I thought I was right

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 I didn’t think my memory was failing me, and now I know that it wasn’t. My recollection was that buying eggs was much cheaper just before we moved to Whanganui than it is now. The weekly item in The NZ Listener from Statistics NZ confirmed this fact this week:


My assumption is that the bulk of the increase in cost is the changes in farming methods forced upon the famers by the animal rights folks. The new methods for raising chooks are more expensive and less productive. I just hope the chooks are twice as happy as they were, because the eggs are not twice as good.


Our week has been quite a sociable one. On Tuesday after Home Group at Dale and Bob’s new home in central Whanganui, everybody stayed for a cuppa and piece of banana cake. I joined them, as I was collecting Nicky after doing the shopping. On Wednesday morning Nicky’s book club, Decibelles met for morning tea in a Upokongaro cafe. In the afternoon she undertook her monthly Hospital visiting of Anglican patients.


On Thursday after Aramoho Library hours, we were invited to Diane (book club) and Peter’s home on the College Estate for late afternoon drinks. We opted for tea and water, though they offered us gin and wine too. They had also invited some neighbours round, John and Cecilia, who used to live in Leicestershire and Hong Kong. It was nice for us to meet some people who actually know the whereabouts of Loughborough. Nicky also wanted me to see Diane and Peter’s home because of the strong colours that have used in some of their rooms, which is unusual for Kiwi’s. Like Nicky, I thought they looked very good. Diane and Peter used to run a paint and decorating shop.


Yesterday morning Nicky undertook Small Group Leaders Training at church. Saturday evening was a Quiz Group social at Danny and Melinda’s home in Aramoho. Except for Mike, the full team was there. We started with a question round devised by Danny, and based on “Fun With Flags” from The Big Bang Theory US sit-com. Danny is a not-so-secret vexillologist, so was called Sheldon regularly for the rest of the evening. Afterwards we played Articulate, a word based game like Pictionary, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The evening was rounded off with tea and carrot cake made by Melissa. We were home later than I had hoped but we had throughly enjoyed the evening.


I have done some more MacOnSite work this week, and sent out an email to my remaining customers explaining that I will be closing the MacOnSite business next year. This has elicited a number of emails of thanks for the technical support that I have provided over the last 17 years, which I have really appreciated. However, much of my week has been centred around working on the paddle steamer. We sailed a charter on Tuesday morning. Bob the bosun and I restocked with bagged coal on Wednesday. Bob was away this weekend so I was Acting Bosun for our three weekend sailings. Yesterday morning it rained steadily, but the afternoon was dry while being cool and dull. Our afternoon sailing was another charter, and a first for me, a wedding on the boat. All went well, including dropping the anchor for half an hour while official photos were taken. Today’s Waimarie sailing was in bright sunshine with a cool breeze. The boat was very full as it included a group of 29 from a tour company.


In my spare time I have been working in the garden, primarily cutting the grass. My 4th line trimmer (strimmer) died on Monday so I nipped down to Mitre 10 to get another warranty replacement. While there I bought a new trowel as I had broken the one which Stella returned via Ros a little while ago. I also bought new wellies while I was out, as mine had been leaking for a year or more and the linings started to detach from the inside making it very difficult to get them on.


While not socialising, Nicky too has been working in the garden, doing laundry, and keeping up with her usual commitments. This afternoon she went back to church for a Christmas High Tea fund raiser which is held every year for the local Women’s Refuge. Her first Christmas themed commitment so far.


We have had some rain this week, and along with the warmer temperatures and sunshine the Renga-Renga lilies are looking the best we have seen them:





Take care, Rick and Nicky.

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