Cleaning

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The weather has generally been drier this week, and Thursday was gorgeous with clear blue skies and sunshine. As a result, we have spent more time outside and got most of the laundry dry on the rotary drier.

Nicky was at St John’s Church on Monday to clean the brass, and had a meeting with Louise when she got back. She has also been to Life Group, staffed the kitchen at Alpha, and helped Joy start sorting out one of the filling cabinet drawers at St John’s. Another session at the Community Library enabled her to make more headway with her reading. A trip into town to get the service and hymn sheets organised at the Parish Office, included donating the old hand mower to the Sally Army on Friday. 


The line trimmer (strimmer) has proved its worth, and has been extensively used by me this week, cutting the berm and the back garden so that things don’t get out of hand, even though meteorologically it’s still winter. Nicky wanted to sweep the shed, a task made easier without having the old mover anymore. Trimming the garden is now easier with having a bench to take a break on, and enjoying the views of the garden and down to the river while doing so:



I have spent the last two days giving our home its six-monthly wash. This takes time because I do it properly, with a cloth and a scrubbing brush and many buckets of water, and not just haphazardly drenching it with the hose pipe. As before, even though it didn’t really look dirty before I started, it certainly looked better after I had finished. To complete the job I have cleaned the windows inside and out today. You could say the house fair sparkles, but it won’t last.


On Thursday morning I popped into town to have another interview for a job as a deckhand on the Waimarie paddle steamer. As I had already had one last year (didn’t get the job), this time was more informal. With the weather being so good, we sat outside on this bench by the Waimarie:



I should know next week if I am going to be adding nautical experience to my CV.


On Friday we had afternoon tea at Susanna’s (she attends the same Life Group as Nicky). We had a good chat, a pot of tea, and some Christmas cake.


Our viewing highlights this week have been three films: Gone Girl, which we had seen before but it was quite a few years ago; a documentary about Alexander McQueen which was very good and we both learnt a great deal; and last night The Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a quiet French film with a well told story and some great photography.


Nicky made some lovely monkey bread yesterday to go with the carrot and pumpkin soup for tea, but we are easing the culinary muscles tonight by having crumpets (shop bought). As many times before, so few have toasted so many and enjoyed so much.


Take care, Rick and Nicky.

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