The Week that Was

Its been a very busy week, certainly was a lot going on to keep us busy.  On Tuesday we attended our Probus Club meeting.  The guest speakers were from Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms, and I'm sure most of the members, like us, had no idea we had this new business venture in our local area.  Owners Brent and Jude related how they came to be mushroom farmers on returning to New Zealand after 30 years overseas working in the corporate world. They were looking to build something sustainable and in sync with their values and found their haven in Ohau. 

Brent and Jude with their mushrooms

They grow both Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms in large grow kits, and sell smaller grow kits and mushrooms online and at farmers markets on the lower half of the North Island, together with trays of fresh mushrooms.   During Covid lockdown the home sized grow kits were in hot demand as people were looking for something interesting and sustainable to do while they were at home for weeks on end.

Baby oyster mushrooms growing, and a tray of pink oyster mushrooms

On Wednesday morning we went down to the Health Centre to get our flu vaccinations.  No appointments necessary, just turn up, we were told.  It was all done quickly and efficiently and we never felt a thing!  With our borders closed for the past two years there has not been any influenza circulating in the community, so those in the know are concerned that there could well be a large outbreak this winter once visitors from overseas start arriving. 

Our Jeep also needed a little “medical” help on Wednesday and was dropped off for an automatic gearbox service, and regular brake fluid replacement.  The jeep is our tow vehicle so it is necessary to keep it well maintained for both our comfort and safety.

Raring to go again

Thursday was a terrible day for Robin, and yet more medical attention was needed.  After a spending a wakeful night in pain with a throbbing tooth, we were thankful to get an emergency dental appointment in the morning.  No wonder he was in so much agony, he had an abscessed tooth which needed to come out.  A script for antibiotics was issued, and he is now well on the road to recovery.  Not an experience he wants to repeat, he told me.

And on Friday we took a trip to Palmerston North Hospital – no emergency this time, thanks goodness.  Just to take Robin’s CPAP machine in for a service to the Respiratory Services.  This was supplied for sleep apnea and is used every night.  He has had the machine for many years, but is still going strong without any problems or loss of pressure.  In fact this machine has been with us on two overseas trips to USA and UK, so it is certainly well travelled.  I decided we needed a coffee and cinnamon donut to keep our strength up prior to the hospital appointment.

 

There's always room for coffee and  donut

We are spending the weekend at home, so here’s hoping it will be nice and peaceful and uneventful.  We had more than enough upset this week with Robin’s tooth emergency to last us a while, I think.