Fairies, picnics and Titirangi beach

This is my business mentor and the head of Enterprise Waitakere, where I did my small business course. Barbara has been a great encouragement to me in starting out again, and a lot more New Age than me in her expression. She had a birthday last Sunday, to which I was invited, at a picnic at Titirangi beach dressed in our finery.
Here are some of us - friends and new business owners - reclining on the grass.
. . . and blowing the requisite bubbles upon arrival.
and drinking sparkling wine whilst listening to music and bird song. OH, and sharing our hopes, wishes, and gratitudes for the last year and coming year.
The only male brave enough to attend, was Barbara's partner, who sat a wee distance away and took photos.

Another Summer Barbecue

We had another barbecue around at the Duncan's last night. Gene is going away with them for his first foray to Europe, and they needed to do some last minute planning, and I just need an excuse to get together over a meal to be there. (Even if I wasn't going too! What a sacrifice).
FROM the table on the deck, this is the view of Rangitoto nicely framed by the neighbours bushes and trees.
Lamb chops, sausages, coleslaw, crispy roast potatoes, beetroot, red wine. Mmmmmmm.
Gene was his usual amusing self. Someone who shares the same birthday as me, should be!
Lovely fresh tropical salad for dessert - guava, pineapple, plum, nectarine and grape.

The Road goes ever on and on. . .

We left a little later on our walk this morning, at 7am rather than 5.50, so the sun was already up. I took my camera anyway to record the voyage. Here are some of the shots. . .
past Fuse, the best cafe in the Peninsula, opened last year, and enjoying MY business regularly.
Down to the path along the harbour, with the usual glorious views of the city and inner harbour
zoomed in on the SkyTower and the glint of the sun through the clouds.
It promises to be a blue day, and the early Autumn means some cool breezes and more blankets at night.
We walk up to the pylon at the very top of the pic and return.

Great movie

Saw this movie in the afternoon yesterday, on a particularly wet and non-busy day, and really enjoyed it. I already knew from of old that amazing story of the five missionary guys who were speared to death in the Amazon by a tribe they were trying to reach. THIS movie told it from the point of view of the tribe, and was better than I expected. There was no overtly Christian message in it, although for those of us who know the story so well, it was there. I really liked the theme which came through strongly, of redemption and grace. Sigh.
. . . and just before I went out, I made use of a half hour to start the first painting I've done in well over a month. That is just too long away from the brushes. If you look closely you'll see a carp coming through the water.
Postscript: Here is the finished painting as of 3.45pm Friday.

Mmmmm. . . dolcetto and syrah

My sister discovered this! And with a name like that, how could it NOT be good? Listen to the description:

2007 Dolcetto & Syrah

This wine is vibrant magenta in colour and the nose has fresh, lifted aromas of red berries, blackcurrant, red jubes and hints of spice. The palate has flavours of ripe summer berries and a natural grape sweetness that is balanced by the frizzante mouth feel providing a refreshing and vibrant finish.

Yep - it's a rare red sweetish wine that you actually cool before drinking, and is my present summer favourite! Not to suggest that I get to drink it (or any wine) THAT often, but when either of us have a bottle, it is eeked out for a few days. Glorious.

My old digital camera (given to me by my father) finally died, and Dad very kindly offered me ANOTHER one of his for a small price. It seems to work fine, but for the life of me, keeps putting wrinkles on my face, around my eyes, and neck, and a certain shine that I'm sure is not usually there.

Wet and Windy at a West Coast Beach

Getting stir crazy - stuck inside all day yesterday because of winds and rain, and when it cleared even slightly this morning, Helen and I struck out for Piha - 40 mins away - to blow the cobwebs away.
Cresting the hill, the blue skies came out, and we set forth past Lion Rock along the soft hard-to-walk-on iron sand.
Tolkien landscape further in.
Shiny, almost purple, iron sand by my foot.
Sister's profile.
Lots of surfers, like crows, dotting the water.

Water

We've been looking at, and drinking from, the River lately. The one that flows from the throne, full of love, purity, cleansing, holiness - the real River, the one from which all the others are modeled.
We met this morning, down at the Boyd's house, for fifteen minutes, at 6.15am. I was surprised at how dry I was upon waking and the difficulty just getting down there, and again, surprised at what a difference it made to sit with other believers and just love Him. Just gaze on Him. I came away refreshed and as if 'stuff' I'd struggled with all night had been washed off (a bit any way). It truly makes me aware that what seems so small and insignificant to us, often is just the reverse in invisible realms.
Sometimes as small and simple as calling on His name during the day, like now, "Lord", and knowing His immediate response.

