Samoa Holiday

We got home late yesterday afternoon and I have been taking it easy and lying low, getting used to winter again after balmy days of 30 degrees or more. We were not affected by the ash cloud at all - good old Air NZ for finding a solution and flying lower. I suppose we could have stayed longer if they couldn't fly. Aggie Grey's was quiet for a a couple of days but then the

y picked up a bit with more Aussie guests. There were some athletics on for young people from the Pacific.

We had a good week though I was saddened that things are economically depressed there. The infrastructure is rather run down too. Roads, ,footpaths, buses, rubbish and litter problems spoil things a bit. The weather was good and the hotel nice and comfortable, meals pricey but OK, especially the fish. Am pleased to be home and having vegetables, dairy, meat etc. Only the fruit was cheap and freely available at the market.
Went on a tour one day - a drive around the coast and back inland with a few stops to take photos and a 2 hour break at a beach for a swim and relax. The water was lovely and warm, though there was a bit of a rip and I didn't go in far or stay in long. Had a picnic lunch there.
We did go out to a couple of other restaurants near the hotel otherwise dined in at Aggie Grey's. Had the buffet breakfasts each morning - everything would have been imported except maybe the eggs and fruit.

Otherwise did sightseeing a deux each day, going to a couple of museums, up a very steep hill on a tramp to Robert Louis Stevensons tomb. Was pleased we both made it there and back in one piece. We went on long walks to see anything or everything there was to see. I wore out my sandshoes!

Auckland Weekend

Have just got in from going downtown to look at a craft show in the Aotea Centre, many many stalls with very tasteful arts and crafty things made by some talented women. I liked the ones made with vintage linen - little heart pin cushions or key ring tags with buttons, ribbon lace, and the recycled doyleys as the base material. Another stall had cute little semicircular purses

with the recycled vintage embroidered fabric on one side and more modern stripey material on the other and a coloured zip. Not much point my buying any more of such things when I have several unused ones sitting in drawers already, however I did enjoy "just looking".

Went and had tirmisu and amaretto icecream at Giapo afterwards. Yum.

Knitterati goes to Orewa

Ten of us gathered at the bach for lunch and a spot of knitting before going to a creative knitting exhibition at the Estuary Arts Centre down the other end of Orewa.

The City Mission in Christchurch has put out an urgent call for hot water bottle covers to go with the hot water bottles and blankets they are distributing to people who need them so I am all motivated to knit at least a couple.

Waiheke Weekend

Spent the Sunday of Queen's Birthday Weekend over on the island. It was a beautiful sunny day so we got an early boat, the 10.00am Quickcat. Lunched at the bach, soaking up the peace and tranquillity of the garden and its lushness after the rain of preceding days.

Then got the bus into Oneroa to go to the craft market, the theme must have been recycling, as nearly everything was made out of something old, be it old checked blankets turned into hottie covers, soft toys made out of candlewick bedspreads, old knitwear transformed into newer stylish garments by adding sleeves and inserts of another contrasting jumper for example.

Recycling was also the theme for the exhibition at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery, with all sorts of creative artworks by local artists.

Walked home the long way back along Oneroa Beach, with the ususual late summer activity - quite a few people actually in swimming, others playing beach cricket, a couple of ponies and their owners, and a wonderful white surf. Carried on to Surfdale round via Blackpool, which is a pleasant walk now that cars are not permitted round the coast road.

Can't wait to get back there for a longer spell next time.

Orewa on the Weekend

I trot along this lovely beach two or three times a day when we are up in Orewa as we were last weekend. Morning and evening the dogs with owners in tow are out in force proving mutual amusement for themselves and the rest of us. The small farmer's market is a nice place to stop and shop at on a Sunday morning and I usually get my plants for up there or to take home to Ponsonby. My Saturday alternative is the op shops though this time I was strongwilled and just looked. How boring!

Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

I love this time of the year before the harshness of winter sets in and make the most of every sunbeam by getting out and about each day and on the weekends, especially now that all the Waiheke and Ponsonby fruit has been harvested and transformed for enjoyment through the year. At present we are savouring beautiful ruby coloured guava jelly and equally vivid damson jam which I put into small cut-glass vintage glasses this year for ourselves and to give away.