PLANTS

I wanted to mention this, because I had alluded to a problem earlier.

We are really annoyed and pissed off with what's happening with our shed.  It has to be reduced in height to appease one neighbour.  A husband and wife.

Management here are doing it ... and shouldering the costs, as this fiasco was caused in part by us, and in part by them. 

I felt like moving here was a major mistake, and the happiness I was starting to feel about our new little home was gone.

But, as Stew has said to me, let's NOT let 'them' ruin the enjoyment we shall get from living here.  Lets NOT let them know in any way how much they have upset us.

We shall just totally ignore them, and get on with settling in here, and getting to know all the other lovely people who live here.

Now, the only thing I have to work out is where to put our Pig Weather Vane!  It can't be on the roof, or in anyone's 'face'.  So that's something I'd like to work on today.

We are also going out to find some new garden plants.

When we moved in, there were two areas in the garden that had been freshly planted with hedge plants.   I asked for them to be removed, and they did it immediately.   I am going to replace them with pretty shrubs of our choosing.

Later on this afternoon we have a lady coming to talk to us about our 'lives', for our Village Profiles.  I don't think telling her I'm a CRABBY TART will cut it somehow.  😂😉😏

Catch ya later.

'Smile and be NICE'???

ABOVE:  I'd much rather give them that face! 

btw:  I'm rather impressed with my "ugly" face!  lol

Stew just did the weekend shopping.  Next will be going out to nursery's to find some plants.

Before anyone else makes any helpful suggestions re: the shed, just know that most options were offered to the 'complainers', but short of removing the shed entirely, the only option was the one they agreed to.

Which was butchering our shed, and planting trees to shield it from their view, even though once it is butchered, it will not be in their sight much at all. 

We were kept informed for the most part in what was going on behind closed doors.  But we will still be asking to see the 'Rules and Regulations' that were enacted, as we have not been shown anything in writing to back up what is happening to our shed.  Which is basically being done against our wishes.

Just now, Stew's out the front, getting plants out of the car, and THEY drive past.  And that fucking bitch waved at Stew.  He waved back.  I wouldn't have.

ABOVE: And we have 8 new plants in the gardens, and they should look lovely in a couple of  years time.

Had a lovely yak with L and D, the neighbours whose home joins onto ours.  Lovely people, so nice to have them next door.

We are now going out for a kebab, then home in time for the meeting with the lady who is doing our village profiles.  I might even smile for that photo, cos the one above is not quite 'friendly'.  lol

5.35 pm:  And the meeting with the delightful 'J' went very well.  And she got a really lovely photo of Stew, Coco and I for our profiles.

Now... time to just relax, enjoy the evening, keep warm and look forward to BED.

Funny how when a kid, the last thing ya want to do is go to bed... and now? I start looking forward to it by mid afternoon!

TAMAHERE IN JUNE

Well, it's 5.53 in the morning, we are up and getting ready to head off to Tamahere.

It's about 5 degrees outside, so GODDAM COLD AS.

And we are expecting a HIGH of around 12.  Positively balmy right?

We are gunna freeze.

I'm going to be wearing TWO thermal tops and tights under my regular clothes today.  I am over being cold.

I'm also taking my hot pods, which I will warm up in the church kitchen.  

Let's see how that goes eh?

...

ABOVE: Yes...  it's  a pea soup fog.... and freezing.  Setting up right now.

ABOVE: Done, and now waiting for the customers.  I've got ALL me layers on, plus two hot pods on my lap. Can't say I'm cold! Well... except my feet. And I'm working on a solution to that for next month.

ABOVE:  WHY are people laughing at me???  Yes I'm a rugged up grandma sitting in a corner. AND???

2.19 pm, and we are home.

It was an 'average' market re: sales.

But, we have three people returning next month for things.

We sold two Scrappy Dolls today, so I'm down to only one left.  So that will be my focus once I get back sewing.

One lady is coming back next month for a few of them.

ABOVE: These delightful little children were only going to get ONE Scrappy Doll to share, but their mum relented and got two.  And I threw in the Giraffe for free, as the elder girl just loved it.  

ABOVE: Two fellow stall holders had portable gas heaters.  Hmmmm... I might have a look at those.

ABOVE: The fog didn't lift until close to 12 midday, and the sun?  Well that came out half an hour before the market ended.  So typical.  Now it's a glorious sunny afternoon.

We were in the process of unpacking the car's contents into the garage, when one of our close neighbours, who is also very new to the village walked by.  Next thing, we are standing there yakking in the sun, getting to know him.

And, I'm in triple layers of thermals!  I nearly died from the heat!   Talk about one extreme to the  other.

I couldn't wait to get inside and strip off all the layers.

