The Lockdown Gang - carry on chatting ⭐️

Kaimoana - your friend's kitties look adorable! I'm so glad the bonded siblings are still together - cats form such close friendships, don't they? So much for their being independent and stand-offish. Pudding manages to cut a caper or two, and join in the kittenish games of his adopted sisters, despite being big and clunky.
Grammaretto- your story was amazing! What an amazing lady was your Annie, to cope with all that sorrow, and then have a love child in her 40s! The perfect material for a novel... Makes you realise that the Victorians were not in the least straight-laced, especially in the colonies! A gt-aunt of mine had TWO children before she married, despite her father being a Welsh lay-preacher! Her posed photo shows her looking prim and ladylike, in her crinoline and curls - but under it all, she was in fact a Fallen Woman!! No, we don't have a lifestyle block, so beloved of Kiwis - just an acre, so no room for stock. But I'm quite happy not to have sheep, as they are so much work. My mother had two sheep on her front paddock, many years ago, and getting them to the shearer was very funny-she had to put them in the back seat of her car! Seeing her driving down the road, sheeps' heads out the back windows was unforgettable.
Doodle, glad that you are back on terra firma, unscathed from your arctic balcony picnic. Lovely now to snuggle down in your own nest, and let the weather do what it may.
Keep warm and safe everyone.

Girls, girls, I've just had the most amazing lunch! I have *kumara which are sprouting, so I cut off the ends, then felt obliged to eat the rest. I fried them, cut in slices, in our neighbour's home-produced olive oil, with a little butter, salt and black pepper, then ate them with a (large) dollop of sour cream. Heaven on a plate! The sprouty bits are going into the garden this evening, and will be producing more kumara in no time at all. MrJ wanted just ham, lettuce and Cheshire cheese rolls. You can take the boy out of Manchester but ...

Keto diet? What keto diet?

*Kumara = sweet potato.

Pohutukawa is a scared tree to Maori.
The Elder Tree has been sacred in England and Europe for thousands of years.

Here they are in beautiful coincidence, hand in hand outside my front door on a misty, early morning

Grammaretto the chap in your photo, bottom right...I'd have married him on the spot, just look at the twinkle in his eye!

Seeing as everyone is talking about their ancestors, I'll tell you about my wonderful great- Auntie Minnie.

To all outward appearances a delicate ‘maiden lady‘, the accepted term for an older, unmarried female in the early 20th century.
To anyone who really knew her, she was a scandalous rebel.
In her 30’s and living alone in her tiny rural cottage, she decided to take in a lodger.

The family assumed this would be another lady of genteel aspect and impeccable habit but Auntie Minnie invited a robust gentleman, 18 years her senior to share her home.

By the time I was born, Uncle Ernest and Auntie Minnie had been living companionably for many years and the family had reluctantly accepted she was never going to listen to their warnings of doom and disgrace.

Would it have been better or worse had they’d known Uncle Ernest was gay?
That was something no one ever spoke about, it being illegal and shameful.

It was only revealed to my parents after he died, in his 90’s.
Minnie certainly knew from the outset and gave a safe and happy haven to her friend, whatever it cost her in reputation.

The photo was taken when I was about 15. I loved her very dearly.

When I was little, she taught me about wild-flowers, herbs and how to use them.

It was in her lovely garden I first saw a Christmas Rose. I wonder if it's still there and blooming now?

Welcome home Doodle & DH.

Kaimoana - you are so right! Both of them are pretty hunky!
Thank you for the story of Aunt Minnie - what a wonderful lady, and no wonder you loved her. So many people whose life stories have been forgotten, and who deserve to be remembered and celebrated. Poor Uncle Ernest, and all those outcasts of a prejudiced society. So many who just did not fit the mould. But how lovely that Aunt Minnie had compassion, and that they must have had a happy, mutually satisfying and companionable life.
Your photo of the Elder and the Pohutukawa is just lovely.

Good Morning and welcome home, Doodle and the Dude!

I agree that gt Aunt Minnie was a very special soul. She looks rosy cheeked and healthy too. I am not surprised you were drawn to her and she to you Kaimoana
Thank you for the trees in flower together.

