This and That

The General Election is coming up fast, and we decided to vote early.  There were several options of where to go, and after a meeting up town, we popped into the local library. Joined the short queue, handed over our Easy Vote card, received the voting papers, and we were good to go.  Nice and simple, and over in five minutes.  And with voting early, we wont have to join the crowds next week.  Rather, we can sit back and watch the results roll in.

After doing our civic duty we had a rather mundane job to do – take our recycling to the Transfer Centre.  This is generally Robin’s job, but as he has been out of action for a while, I was the driver and we both helped with putting the bottles, cans, plastic and papers into their various slots.

Getting rid of the recycling

After a break for a while while Robin while recuperating after his knee replacement, he finally felt well and steady enough on his feet to cook the Sunday breakfast.  So tasty – we breakfasted on pork sausages, bacon, egg and tomatoes.  Well worth the wait, thanks Robin.

Sunday breakfast

We have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon next week, and Robin is hoping his knee has improved enough to enable him to start driving again.  That will certainly make him feel better, and maybe we can go caravanning again soon too.

This Weekend……

This weekend turned out nice and sunny, but with a definite Autumnal feel in the air.  We travelled over to Wainuiomata to share in the 65th birthday celebrations of my younger sister.  Goodness me, where have all those years gone?  I can remember the night she was born- at home, she obviously came with a rush, and several weeks early.  My older sister and I (11 and 12 at the time) were woken up with our mother calling out to us.  With no phone in our house, we had to run up the road in our dressing gowns and slippers in the dead of night, knock loudly on our neighbour’s door to wake her up, and get her to phone for an ambulance.  No wonder that was a night to be remembered!

Me with Karla

Birthday Cake

Several hours later it was time to head back to Levin.  But not before we drove around Wainuiomata to see all the changes since we were last there.  And I wanted to check out my very first house, we moved in to “Nappy Valley” as the place was called in the mid 60s.  Back then, house prices were relatively affordable for young couples who were prepared to work hard, and we got a Government funded house loan, and cashed in the  Family Benefit.  Even though we had two young children, both of us were working, and my hubby at the time had an evening job as well.  We moved in with no carpets or curtains, and second hand everything.  Difficult, of course, but we were young, and we managed.

First home

Robin had been chatting to one of the birthday guests about our narrowboat trip on Dot and Derek’s boat Gypsy Rover over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  Imagine our delight when we returned home that evening to find that one of the U Tubers which Robin follows had put up a video of this very trip.   Robin cast it to the TV and it was almost like being there again.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte, meaning ‘the bridge that connects’, carries the canal majestically over the raging River Dee below.  Designed by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop and constructed by John Simpson (stonework) and William Hazledine (ironwork), the aqueduct was completed in 1805, and is a result of some bold civil engineering solutions. A cast iron trough suspended 126 feet above the river, supported iron arched ribs, carried on 18 hollowed masonry pillars.  One of the most astonishing feats of engineering from the Industrial Revolution, this in now been classified a  World Heritage Site. 

Sunday morning always means a cooked breakfast, and Robin does the honours.  Kransky sausages and eggs, with a few cooked tomatoes for me.  It’s always a good start to the day.

He’s waiting to tuck in

Down to Level 2

From midnight last night, the covid levels have dropped down to Level 2 for the bulk of New Zealand.  Auckland, where the majority of the cases have been recorded, must remain at Level 4 in the meantime.  It has been so scary to see the infection go from one individual to more than 800 during this outbreak  in such a short time, with sadly one death recorded. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Adern at the daily Covid briefing

We can get out and about during Level 2, so caravanning here we come!  Scanning the QR codes on entering business is now mandatory, as is wearing masks when going into shops, malls, and the like.  Libraries are now open, that’s good, so I can finally return my books – without fear of overdue fines as these were all waived while the country was in lockdown.  And we can go out for lunch, dinner or just a coffee too.  And no, we don't have to try and eat with out masks on, we don't have to wear then once we are inside these establishments, although there are rules about seating and table service.  So things are moving along well here.

So what have we been doing over the last week or so, along with being riveted to the TV briefings each day?  As seems to be a common trend during lockdown, everyone has ben doing a lot of cooking, Robin lent a helping hand the other night.  Although takeaways can now be purchased, we decided to do our own and cooked up hamburgers and chips “fake-aways”.  With a hamburger patty, cooked onions, bacon and egg, the burger was delicious. 

