The last few days

What have we been up to over the last few days?  Asparagus season has started so I needed to take a trip to Lewis Farms to get a big bunch of this delicacy.  The grading machines were busy, clatter clatter, keeping the workers on their toes as they sorted the different grades.  Many of the seasonal workers come and stay in their motor homes and caravans and park up on the grounds for a small cost - no travel time to work when you are staying on site.

Grading the asparagus

The farm shops stocks other locally made goods as well, honey, pesto, free range pork products, bread and crackers.  As well as an interesting display of items from earlier times.

Lewis Farms also grow strawberries and raspberries, and real fruit ice-cream is also available, as well as freshly ground coffee.  The shop was bustling with customers so I had a little wait for my coffee fix.

Coffee time

Saturday was Election Day, time for everyone to have their say and go and vote.  We had voted early, but many people like to cast their vote on the actual day.  We watched the TV coverage in the evening, and it was obvious people thought it was time for a change.  Labour was trounced and National will be the new government.  The Special Votes still need to be counted, those from Kiwis overseas, in hospitals, and those who voted outside  of their electorates.  There may well be changes to a few seats, but it seems that overall National will form a government with one or two coalition parties.

Democracy in action

Robin was up bright and early on Sunday morning to watch the All Blacks and Ireland quarter final game in the Rugby World Cup.  The All Blacks won, which takes them to the the semi finals.  There was no time for him to cook Sunday breakfast, he was much too involved in the rugby game!

Sunday morning rugby

His Monday morning physio classes are going well, and Robin is noticing improvements to his knee each week.  As I'm still the nominated driver, its coffee time for me while I sit and wait for him to do his exercise circuit.

We are looking forward to seeing the orthopedic surgeon on Thursday who will hopefully clear Robin to drive again. 

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.

Back to Physio

At last, Robin is attending weekly physio, funded by the Health Department as part of his knee replacement surgery.  And getting to these classes has been a mission, as for whatever reason, his name was not on the list of attendees.  But it all worked out in the end, the paper work was sent to the Physio Department, we had an assessment meeting, and now he is attending on Monday mornings with the other recent knee replacement patients.

Week by week, he is getting more movement in the knee.  The Physio lady has some sort of protractor which measures the angle that the knee can bend, and there is a definite improvement there.  So after a set back or two, the pain on movement is slowly improving, and he is starting to feel a lot better in himself.

My job is to drive down to the Health Centre, walk with him to the Physio Department then leave him to it.  There is no need for me to be in there with him as he does the exercise circuit, and I don't think the other patients would like me there invading their privacy while they are also working out.  So I take myself to the café, and relax with a coffee and my book, making sure I’m back in time to collect him and drive back home.

Time for a coffee

Little by little his mobility is improving, although there is a way to go yet.  We have another  appointment with the surgeon in a few weeks time, and Robin’s next aim will be cleared to drive, fingers crossed.

Visiting the Rally

With our caravan still up at Ohaupo and Robin’s recent knee operation meaning he was unable to drive, there was no way we would be attending the weekend rally at Rangiotu School.  So we did the next best thing and visited the rally for morning tea.  I was the nominated driver and we had a whoopsie on the trip up.  The only damage was to a pukeko who tried to cross the road in front of my little grey car – these birds have no road sense at all. 

It was a grey drizzly morning and we arrived at the school to be warmly welcomed by the rally family Russell and Maureen.    Morning tea was held in the kitchen/dining room and everyone soon arrived with their cuppas.  We had brought along some cream sponges to celebrate Robin’s recent birthday – no wonder everyone was pleased to see us.

Yes, he will be sharing that sponge cake

As we hadn't been to a rally for a while, as you can imagine, there was plenty of catching up to do.  We are so lucky at this school to have this room available to meet in, I imagine there wouldn't be much chance of sitting outside with the weather forecast promising a wet weekend.

The sponge cakes all got eaten

Originally we had planned to stay on for lunch, and I had packed a picnic lunch accordingly, but Robin’s knee was getting rather painful so we decided to head for home.  Many thanks to Geoff and Eileen who invited us in to their van for an extra chat before we departed, and to Russell and Maureen for suppling some Lemonade lemons to us all, I took a couple of these home to try.

