Waiheke Again

Always something new to see or do, or old familiar things to experience yet again.

It was a dry but nippy weekend but the bach was cosy once the woodburner had been lit on the Saturday evening.

 May is NZ Music Month and there was a performance by the Hip Op- eration, a hip hop group of Waiheke oldies, aged from 68 to 95, who were performing in the library courtyard, a lovely open-air performance space.

Investigated the Community Art Gallery and discovered the annual small piece exhibition was on. Lots of lovely paintings by some of my favourite local artists - Gwen Rutter,(blue hydrangeas )Katie Tringle-Legge ( plums, and other fruit) and Danielle Fillion ( seascapes) 

The lower painting is the original one by Jan Nigro that hung in the gallery foyer for many many years.  It has been joined by two others garnered from other public buildings where they have had their day.

As usual the craft shop is full of tempting beautiful pieces which I resisted.

Down the road after that to pick up a pie at Waiheke Fruit and Vege, a seafood one for moi which was absolutely delicious.

Did the usual clean up at the bach Sunday afternoon but managed a walk along the beach too and enjoyed the ferry trip home past Rangitoto.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is drawing to a gentle end after an energetic start with participation in the annual 5 and 10 km walk or run organised by the YMCA round the leafy streets of Epsom close to Cornwall Park.  Several hundred women took part from 5 years old to 92.  There were 6 of us from the Never2Old program and good friend Marlene who has been on the walk 2 or 3 times before with me.

Caught up on the news of the previous few weeks since we saw one another and enjoyed a more leisurely walk than the others! Sat in the Autumn sun and had a coffee and muffin while waiting for the presentation of prizes to the various winners and hoped for one of the spot prizes or main prize of a trip for two to Sydney,  but it was not to be for any of our group.

Was tired after that and was pleased D had prepared a nice salad to go with the ham and cheese croissants for lunch. 

Eli  was there for lunch bringing me some Lindt strawberry chocolates, a Metro and a NZ House and Garden magazine and along with Dieter's lovely bunch of flowers it was just perfect.

I hadn't got round to baking that elusive cake so enjoyed a bought lemon and almond loaf from up the road for afternoon tea.  The chicken casserole is bubbling in the oven and so the day has ended.   

Up in the air and back down to earth.

Ok

Work has started on the worst house in the best street, or at least one of them, in Herne Bay.

The historic villa dates back to the 1870s the architect thinks, judging from the old weatherboards.  The old totara piles have been removed, the lean-to at the back and the verandas have been demolished to make way for a big studio room with ensuite, new kitchen, dining and sitting plus double garage and storage.  This will take several months but at least 16 weeks.

  Week 3 is drawing to a close and they tell me the house has been lowered on to its new piles. Next they will create a temporary bathroom in the new bathroom space and a kitchenette so that Eli and Tim can move back in. 

Have paid big bill no. 1.

Iconic

60s artworks by Jan Nigro hanging in the Waiheke Community Art Gallery  along with the original  one which I will photograph and add next time I go there.