Bacon and egg burger and chips

The last few days have been wet, cold and miserable.  The rain finally stopped, the shies cleared, so I went out for a quick walk around the village.  And look, there’s a sprinkling of snow on the Tararua Ranges behind us.

Snow on the ranges

We have a weekend caravan rally coming up soon, and we may well extend the time away.  Robin is getting cabin fever, he tells me!

A Rather Grey Weekend

It’s not much of a weekend here in our part of paradise, rather grey and blah and feeling a little damp.  Not quite cold enough to put the heat pump on yet, but not warm enough to sit outside either.  The sun was trying it’s best to shine through the misty cloud cover, and I was so pleased with the photo I managed to snap. This was taken about 3.00pm yesterday.

A funny sort of day

We took a trip to hospital during the week as Robin was due to have a procedure done.  I left him in the capable hands of the medical staff for several hours and took myself off to the hospital café.  With my current back problem making walking difficult, I’m pleased I had the walking stick to rely on, I certainly needed the support.  I was soon comfortably settled with a sandwich and coffee, my book, and some stitching, together with the cell phone handy waiting for the call to return and collect Robin after his procedure was complete.  One of the Levin Shuttle Drivers (in his uniform) had a bit of a chat with me as I was stitching away, so I told him Robin drives the shuttle too.   And although they hadn't met he had seen Robin’s name on the roster sheet.  What a small world! The procedure went reasonably well, although rather uncomfortable, Robin said, and now we are waiting results.

Robin cooked our usual Sunday morning bacon and eggs for breakfast today, and I’ve prepared a beef casserole for dinner which is cooking nicely in the crockpot.  There is sure to be some rugby on TV for him to watch today, and I can potter around and keep myself busy, I’m sure, so all is well in our world.  And our flag has been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect for Prince Phillip’s passing.

The Weekend that Was

We were suffering Caravan Club withdrawal symptoms with no rallies on the horizon and spent the weekend at home.  However, we seemed to fill the weekend up with good food, so we didn’t go hungry.  On Saturday Robin fired up the Weber BBQ and we cooked a tasty leg of lamb with roast veggies, so nice.  And the smell…..out of this world!  Even better, we purchased the lamb on special!

Roast lamb on the BBQ, so tasty

Sunday mornings usually start with bacon and eggs for breakfast, our Sunday morning tradition.   Once again, the food didn’t disappoint.  It’s always a lovely leisurely start to the day.

Sunday morning breakfast

I spent the afternoon making a few masks, as they seem to be required more and more.  A nice manly one – black with silver ferns for Robin, didn’t think he would appreciate pretty flowers, like my one.

All masked up

So that’s what we have been up to.  The country is still in Level 2, so we can go out and about as long as we take precautions.  Such as sign in to shops, or scan the QR codes, practice social distancing, hand hygiene, and now masks must be worn on public transport, which seems a very sensible idea.  This is our “new normal” these days. 

Where has this week gone?

Here we are, and it’s Sunday again, just where did this week go, we wonder?  It’s been rather a cold, miserable week, as far as the weather was concerned.  Just as well we now have a brand new Heat Pump, so we are warm and cozy inside.   Robin has recently purchased a “Minimum Maximum Thermometer” and makes a point of checking it each morning.  So far the coldest temperature recorded here overnight  this week was –3.

New thermometer

The cold conditions brought  a dumping of snow on the Tararua Ranges, it does look pretty in the background.  Snow closed the Desert Road for a while, fell on the Rimutaka Hill, and plenty more down in the South Island, the ski fields in particular where certainly pleased.  And we were so pleased that we had traveled home from our trip earlier in the week and were not caught up in snow and ice on the roads.

Snow on the Tararua Ranges

Traditionally, our Sunday mornings start with a bacon and egg breakfast, cooked by Robin.  Always nice and tasty, especially on a chilly morning.  And talking of cold weather food, the crock pot is simmering away with some tasty pumpkin soup for lunch.  It’s a hard life being retired, and we certainly never seem to go hungry, either!

It must be Sunday

These days it’s hard to know what day it is.  But when Robin cooks bacon and eggs for breakfast, it must be Sunday.  Nothing beats a cooked breakfast on Sunday morning.  With a lovely fresh double yolker egg from our local free range supplier, it certainly was a great start to yet another Lockdown Sunday.

Sunday breakfast

And talking of food, it’s feijoa season at the moment and Paul and Elaine’s trees were covered in fruit.  Would you like some, we were asked?  Yes please, and they were dropped off at the door for us.  Thanks so much, much appreciated.

