Two of Three

 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 supermarket shopping on Tuesday morning, I did my end of year accounts for MacOnSite and started the process of archiving data. Nicky went over to Durie Hill to make palm crosses with a group of 7 ladies from Christ Church and then on to Home Group in the afternoon at Dale and Bob’s home. I made a chicken cobbler and we watched the last episode of the second series of The Gone in the evening.

The dull damp start to Wednesday encouraged both of us to unusually have boiled eggs for breakfast. The weather dried up in the afternoon and I was able to cut the grass in the back garden while Nicky did a hospital visiting duty, swapping for other team members. We had an excellent evening at the quiz coming 1st with 93 points (we got full marks on two rounds). It seems ages since we last achieved this.

I was sailing again on Thursday and Nicky staffed the Aramoho Community Library. Steve and Ros called in late afternoon on their way to Ohakune and it was good to see them. We went to the monthly Community Kai at the marae, but left early with our friend and neighbour Fiona. We all wanted to attended a community meeting in town about the future of public transport in Whanganui. It was very interesting and informative. Which ever way things go we are going to get an improved service if rates are raised. Meanwhile, local pipe-work contractors have set up a training school for road cones on Somme Parade:

Sailing was cancelled on Friday because of the strong wind forecast. I started sorting out all the computer hardware that I still had “in stock” and Nicky enjoyed the monthly fashion talk at the museum. This time a three piece suit from the late 1880’s. Frock coat, waistcoat and straight trousers made for a wealthy horseman/horseracer and farmer in moleskin. It cost five pounds from a local Whanganui bespoke tailor and had ingenious secret pockets. The modern day equivalent would be $1600.

There was still some rain around on Saturday morning so Nicky didn’t get started on the laundry until early afternoon when the sun came out. I had two river sailings, the afternoon one being another wedding on the boat. The spot where we stopped is just lovely. The late afternoon light was very mellow and gentle. It was a good sailing. In the evening we went to Danny and Mel’s to have a quiz evening to celebrate Mel’s birthday from earlier in the week. It was a quiet affair as only Mike and ourselves could make it from our normally ten strong quiz team. Playing the game version of The Chase was a new experience for all of us but it turned out to be enjoyable for those of us who had lived in England. Mel and Danny were at a complete disadvantage with the British-centric questions.We finished the day by turning the clocks back an hour. We were very glad to have an extra hour’s sleep.

Nicky had a shared lunch after church today to listen to mission partners from the slum red light district in Kolkata. I had another new experience while sailing: there was a seal in the river. While we were going up stream it just seemed to be playing in the water. By the time we returned downstream it appeared to be either sleeping or sunbathing on top of the water. It was quite special.

Take care, Rick and Nicky.