Daisy Update

For six months after I broke my ankle I had to take warfarin to thin my blood. To prevent me from getting another blood clot. I found the side effects were hard going. I was cold all the time and tired all the time and my hair fell out. I am so glad that I don't have to take it anymore and that my energy is back. Also my hair is growing back. The being cold side of it would have been good now that summer is here. But the one strange side effect of taking warfarin is that it intensified my sense of taste. I did not realise it was happening until I stopped taking it and food returned to its normal taste. I do remember when I came out of hospital, everything tasted wonderful. I thought that it was coming home after having to eat hospital food.

Now you may be wondering what all this has to do with the daisy. Well the answer is absolutly nothing. I just thought it was a great picture.

Bet you thought you would never see this!

Do you know what is happening here?

Where you right then? Yes, my eldest son is really taking a guinea pig for a walk. Peter bought me a guinea pig lead from my birthday. I really have no idea why he thought that a guinea pig lead would be something I would need. But I suppose it is the thought that counts. My eldest son thought he would give it a try. The guinea pig was a bit bemused and seemed to enjoy the experience.

Moving on from Daisy Hill to Elephant Hill

A few weeks ago Peter and I went out for lunch, with our friends Keriann and Ian, to Elephant Hill winery.

The setting is amazing.

And so was the lunch. Most of the food disapeared so quickly there was hardly any time to take any pictures to show you.

I managed to hold them back from the desserts almost. Lemon merangue pudding above and a chocolate something below.

Holiday Daisies

There is always a daisy or two to be found while on holiday. Even if they are on a rather blurry bottle of wine. I could not belive it when I found it in the supermarket. We just had to get a bottle. Can you tell what this is?

It is a door handle from a Christchurch tram.

These daisies were so beautiful at the side of the road, that I managed to reach home with one bag of shopping missing. I think I put it down to take the picture and then walked away without it. Hope somebody made good use of my two loafs of bread and a bottle of milk.

Kaikoura - On the way home

Stunning scenary at Kaikoura. The snow capped mountains were quite breathtaking. No whales though. I thought they would be there to see me, but no. Maybe next time.


The last of our holiday pictures. You really don't want to know about the ferry trip home!

Akaroa

You can't visit Christchurch with out visiting Akaroa.

Quite a long but very beautiful drive.

Akaroa is very pretty. But I think I expected more and was a bit disapointed. In all the guide books they keep going on about the French roots of Akaroa. Aside from the street names it did not come over to me as French, to me personally. It might have been the fact that I was cold and tired. Maybe on a warm day I might have been more inspired.

Christchurch

The cathedral.

Looking up the cathedral tower.

The view down from the Cathedral tower.

Pictures by Peter.

Stage Two - A night in Picton

We were all exausted with travelling by the time we got off the ferry. I was so glad we had this beautiful and luxurious apartment to stay in. A perfect place to relax and chill out.

Peter had his teabags and milk unpacked in minutes.

The view out over Picton. A real Kiwi sight.

And across the marina looking up the valley, looks great doesn't it.

Until you change the camera angle a bit. It was not too bad the apartment is double glazed and we did not get much noise from the workmen.

Some more views out over the Marlbourgh Sound from Picton.

So beautiful.

And so, so calm.

Starting our South Island Journey

We are just back from a trip to the South Island. After being here for four years I thought it was time we saw some more of New Zealand. So of we went on a very cold, wet and grey day. Our first ferry trip across the Cook Straight.

The scenary was brooding and grey and magnificent.

Peter stayed out on deck, being wind swept. Trying to stave off the sea sickness.

The sea was choppy but not too bad.

After what seemed like a long time the South Island and the Marlbourgh Sounds appeared out of the greyness.

And the sun started to breakthrough the clouds.

First sight of Picton our destination.

Peter soaking up the sun.

The first part of the journey almost over. We had booked into an apartment in Picton for the night, for a good rest, we all needed it. More of the south island tomorrow.

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung here. Lots of blossom and a lot of wet weather. I loved the way the petals have stuck to the sculpture.

Central Hawkes Bay

On Peter's birthday we went for a drive down to Central Hawkes Bay. Here are some of my pics.

We had breakfast at The Paper Mulberry. Minnie is there so the waitress knows which table to deliver our food too, so much nicer than a number.

Growing old disgracefully

In the lovely spring weather today I found this bevy of beautiful ladies, all decked out in red and purple. I think they must have read this poem.

Growing old disgracefully....................................

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

by Jenny Joseph

Every time I hear this poem I think of my mum's friend Francis. It was read at her funeral, while the snow fell soflty outside.