A big bag of feijoas

It’s pouring with rain at the moment and we have a “Severe Weather Watch Warning” in place.  The gales haven't yet arrived, but are expected tomorrow.  Just as well we are tucked up safely at home, and the heat pump has been replaced, so we are warm and toasty. 

Its a rainy day here today

The country has moved from Level 4 Lockdown to Level 3 on Tuesday, meaning that some businesses can now open if they can operate safely without personal contact.  Take-away shops can also open and there has been a huge rush for burgers and the like, although some businesses have to improve their health and safety plans.  No need for us to rush out for takeaways, there is nothing wrong with home cooking.  Level 3 has been called “Lockdown with Takeaways”!  There are still travel restrictions in place, and oldies like us should still stay safely at home.

Staycation Easter 2020

Sunday morning is generally a bacon and egg breakfast cooked by Robin, and Easter Sunday was no exception.  Once again, he did a great job.  It’s our very own family tradition.

The other day a rather heavy parcel was delivered by courier  from my daughter Nicky.  Was it an early delivery for Mother’s Day next month, I wondered?  No, I was told to open in now, so I did.  And what's this I found inside?  A bag of flour, about 3kg or so, I reckon!

The note read:  (abbreviated)

“Dear Nana, here’s some flour for you, we ended up getting a 20kg bag yesterday at the supermarket.  We hope you are doing well in Lockdown, and will enjoy doing baking with the flour.  Love from Emma and Nicky.”

Special delivery – flour!

So on Sunday afternoon I spent some time baking, and made a date loaf, and some shortbread.  The shortbread aren’t cut all nice and fancy, but they certainly taste good.  Half of them have been spirited away into the freezer for another time, maybe we will welcome visitors here for afternoon tea sometime in the future.    It’s certainly a strange new world when a gift of flour (or finding the supermarket shelves stocked with toilet paper) can bring such joy!

All in all we have managed our Easter Staycation quite well.  A few Easter buns, but there was a mild panic when I couldn’t find where I had put the peppermint marshmallow Easter Eggs.  After looking through the pantry a couple of times, they were finally tracked down.  What bliss, an Easter Egg to nibble on after dinner.  It doesn’t take much to make us happy these days, does it?

The weather has taken a cold and rather windy turn over the last day or two, but then, Easter weather here can always be rather changeable.  There’s a crockpot full of pumpkin and bacon soup with a hint of curry for lunch, so all’s well in our world.  Hope everyone is keeping warm and safe inside their home bubbles, and keeping in touch with friends and family by phone and internet.  Happy Easter to all.

Rally at Carterton

You can’t say we weren’t warned!  The local campers told us that the overnight temperatures for Friday night would drop to minus 1 degrees – and it did!  Brr, it was certainly cold!  But a cold chilly night is generally followed by a nice sunny day.

There were 16 caravans in residence over the weekend for the Combined Rally at Carterton School, with Wairarapa being the host club.  Our orange club flag soon joined their green one, and they fluttered together in the breeze.

Camping at Carterton School

There was a strange cloud in the sky on Saturday night, so we just had to get a photo.  Long and thin, with a seemingly red line running  through the middle.  Wonder what that is all about?

Strange looking cloud in the sky

We all ate together in the hall on Saturday night, cooking and eating our own main courses.  This was followed by a shared dessert, with everyone bringing their contributions.  As always, there was a great selection on the table.

Plenty of choices here

After the tables were cleared and the dishes done, we played several games of “Card Bingo”,  with Harry doing a great  job as Caller.  Sadly, neither Robin or I had a win, so didn’t get rich with our gambling.  But never mind, it was quite a fun game with our “Eyes down and Looking”.

My cards for Card Bingo

Visitors called in on Sunday morning, well known to most of us.  It was Diane and Pete, who previously  ran the Carterton Holiday Park for 8 years or so.  They keep up with our adventures through our blog, they told us.

Pete, Robin with Gemma, and Diane

We packed up and headed for home about 11.30am on Sunday.  With two hours drive ahead of us, we wanted to get on our way.  On our return trip we traveled north, up and over the Pahiatua Track, passing by the Big Kiwi at Eketahuna.

Big Kiwi at Eketahuna

You know what it’s like when you get home from a weekend rally.  The caravan gets unpacked, the fridge cleaned and emptied, the bag of laundry taken inside, and the floors vacuumed.  Once all that was done, we sat down for a late lunch.  It had been a great weekend away, crisp sunny Autumn weather, and great company.

