Christchurch visit post earthquakes

 Here's a mural of my impressions of my friend Meg's new house in Christchurch. It was stunning, and beautifully designed of course, and her artwork on display in strategic spots. I got to stay in Jack's room, with its designer pillowcases and duvet cover. Delicious - top right. Lovely spaces, and so much more room than I presently enjoy, but I sure enjoyed it fully for the three days I was here.

 I LOVE blue flowers, and these little charmers graced the pathway up to a cottage style linen and giftware shop in Oxford, which is an hour out of Christchurch. It was also (below) where we stopped for lunch at Jo Seagar's restaurant.

 Meg drove me up the hills south of Christchurch (the port hills) to Governor's Bay on the other side, and another delightful boutique eating experience looking up the harbour to the mouth, where Picton is. The place we sat in was She Chocolate, and I enjoyed a few delightful morsels there.

My studio in new flat and friend Cathy, via photo booth

Cathy and I this morning checking out the capabilities of my latest acquisition: a Macbook, which I have uploaded new CS6 software onto and am now using for all my graphic work. Should be able to take this little baby overseas with me should I go in the next few months.

A particularly good photo of Dad recently

Here it is in a nutshell: Dad in cap, with a favoured creature in hand. Taken a couple of years ago, but still, he hadn't really changed much from this. You were a real character, Pa, and have left a huge vacuum in the lives of a select few. . .

Avery William Jeffries

31 August 1927 - 9 September 2012

Miss you Dad

 Cathy and I had our annual 'girlie' weekend away - this time to one of her friend's baches at Algies Bay, near Warkworth. Perfect mid winter weather, with crisp cold morning/night, and clear blue skies, almost too bright and glarey. We did manage one walk along the quiet bay (above) but most of the time spent either in the bach (below) listening to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander audio book series, watching DVD, eating, or. . .

 enjoying some of the cosy guiltfree sleep ins, with the condensation on the windows inside and a hot water bottle heating the bed . . .

 or, at the Matakana Farmers Market, roaming all the produce and selecting items for lunch and dinner.

Here's what I think the colour of Jamie Fraser's hair would be like - since we're on an Outlander theme lately.

 We enjoyed a takeaway night around at our place, under the heat pump, for Helen's birthday. Liam made the orange cake, and Ashley joined us. Happy Birthday sweet sister.

Helen moves to new house in Peachgrove Rd

 Here they are - Helen and Liam installed, Jemma up from Rotorua to help, and Ashley with a cold but solidly there helping throughout.

 Jan did a thorough job of the kitchen.

 I did mould on walls and the skirting boards

Mark did the vacuuming.
We had a meeting there later on Sunday night and sang some songs and enjoyed a first meeting together in the new home. Thank the Lord

Easter break

Spent a lovely four days on my own down at the bach at Waihi Beach. . . over the Easter weekend. Cycled to the cafe a couple of days, and loved the blue skies, warm weather, and light winds.
Spent my time totally indulging my love of reading, writing, and walking along the beach, oh, and eating.
Very high tides were kicking up the sand hills but the beach was still its glorious glimpse of eternity.
I've completed a few more chapters of my practice book I'm writing. It's very therapeutic.
This photo above was not from this particular adventure, but is of Waihi beach, and I came across it today and loved it so much it's up here now.

Oh dear, another Obsession - Outlander

Yes, it's true. After what feels like years of indifferent fads passing through my life - 'Lord of the Rings' movies from 2001 - 2004, 'Twilight' books then movies 2006 - 2010, I have now found another which threatens to go deeper and hang on for longer. Be afraid, be very afraid. I am.
I started listening to Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' series in November 2011, and have listened to all of them now, and that's saying something. They are about 900 pages long! I'm now relistening to all seven books, as well as the accompanying series about Lord John Grey. I'm almost at the stage of believing that Jamie Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser actually lived back in 1745. As for what it has done to my own Scottish roots - they are rekindled. . . oh yes, never were the Urquharts more loved. Ye ken? I think I'll head out and buy me a tartan pillow to sob into.

Well, the little nook above is now my reduced personal space. I've already changed the curtains and added a wee carpet, but I can almost touch the walls on either side when sitting on the stool. It amazes me that space is so er, relative. You THINK you need so much of it, but really, when a huge amount of time is actually spent in the imagination anyway, with books and ipad clustered nearby, it doesn't really matter whether there's room to swing a cat. Admittedly, I have got to be much tidier than my nature allows, just to avoid tripping over myself, and there are things I used to DO in my room which now I cannot. . . like watch a small tv in the corner, or hang out for an evening.
. . . and this angle of the house is very similar to the old house. The difference being, in the old house when you turned the corner, a HUGE living room extended out into the yard, and behind me the rest of the house was double in size. Still, it's a roof over our heads, and Steve's enjoying his first home. And I'm not sure how long I'll be there anyway.
Here's a photo I took in February, with rain on the horizon. I feel it is a good description of my present state. I'm counting on the truth of the Lord's words: "I give you a future and a hope", because those are the two words I struggle to find real in my life right now. My future is like the picture - plans to go to the States to work, for very little, among few that I now know, and I do not feel at all enthusiastic about it. I'm in a perfect place to be pleasantly surprised, because my expectation is so low. Ah well.

Mum's 83rd

Here's Mum at 83, on her birthday on January 28th. Love this eager shot of her and her great grandsons, who all have the same expression.

MOVING - again!

I am moving in the last weekend of February to this house in Yeovil Road. Steve has bought it, so at least I know the landlord! This will be the fourth house I've lived in within a very short radius of Springbank Lane in the last twelve years.
It's quite a bit smaller than the present one, but clean and tidy, and polished wooden floors.

The word for me this year is 'downsizing', and it is happening in all aspects of my life right now. I've had to tackle the assorted goods I've accumulated over the last 12 years, and get rid of as much as possible in order to fit the new space, and I've had to tackle the weight I've put on personally, which is affecting my health and fitness. Here's hoping for some radical change and my being able to cope with it!

It is now behind me, but definitely still within me.

Had a great time in Paris and London with Helen. My birthday celebrated in two places: Lyme Regis, and Paris on the Seine at night.
Best of all, meeting these delicious folks from USA, Holland, Bournemouth. It would be wonderful to go again when they hold another conference next year.

Bournemouth, London and Paris, here we come!

Helen and I about to head off on our adventure to Bournemouth/London/Paris for three weeks.
Can't wait. . . photos to follow.

Bunting

Getting the bunting started for Jem and Ian's wedding reception in October. A ways to go yet. . .

Enjoyed a family dinner around at Helen's last night - celebrating Phil being over here. Got a rare photo of us all together.
Helen's boys helped serve up.
The 'bigger' boys all waiting to be served.
At the table after dinner, having a shot taken on self timer.
Fitting into the little silver car afterwards.

Younger brother visits

Phil is over for three weeks from CA, and the four of us visited the movies at Westgate and enjoyed realigning ourselves so we ended up chronologically seated.


















Had my colours done recently, and adjusted hair colour accordingly.