The air is crisp and clean, the path darker until the dazzling sun hits you in the eye as you round the curve of path by the harbour. Yes, it's that season again. For the first time I wore long sleeves and needed to.
. . .and over Easter, Jemma came up from Rotorua, and we all shared a few of these treats around. I still have some turning up unexpectedly in bags in my wardrobe.
Now I KNOW it's got NOTHING to do with chocolate OR rabbits - nothing. But these little beauties came my way yesterday, for no deserving reason, and they are simply the finest chocolates I've had in maybe almost a lifetime. Colestown Chocolates hand made in Queenstown, NZ.
Found this old movie taken a couple of years ago, and the review that John wrote of it. Still very funny today.
Film Review: “Executive Vacuum”An initially disarming and then gripping portrayal of power and passion in the sterile, academic setting of a university library. A coup during the absence of the executive staff leads to the dizzying rise through the ranks of two women who, in a Thelma-and-Louise-esque feminist adventure, find themselves out of their depth, trapped in roles they grabbed for themselves and then cannot relinquish. The central drama is furnished by the interplay between the powerfully-portrayed personalities of the leading characters. Tension builds as the acquiescent receptionist pleads, “What are we supposed to be doing?” This plaintive cry for purpose, dignity and identity is pungent, as she senses she is being dragged along by a stronger, more forceful personality who is pursuing her own fantasy of unattainable goals and unsustainable follies. The receptionist’s horror and then compliance with Jenny is evocative of 1940s Germany, aware of the madness of her dream-merchant dictator, aware of the hideous fate that her choice to follow is dooming her to, and yet willing to embrace the leader’s Quixotic foolishness with glee. An ever darker theme that threads through the film, underlying the apparent capriciousness of the Jenny character, is the evolution of her power-mad megalomania. She relishes the opportunities that fate has delivered to her: a power vacuum and a coercible accomplice. The viewer can see her pathology gestating from initial assertion of control over her colleague to the chilling climax where she gives ululating voice to her Messianic delusion: “We are the library!” “We make all the decisions!”««« ½ JC
Helen gave Jemma a bike for her birthday, which has since been taken down to Rotorua where Jem lives now. Perfect present for her I would judge from her expression.
Not such successful sewing so far. Got this gold material from Geoff's Emporium and had to stitch and fix, and stitch and fix, to get it to this point. Got to stop now. Sheesh.
I bought this little beauty in Rotorua when I was there last week, and have already 'seasoned' it and had a delish meal (over two days) out of it. Wish I'd got the larger one now, but this will be fine for just me. A whole host of wonderful Moroccan food is now at my fingertips.
Chicken tagine (above) - at least the other half of it after eating one plateful. More ideas and recipes here: http://www.tagines.com/
And breakfast these days, is muesli with wonderful watermelons and plums, the seasonal fruit du jour.
Helen and I spent some time down at the family bach at Waihi beach, and this is us heading off for dinner on Saturday night to Flat White.
. . . and we did a bike trip to the other end of the beach - Bowentown - where we had a coffee at the local cafe there.
This is such a typical sight for a Jeffries - the walkway up and over on to the beach. Mair Island in the distance.
A balmy evening on the beach by myself.
I headed to Lake Rotoiti on Wednesday and joined friends Cathy and Gordon for the rest of the week. Took my bike this time and got a wee bit of cycling in.
. . .bike rides. . .
. . . all my own salad vegies. . .
. . . catching up with friends. . .
. . . two favourite summer items. . .
FAMILY.
Enjoyed a good catch up and bbq tea with Gordon and Cathy last night, seeing their renovations more complete and the carpet down throughout the house.
AND my friend's recently shaved head (for child cancer). We sat in the late afternoon sun on the front deck and then moved in to the table inside.
It's all looking very nice now - wooden surfaces, a dishwasher, and lots of open light space.
Fruit salad and icecream sundaes for dessert.
