Family Visit

We have had a number of significant events this week, but the highlight has to be Paul and Jenny’s visit. They arrived on Wednesday afternoon in time for a cuppa and cake (choice of Austrian Coffee cake or Lemon and Poppyseed). Once revived Paul and Jenny had a tour of the garden before we got down to the serious business of dinner (lasagne) and a good chat. They departed for their accommodation at the Top 10 Whanganui River Holiday Park later in the evening.


On Thursday Nicky was staffing the Aramoho Library, I had booked Luna in for her annual service and warrant of fitness, and it was raining. Nicky was up early making vegetable soup and focaccia for lunch. I took Luna into the Suzuki garage and Paul and Jenny drove into town and collected me. We parked down by the river and had a gentle stroll into town and up Victoria Avenue to Thistles Sweet shop. Even though the rain was easing we headed for the museum next and had an enjoyable couple of hours. Coffee was required next. Article Café didn’t disappoint, and also had an op shop and a felt and wool shop. The coffee was very good. We popped into the GlassWorks but the artists were on their lunch break so we just had smooch round the shop. Blue sky was visible as we returned outside so we dove home via Durie Hill to take in the view. The soup and bread that Nicky had made were lovely, though she had left her portions at home by accident so Jenny zipped them down to her.


Sustained by lunch we next took in the Winter Gardens and a little of Virginia Lake. By the time we got home Nicky was already there, ready to brew more tea. Paul and Jenny kindly took us out for dinner at the Maria Place Eatery (which had been full when we had tried to take Claire there a few weeks ago). We had an enjoyable evening and excellent food.


Paul and Jenny were heading back to Auckland on Friday morning, so after they had packed and said goodbye to the Top 10 Holiday Park, we provided them with breakfast (scrambled egg, bacon, mushrooms and toast). We had really enjoyed their visit and showing them round Whanganui, and felt that their decision to stay at the Top 10 was a good one, as it gave them some much appreciated peace.


Our other significant events haven’t been quite as enjoyable. Nicky visited her optician on Monday morning. Nicky’s eyes have deteriorated, and she also needs a new lens on her glasses. The cost is fairly eye-watering. On Tuesday morning when Nicky went for her Te Reo Maori class, which was running for the first time in four weeks, she discovered it was to be the last one. The premises where it is held has been sold, and the teacher has also found full-time employment. Nicky is obviously disappointed, but there is another course about which she has found out at Te Ao Hou Marae on a Monday evening. Nicky will try to get a place, after Alpha has finished. On the up side, she hosted home group on Tuesday afternoon and it went well.


Luna, who is now 18, and like us is showing her age. Some major work was required to her front suspension and brakes to get her through the warrant. Estimated cost is even more than Nicky’s opticians bill! I expect to get the final invoice tomorrow. One fun fact came to light. I keep a note of the odometer readings given on the warrant report and in our second full year between services we only travelled 7kms more than in our first full year in Whanganui. That’s just one trip into town and not back again.


On Tuesday morning I had my dressings changed and the operation sites on my back checked. All was well and the histology report confirmed they were just benign moles, nothing cancerous. On Friday I had my final physio appointment for my wrist. I am to keep doing the home treatments, as I feel necessary. While I still have some pain (like every other joint) it is significantly better than it was six months ago.


Yesterday we went to the Jigsaw Exchange to return the one we had done and pick others that we wanted to try. Some of you Dear Readers (certainly one) will be aware of a map jigsaw I purchased for our first Christmas holiday in Tenerife in 2004. It is a digitally printed Ordinance Survey map made into a jigsaw. The central point of the map was our home on Park Road in Loughborough. This is a fairly unusual jigsaw I think, as I haven’t encountered anyone else who has used this on-line Ordinance Survey service (which may no longer exit) to purchase such a jigsaw. Image my surprise and joy therefore to find one at the Jigsaw Exchange. It turns out to be centred on a road in East Sheen in London. It also appears to have an op shop price sticker on the box. I assume that somebody else who also lives in Whanganui also used to live in London and used the service. It is only a 255 piece jigsaw, but I really enjoyed doing it yesterday afternoon.



Today being Sunday Nicky has been to church this morning, and with the weather being drier and sunny I have got some strimming done. As I write Nicky is making ciabatta to go with the left over vegetable soup for tea. We are looking forward to watching the Women’s Football World Cup this evening. We hope that New Zealand beat Switzerland and get through to the next round.


Take care, Rick and Nicky. 

Comments

Cocker1 said…
Barnes is where my birth mother came home to from the Sudan to have me! I shall have to dig out my original birth certificate and see if the road is there!

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