My Annie adored her garden too and I have a photo of her in it taken when she was very old. I can't find it so you will have to imagine it.
Your feast of homegrown kumara sounds divine BoadiceaJ

I spoke to DS(NZ) yesterday and they are making holiday plans.
Here we are preparing for another snow storm.

My Gaelic teacher was without electricity yesterday so was using my spare room as an online classroom and office. DS thought it hilarious that I became a WiFi hub!

How are all our Gang-Stars today?

Good morning lovely Lobstars ?

Remember me? Why do our cups runneth over when we have joy in our lives and yet having a lot on our plate is a heap of bad things?

I'm def trapped in full plate mode at the moment.....DD 2 is about to start IVF round 3 and is being supported by a trauma counsellor....but her beautiful older dog has started having fits and the vet can't find out why. Her younger dog has unexpectedly come into season....I need therapy myself to cope with her chemically induced emotional roller coaster!

DS him of the long covid is back at work full time and treated himself to four days in Krakow last week, arriving in Poland on the day they announced the Omnishambles. He did everything required of him in ordering a PCR test but five days after his return it still hadn't arrived. His employer has not been understanding so he was forced to lie that he had symptoms to get an NHS test so that he could return to work!

DGD 1 has decided to become the devil incarnate at the precise moment that her parents' house move hits the buffers because their conveyancer has been hacked and all her parents personal data has been stolen......

Mr M is finally having his gallbladder removed on Saturday and as he's never had a general anaesthetic he's anxious and won't believe me when I tell him it's a doddle.....he told me last night that as I've over 80 surgical procedures I'm not a reliable witness because I'm probably blasé ? please can I borrow the leg of lamb?

I've been reading every day but I'm weary and it's raining..... can I have some "dear dears" and a duvet day please....but that had better wait until after Christmas as the whole tribe is coming here for a "lovely long visit as Christmas is at a weekend and we get more days to spend with you" ....so that's 8 adults, 2 smalls and three additional large ?.

I must try to find my backbone/sense of humour/ those cheese biscuits that everyone has to have on Boxing Day ?

Welcome home Doodle and the Dude and good show Gubbins !

Oh *Mamissimo”. Think you need tucking up with a hot chocolate topped with loads of cream! Poor Mr M. Why is it men always have everything worse than their partners? If I term my DH I’ve had a bad night he’s always been awake much longer than me and had worse dreams than me! Have always said that if men had to give birth the human race would finish! Hope his op goes well and I’m with him on the general. Hate them. Had a plate put in my arm under a local. Could hear them sawing and hammering but to me it was far better than being knowcked out!
Christmas sounds a lot of work for you - hope they all help but then you’ll probably all be falling over each other in the kitchen! I’m lucky in that youngest daughter and partner are cooking for us and eldest daughter and son-in-law law so all I have to do is turn up!! Mind you with 2 meat eaters 2 veggies 1 vegan and 1 fussy one - me! - I don’t think I could cope anymore! (Hope you find those cheese biscuits!) which come to think of it I haven’t got yet!!

Boadicea I can picture your mum with the sheep looking out of the car ?. Your lunch sounds nice. You obviously enjoyed it. I like sweet potato too. Yes I’m happy to be home. Got my Christmas decorations up (not many) and have started my online Christmas shopping. Phew!
Two lovely trees Kaimoana I’m definitely a tree hugger. I get very upset when they are cut down. Our local trees are dropping their small leaves like yellow snow.
Ah I’m so please Aunti Minnie had companionship in her life. Good for her and how fortunate for Ernest that he had an understanding friend. What lovely memories you have of her.
I had two elderly great aunts who lived together and never marrried. They kept house between them for “dear papa” and were very genteel. Aunt Vera was a very talented lady who wrote a lot of poetry and had some books published. Aunt Esther learnt to drive and continued to do so until well into her 90s, much to the concern of other road users ?
Grammaretto I hope the weather isn’t as bad as you fear, A wi fi hub. Ooh does that mean you are like an Internet cafe? Will you be serving hot scones and tea? I might be tempted to make the journey if you are.
Oh Mamissimo we’ve missed you. How lovely to hear from you. Your daughter is brave indeed to try again. I do hope this time the news is happier.
Glad your DS is now back at work. Hope he has got over the fatigue.
Oh dear. Problems for the house move. I hope your DD is careful I have read so much about people being conned by others impersonating solicitors and stealing money from accounts. You DGD may be picking up on their stress.
Hope Mr M’s procedure goes well and he behaves himself.
You are certainly entitled to a duvet day and I’ll send Jeeves round to tuck you in with some soothing words and a hot chocolate (heavily laced)
Good luck with finding the cheese biscuits……just check Grammaretto’s missing deeds aren’t in the box too. ?

