Quiet winter?

When this week began I thought our “busy” period was over. Covid had clobbered us, just as my season on the paddle steamer came to end, Helen from Auckland stayed a couple of nights, Claire came up from Dunedin and stayed a few nights, then we had a few nights in Raumati. Winter was beginning and we were heading for some P&Q. How busy could it be…

Nicky slipped back into her usual routine commitments; vestry cleaning, home group, and staffing the Aramoho Community library. After vestry on Monday she did lots of errands in town, returning mid afternoon and having snooze in the Room of Requirement. Wednesday was two visits to the dentist to have crowns three and four fitted. The morning appointment went fine, but the afternoon one was a much more difficult and three hours longer experience than expected. She required much more anaesthetic and still has some swelling in her jaw and gums today. She will be back to the dentist again this week for a post-treatment assessment. 

Nicky invited Sue, a recently bereaved widow over for tea on Thursday afternoon, which necessitated use of the second marmalade and orange cake. On Friday, Dorothy (friend of a friend from Auckland) and her almost retired daughter Rachael came over with Rachael’s ailing Mac. This required the baking of orange and date scones as we hadn’t seen Dorothy in a while (very good they were too, like the cake). 

Nicky got very excited on Friday morning as she was able to touch her toes for the first time in about 55 years. The prednisone continues to do miracles… I didn’t quite grasp what all the fuss was about as I have been able to touch her toes since I met her, so long as no tickling was involved. Peppered in amongst all this has been copious laundry duty, and this weekend Nicky has been well enough to have some time in the garden. 

I have not been idle either. Along with assisting with the laundry when required, I have done some MacOnSite work most days. The oven needed cleaning on Monday after cooking Sunday’s roast, and the hob has required similar attention twice. I have finished scrubbing the concrete on the south-east patio, and it looks much better. Next areas on the list are by the inverter on the east path and the path that runs along the south side of the house. Shopping and cooking have been required, and on Friday morning I took the summer quilt down to the laundrette to wash. We changed to our winter quilt from 1st June. While the laundrette washing machine was doing its thing, I had a bit of a walk and took this photo from the railway bridge:

Friday afternoon was my physio appointment, and other errands for me to accomplish whilst in town.

We have also done some things together, just for fun. Tuesday is cheep day the cinema, when all seats cost $10 at all sessions all day. We like to go in the morning to minimise the chances of falling asleep. We had both read and enjoyed Rachel Joyce’s book “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” so wanted so see the film, and it didn’t disappoint. The story of Harold walking 500 miles north England to see an old friend who was dying in a hospice, while at the same time coming to terms with the suicide of his only son 25 years earlier was still poignant, but handled with care. The photography of England was also appreciated by us. 

On Wednesday evening we went to the quiz where back in May we had contracted Covid. The team of 9 adults, one child and one baby stunned the opposition with a first place finish by just 1 point. Again, the presence  of Nicky and I, John and Tiana in the team seems to bring the necessary luck and knowledge for a first place finish. Te Manawa and Kat helped answer difficult quiz questions too, and like Tiana are all in their 20’s/30’s, so have a different range of knowledge. 

On Friday, Frances dropped in late afternoon for two mugs of coffee, cake and scones. After dinner, our neighbours Jacqui and Elaine came over for the evening. The cake and scones were demolished with tea, herbal and black. We had planned this as a farewell gathering for Jacqui moving to her new house on the other side of town, but due to Covid it was delayed. Mark (Elaine’s squeeze and husband) is currently away. This didn’t stop us enjoying the evening and have a good catch-up chat.

In addition to all this, the weather has been lovely. We had hardly seen a cloud until the weekend. The nights have been clear, cold and sometimes frosty, and the days clear, crisp and sunny. While the temperature outside has sluggishly got into the teens, the solar gain in our home has given us a toasty living room. The leaves on the flowering cherry have taken on a lovely autumn brilliance:

Nicky attended St Paul’s, the Maori church at the Putiki marae this morning, as there were no services at Christ Church. 143 parishioners are enjoying the weekend away together in Otaki, north of Wellington. Nicky has been wanting to worship at St Paul’s for years and enjoyed singing and worshiping in Te Reo and English. There were four retired Maori clergy, plus the current incumbent of St Paul’s in the congregation.

Finally, today is the second anniversary of what for us was the completion of our new home. Lee Tucker-Ramage performed the blessing and lots of people brought a plate. It was a memorable evening, we enjoyed sharing with friends and neighbours.

Take care, Rick and Nicky.