Mum in dire straits.

 Mum has had a series of minor strokes, which have affected her speech and vocabulary, and spatial comprehension.

 Although physically she looks pretty good, she's got some work to do to return to living independently. Watch this space.

Bless her!

Scotland, the Highlands and back

 Very happy memories of a great trip in snow and ice around the Highlands in the first week of December 2012.

 Enjoying a cider at The World's End tavern in Edinburgh.

Wonderfully citrus smelling garlands on sale in Edinburgh at the European Fair.

Farewell after five years at AUT Library

 I love the look on my manager - Eamon's - face in this shot. Says it all. This was the farewell afternoon tea held last Friday in my honour, and he was sweating it about the speech he was going to have to give. Some very nice words said, and then I had to follow up with my own.

I chose the theme of the coming new release cinematically: The Hobbit, and Bilbo's 111th speech, where he says the memorable words: "I know half of you half as well as I would like and less than half of you half as well as you deserve." It's that, in a nutshell, for me and the staff here, hee hee. As you would get with over 60 staff in the three campuses. Anyway, another era is over for me and as Tolkien so wisely said: The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. . .

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say.

Almost an ebike. . .

 This was almost too good to be true - how to be able to keep cycling, uphill, any distance, sciatica or no, against a headwind. . . all for half the normal price, on a GrabOne sale. So I spent my big bucks and waited. . .

 . . . and waited. . . five days beyond the delivery date. . . this carton was waiting for me behind the carport. Yes, it WAS a kitset after all, despite no comment to that effect on the product description.

 And when finally it was all taken out and roughly put together. . .we find it is only ALMOST a bike.

MISSING: pedals, lights, charging cord. . . and most of all, the original enthusiasm of the biker buyer.

Cathy's 60th birthday on board Dave's boat Kosmic 5

 Very pleasant evening spent on board the boat enjoying a catch up with good friends and celebrating Cathy's 60th birthday.

Phil comes to help out at Woodglen Rd

 Little brother arrived at the crack of dawn on Thursday morning to stay for two weeks and help out at Woodglen Rd, clearing it of all its stuff. This first evening though, was spent with Mum, Steve and I, enjoying a meal together down at the restaurant and catching up. Mum and I watched Coro St while the boys chatted and then Phil drove Steve back in the green machine, and came back to spend the night at Mum's apartment.

 Dinner at the restaurant.

Very ready to head to Scotland in December

I am going to be in Edinburgh in three weeks - and friend Libby joining me for the Highland Fling tour, which lasts five days. Everything in me longs to be there right now. See above.
And then three weeks with the saints in Bournemouth, where I'll spend Christmas and New Year, oh joy.
And finally, off to Jacksonville, to work with Gene and SeedSowers for a month, preparing for working full time back here for him. I'm hoping we might get a few systems in place and methods of work which we can manage.

An old favourite

Just clearing my desktop at work, and I found this heartening little movie I had copied from somewhere. It never fails to perk me up to see it. I hope anyone looking enjoys at well.

Wellington to attend Police Memorial Ceremony

 On Monday I attended a large ceremony at the Police College in Porirua, commemorating the lives of policemen who'd died in the last year and the ones from previous years who'd died in service. Dad's name was mentioned and his picture in the Order of Service book. Attended by Governor General and Police Minister.

 The rest of the weekend spent enjoying the sights of Wellington and getting out of my rather grotty room in 'Lodge in the City' which was very unpleasant. Fortunately the sights and sounds of Wellington were well worth it. I also attended my first World of Wearable Art show there. Loved it.

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.