I just love...

It is that time again...

Well, it is December, again.


This month is usually hectic enough, I can't believe that there is only 1.5 days left of school and so much to do!  But most of all this month has been marked by the death of a courageous, selfless, mother, wife, friend, vicar...  who I loved dearly and would have known for 21 years next month.  She was on the other side of the world (Liverpool, England) but we had travelled together, been through hard times together in foreign countries and had enjoyed motherhood together.

Her husband (aka "the rock") is an amazing man who has stood by her side and nursed her, cared for her, loved her, and been through the wringer with her.  Her two children, God bless them, are now without their mother, but her legacy will live on in them.

Windy Wellington

Recently I had the privilege of spending a couple of nights in Wellington.  Understand, the last time I was there I couldn't breathe on my way to the plane because the wind was so hard on my face.  So, when I got off the plane and discovered that the water from the Cook Strait was hitting the rocks and going straight up and I was struggling to breathe, I was in no way surprised.

What did surprise me was waking up the next morning to the most beautiful day I have ever spent in Wellington.  The sky was an amazing shade of bright blue, the water was like a mirror and I was warm!  I spent most of the day on the waterfront, checking out the NZ Art Exhibition (amazing) and then on to Te Papa and the local markets.  Wellington really does have a lot to offer to the traveller, almost everything is in walking distance and even if it is not you can catch a train or bus to where you want to go. Considering we were in the centre of the city there was a surprising amount of fresh air and green spaces.

Other places close that are well worth visiting are the Weta Workshop (film specialists behind Lord of the Rings and Avatar), Island Bay Marine Education Centre, Waikanae.

I can recommend Courtney Place and Cuba Street to find any sort of food you like, and a lively atmosphere that I am told is lively 7 days a week.  The most surprising place we visited was a lounge bar called "The Library".  Besides the books of the wall there was a great atmosphere and surprisingly good food, can recommend dessert, the Chocolate one is divine.  Now back to life as I know it.... dreaming of my next visit...  (which just happens to be in two weeks).

The joys of winter

Normally I am not a big fan of winter, storms, rain and wind for endless days...  But every now and then there is a special day that makes it all worth it.  It started out with an amazing frost, the sun came up and the whole valley was sparkling.  Understand, this doesn't often happen in our part of the country.  The other bonus of winter is the fire, nothing like a roaring fire to take all the stress away.

We spent most of the day outside gardening and checking the sheep, we have seven ewes pregnant with twins.  They are all healthy and looking very due to drop, will be great cries of excitement from the kids.   There is nothing like new lambs and daffodils...

After all our work was done we took Nana home, dropping by the P O Box of the way, I am very proud to say my daughter's most excellent school report was in there.  She has improved dramatically since the beginning of this year, her teachers are amazing (they job share).  I am so proud of her, she has tried so hard and all that hard work has finally paid off. 

The day ended with three Kaka sitting in the top of our cherry tree.  The Kaka are very rare round here, we normally have one that visits for a couple of weeks to strip the last of the walnuts off our very large walnut tree.  Tonight it was so funny to see the head Tui aka. the boss, be kicked off his cherry tree by three very squawky Kaka.  The Kaka is a beautiful bird with brilliant red under the wings, it was glistening in the light of the setting sun...

Now it is time for peace, a great cup of tea, chocolate and then on to finishing off the camembert and crackers from last night... 

Is school that important?

Why do teachers think it is essential for my 5 and 7 year old to be at school every day and complain if they have a couple of days off sick, they aren't teenagers!  Teachers seem to be a totally different breed.  I would have thought that having a sick child in the class spreading germs was a bad thing...

Therapy...

I had a revelation today, I have been saying for months that I hate shopping...  When, in actual fact, given the chance to go shopping without children and with money, I become exurburantly happy! Today I bought shoes and a top, admittly the shoes where to replace my everyday ones that had to be chucked out, because nothing could rescue them.  The top, well, that was to replace another chuck out, but the happiness it left is still with me, almost 12 hours later.


Mmmmm shopping...... 

How fast life changes

The past few months have been so full, I am unsure where to start.

I need to acknowledge those who have past on:
Brian - you were the backbone to Donna and the reliable labrador for the family.  Your legacy is one of stability and loyalty, and you will be missed.
Liam - although you were only 10 months old when you died, your presence healed family wounds and built bridges.  Our heart breaks knowing how much you were loved and how much you will be missed.

We have had a new birth over the last month, the birth of a new business venture, for me anyway, it is very exciting, so why is it that the day after I started one child gets sick, then another one gets sick and turns out they have croup!  Oh, by the way, their father has now been away for close to four weeks working 10 hour days, six days a week... Let's hope he comes home while they are still sick so he can feel the pain!

I have been going through my own growth phase, they whole "who are you when no one is watching", quite scary really.  If I am being honest, the picture isn't pretty; I can be angry, selfish, and impatient, and generally when it is least called for.  My remember to try and work on that, they only problem is that the only way to work on it is to put yourself in the situations that bring it on, OUCH.

Totally off topic, I want to go to a microgreens growing seminar at Kings Seeds on Friday, but if the kids are sick, I can't go.  Microgreens are the ultimate winter solution to not having to "get out into the garden", awesome.  Basically it is where you on purposely propogate veges and herbs to only a small size to get the most out of them, nutritionally.  It also helps that they are yummy!

Here is a photo, cause I don't normally do it...

We love you Christchurch

People only accept change in necessity and see necessity only in crisis.—Jean Monnet

 

There are people in our country at this time who quite rightly feel like they are on a roller coaster they can’t escape from.

For those who have been shaken, and continue to be shaken, we can’t know what you are going through, but we want to help.
For those who have lost loved ones, we mourn with you.
For those who are broken, may you mend quickly.
For those who are frightened, may you find peace that fills your heart and mind.
We stand beside you Christchurch.