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).  

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.

HOMEWARD BOUND

 

We are heading home today.

But not before having a tiki tour over the new road that has replaced the Manawatu Gorge Road.  We have been told it is FANTASTIC, and the views are amazing.  So we are going over it and then back tracking to Palmerston North, then heading north.

ABOVE:  Some photos of us and the kids last night.  Joyce in her slippers... at least she was warm!  It was rather cold in the sports centre.  Brrrr, I couldn't wait to get back to the motel and turn the heater on.

I also turned on the electric blanket.  I might get ours out of the attic and put it on our bed when we get home.  It is so nice getting into a warm bed.

ABOVE:  Mike on the court.

Right, that's me for now.  I will post more later.  Hopefully I get some gorgeous photos from the top of the new road.

8.45 am. Even though it was foggy, we loved the short drive over the new road to Woodville.

ABOVE: A smattering of pictures.

We are now back in Palmy and off to find Foxs Cottage new shop here. 

11.03 am. On the road... and we have another glorious winter day for travelling. 

I got some more fabrics at Fox Cottage's sister shop at Massey.

Just saw this:

ABOVE: Snow on the Ruahine ranges just out from Mangaweka... it wasn't there two days ago when we came down.  NIPPY.

We are nearly at Taihape. We will do a pit stop there. Piddles etc.  😄

TAIHAPE has a couple of really good gift shops. We were naughty and got a couple of things that we TOTALLY DID NOT NEED.

Moving on..

ABOVE: Another stunning day driving by the mountains. 

5.56 pm:  And we are home, and almost totally unpacked.  We've also picked up our Coco, so all is well in the house.

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THE SHADOW OF A MAN

 

Today we are going over to Wanganui for a funeral. (the reason for this trip)

Then we will be visiting Stew's sister Khady for lunch. She is making a Seafood Chowder, which sounds yum.  We will take some nice breads to have with it.  Khady recently moved house as well, so we get to see her new home.

ABOVE:  The shadow of a very clever man!!!

He was lying on the motel bed yesterday afternoon, eating nuts.

I looked at him and said "Do you want to lose your NUTS?"  And I wasn't talking about the nuts in his hand.  

I am extremely sensitive to the noise people make while eating, I CANNOT STAND IT.

So, my CLEVER man went OUTSIDE  to eat his nuts.  😂😅😆

We should be back in Palmy by late afternoon.

I hope we can catch up with Sandra, Chris D and Anne tonight.

...

3.27 pm.  YES DOGSTARS, we have been busy.

Being 'present' during a funeral, then visiting Stews sister.

We are now heading back to Palmerston North in time to have a visit and dinner with my girlfriends. I will update again once we get back to our motel later on this evening. 

ABOVE: Sandra and her newest little dog. That is Cee Cee, who is a tea cup chichaua.  Very cute. 

ABOVE: Stew and Cee Cee.  That 'dog' is so tiny, she looks like a rat dog!

She is very friendly, feisty and has an attitude that does NOT match her size. 

ABOVE: We got a MONSTER pizza from Sal's... it was more than enough to feed 5 of us.

ABOVE:  Me and the girls.  It was so wonderful to catch up with them.

Hopefully next time we are down we have more time.

After dinner, we quickly popped into the Indoor Sports Centre to see Mike and Joyce again.  Mike plays indoor netball again.  After his game tonight they will call in to see us again.

And that's it for now.  We will visit with the kids a bit more, before bedtime.

I'm looking forward to going home tomorrow... weird seeing as I'm still not feeling 'at home' there yet.  But, that will happen.

Catch ya tomorrow.