Life after Sydney

The first few days were spent trying to get warm and stay that way after the warmer climes of Sydney. This is the first year we haven't been to Europe or elsewhere for a decent length of time.  May still escape somewhere  warm if we can cope with the long flights.  At present D is having trouble with his feet and adjusting to the discomfort of inflamed tendons, a result of last year's long flights.  

Over recent weeks we have had our house painted and I am very pleased with the way it is looking.  One of the neighbours even asked us were we going to sell our house.  No, never, too much stuff to get rid of first.  

However I made a concentrated effort in the book line and returned at least 20 books to the library book sale, bringing home only about 5 over 3 visits.  Will have to find another 5 to pass on to an op shop . 

Talking of op shops went to a new one in Pt Chevalier on Saturday and came away with a new coffee mug with wattle flowers on it to remind me of our Sydney sojourn  and a 500 piece jigsaw, which has quite small pieces.  It is going to be good for the hand-eye coordination.

Have started gardening again.  I bought some variegated silver beet and perpetual spinach at the garden centre this week and a bright pink pansy to add a splash of colour near the front gate, plus a bag of jersey benne seed potatoes.  I suppose it is not too cold as they grow well in the Oamaru area which would be pretty cold in winter.  

Brought  in the orchids to the front porch after they languished outside while the porch was painted.  Will top the pots up with new orchid mix to help them recover.  

Sunny Sydney

We enjoyed the chance to get away from the cold of the New Zealand winter by having a few days in Sydney,  primarily so I could attend the Asia-Pacific Parkinson's Meeting which I found very informative and buoying.  I feel I am not doing t of badly at all and long may it last!  Met up with old friends who took us to their home about an hour by car out of town.  They also took us to Aldi and Target, our favourite shops of choice these days when we are in Australia. I must say they don't have the same appeal as in the past.  We travel light these days mainly because we can't lift and carry like in the past. 

Had one lovely day of sightseeing the day before we left. Got a bus to Circular Quay and imbibed the atmosphere, watching the colourful ferries plying the Harbour waters.  Good views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.  Being a Monday there were not too many tourists around.  Enjoyed a latte and a delicious pastry with Belgian chocolate dipping sauce at a harbour side cafe, then bought myself a pair of sheepskin Ugg slippers as my treat to myself.  

In the afternoon spent an hour or two at the Australian Museum, full of fascinating examples of fauna and flora as well as an interesting display of Aboriiginal history.

Celebrations

This is Queens Birthday Weekend here this weekend but more importantly for us, yesterday was D's 75th birthday. I of course am a lot younger!

Went to Mass at the cathedral and then ambled up the road to the Fortuna restaurant at Skycity where 5 of our nearest and dearest celebrated with us.
The buffet was excellent as usual, especially the seafood and desserts.

Later in the afternoon a couple of friends joined us for afternoon tea. They arrived with a huge gingerbread cake which was delicious and I made a hazelnut cake as usual on these occasions.

Ruapehu

Had a wonderful day retracing trips of yesteryear. Our family had a bach which we used on skiing trips from the late 50's to the late 70's when it was sold. It was in McKenzie Street in National Park. I had to think hard to identify it as all the places seemed different.

The road up to the Chateau evoked memories too - the tussock, flax and too too, the three mountains of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruahoe, the Chateau building and its grand lounge area inside.

Drove to the Top of the Bruce. Was it really 25 years ago when we were here last and had a coffee in grander surroundings than then.

Visited the Whakapapa Visitor Centre and sorted out a couple of short walks to look at the Tawhai Falls and the mounds on either side of the Chateau road.

We have lovely comfortable accommodation in Ohakune with its own view of the mountain in the setting sun. A holiday with good friends Frances and Sue to remember.

Flower Power and Exploits on the Home Front

Picked a bunch of these tree peonies for our breakfast table from outside our bedroom window. They are so beautiful the way they change colour over the days from white to dark pink.

Have had a domesticated weekend seeing the weather has been so changeable.Don't know how I have so much energy to make marmelade for us and the Bulgarian and Russian ladies I supply too. Mind you I make it in small quantities which makes for a quicker setting point and a faster job.

Made a Bavarian apple cake instead of my usual lattice-topped Dutch apple cake which has an easier streusel topping atop the apples which had been poached with cinnamon, sultanas and lemon zest. The sweet short pastry has an egg in it , then a layer of flaked almonds sprinkled over it followed by the apples,a layer of custard on top of that, then the streusel. I took it to the family gathering I went to with good friend Pamela in honour of her big sister, Robyn who is up from Christchurch.

Good friend Leny was in my thoughts as I made chicken schnitzel as she taught me many years ago and served it in a mushroom sauce, topped with parsley.

Downsizing

Is an ongoing project with me and recently it seems to have become a little easier now that I am separating from things I really like or liked in the past. Far better to do it gradually on my own terms than have somebody do it for me should there ever be the need.

So out with the old - three cute little jugs and a vintage Gregg's spice rack have been parcelled up and sent off to new appreciative owners.

Anzac Day and After

Didn't manage to make Anzac biscuits as intended as we went for a nice walk along the Te Atatu peninsula . This took most of the day, getting there and back by bus, or should I say buses, as we went via Pt Chevalier to pick up good friend Frances who knew where to go.
There is a beautifully landscaped walkway along the coast with stunning views or the upper harbour and back to the city with the Harbour Bridge, Skytower etc. Enjoyed a picnic lunch along the way after walking for an hour or so. Just as well we had taken our gourmet sandwiches and water bottles as there are no shops or cafes along the way which makes a refreshing change come to think of it. Not that many people either.

