Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

 While it isn’t quite the end of the year, welcome to the last blog posting of 2025. We began our week with a cool clear day, encouraging us to pack our bags and get on the road to Auckland. We delivered our cut flowers to Danny and Mel, and stopped by the Whanganui Museum to buy some tea towels for gifts before heading up SH4 to Raetihi. This was our first stop of the journey. We enjoyed tea and coffee at the Angel Louise Cafe, and the Christmas decorations: Snow capped Ruapehu looked fantastic with the sunshine and clear blue sky as we drove through National Park. By the time we got past the outskirts of Auckland and reached Botany Downs, the rain had begun. This didn’t dampen our welcome at Paul and Jenny’s. Jenny produced fresh salmon for dinner which was just lovely, and we spent the evening catching up on events since we last saw them in September. We had planned three visits for Tuesday, and the eating really began. After acquiring what turned out to be a selection of lovely...

 This week marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Upokongaro foot and cycle bridge. Like hearing the Tui each time we visited Whanganui to see how the construction of our home was progressing, the bridge also feels part of the process. We saw the bridge in place but fenced off on our visits until a trip December and the fence was gone. Once we took up residence we had a trip up to the bridge to have closer look, walk over it and admire its form: Our week began with another hot day that peaked at 27º. Laundry was done and Nicky went into town to do church cleaning and to see the physio. I prepared for the water supply being switched off for a couple of hours, but it didn’t happen. Nicky was back earlier than expected so we changed our transport plans a little. She was due at a thank you lunch for the ladies who run ReDress, where she had been asked to give Whanganui Anglicans’ thanks for all the money raised to support a Youth Worker and for the City Mission. Then we were...

 We have had another eventful week (I think it’s the time of year). At the beginning of the week I was still getting over the after effects of collapsing in the small hours of Saturday morning. I was low on energy and getting tired very quickly. By Wednesday things really improved and I am now back to being my usual self. After three visits from Shane the Sparky (one with his daughter and another with his Dad), our first water feature is up and running. Shane completed the wiring connection, laid the conduit and cable, and installed the distribution box and timer. It looks great nestled into the flax: On Wednesday I was able to start back-filling the trenches and finished this yesterday. The grass looks quite untidy where the trenches are and where I had various piles of soil, but I’m sure that nature will sort this out in the next few weeks. We had a lovely chat with Claire on her birthday and really enjoyed the photos she sent of the decorations on her desk. Her colleagues added ...

 One way or another it has been a bit of a week. In the national news, summer officially started on Monday accompanied by heavy rain, gale force winds and cold southerlies. The rubbish weather occupied our Wednesday and Thursday, so we started a jigsaw. On Thursday IKEA opened its first store in Aotearoa at Sylvia Park in Auckland. We will pay a visit sometime, as I need three more support pegs for our Ivar shelving. Various house moves have taken their toll. December also marks the winding down of regular events in order for people to prepare for Christmas. Nicky just had church cleaning and staffing the Aramoho Library this week in terms of regular commitments. The bible studies at Home Group has finished for the year, but they provided food and catering services for the Christmas Bible Friends nativity play on Tuesday evening. Frances (Mrs Egg) also enjoyed it. On Friday Nicky attended the last Fashion Talk of the year at the Whanganui Museum (very good again) before delivering ...