Jan you just crept in behind me. Great minds about the hot chocolate I think.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas with your family and enjoy all the festivities. We have plenty of cheese biscuits…….could you pop round with some cheese please. ?

Mamissimo Welcome back.
Now, here's The Plan.

The moment those 8 adults arrive, you have a fit of the vapours.
You are far too stressed, what with MrM and his gallstones, to do anything other than lie, in picturesque fashion on a couch and have these strong, hearty types divide the work into 8 and get to it....bringing you regular semi-reviving drinks and the occasional cheese and cracker platter.

I'm assuming they all know how to cook, clean and pour alcohol? If not, I'll gladly write out instructions sheets to give to them.

I have no doubt you are determined and infinitely weary enough to put your foot down and sit with feet up, insist that for once THEY look after YOU.


I'll be thinking about the dear brave girl who has decided to try again. I wish there was some magic wand which would guarantee success.

Grammaretto I've just listened to a lovely doco about South Uist, which included beautiful songs in the Gaelic, sung by St. James' School Choir.
They also have a summer school up there which I'm sure you know about.
www.ceolas.co.uk/home/summer-school-2022

I watched the YouTube video and it looks a fun way of improving language skills and helping to save this precious resource.

I wish we had a similar summer school for te reo Maori here instead of just courses; there's no opportunity for full immersion unless you take a proper language course.

I've never fried kumara BJ, I bake or boil mine but I love a bit-o-butter with them.

Jan Look after yourself and plan regular treats, it's going to be a long winter.

I have my sun-blocking blinds at last. Now all I need is the 50% UV filter for the bottom half of the window so I can actually see what I'm chopping. At the moment, it's total darkness or blinding sunlight. It seems I may have to wait until Feb 2022 for that. <sigh>
Life gets tedious, don't it?

Ah Mamissimo we had all missed you. You make light of your troubles but I am sure it can't be easy.
I also hope and pray that your brave DD has the success she deserves.

I know Christmas is soon but I can't seem to get excited. Before that I've booked the train to visit #3 DS next week. I haven't seen them for ages. I have also agreed to have a pottery afternoon for children on Sunday.

I foolishly caught the bus into town today, knowing the weather would be awful. I needed to get more wool and fabric but I hadn't reckoned on the roads being up, the traffic diverted and landing up a 20 minute walk from the shop.
My jeans were sopping wet and somewhere along the way I lost my hat.

A Gaelic course on Uist in Summer sounds lovely. Thanks Kaimoana
Nice to see you too Jan
My WiFi cafe must have been bleak. Doodle She got a cup of tea and a biscuit. Still no oven!

Good morning ?

Just back from taking Mr M for his pre-op covid test at the hospital. Much to his surprise he survived it and asked the nurse whether she could see his breakfast when she swabbed his tonsils. She wasn't amused but I spluttered and she offered me a covid test because of my symptoms. ?

I'm going to get him into the attic later to get the decorations down. We have to isolate now until Saturday so it will give him something useful to do. I went to a wonderful wreath making day with Liberty's florist and I need some of my precious grandparent's mercury glass baubles to finish it of. They have a lovely antique finish and are just right for this job. Picture tomorrow if I get it done.

My garden is grotty at the moment but you'll be pleased to know that spring is coming...the garlic is growing away, the bored beans are in and the daft lemon tree is in flower! There's always hope!

