Up the River Road

 After such a busy weekend it was good to start the week with a gentle day, and a public holiday (King’s Birthday) to boot. The chilly start suggested that the sun might come out, which it did, and helped dry the two loads of washing that we hung on the line. While Nicky cleaned at church, I pottered at home salting the softener and cleaning the filters in the heat pump and range hood. Nicky did another load of washing on her return from church. I marvelled at being able to sit in the lounge with the ranch sliders open enjoying the sun and the breeze on the third day of winter. We had not been out for our usual birthday breakfast over the weekend so had poached eggs and smoked salmon on toast for lunch. Taking advantage of the weather, we drove a little way up the river road  to see the sight from the Aramoana viewpoint. This was a new experience for us. I think you might agree that it was worth the 25 minute drive:

We rounded off the afternoon with a cuppa at Mark and Krystyna’s to have a look at their newly fitted kitchen. It’s not quite finished (splash backs and flooring still to be done) but looks great and a vast improvement, with oodles of bench space.

Tuesday started even colder than Monday, and set a trend for most of the week with clear skies both night and day. This has resulted in us switching to the winter quilt. I dropped Nicky at the hospital for her Covid vaccination booster, while I went and did the supermarket shopping. A good chat with Claire was followed by crumpets for lunch, before Nicky toddled off to Home Group. In the evening we had a chat with my sister Gill before pressing the telly into service again.

I had an amble upstream on Wednesday morning to where the path gets nearer to the river:

We were a few bodies short in our quiz team in the evening, with winter colds and Covid necessitating absences. At least that’s my excuse for us coming 9th, with only 82 points. Thursday evening was Community Kai at the marae, so I cooked some sausage rolls. Nicky made an apple and rhubarb crumble when she returned from volunteering at Aramoho Library. We walked to the marae only to discover it was closed. We wandered back home, added some scrambled eggs to the sausage rolls and finished off the bread and butter pudding for dinner. Nicky later found the email informing us that the event was not happening. This didn’t detract from the enjoyment of our dinner.

I experimented on Friday morning. I wanted to find out how well the timing of the buses worked for going to the supermarkets for a small shop - just milk and eggs in this instance. We have two buses stop at our bus stop, the 205 and the 206. They take different routes into town, but only the 206 passing the cluster of supermarkets. I caught the 9.25am into town, got off outside Countdown at 9.44, was out of Countdown with my purchases by 9.49, and at the bus stop down the road by 9.55. The next 206 picked me up at 10.14 and I was home by half past ten. It worked out very well and only cost me $2 in bus fares. Cheaper than an on-line delivery charge.

Meanwhile, Nicky made a start on washing the household laundry. At lunchtime she drove to the Museum for another excellent monthly fashion talk. This time a C & A striped purple wool and polyester three piece suit, with flared trousers. This was originally bought by the potter Rick Rudd in the early 1970’s before he travelled from Ipswich to New Zealand. I strimmed in the back garden, ate my lunch outside watching the world go by, and then finished the strimming. Nicky completed the ironing. We had roast lamb for dinner which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Temperatures rose and Whanganui had the national high of 20ºC both on Friday and Saturday.

At some point in the week we had a phone call about the quote to repair to our oven and dishwasher. Both were quite acceptable, so hopefully the parts will arrive and be fitted in the not too distant future.

Nicky was asked to help wash dishes in St Luke’s kitchen for breakfast and dinner at the parish Alpha Spiritual weekend, so set off in the dark for Castlecliff at 7am Saturday morning. I had an amble and cut the berm. Nicky weeded upon her return and departed again about five o’clock. She returned earlier than expected (which was nice) while I was still watching Farmageddon. As the review in The Listener states: “The greatest stop-motion animation farmyard alien invasion movie you are likely to see this weekend, or any weekend, really.” 

Today’s weather started mild and cloudy. While Nicky was at church this morning, I cleaned the fence. After a few hands of Mah Jong this afternoon, Nicky cooked lovely cheese and spring onion omelettes, and date and orange scones for tea. We shall be settling down in front of the telly shortly.

Take care, Rick and Nicky.