It’s not the late nights…

I have always thought of myself as more of a lark than an owl, early starts to the day being preferred to late finishes. However, semi-retirement, age, or the water in Whanganui seems to have changed that. This week I have had a 9am dental appointment (Monday) and 8.45am flu vaccination (Tuesday) and boy was I glad when Wednesday morning rolled round and I didn’t have to be anywhere, at what now seems like a ridiculous hour. I have made my next dental appointment for 10.30am and plan for the future to aim for nothing earlier than 10am. Not only will this be better for me, but it gives those with gainful employment a better chance at an “early” appointment.

Nicky began the week still suffering with diverticulitis. She was tired with lack of sleep and still quite uncomfortable. However, as the week progressed the medication really started to improve things and she started reducing the dose of pain killers she was taking. I chauffeured her to Life Group and Vestry on Tuesday.

Sometime around July/August last year our Aramoho Community Library opened. This is a re-fitted portacabin-sized building located in the grounds of a Born and Raised Pacifica Early Learning Centre, and open 4 hours a day, Tuesday to Friday. Over the ensuing months, Nicky has offered her services as a volunteer, and she has now been taken up on this. Staffing the library through Covid has been a challenge, so I think that has been the catalyst. As a result, Wednesday and Thursday morning saw her catching the bus down the road. Both days she has walked home (about 30 minutes) and in the eight hours of duty had one borrower! She plans to staff the library just one day a week in the future.

I spent Wednesday morning remotely setting up a new Mac for a customer, and had some more work on Thursday. We had a frost on Thursday morning as the clear skies continued, but the lovely sunshine helped dry the household laundry.

We had a pleasant and uneventful drive to Auckland on Friday, and a very warm welcome from Stella. We stopped at Waitomo Orchards to buy some avocados, tomatoes, and apples. There was a good view over the avocado trees and of the giant tomato:

The main purpose of our visit was for Letty’s remembrance gathering on Saturday in Devonport. It was the first time that I had met her three sons, Paul, Stephen and Simon Dudding. Paul and Jenny were there too along with Stella, Nicky and I. There wasn’t anybody else that I knew, but it was good to talk to some new people and share memories of Letty and how she touched our lives.

We enjoyed the catering and departed feeling the effort had been worthwhile, as knowing Letty had been such a joy. We headed to the Auckland Museum to see the Olaf Peterson photography exhibition. His photographs of the Bethel’s Beach area of Auckland’s west coast spanned from the 1930’s to 1980’s and were hauntingly evocative. Despite that, my favourite was one taken at Lake Manapouri in the South Island. A visit to the museum café and shop were then required before taking in the Tāmaki Makaurau exhibition, which was also good.

In the evening we drove into Henderson to a Middle Eastern restaurant, which Stella hadn’t yet visited but had been told was good - which it proved to be. The food was well presented and very good. For some reason my dish took longer to produce than S&N’s, but we were provided with complementary baklava and tea afterwards (and it wasn’t too sweet) I assume because of the delay. We would very happily patronise them again.

This morning we went over to Blockhouse Bay, so that Nicky could attend church and catch-up with friends and acquaintances. We saw Dawn, our ex-landlady, and had a tour around the new builds in the area before calling in on Mary Manton. After a late lunch at Stella’s we had a quiet afternoon and evening, which was most welcome.

Take care, Rick and Nicky.