Lovely sunny day here at the moment. We are not going out as DH’s cough is quite bad and I don’t want him getting cold.
He’s on steroids now so hope things improve soon.
PCR test came back negative for us both which was good news.
Mamissimo I think Kaimoana’s plan is a winner. You deserve to be waited on a bit. I will send Jeeves to supervise in the kitchen if necessary.
Kaimoana I doubt we’ll need sun blocking blinds here.
I am getting new blinds next year. We bought Venetian blinds when we moved in (don’t ask me why because I hate them) and I decided I have had enough of cleaning those silly little slats and they must go. Straight forward roller blinds are on the list.
As your son and family are in your bubble, will you be seeing them for Christmas. I wonder what sort of outfit a certain young Gubbins will choose to wear at Christmas. Our youngest, from the time she was able to form an opinion, insisted on pink and nothing else would do. From wellies to hats, pyjamas to little school bag, all pink ?
Grammaretto I am not so much into Christmas this year either. I think in my case it’s being away with a bit of sunshine and not getting in the mood.
I looked at an old Christmas video yesterday of us with my mum some 30 years ago. I’d forgotten how Welsh she sounded.
Sorry you had such a damp shopping trip. What are you making now if you don’t mind me asking?
Still no oven ?. When will it be connected?
How will you cook your haggis ?
Mamissimo I laughed at MrM’s humour too. ?. Hope the results are ok.
I do envy people who make wreaths. I’ve thought about it for years but never got round to it. I would love a picture of yours when it’s finished.

DH (with his beautiful assistant ?) will be attempting to change our router this afternoon. Our WiFi has been getting worse for a long time and we are both fed up with it.
Wish us luck…….I hope to be back later.

Good evening ?

I'm going to come over all Victor Meldrew but I really couldn't believe it when DD1 rang me at lunch time to report that her rotten cold is now a full blown, diagnosed by GP, dose of a chest infection and that her headteacher had ordered her into school to teach as "too many staff are off sick". He told her to stay away from colleagues and keep her mask on. She had a temperature of 38.5! Her head of department took one look at her and sent her home and has promised to take the flack.

In year 9 alone she had 17 absent with covid last week so it's no wonder the staff are going down like flies. None of the younger teachers have had boosters yet. She's tested negative so we know it's a cold but when will people learn that going to work or school with a heavy cold just gives it to everyone else and prolongs the crisis! rant over .

I've let Mr M out of the attic and put him to work sorting the household linen drawers this morning and he's now making a big mess in the kitchen stew for dinner but it's nearly 7 and shin takes ages. Bless him.....he's so anxious about his op that I'm having to keep him busy any sign of the lamb..?

H Beagle stole Mr M's lunch today and thoroughly enjoyed her pate, baguette and beetroot........she hadn't pulled that trick for a while. There's life in the old dog yet.....

I feel your pain Doodle as tomorrow I have to sort out our email as Microsoft inflicted a dud update on us and now our mail wont work on the pc but luckily comes though on our IPads. I loathe that sort of sorting out!

A bottle of red is calling my name......?

Good evening.
I've been typing up my post on my laptop, whilst reading your super long comments. Love them. See - Kaimoana, I remembered your strategy. No disappearing posts anymore.

First, it seems some time since I saw Panache post and am dearly hoping for her news soon. I worry that she is worried about Christmas approaching too quickly.

B.Jones. Hope you don't mind the abbreviation! Your garden food delights put mine to shame. Today, I picked purple sprouting broccoli and yesterday it was leeks. I caught up with two of your posts and came across Gt Aunt Annie's story, then found another Annie story, closely followed up with Minnie and Ernest. Everyone, please find more for me. Family histories fascinate me. I do catch up with the TV programme "Who do you think you are?"

I had to smile with the horse being sent back home with a note and was dearly touched with Minnie and Ernest.

My summer holidays, pre teens, were spent with my paternal grandmother and her two unmarried sisters. They were all in their sixties. I remember Aunt Phil getting dressed up to the nines, more than once a week, to go dancing. She seemed to have endless partners at the dances. I have a photo of me stood in my maternal grandmother's dolly tub with the ponch at the side. She used to let me turn the mangle but it was hard work. I remember my mum telling me that my GM took in washing to supplement their income. I'll try to find the photo!

