Alright, I can't bear it. . .

Thanks Deborah for your encouragement - I'll put up another blog then:
Had a great night at the Duncans enjoying a birthday dinner party entitled 'Western Saloon'.
When I look at these I am filled with a mixture of strong emotions, most jubilant, some shamed, and a few very sad. I cannot explain the latter, but let's just say, that's life.

. . . as you can see, the jubilant is obvious.
We all had a pretty good time, and my costume went back, slightly stretched, to the hire place.

Taking a break

Going to give blogging a rest for a while. . .

Birthday continues. . .

Well, it was a grand day yesterday, and it clipped along at a smart pace, with many a joyous celebration or event tucked in there. . .
8:30am Breakfast at FUSE with my dear sister, Helen. . .
. . . and then a break for an hour before
10:30am Morning coffee with Jan and the girls, and some meringue, raspberry and yoghurt tarts. . . (and the lovely bone china cup set that she gave me)
. . . another break for a few hours before. . .
2pm Lunch at Jemma's work (Revive in the city) with her. . .
3:30 Afternoon tea in Takapuna with good friend Cathy, who is wearing her work garments too. . .
5:15pm Dinner and then a movie 'The Waitress' with Naomi . . .
8:30pm Home just in time for the Sisters Meeting at Traceys.

A birthday Opal from Afar. . .

The Opal is a Symbol of LOVE and HOPE. . . and I was sent this lovely stone - my birthstone - by dear friend Linda in Canada, who has given me a pendant and ring of hers to wear. Linda is struggling through a battle with cancer, and if ever the words Love and Hope could be applied to someone, they are the essence of my dear friend's existence at the moment.
I have taken these photos of the pendant, to show her, and to remind me of one who has such a sweet walk with the Lord, and all she writes of these days, is that precious relationship. "I turned to Him this morning, and all I saw was perfection".
. . . I am so honoured to wear my friend's jewellery, and that it is an opal is especially sweet. It is my hope that I am constantly reminded of her faith and the Lord that she treasures so dearly.
THANK YOU LINDA, for your life - one that I have been privileged to share. Like the opal, full of mysteries and changes, and hope and love.

COFFEE!

And in the search for a good coffee at home, I have been into TradeMe (read 'Ebay' you Americans), and purchased this delightful machine which I hope will make me the sort of coffee you see at the top of this page. It's SO important how you start the day!
. . . and if you live close enough to me to benefit from one of those cups of flat white, or latte, and know where I live, then please, this is your invitation to turn up and ask for one.

Springtime at Mt Pirongia

Well, it's been three months since I last left the city!!!! With great joy I departed on Friday for Te Awamutu, and the nearby Mt Pirongia Craft Festival on Saturday. Peter was able to get the day off and come too, so we enjoyed the whole day doing the various markets, and then the Hamilton gardens and art gallery.
The blossoms at the nursery were in full bloom. . .
here we are enjoying a coffee during the crowded wander through the main street of Pirongia.

. . . and handy mirror and I took our photo on an angle
some pottery seagulls that caught my eye.

Early morning walk again - go on, come with us!

This year I've been doing an hour-long walk with Jan at 6.30. It's time you took the walk with us. And just prior to daylight saving, it's quite light at that time. I wait on the corner and soon see the shape and colour of Jan making her way up from the end of the cul-de-sac.
Nice foggy morning today, so added a romantic light to common everyday objects and scenes. . .
the camellias and rhodadendrons out in full bloom. . .
and even one of our favourite cafes was starting to open its doors. . .
we crossed the main road and got down to the good stuff. The sun fiercely trying shine through thick fog. . .
. . . can't see the city through the low cloud
Ah, but in this direction, the path is clear, and UP
still, a lovely pastel light on the hidden city and harbour. . .
. . . hilarious sight of tall thin jogger, and squat short dog attempting to keep up, heading past us. . . down the hill again toward the fog
and then our eyelashes and hair heavy with water drops as we negotiate mysterious paths

and the happy sight of my home ahead of me, and the bush of birds-of-paradise that trumpets our triumphant return.

The Boyd's HOLE

Now I have to get this hole business in here, it's taken up so much of Jan's mind of late. They are getting the drainage system sorted for their end of the street by allowing the council to dig deep in their section to replace some much needed piping. Jan has been absorbed by the sheer size of the operation. Here she is in her favourite place:
And here are the men trying to work. . .
and the pipe on it's way toward the hole. . .
and Jan and I and the HOLE. . .
and finally, last but by far least, the HOLE

Dad's 80th at last!

We had Dad's birthday bbq at Helen's yesterday, with over 20 of the whanau present to celebrate. Three special guests were Phil and William over from California, and Uncle Murray, Dad's younger brother up from Waihi for the occasion.
Dad prepares to blow out birthday cake - poppyseed and orange with 8 candles.
Here we all are, except Jemma who was working, and Chris, Steve's youngest son.
A group in Helen's kitchen.
Helen holds the music for the item.
We were glad it was a dry day, and the overcast skies for much of it, saved our skins!
the four siblings in order of height, and dare I say, size.
Phil sang two of Dad's favourites, with a bit of help from us at times: You are my sunshine, and 'Fields of Gold' by Sting.
Even Helen Clark was present.
Two sets of brothers and Mum.

Ode to the Moon

This was the moon's eclipse last night, and we all watched it - turning from a full white circle, to red for an hour. Lovely, lovely.
And I must wax lyrical - or at least borrow someone else's waxing:
THE HALF MOON SHOWS
A FACE OF PLAINTIVE SWEETNESS

The half moon shows a face of plaintive sweetness
Ready and poised to wax or wane;
A fire of pale desire in incompleteness,
Tending to pleasure or to pain:-
Lo, while we gaze she rolleth on in fleetness
To perfect loss or perfect gain.
Half bitterness we know, we know half sweetness;
This world is all on wax, on wane:
When shall completeness round time's incompleteness,
Fulfilling joy, fulfilling pain?-
Lo, while we ask, life rolleth on in fleetness
To finished loss or finished gain.

By Christina Rossetti

Family stuff

Yep, it's great hanging out with family - especially when you all share similar sense of humour. Here some of us are at Frasers Cafe in Mt Eden, yesterday, Phil, and his two eblings, and Helen and I.
We went to Mission Bay and walked around the drive to Kohimarama Beach, where we found a sturdy seat to lower ourselves onto. As you can imagine, we all had to move as one to lift up from it at the end. Made our way back to Mission Bay for fish and chips overlooking the ocean.
Phil does a magnificent impression of a Mako shark - and William is now adept at it. Sucking in his chin and throwing his 'ski jump' nose out, he now moves his whole body like a shark as he moves along. It is most impressive and had us in fits.