Mother’s Day Sunday

It’s rather sobering to know that we are now the older generation, both my parents and Robin’s have been gone for some time.  We started our Sunday morning with our usual bacon and egg breakfast, Robin’s specialty.  I like tomatoes with mine, and Robin gets two eggs.

Sunday breakfast

Then I opened my Mother's Day gift from daughter Nicky.  Wonder what it is?  Oh look, chocolate!  Lindt chocolate with fruit centres, doesn’t it look yummy.  Guess I’ll be sharing these with you know who.

Lindt chocolate for Mother’s Day

And Gemma wants to say hello.  As she is getting older (she is all of one year old now) she is starting to do things differently.  Such as lying in the front of her play tunnel, to watch the world go by.  Not so long ago, the tunnel was just the thing to run through very fast, in one end and out the other at high speed, jumping  out at us as we walked into the kitchen.

Hello from Gemma

The caravan got a good wash yesterday, all ready for our trip away next weekend.  We will be traveling over to the Wairarapa, sadly can’t go a day or two early this time as existing appointments take priority. 

Wishing all a Happy Mother’s Day, have a great day.

Leisureline 2019 Get Together

It was a great gathering of the Leisureline Owners Club.  48 of these caravans met at Eskdale School at Napier.  What a great sight to look out from the school hall balcony and see all those caravans lined up.

As far as the eye can see

Leisureline is a family run business by the Bates family, and they came along to support our weekend, and join in the fun too.  They also brought down a couple a new vans for us to see.

Colin, Liz and Merilyn

Arrivals on Friday from 4.00pm as it was a school day, and after settling in, meeting and greeting our neighbours and old friends, we met in the school hall at 6.00pm.  “Open Home” visiting took place on Saturday morning, and most took the opportunity to check out the new vans brought down from the factory.  Owners of near new vans were quite happy to welcome people to look through their pride and joy so there was a lot of visiting taking place.   It’s amazing how many tips and new ideas you pick up from other owners and their vans.  Then in the afternoon those who had booked went on a winery or brewery tour.  We saw some of them stagger back to site carrying their acquisitions with them after a happy afternoon of sampling.

Dinner that evening was at the Bay View Hotel for a Pig on a Spit meal.   The pork was delicious, and there was a great selection of vegetables too, plus dessert.

Dinner at Bay View Hotel

Then it was back to the school hall where we were enjoyed a musical evening, got to love these sing-along songs which we all know.  Some of the happy campers did a turn or two around the dance floor.

Musical entertainment in the hall

It seems to be a given at these Leisureline Get togethers we share a bacon and egg breakfast on Sunday morning, cooked by the  Leisureline family and the organizing committee.  The kitchen was a hive of activity with bacon, eggs and hash browns cooking away, a huge pot of baked beans simmering away, plus mountains of toast.  Hungry campers were queuing up, plates and cutlery in hand waiting for their breakfasts, and sat down happily to enjoy their generous plates of food. 

 

Sunday morning breakfast

This was followed by Colin’s Q & A session.  He told us he was about to step back from his company with his son and daughter stepping up to the helm.  The company will be introducing a few new ideas, and he spoke about tyre pressures, fridges, and other items which often cause a little bother to van owner.   Colin then took questions from the floor and the conversations flew around the hall. 

Sunday  morning and the school grounds started to empty out as people headed off home

.

Sunday morning

We had also intended to pack up and get on our way on Sunday, but changed our minds with the opportunity to dine out again.  Colin and his family had previously had lunch at the Linden Estate Winery and was so impressed he talked the restaurant into opening up especially for our group on Sunday evening.  And because we were a large group of 68, we got a generous discount off the meal price.  The food was delightful, with choices of steak, lamb or salmon, plus dessert.

Dinner at Linden Estate Winery

Finally, on Monday, our Leisureline weekend had come to an end, and we said goodbye to our fellow campers.   It’s great to know that some members have put up their hand to arrange the Leisureline Owners Club get together for next year, and it will be in Mokau.  No dilly dallying around in the morning, we had to leave the school grounds reasonably early as the playing field we were camped on was about to get dug over.  And here’s the digger which arrived to do the job.

Many thanks to the organizing committee for a wonderful weekend, and to Leisureline for supporting the Leisureline Owners Club.  It was a great weekend, and so nice to catch up with people we had met before at previous Leisureline get togethers.