After having promised my long-suffering husband some baking I finally got round to it this afternoon. I made walnut drops from my trusty Fielder's cornflour recipe book which dates back to the late 1950s and queen cakes from the Edmond's book.

Puhoi

Good friend Frances suggested we go for a day trip to Puhoi today and drove us up in her new car. Called in to Orewa for Mass and to see Jane and Adam and to pick up a few things to bring back and either use or dispose of.

Had a picnic lunch in the domain then visited the old Catholic Church, the museum and the pub to look at the artefacts dating back to the old Bohemian settlers of the 1880s and later. Also visited the cheese factory further up the road and bought cumin cheese and some feijoa yoghurt.

Called in to Orewa again on the way home for a walk along the beach and visit to to the green grocer to stock up on veges for the week.

Easter

We spent Easter as usual on Waiheke Island with visitors Frances and Pamela joining us for some or all of the time.

As has been the case for the last three months the weather was good and we were able to swim at Surfdale and Little Oneroa. People are worried about the lack of rain and water and we were pleased there was a shower or two one night. It would have replaced the water we used for showering.

Harvested the last of the pears for eating as I ran out of oomph for stewing or bottling. Now the feijoas are ripe and falling on the ground. They too are not as plentiful as in other years and smaller because of the lack of rain.

Went to the Ostend Market on the Saturday to stock up on local products like tamarind chutney. The crowds and the heat were off-putting. Enjoyed the walk over to Ostend and the bustrip home!

The art gallery was worth a visit. There was the annual exhibition and sale of small paintings by local artists and an exhibition of very large paintings, many of them with birds

Tea for Two

Made a special afternoon tea this afternoon as we are both feeling a bit morbid as our cat, Malkovich had to be put down yesterday. He adopted us 12 years ago and has been a much loved pet even though it was a bit of a pain when we wanted to go away. Over the years he had a succession of caregivers when we did so and he endeared himself to them too. He endeared himself to good friend, Pamela, seen here with him recently.

Made some waffles to have with our beautiful new china given to us recently by BFF Eileen. This is a German recipe halved so you get 4 waffles.
Beat 100g selfraising flour
1 egg
50 mls water
1 capful rum
1 capful vanilla essence
40g sugar

Add
50g melted butter

Add more flour or water to get right consistency.
Delicious with homemade damson jam.

Weekend

Another warm weekend catching up with friends from Germany Ilse and Irene down at a friend of their's place in Mt Wellington.  We were invited for Kaffee und Kuchen, four different kinds of cake which we duly sampled. No dinner that evening.

I am nursing a cold so took it easy today in the morning  and ventured out to look at an exhibition of botanical illustration in the Central Library. Virtual exhibition Flowers Fruit and Foliage which is magnificent.. The colours are superb after centuries.

Sallied forth to Queen St and Giapo's for an icecream, banofee for me and mango and passionfruit for D, both delicious.


There was also a display out in the foyer of the old department stores like Milne and Choyce and George Courts where I used to work in the school holidays and Friday nights when I was a schoolgirl in the late 1950s.  I saved up for all sorts of things - a white Banlon cardigan, a white glittery plastic raincoat and a see-through umbrella and a little mantle radio I used to listen to in the evenings.  I still have it.

Took the ferry over to Devonport for a bit of an outing and took a few Sherlock Holmes books in to Evergreen Books to sell. Was pleased to see some creative knitting adorning lamp and verandah posts.

Called in to the library in Devonport too in the quest for a book to read and then made our way to the ferry back to the city.

Valentine's Day

Arose early, as unprepared for the day's celebration and made a hazelnut cake for Dieter. It turned out well and went down well at afternoon tea time.

Went for a walk along Pt Chevalier Beach in the late afternoon although the tide was well out by then. In contrast to the Herne Bay beaches there is enough beach for a good walk .

House in Herne Bay

Eli did this picture of the villa for me for Christmas. It has all the elements I like so much - the two gables, bay window, verandah, the brick chimney, the red hot pokers and the rhododendron tree.

Tim's classic car adds a splash of colour.

Dresden Figurine

Spent a couple of days on the island this week and decided a trip to the op shop was a suitable reward for household jobs and hanging around for a tradesman working on island time.

Espied an unmarked Dresden-style figurine of a couple, she in lace skirt with a couple of small porcelain roses, he in floral breeches, a brown jacket with a pink sash tied in a big bow to one side. After careful perusal decided that in spite of a dusty lace skirt the ornament was worth buying.

Back home I tried washing the skirt with a mild soap solution to no avail and tried something stronger which also didn't work so have decided to leave it at that and just enjoy as is.

I think it is probably Japanese. The couple have such sweet faces and reminded me of the words of of song that I remember hearing in my youth.

Dressed in your gown of blue brocade, a rose upon each dainty shoe, lady in loveliness arrayed, I'd love to dance with you. Soft powder'd hair and wistful face, shy dreaming eyes of tender blue. Sweet queen of gentleness and grace my heart's aflame for you.

It is a lovely reminder of the beautiful Dresden, Meissen and Frankenthal porcelain we saw on our trip to Germany last year.