Te Awamutu and Ngaroto

Ah well, I've been back here. . .where I've already taken a few photos. Catching the last of the summer and swimming in the pool, mostly on my own because Peter is so busy right now. Still, taking a look at where I am, it wasn't a hardship!
I went on an early morning walk and captured the cafe at the nursery before the gates were open. . .
and the sweeping views of the rolling hills and Mt Pirongia. . .
. . .and then on to Te Awamutu for a coffee and pastry at 'La Patisserie' which is run by a French couple who've been baking here for years, the MOST delicious pastries and bread. The coffee is pretty good too.
I told this lovely lady that I might do an oil painting of her in the shop, and I think I just might! Check it out. I had the apple tartlet, and took two strawberry tarts home for dessert that evening. Delish!

I was set free! I dissolved. . .

Just returned from Waihi Beach for the weekend, with friend Catherine. I am reminded, as I walk along this beautiful shore and hear the seagulls again, and see that soft light over everything of this poem:

I was set free!
I dissolved in the sea, became white sails and flying spray
became beauty and rhythm, became moonlight and the ship and the high dim-starred sky!
I belonged, without past or future, within peace and unity and a wild joy,
within something greater than my own life, or the life of man,
to LIFE himself!

This one is finished now I think

It's only going to get worse if I don't stop now. So I think this could be called finished. A walk in the Enchanted Waitakere Forest. Join me!

Sunday, 18 Feb

It was Jemma's birthday on Saturday, but celebrated on Sunday evening with BBQ amongst friends and family. Jem's boyfriend Ian came up from Rotorua and is staying a few days.
. . . and these are the two young lasses back from further afield. Cousin Magda, returned from a long break back with family in California and a trip to Paris with a friend, and Collette who's been in France for a year. We're all happy to see them again.

19 candles to blow out!
Earlier in the day, I took advantage of the fantastic summer weather and headed off on my own up toward Warkworth, which is an hour North of Auckland. This is the famous Puhoi Pub, in one of the earliest settlements in NZ, by the Belgians, who paddled up river until they hit this spot. I had coffee at the local cheese and art cafe. This old pub has an amazing interior filled with bric-a-brac and old pound/dollar notes stuck to the walls and ceiling.
This is one of the quaint wee shops in the middle of the 'town'.
. . . and I finished the afternoon here at Omaha beach, just beyond Warkworth, enjoying a couple of swims and reading my book. May Summer Keep Rolling On.

Dinner at the Cowans

I enjoyed a delightful dinner with John and Naomi last night, and their wonderful children, Bernie, Suzanna and Guy. It's always lively and fun, with lots of jokes, banter, and some moments of depth and insight. Hee hee. After dinner, John showed me his DVD of 'Allegro Non Troppo" which is full of Wild Lines in Animation. 1976, and looking it, but very clever.
Even the website gives an inkling of what's in store, but don't get it out for small child entertainment - it's definitely PG.

Valentine's Day

Here it is again, another Valentine's Day. I've been horribly spoilt in the past, for four years receiving secretly a glorious bunch of flowers on my doorhandle every Valentine's morning. Even now, when I KNOW not to expect one, I still check. How sad is that?!! Ah well, those days are obviously past.
. . . but all is not completely lost. My beloved niece still loves me. . . and look, she made me this card. Lovely isn't it? And on the back is this poem:
"The True Nature of Your Beloved
Know
the true nature of your Beloved

In
His
Loving Eyes
Your every thought, word and movement
is always, always
beautiful"

Church lunch

Just had a great picnic in the front of Ron and Lorna's house, and then a pretty hearty singing session while the kids all hung around in the background playing and eating. Ah, these summer days, and the joy of being together with the saints!

Following on from earlier post. . .

I guess I've been caught up in some deeper stuff this week, including the funeral of my old friend's husband. My heart has been full of thoughts about how fleeting life really is, and how important are the decisions we make in our lifetime. The friends we choose, and how we deal with our relationships. Having integrity and honour and love. This is the first wedding I was attendant at, and as you can see, we are all just teenagers, full of life, intent upon enjoying it. When I heard all the testimony given of Iain's life, I was humbled by what was said. Above all, he loved his wife dearly, and his children, and had achieved all he really wanted to do. There were many many comments about his faithfulness, caring, and steadiness. I'm glad I was there at the start of their life together, because I take those vows very seriously.

Whilst digging around in the box of photos at Mum and Dad's, I found some more, which no doubt will soon find their way on this blog site. THIS one is here because I saw it as being me when life was before me, and yet some part of me is still just the same, and always will be. 45 years later, I've seen a lot of disappointment and dark sides to life (certainly not as many as some) but HOPE and JOY and above all, LOVE still jostle for position inside the child within.

Thoughts about last weekend

It was quite a weekend. Cath and I met for the first time this year over lunch at the Kauri Gumstore Cafe in Riverhead, and it was sooo good to start our lunches again and our 'catch-ups'. As you might see from our faces, it wasn't all laughter, there were some tears.
A strange and sad event happened this Sunday. My best friend from High School's husband died suddenly playing touch rugby with his kids. I haven't been in touch with them for a while, and only periodically once in a blue moon, do we cross paths, but I was their bridesmaid all those years ago, and some friendships don't go away.
In our small group who meet around the Lord, we have a couple with their children who have started coming since last year. It turns out that they are the neighbours to this family, and I found out in roundabout ways that it was my friend's husband who had died. I went out on Sunday to be with her and her family and spent four hours laughing crying and catching up. My emotions felt their full extent in those hours. I can only say: "Lord, Kathy".

The day before, Lorna held a lunch for the sisters who were around, at her place. We spent some time turning to the Lord, but preceded it with this lovely lunch, and salad from her garden. From this happy occasion we had something to share at the meeting on Sunday. HE is our FULNESS.