Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

 We have had some significant temperature changes this week. Mid-week it was very chilly, but now we are back to 24º highs and sunshine. Unusually, Nicky had Monday at home as she and Dale had decided to have a break from vestry cleaning with it being Easter Monday and a public holiday. I was sailing and got a little damp in the rain. We managed to fit in some Mah Jong before dinner and telly. I had Tuesday off, so after the supermarket shopping, we walked down to see Laurie and Alton in their new home. Alton’s health is not good and they needed a single level home. They found something suitable in Aramoho and moved in about 3 months ago. Laurie is very good company so having her near by is a pleasure. She used to be an industrial chaplain before retirement, and Alton an engineer. After walking home and having some lunch, Fiona called by to deliver some feijoas and was persuaded to stay for a cuppa and a chat. Overnight rain brought a damp start to Wednesday so my fellow boat crew ...

 For the last three days tropical storm Tam has been dominating our weather. In the north of the island this has meant heavy rain storms and flooding. For us, here in Whanganui, it has brought 27ºC highs, sunshine, mid-teen night-time temperatures, and wind that feels like standing in front of a giant hairdryer. It has almost been like summer all over again, just with added humidity. I was scheduled to have Monday and Tuesday off work, but had to spend Monday morning moving three and a half tonnes of coal down to the wharf. Nicky cleaned at church and then did some laundry which we helped dry by having afternoon tea in the garden. Unusually, we had boiled eggs for breakfast together on Tuesday morning. While I did the shopping Nicky swept the drive and paths before starting her sewing. I finished cutting the back garden grass which I had started on Monday, and then made Humble Pie for dinner - basically cauliflower cheese in a pie. In the evening Nicky went into church to set up ei...

Monday began with some showers and Nicky going to church to do the cleaning of the vestry and the brass with Dale. We had Phil and Kristina coming for dinner so I shopped in the afternoon in order to feed them. Steak and Philly cheese stuffed Yorkshire puddings with roasted veggies were followed by spotted dick and custard, all accompanied by good conversation. Tuesday was dominated by heavy showers, then sunshine and wind. Nicky made fruit slices for the evening’s Vestry Meeting, while I did a big supermarket shop. In the afternoon Nicky went to see Sue in hospital and had Home Group at Dale’s. We had an early dinner so that Nicky could get to church to prepare supper drinks for Vestry. I had planned for over a year to buy myself a new Mac when I retired, to replace my 13 year old laptop. However, with the news reports of Trumps tariffs I decided to bring the purchase forward in case prices increase dramatically. I took delivery of my lovely new laptop on Tuesday afternoon, so setting...

 Monday this week was the second of our three significant 2025 Mondays. MacOnSite, my computer support “business”, ceased trading at the end of the financial year. My self-employment has spanned a little over 27 years; 17 with MacOnSite and 10 with WKDS back in the UK. It has been both a rewarding and challenging experience. Though I do feel a little sense of loss, I have been looking forward to shutting up shop since moving to Whanganui. To mark the event, at the end of what was a busy day for both of us, we had a bottle of dessert wine. This was accompanied with a packet of luxury nuts and dried fruit while we sat on one of the benches on a green area just up the road overlooking the river. The day had been pleasant and sunny. I had done two sailings, and Nicky had cleaned at church, been to the hairdresser and had Louise over for lunch a Pastoral Care update. Tuesday and Wednesday were days off from sailing for me, as the season is starting to quieten. After doing the supermarke...