Thank you for the kind thoughts about my DGD. It has been rather a traumatic two weeks for me as my DS didn't ring. That was, until last night. I let him talk for 40 mins about my DGD. She has started to say what is troubling her. I longed for my DS to say that they had contacted the school and doctor to seek help but no. This left me feeling so helpless last night. I thought being a parent was hard. Being a grandparent tops that. You want to help both generations but sometimes can help neither. I await his next call but I have decided to send a card and little 'thinking of you' gift to my DGD. I have her address - that is all. You are so right Grammaretto. I have suggested a walk or drive to my DS.

First steps are wondrous Kaimoana. Is there a video of Gubbins' twirl and giggle?

How did the wreath making go. Grammaretto? I made my first ever one three days ago. Attached is a photo. It is now pinned on the door under the lights - other photo.

Mamissimo. Sounds like you've had more troughs than peaks. Hope DS was finally tested negative. 80! Please tell me you've had a few years free from those procedures.
You can have a double dose of dear dear, but you still have two weeks to go before the duvet day! Have a great Christmas with the family.

Jan 16 I hear hip transplants are now done under a local now. I'm definitely in favour of that.

My purple sprouting broccoli is ready and the beef in red wine stew has reached it's peak. Off to chat with MrMuse over dinner. He is awaits his CT scan result and then will get the date for the hernia operation. Big discussion tonight as we have decided to replace the whole of our self generating power system. Lots to decided.

Take care Lobstars.

I seemed to have lost the lights - so here they are again.
?

Oh, Muse !!! How beautiful!! And what a wonderful house!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-926502-1-img-1541.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-888058-1-img-1542.jpg

muse wrote: Everyone, please find more for me.

Okey Dokey. Look at the photo of Auntie Minnie and judge her age. She’d just given up her cottage and moved to the outskirts of the city to have more access to healthcare. Shortly afterwards, she started a wild affair with a local widower and scandalised my mother with her vivid descriptions of what they did! This was, of course, her first experience of intimacy and she loved it.

First steps are wondrous Kaimoana. Is there a video of Gubbins' twirl and giggle?

There is muse. If you PM me with your email address (I can’t upload it to GN) I will share it with you.
I love the Cornishness of your narratives; I do dearly miss God’s Own County.
Your house looks beautifully Christmassy with those pretty lights. Maybe I’ll get some.
Hope all the results are good for your DH.

Doodle I’m very pleased with my new roller blinds – as you say, the Venetians were a pain.
Poor MrD, I hope his cough is easing. Ask Jeeves to make him honey and lemon, with New Zealand Manuka honey of course

Grammaretto You must be looking forward to your trip and how nice that you’re having a pottery session. Will it just be your dgc or other children as well?

You have the right idea Jan letting the bright, capable young ones do their bit.
I raised both my sons to know how to do everything; all domestic tasks, cooking, budgeting, bill paying etc. Knowledge is power and we do our youngsters no favours by raising them to be helpless.

I’ve just made a popular Maori (and Pasifika) delicacy – Raw Fish. Finely chopped snapper, though any fish will do. Add lemon juice (thanks BJ ), let it marinade a while then add capsicum, tomato, red onion, spring onion, cucumber, black pepper and if you like, salt. Finally add enough coconut cream to form a light ‘sauce’.

If I were able to take this to my elders’ group, I’d be knocked over in the rush to get at it! Raw Fish is everyone’s favourite
I gave some to Mepa as it’s hers too.

It’s after 10pm and still 22 degrees. I was looking at the weather for the month and saw 28, 30 and thought, oh no, I’ll melt! then realised I was looking at the date.

that must be your fish dish Kaimoana and not a photo of aunt Minnie.

Muse your house, your lights and the beautiful wreath are very lovely.
I gave my wreath to DGD and she gave me hers. There will be at least 2 DC for the pottery session.
I can't decide whether to suggest something for them to make or give them some clay and let them get on with it. I think the latter is more my style.

Someone is coming to collect my moth freezer tomorrow. I have decided it is not necessary to keep my clothes in a freezer just to stop the moths. The person who is taking it wants it for bee keeping purposes.