Such a relief to be out of so many clothes.  I'm now in a big, snuggly Oodie top.  So nice.

Dinner tonight is going to be reheated Lasagne.  Yaa, I don't have to cook.

I just had my reheated lasagne, it was even better than the first time around.  Stew's helping is in the oven on slow warm, as he's at the pub.  Yep, on a Saturday night.  For a friend's birthday, and the rugby.  I didn't go as I am just too tired and needed to do nothing for a while. 

And that is me for the day.  It's been a long day and I can't wait to be in bed, nice and warm.  Looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow.

MATARIKI

Sorry for mentioning PEPSI yesterday.  It is where I can talk about stuff that is a bit more personal, or controversial.  And I only have family, and very long time friends who get to read it.  

Just a little reminder, this is a PUBLIC BLOG.  Anyone can read it.

So I have to be a bit careful what I do and don't put on here.

Our current situation involves a conflict here at our new Village.

A situation that happened due to us not being given clear guidelines for our garden shed.  The situation is now in hand, with a clear plan going forward.

Some adjustment to our shed will happen, but we do get to keep our shed.

And that is all I will say about that.

Moving on to today.

We are supposed to be attending the Matariki Celebration/Market this afternoon.  It is a 3-7pm market, with lots of activities going on as well.  If you are interested you can GOOGLE Matariki and see what it's all about.

If the weather does not clear, it will be cancelled.

I'm ambivalent about it... I'm not fussed if we go or not.

Tomorrow we have the Tamahere Market as well... the weather is looking better for that.

I want to have a 'feature wall' behind our bed.  I have been looking at wallpaper.  OMG it is so expensive now days!  

I found one I love:

ABOVE:  BUT, it will be a cold day in hell before I spend that sort of money on ONE roll of freakin' wallpaper!

I think I will be painting that wall pale blue, then doing something on top of it myself.  Maybe stencil a pattern, or whatever. 

Stew is going to hang the kitchen blind this morning, while I sort out what to take to market (if it goes ahead).  

10.30 am.  And the weather has turned out to be excellent!  We had heaps of rain overnight, so we are indeed lucky.

I made us an early lunch of lasagne with meatballs, onions and tomato. Very yummy.

We will be loading the car shortly, in time to leave after midday.  I also have to get layered up with me thermals, cos while the sun is shining right now... it's bloody cold.

Stew is now working on putting my kitchen blind up... something I didn't think he would get time for this morning.  Let's wait and see how that goes.

It's a work in progress.

AND... we just heard from Mitre 10. Our bathroom fittings have arrived and will be delivered sometime next week.  That's a bit exciting.

1.38 pm. We are at the market setting up. Stews had to go home and get another gazebo side. I packed the wrong one 😭😳.

There's been a few spits of rain, but what's worse is the wind. It's really blowing and gusty. Horrible. I have no expectations for this market.

I don't quite know why, but this set up has not gone smoothly,  as is normal for us. It's been a nightmare with WIND and constant heavy showers.  And not finding everything we need, stepping over stuff, just so disjointed. 

We have finally finished... it took us two hours! Usually takes one hour. 

ABOVE: The only nice thing.... a double rainbow.

It's almost 3 pm, the official start of this festival/Market. 

5.45 pm.  It's now dark, but still heaps of people around. 

ABOVE: Hot chips 'n' hotdogs... so good! 

Then our stall, the best lit up one here. Those Ryobi lamps are awesome.   

Made one sale... better than none. It's not really the right event for us. 

Hopefully we do better at Tamahere tomorrow. The Matariki Festival will be a one off for us.

6.37 pm. Half an hour to go. We are dying to pack up and get out of the cold.  Though at least it's not blowing or raining now.

Hoping tomorrow's market isn't as cold, but the forecast is saying it will be COLDER! I'm not looking forward to that. 

8 pm and we are home.  And so happy to be out of the cold.

ABOVE: It was a lovely festival.  But we very quickly realised that it was NOT the sort of event that attracts buyers of runners!  Totally the wrong sort of crowd.

They were there for the entertainment, and food.

Pure and simple.

We will NOT do that again.

ABOVE: A lovely night view of the lake, which was behind our stall.

ABOVE: Packing up in the dark, and tomorrow morning, we will be setting up in the dark.

Oh joy.

And with that, I'm off here, going to enjoy a hot chocolate drink, then go to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MOSAICS

Dare I think I can get to Mosaics today?

I'm gunna try.

I also have a painting to drop off, that I'm gifting to a girlfriend. It's of Cambridge, but too big for any wall space left here.

I am getting a friend who's an artist to paint us a smaller 'Cambridge' painting, for our 'We Have Lived Here' wall.