BBQ last Wednesday

Things are going by in a whirl these days, but occasionally punctuated by very pleasant social occasion like this that we had at the Duncans place last Wednesday - Waitangi Day.
Gordon and Cathy are having extensive renovations done to their front area and the visitors had to arrive over planks and up makeshift bridges.
Gordon and Cathy and the book of quotes and questions. . .
Naomi and John sitting eagerly anticipating dessert
. . . and John didn't want me to be sitting alone in my photo. . . hence the grimace on my face.

Summery high points of January

These are the last three days of the long Auckland Anniversary weekend. We have been enjoying some unusually gorgeous weather, and making the most of it.
On Saturday, Helen and I headed out to the wild west coast, 25 mins from home, to the black iron sand beach of Piha for a swim.
It wasn't bad. And considering the day, and the rolling aqua surf, it wasn't too busy either.
I had to take this photo of a child I passed on the way - typical of any who play in the black sand, and pretty much how I remember looking myself at the same age, at Raglan further down the coast.
Sunday, the church met in the afternoon at Helen's. Nice thing about her place is that you can open up the concertina doors and feel like you're outside.
and today, it was Mum's 79th birthday and she wanted a picnic, so we went out along the scenic drive, only 30 mins away, into the Waitakere Ranges, to a historic homestead that houses a cute antique store. WHAT a view from the front lawn.
That's Auckland city directly ahead, with Rangitoto Island in the harbour.
We availed ourselves of the picnic table and umbrella and enjoyed a thermos of tea and lashings of ginger beer.
Happy Birthday Mum.

Chocoholics Dream

Oh yeah, that's all I need, a new client who makes rows and rows of gourmet chocolate and insists on me taking a cellophane bag of them away with me each time I visit.
Watch this space - er, should I say - watch this waist!

A pleasant summer Saturday

Trace and I went out to Helensville for a picnic today, enjoying a baking hot day and NOT wanting to sit on the black sand of a West Coast beach. Enjoyed a coffee at this quaint little cafe in Coatesville.
THEN. . .
I finally caught up with the Duncans after they returned from the holiday I would normally have gone on with them - to Lake Rotoiti. We had a lovely meal at Art Ducko on the North Shore, facing out to a blustery East ocean. I ate Duck too, just in keeping with the theme. They were tired by happy, and had enjoyed the time by themselves on holiday but hopeful of doing it with others next summer. Me too! They also very generously gave me some money toward my expenses in light of the break in on the 31 Dec. WHAT FRIENDS! I am greatly humbled by them. God bless them every one!

Back on Deck. . .

Will you look at that little baby! Yep, my 'new' secondhand Mac, and flash 22" screen, and at last, I'm up and running again. Very happy about that.
Still applying for jobs, though, just to get myself more financially stable, but if I don't get one, at least I can keep plodding along.
THANK THE LORD!

Pre-burglary holiday

Ah, yes, I DO remember I had a holiday BEFORE the disaster. It's good to remember that now. Here's Helen and I down at Waihi beach enjoying a latte at a local cafe. How happy and relaxed I look secure in the knowledge that the office was safe!
I love this particular view of our beach. Ever since I was small, this dip in the sand dune as you crest the ridge and see the sea before you and Mair Island in the far distant sea has caused a wave of excitement and liberty to well up inside me.
Eternity has a window here. . .
On New Year's Eve, Helen and I stayed up to hear the lone piper playing Auld Lang Syne on the beach, and see the fireworks, and toast in the New Year. Meanwhile, at this very moment, back at Yeovil Road, Te Atatu. . .
Pyjamas all day if you want to.

Happy? New Year. . .

Well, it's an interesting way to start the New Year, and my feeling is that if my back is to the wall, I can only move forward, right?
Came home early from holiday today because was told that we had been burgled. That was some long trip home. Indeed, my Mac computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse, gone. Will have to look at getting a job.
And a message on answerphone that dear friend Linda in Canada has finally passed on to be with the Lord after a year's dealing with cancer.
One BIG mercy in all of this is that the necklet she gave me was not among the jewellery taken. I'm wearing it now.