out well. There was enough to freeze a couple too.

Friday and Saturday were our best days for sunshine. The river was looking good and the sheep headed for the shade. 

Two or three of the ewes are heavily pregnant, and we are expecting additions to the flock any day day. The oldest lambs still suckling from their mothers are nearly the same size, which makes one blink!

Yesterday I bought some new casual shoes on the way to Mitre 10 to buy more wood. This was to add to the retaining wall that forms the planter by the drive, and I got most of it done yesterday. My most exciting news of the week was having a job interview for a Deck Hand on the Waimarie Paddle Steamer, which plies its tourist trade on the Whanganui River. With my MacOnSite work being so thin on the ground I have been applying for jobs since July, and this was my first interview. I thought it went quite well and will hopefully know the outcome next week. The job is seasonal and irregular, but I think that it could be very interesting, and certainly different from anything that I have done before.

Our Covid situation hasn’t changed our day to day lives this week, but on Friday the new “framework” for living with it as opposed to eradicating it was announced. It is using a traffic light system. Vaccination passports are going to be key, along with good practices such as mask wearing and small gatherings. Life is going to be different for quite awhile. The country is to be divided upon District Health Board lines, once each District Health Board’s area of population has reached 90% fully vaccinated, then more freedom to associate is given. There was no announcement as to how it was to be policed. Local epidemiologists say 90% is too low, and the milestone target should be 95%. A rise in Covid cases and hospital admissions have been predicted and this last week has already proved them correct as we’ve already had two days of over 100 new cases. The nearest to us is a Te Awamutu cluster. The majority in Auckland, and Blenheim in the South Island has had its first case, of this particular Delta outbreak.

Take care, Rick and Nicky

(I’m crediting Nicky now as she regularly proof reads the blog before posting, and adds some of her own comments too).