I agree Muse being a GP has its joys but you feel so helpless when things go wrong.
DGS is having a hard time at school with what sounds like a bad teacher with little empathy if a child doesn't fit the mold. Unfortunately he will have the same teacher for another year. One child has already been moved to another school by their parents.

I know you can't protect children from everything they have to handle in life but when you can help, you want to.

Mamissimo your poor DD. ?
It must be holidays soon surely and she can rest and recover!

I have been invited out to lunch so had better prepare myself.

Morning- well Afternoon really! Had a trip to the river this morning. Few fishing boats coming in. Must have been absolutely freezing out in the Wash in the early hours. Have a good day everyone

As Kaimoana said, it was a hot old night, but this morning is cool and fresh, and I'm sitting here before the sun is up, in my pjs, all the stacker doors open to the garden, kitties fed and frisking in the morning dew. We're expecting a tropical cyclone tomorrow, something I don't look forward to, though the rain will be welcome.
I thought I'be be clever yesterday, and rather than carrying endless buckets full of the seaweed extract that makes the garden lush, I'd invest on one of these large bottles of the stuff, that you attach to the hose and spray at leisure. Very easy. Trouble is, the smell is just awful! It's not just seaweed, but fish also. It permeates everything, and I had to shower in my clothes, before I could put them in the machine. Last night I had to close my eyes and think of..ermm...happy, ebullient plants and flowers, as the bedroom was rank.
MrJ and I had our boosters on Wednesday, and we've become very blase about it all..never had any reaction to the previous jabs. But oh my! This one hit me like an express train-aches, headache, nausea...fortunately only for 36 hours or so, and fine today. MrJ had nothing, Nada. Not even a sore arm, whereas mine was hot, stiff, red, painful, and now very itchy...obviously some kind of allergic reaction. Anyway, far better than the virus!
Jan that photo is lovely, but my word, it looks cold!Those poor blokes going out in the Arctic conditions. MrJ spent some very cold months during the cod wars up in the Arctic Circle, and described his gloves freezing solid to the ship's railings.
Kaimoana, the fish looks amazing! I was so touched about Auntie Minne's awakening. How lovely for her that she didn't miss out on passion in her life. And Muse - loved Aunt Phil's story of dressing up and going dancing with all her eager beaux. I hope your poor DGD is feeling able to open up to someone about what is troubling her. Grammaretto -your poor DGS-I do so feel for him, and for you, too - another year of an unempathetic adult 6 hours a day must be a horrible prospect for him. Mamissimo - that is a disgrace that your DD was ordered in to school when so ill. I agree that so many employers fail to understand that so much illness is caused by such a short-sighted attitude. Trouble is, where do they find qualified teachers to cover absences? Is it a private school?
Kaimoana - your mention of manuka honey reminded me of our neighbours up the road, who sell home-produced "manuka/kanuka honey" in 2-litre jars! They live on a large block covered in all sorts of native strees and scrub, but some of their sneaky little madams spend a lot of time in my garden, on the lavender and citrus flowers...so their manuka honey has a bit of an admixture of other things! At least there is no tutu around here - I remember people, back in the day, being poisoned by honey which the bees had happily laced with tutu ("toot") nectar.
Sun is up, and I have to race out to get in more chicken laying pellets before the Saturday morning crowds - haha-this is small-town NZ par excellence. Have a great day/evening, everyone.