Caravan Rally at Te Horo

It seemed that Caravan Club rallies were coming thick and fast – it was only two weeks ago since our last one.  This time it was a Combined Rally where members from other clubs are invited to join us.  Held at Te Horo School, it was a lovely venue with a real country feel to it.  Although not too far from the main road, it was like being out in the country.  Plenty of big trees and abundant birdlife, and stock in the paddocks close by.  "Te Horo" in the Māori language means "the landslide".

We arrived in the late afternoon on Friday, which was to allow plenty of time for the pupils and staff to depart without our vans getting in the way.  As promised by the Met Service, the rain came down on Friday night, and kept falling all day Saturday without let up.  It was a cold, miserable day, and although there was plenty of attractions in the local area, most were happy just to stay put and socialize. With such a relentless downpour, the ground got more and more soggy and squelchy.  Wish we had packed our gumboots like some of the other campers had thought to do.

Camping in the rain

Fortunately we had use of the cozy hall to meet in.  On Saturday night tables were set up and we had a combined meal – where everyone prepared and ate their own main course.  Followed by a shared dessert, yummy.  All sorts of delights appeared from the vans, hot desserts, chocolate eclairs, lamingtons, brownies, and ice-cream.  There was plenty for everyone, and some of the blokes managed to fit in seconds.

Dessert table

Many thanks to Dianne and Barry who brought in boxes of grapefruit and lemons from their property.  Some came home with me, I love grapefruit for breakfast, and plan to make some lemon honey in the next wee while. 

Grapefruit and lemons

As often happens during weekends away, Sunday dawned warm and sunny.  So sunny in fact, that our kitten Gemma stretched right out on the window ledge, enjoying the warmth coming in the window.  She still has her plastic cone on, waiting for her wound to heal after being spayed. 

Gemma enjoying the Sunday sunshine 

It was a great weekend – and nice to meet up with fellow campers from other clubs who joined us for the weekend.  There were a few quizzes to test our brains, games of bowls and quoits in the hall for the energetic, and it is always interesting to listen to and take part in the wide ranging topics of conversation when a group gets together.  Maybe we didn't solve the problems of the world, but we always seem to have plenty to talk about!

Camping at Te Horo School

Weekend at Koputuroa

It was a wonderful way to celebrate the  start to summer – a weekend rally at Koputuroa.  The weather was hot and sunny, (those clouds didn’t bring the rain)  the venue was picturesque, and the company was great, and as for the food for our celebration dinner, just wonderful!  What more could we ask for?

What better than a bit of male bonding going on?  What do men talk about?  Caravans, perhaps, cars, sports, looks like they are having a laugh during this conversation.  Maybe they are relating funny stories about their spouses?

And then I spotted them through the window gathered around our newly acquired “black box” on front of the caravan.  With arms folded and looking serious, they are probably thinking, “I want one of those too”.  The gas bottle needed changing over the weekend, and Robin commented how much easier the job is now.  Previously he had to unscrew the cover and remove it completely to get to the gas bottles underneath, now he just opens it up.  

The table was set in the conservatory for our shared evening meal, doesn’t it look a picture!  Meanwhile, Don was in charge of the large spit roast pork cooking away, it certainly smelt wonderful.  He lifted the cover of the BBQ to show me how it was doing.

Getting ready for dinner

The meat was carved, and everyone brought out their contributions to the meal, bowls of salads, hot veggies, and garlic bread.  What a wonderful meal, especially that crispy pork crackle!  And after that we had a marvelous selection of desserts.

During Sunday Morning Tea two new couples were welcomed into our club, with President Selwyn doing the honours.  We hope they enjoy sharing many happy caravan rallies with our club.

Owen and Helen, Jennie and Dave, being inducted by Selwyn

Winners of the various competitions held over the weekend were announced, with the Best Decorated Van prize going to Glennis and Dennis – Dennis has a thing for flashing blue lights, he told me.  And special thanks were given to our hosts Don and Sandra  for allowing us to stay at their lovely home for our Christmas Rally.

 

 

Our generous hosts, Don and Sandra

Also attending our Christmas Rally were two dogs and a cat, all very well behaved indeed.

Just look at those little faces - Mason and Snowflake

Honey and Dot

And spotted on the back of D&D’s motor home, a reminder of their happy times spent cruising the canals of England.

It was a lovely conclusion to our club rally schedule of 2017.  But we have a big trip coming up soon – watch this space…….