Happy Campers

The drive home was uneventful, although the rain was setting in, and luckily no unwary pukekos ventured into the road in front of me.  These birds have been called “god dammed purple chickens” by USA visitors, we understand. 

Robin needed a little nap after our “at home picnic lunch”  - guess the morning had taken it out of him a bit.  After an easy evening meal we settled down to watch Jurassic Park, the very first film in the series.  It had been ages since this was released, and although I remembered bits and pieces as the film evolved, it was still very exciting and well worth watching.

It’s been a long week

The week started on Monday with RAT tests for both of us, plus blood tests for Robin.  His second knee replacement was happening on Tuesday, and a clear RAT test was required.  No trouble there, thank goodness.

All clear

The alarm clock was set on Tuesday morning for 5.00am, and we were out the door and driving at 6.00am to Palmy in the dark.  So many people were milling around the admissions desk when we arrived, we did wonder how far down the operating list Robin would be.  What we did find out was that there are four operating theatres in Crest Hospital, and Robin was first on his surgeon’s list that morning. 

Crest Hospital

Crest Hospital has contracts with the DHB to perform surgeries, which is helping to whittle down the public list, a great idea after Covid stopped elective surgery for some time.  Robin was shown to his room, extra forms filled in, the anesthetist came calling, and he was whisked away down the corridor just after 8.00am.  I departed for a coffee fix and to await the call that it was all over.  He was back in his room by midday, bright and perky.  Sadly it was a different story the next day, when he had a reaction to the pain pump, and was feeling rather seedy indeed.  But he still needed to get out of bed, move around a little, and get used to the crutches, once again. 

The menus at Crest are amazing, it was just a shame that he didn't feel well enough to enjoy his Filet Mignon when it was served.  He slowly came right and Friday was discharge day.  He managed to manoeuvre his leg into the small car and home we went.  All patients feel better at home, your own comfy chair and bed, Gemma there to check you out, maid service and home cooked meals, although Filet Mignon is not on the menu!

Home again, that didn't take long

There will be a stint of rehab needed to get that knee flexible again, a clearance to finally drive again, about 6-8 weeks we think, then life can get back to normal again.  In the meantime I will perform my duties as the nominated driver.

Ohaupo and Back

It was off to Ohaupo for Robin, towing the caravan merrily behind him.  Our Leisureline was booked in to get some repairs done in September.  But because Robin was going to hospital next week to get his second knee replacement done, Grant suggested he bring the van up early and leave it on site in storage.  Away he went on Saturday, with me and the cat staying at home. 

Off he goes

Travel on Saturday was in clear conditions, but is was rather windy at Waiouru.  Mount Ruapehu was nowhere to be seen, it was completely covered in low cloud.  He stayed at the Ohakune Club overnight, together with quite a few other vans.  It seems that these people were waiting for the mountain to clear, so they could get some skiing done.  I had suggested that Robin dine in the club that evening, but no, that didn't happen, the kitchen was closed and no meals available.  After a beer or two in the bar, he had to cook his own meal in the caravan instead.  It was very windy overnight with heavy rain beating on the roof.

Sunday was extremely wet for the drive to Otorohanga NZMCA camp.  Nothing much open there on a Sunday night except the local fish and chip shop, so that would have to do for his dinner.

Then a short half hour trip on Monday morning and he arrived at Leisureline Ohaupo to drop the van off into the care of Grant.  Ohaupo translates to “The place where the  wind blows at night”  It didn’t take too long for Robin to pack up the remaining food, his clothes and other bits and pieces, then he departed on the long drive home.  It was very wet driving along the Desert Road and all the way to Hunterville, with the temperature dropping down to 3 degrees.  He stopped for a bite at Turangi, then it was steady as you go all the way home, arriving here at 4.30pm.  That was a fair bit of driving and he noticed that the fuel consumption was certainly much less on the return journey, without the van on the back of the Jeep.  Robin was certainly rather tired after his long day, and after a home cooked meal he was tucked up in bed by 8.30pm!