I LOVE THE SUNSHINE, but in my face, in the kitchen when I'm working in there?  NOT AT ALL.

So late yesterday I took myself off to Spotlight and bought a blind.

ABOVE:  I'm leaving the instal up to Stew.  I'm trying to do nothing that involves my arms having to be raised!  They are slowly forgiving me for all the lifting/unpacking I did during our move.  Thank goodness. 

Right ... time to go.  I can squeeze a couple of jobs in before I head off to Cambridge.

12.55 PM:  hello!???  Where is everyone???

Pffft.  To quiet.

Anyway... I did indeed get to Mosaics, where I managed to get a few more pieces on my project:

ABOVE:  I anticipate it being finished in a couple more weeks.  These things take time.  Along with the yakking.  And we had a bloke call in selling his Mum's mosaic supplies as well.  I got a few more bits 'n' bobs.

Then I dropped off the painting, and came home.

I am about to go out again, to get another Ryobi Battery Operated Lamp.  For tomorrow's market.

More on that tomorrow.

1.45 pm: just back from Bunnings, where I bought our 2nd Ryobi Lamp.  Geeeeeez, that was not cheap.  I hope I sell a bit at tomorrow's market to off set those $'s spent.

Now... cos I can, I'm gunna lie on me bed with a heat pod and get warm... might even take a nap.

Yeah nah. No nap. Got visited by Management again. I will update about that on PEPSI later on.  Right now I'm visiting the kids and Stew is at the pub.

PEPSI is a private blog.  I am not adding anyone else to it sorry.

It has started raining, so tomorrow's market is now in question.  I am sure we will be notified tomorrow if it is cancelled.  I don't mind either way, I'm a bit over shit at the moment.  Tired and crabby.

GOING TO POTTER

 

It's back to 'normal' here today.

Stew is off to work, and I shall potter around the house, sorting more stuff out.

My biggest priority will be trying to get a bit more OUT of the garage so I can fit in more of my fabrics.

Cos as ya know, I bought 'a bit more' on our trip down to Palmerston North.

ABOVE:  I crammed them all into one collage for my records.  I like to record where I got various fabric from, in case I want more.

A few more photos from yesterday:

ABOVE: Leaving Palmerston North yesterday morning, following a 'WIDE LOAD'.  First time ever we really thought, yep, that IS a really wide load.  

ABOVE: I was impressed with how the rear trailer had independent wheels.  It was a tight turn, but they did it.

ABOVE: We saw these ornaments in a shop in Taihape.  Stew thought we should get one for our garden.  Maybe not.  Tempting though. 😂😅😆

 

ABOVE:  We stopped at this stream, which runs under the main road, by the mountains.  It was still very snowy/icy on the side of the hill.  And it was midday.

ABOVE:  So beautiful, clean and FREEZING!

ABOVE: We stopped by the stream to gather a new mountain stream rock.  I'm quite sure our last one is back at our previous home, along with MANY, MANY other rocks I've gathered over the years.

I did bring some to this house, but not many.  So, the collecting starts again.  😉😊

ABOVE:  Mt Ngauruhoe was looking stunning again yesterday.

ABOVE:  X's 4.  Some happy snaps of Taupo.  

ABOVE:  We got two new little houses in a gift shop in Taihape. We already had the one in the middle.

ABOVE:  I have been looking for quite some time for those fish placemats... finally found them at The Interiors Barn in Tirau.

We got a couple of other things in various shops, which I will show you another day.  Two are gifts for people.  

Moving on... time to get a move on, shit won't get done on it's own.

I have been pottering in the garage since 7.30.  It is now 9.45 and I've just finished finding places for all my fabrics.

ABOVE:  I am shocked to discover, I have room for more!   YES!!!!

Now though, I am stopping and putting the heat pump on.  This little house is FREEZING. 

11 am:  And I took myself out for a little walk.  I didn't go far or fast, just starting back with the fitness/walking ... little steps. 

After lunch I did what I needed to do.  I had a nap, with a blankie and two hot pods.  It was wonderful.  I actually went to sleep.  When I woke TWO HOURS LATER, I felt so good.  Clearly needed that.

I then spent a couple of hours just pottering around the house, tweaking areas/cupboards and so on.  That will no doubt continue for... ever! lol

It is now 5.30 pm, and I'm sitting with the blankie and hot pods again.  Watching the telly.  I should fold up the washing, but MEH... it can wait.

10.21 pm:  Watching Coronation Street... once it's finished I'm off to bed.  I'm looking forward to another really good night's sleep.  Last night I had the electric blanket on it's lowest setting... and I slept almost all night long.  Amazing, when you haven't had a decent night's sleep in MONTHS. 

Catch ya tomorrow.