THAMES TODAY

 

Today we are going to Thames for a special birthday party.

One of my dearest friends turns 80 today.  I met Frieda when I was around 33, and she was 46.  

She taught pottery at Fairfield College, here in Hamilton.  I went to her pottery class with another dear friend of mine, Hillary.

It didn't take long for Frieda and I to strike up a friendship, that has lasted to this day.

I was her Matron of Honour when she got married.   

So, attending her special birthdays has almost always happened over the years.

I'm really looking forward to seeing her again.  She's one of those friends that you don't have to see all the time, yet you still have that lovely bond with.

Side note:  It's thanks to Frieda that I became a potter and pottery tutor etc for about 20 years.

I still love pottery, but have moved on from that now.  Patchwork is much cleaner! lol

Frieda lives in Coromandel, but the party is at her son's home in Thames.  We will be leaving mid morning, to get there in good time for the lunch time party. 

ABOVE: While at the physiotherapists yesterday, she noticed a teeny, tiny 'hole' in Stew's scar.

She seemed a bit concerned about it, and has told us to take a photo, and keep a close eye on it. And watch for any changes, like spreading redness, increased pain etc.  If we notice ANYTHING changing, we are to go straight to A & E.   (It almost seems silly, it's such a tiny hole!)

Stew's knee and all around it feels HOT... but has for quite a while now. 

So... that's just something we shall be being super vigilant about over the next few days.  Making sure he stays well. 

ONWARD...

12.16 pm, and we are in Thames. We were very surprised at the amount of traffic heading the same way as us. So much for people staying home to save petrol!  Not that we can talk... as we were on the road as well. 🫤

ABOVE:  Such a lovely group came for Frieda's 80th Birthday.  She is just so lucky to have all her siblings still here, and they all came today.

Plus a few other family members and friends.

AND her daughter was on a zoom link from Perth, so she was 'there' as well.

Isn't modern technology great!

ABOVE: Frieda made the cake, and another family member iced it.  It was delicioius.

ABOVE:  Frieda and two of her sisters.

ABOVE:  Before we came home, we stopped in on the coastline and I grabbed a couple of bags of rocks for our front garden.  When the driveway was extended, the contractor made the garden in front of it deeper, so it needs a few more rocks.

It is now 4.26 pm, and I'm going to chill out for a little while, before doing something productive.  I've got another bag ready to stitch...

ABOVE:  He finally did it!  He got full rotation going 'forward'.  So now he builds on that.

I've been utterly lazy and done NOTHING for the past hour.  And I'm still not inclined to do anything.  I might even do nothing for a bit longer.

9.20 pm:  I'm quite tired this evening, so did not do any sewing today.  I will get back to it tomorrow no doubt.

Off to bed soon, looking forward to a good night's sleep.

Catch ya tomorrow.