Weekend Rally at Carterton

We had a fine but rather chilly weekend away.  Probably very lucky during winter, no rain, and most importantly, no wind.  Pulling out of our village we could see the Tararua Ranges looking lovely with their snow capped tops.

A fuzzy photo, but you can get the idea

We drove up and over the Pahiatua Track, when the wind turbines were turning rather lazily with just a little wind at the top to get them moving.

We reached the top

Driving on through Wairarapa we passed by the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre which show cases some of our glorious native birds.  Then through Masterton, stopping at the Truck Stop to top up with fuel, and most importantly, refill the tank of our diesel heater.  A must in this cold wintry weather.

Topping up the diesel

The trip from Masterton to our destination at Carterton was extremely slow with roadworks taking place, and road cones galore.  It was stop-go very slowly for quite a while, until at last we were on our way at a reasonable speed.  Our weekend was spent at Carterton Holiday Park with our caravan club buddies.

Because of the wet conditions the caretakers wanted us all park on hard standing and not on the grass sites, so our vans were on different sides of the camp.  This is one of our favourite camps, nice sites, spotless facilities and a large dining room to gather in, water taps on every site together with on site drains to take our grey water, and a dump station.  What more could we want?

We were on this side

And the others across the way

Friday night was Fish and Chip night and Murray and Sue came to dine with us and we enjoyed our fish and chips together.  Very tasty they were too, with plenty of left over chips to use for a future chip butty in a day or so.  There was an informal get together in the evening, with plenty of catch ups and chatter going on.

We were presented with a huge wrapped box by Owen and Helen and they left us to open it at our leisure.  What a job that was, inside the first carton was another, and another, and many more, all getting smaller.  We could tell they really enjoyed all this wrapping and sellotape sticking to go to so much trouble.  Finally we came to the very last teeny tiny box, and what's this inside?  New name badges – thanks so much Owen and Helen.

So many boxes to unwrap and open

Saturday was a free day to do as we pleased, some went out and about while others stayed in camp.  Robin spent the afternoon glued to the TV with other rugby enthusiast watching the second Bledisloe Test.  The All Blacks beat the Wallabies (Australia) but  there was a bit of nail biting going on for a while, I believe. During the breaks he had to come outside to check the Weber BBQ.  He was cooking up a leg of lamb as our contribution to the Pot Luck meal that evening.

Mmm, it smelled delicious

It’s been quite some time since we have had a Pot Luck meal at a rally, and what a feast it was.  A large pot of tasty soup and home made bread to start.  For the mains we had our lamb, chicken curry, cold chicken, home made saveloys, a crock pot full to the brim with a casserole, and a large dish of tasty mince and veggies topped with crispy sliced potatoes.  There was even a salad, cooked peas and potatoes too.  Plenty for everyone.

Owen and Don getting their dinner

But wait – there’s more.  There was a lovely selection of desserts too.  Trifles, meringues, a dish of sliced peaches, ice-cream, and Flo had baked a rhubarb pie, yummy.  We were full to bursting after that little lot!  Some stayed on for card games after dinner, but we decided on an early night.

After Sunday morning tea, more chat, and information given about the next upcoming rally, we packed up and headed for home.  Two vans were staying on for an extra day, so no need for them to rush around.  Instead of turning home the way we had come, we decided to complete the circle and travel the length of the Wairarapa, over the Rimutaka Hill, then up Transmission Gully.  We came across a group of road workers as we drove by, looks like they are working on a new round-about.  

We followed Stuart and Helen’s caravan onto the the Transmission Gully motorway, keeping them in sight for quite some time until they peeled off onto their exit, while we continued on our way home.  Traveling to the Wairarapa is a bit of a mission from Levin, it takes about two hours whether we drive north of south.  As the crow flies the Wairarapa towns are just over the Tararua Ranges – we really need a tunnel through, but that’s not likely to happen.

Stuart and Helen in front of us

We had a great time at the rally, fine but cold weather, great company, and a wonderful shared meal together.  Many thanks to Flo and John for organizing the weekend for us.