Hello all. I’m back but only just. The new router is connected but is still dropping out all the time so DH is on the case,
We’ll I’m certainly glad your DD is at home now Mamissimo. With that temperature she should be in bed not teaching. Good someone at the school has some sense,
There are some bad colds going round at the moment. DH is still coughing well.
Honey beagle obviously has tastes like mine. I would have enjoyed that baguette too. ?
I hope MrM isn’t too worried about his op. I hope all goes well.
Muse I hope you were careful with the mangle. My Grandmother lost the top of her thumb in one ?
I’m so sorry about your DGD. I can understand how worrying it is. I’m glad she is starting to talk about what is troubling her, I think your strategy of background support is good. Just let her know she’s loved.
I think your wreath is lovely. How clever.
Beef in red wine stew sounds lovely. Enjoy your evening.
Oh those lights are nice too,
Oh Kaimoana Aunt Minnie was obviously quite a girl. I’m not sure is she in her late 50s in the photo?
I remember when ever I was I’ll as a child my mother would always make me lemon and honey to drink with fresh lemons.
In summer it was made as a cold refreshing drink without the honey with lots of sugar. I expect that would be frowned upon now.
Grammaretto. I wish I could come and join your DGC and have some clay to play with. I love crafting of any kind. Not good at anything but I love trying things out.
Ok, who else though your moth freezer was for storing moths?
?.
Sorry your DGS is having trouble with a teacher too.
It’s hard being on the sidelines and just hoping they’re ok.
Hope you had a nice lunch.
Jan I love watching the boats coming and going whenever we are at the coast. I bet it was chilly. Nice picture.
Boadicea you seem very calm about a tropical cyclone, is that something you are used to?
I don’t like the sound of your seaweed mulch much. I never realised people used seaweed on their gardens. Hope the smell is wearing off now.
I find the stories of your daily activities very interesting,
Are you far from the nearest town, I imagine you as being in an isolated position but perhaps that’s not the case.
Been Christmas shopping today and everything I wanted was sold out. That’s what happens when you leave it too late.
Came home and sent off some internet orders before dinner, just in case, ?

Doodle - by the time cyclones get here from the tropics, then are generally a bit worn-out and worse for wear. Not always, of course, and poor old Gisborne and the East Coast are periodically very badly affected by storms. Being in Northland, we do get weather events, being the closest to the tropics. When we lived in the Far North, up to 6 months ago, we used to get very heavy rain on occasions, and we had a memorable day following the big Pacific earthquake earlier this year. We lived on the Whangaroa harbour, possibly the most beautiful, unspoiled place in the world (Kaimoana will back me on this), and there were texted emergency warnings, tsunami sirens, police cars with flashing lights and speakers blaring messages to evacuate the area immediately. So we packed up emergency rations and removed ourselves, car and special treasures to the top of the hill where I have my “ladyshed”, my retreat from the world, in the bush, huge deck, magnificent view of the harbour, but with electricity to make the essential cups of tea. We sat on the deck in the sunshine and waited for the inundation. And waited. Still waiting…Then, The Wave approached. We watched, fascinated, as the wall of water raced towards the shore, just below the house. Followed by another, slightly smaller.

The wall of water, at least 4 inches high, lapped the pohutukawas delicately. And that was IT. The Great Tsunami of 2021. I shouldn’t mock, because archaeology shows a series of absolutely massive tsunamis have hit the East Coast over the last few thousand years, as the result of various eruptions, quakes and underwater landslides. And will happen again.
Historically, we don’t have earthquakes in the North, as it’s an ancient volcanic zone, now eroded and geriatric. But when I was living further south, we had quakes regularly as children. I remember thinking that my Dad was an absolute genius, because he used to tell us that we were about to have a quake. Little did I know that the pheasants on the farmland around us used to warn of the earth’s movements some time before we could feel it. I used to explain to my little Latin students that this was why the Romans revered birds as being tellers of the future. I kept a plastic chicken called Chester on my desk – the Sacred Chicken, who could always tell who was likely not to have done his/her prep. He also dispensed jelly beans to worthy winners of games and activities. I remember one huge quake when my children were small…and my clever daughter, only about 7 years old, who had the initiative, and courage, to leap to save a precious vase as it fell from the bookcase. Shows how useful netball skills are! That was a strange quake –a rumble like a steam engine, then an enormous gust of wind, just before the event.
Well, folks, that’s your geography lesson du jour. Until next time, when the lesson will be on …. Nuclear fission!!

Oh my goodness! Can you believe how kind some people are! For our very last French groups before Christmas (we have our official monthly meet, then at least another, voluntary one per month), I was going to order a real buche de Noel (no accents, sorry to the purists) from the lovely French patissier at the Packhouse cafe. I was thinking it was going to be expensive and that we'd have to share the costs - he's just got back, saying he will do it for FREE, as our Christmas present! The cafe will foot the bill! I am so touched, and a bit choked up...